Topics

1

General Discussion / 2013 NPS rules

« on: April 14, 2013, 08:00:10 PM »

Where can I find  the rules for this year's NPS?

# of poets per bout, alternate poet role, etc

NOT answers here, but a link to actual location of these rules.

Thanks.

2

General Discussion / Where is the link for PSI Individual member sign up?

« on: March 30, 2013, 01:14:03 PM »

I am in the store and cannot find the link to sign up new PSI members....Help??/

3

General Discussion / Poetry E-Book for sale on Amazon.com

« on: November 13, 2012, 05:13:15 PM »

Hey fellow slammers-
  I just published a collection of poetry on Amazon.com for those interested in E-book poetry.  Fifty two slam poems written in 52 weeks in response to a drunken challenge made on the mic.   52 poems, extensive indulgent footnotes, bonus poems, and lots of snide, random commentary on a lot of stuff.

"THE KILL THE FLOWERS PROJECT: 52 Poems in 52 Weeks"- poems by Shaggy, edited by J.T.  Gossard.   Only 5.99 for it all

Follow that horrible looking link.  And thanks for indulging me- peace, PuroSlam Slammaster J.T. Gossard

http://www.amazon.com/The-Kill-Flowers-Project-ebook/dp/B00A6HWJXS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1352844361&sr=1-1&keywords=the+kill+the+flowers+project

4

General Discussion / Boycott Nationals??

« on: May 09, 2012, 01:54:28 AM »

I know this is a knee jerk reaction, but I am having a hard time justifying spending money in a state that has just banned Gay Marriage.  PuroSlam is seriously considering how to deal with this FUCKED UP (excuse my French) action by the state of North Carolina.  Sorry NC poetry people- but coming to your state and supporting your businesses is a hard call right now. 

PSI-> Action needs to be taken.  PLEASE do not sit idly by and let NPS occur without some sort of action.  This goes against everything PSI should stand for.

North Carolina is a sad state.

5

General Discussion / Detroit Slams Oct. 11-16th??

« on: October 05, 2011, 08:26:41 PM »

One of PuroSlam's regulars is heading to Detroit from October 11th through 16th and is looking for as many slams/readings as possible??

Any help on that Detroit??

Thanks!

6

General Discussion / Attention Kindle Owners/Fiction lovers

« on: February 07, 2011, 07:17:34 PM »

Warning: This is a completely self-serving, self-promoting post.  Thanks to the lovely Ms. Simone, however, your friendly forum moderator, I got permission to post- respectfully- this info on the forum, as I am a hard-working, dues paying, sweat wringing slammaster.  That being said...:

If there are any Kindle owners/fiction lovers out there, I recently published a novel, "The Hallucinogenic Bible", on Amazon.com.  It is a fictionalized narrative based on 10+ years of following the Grateful Dead around the country, living out of my car, selling food and drink and stuff to make a living, avoiding cops, taking too many drugs.  It's a road trip novel, dealing with spirituality, music, ritual, religion, and lots of other heady stuff with which I try to validate a life of following a band around the country.  Plus, for you people who have ever seen me slam, this 350 page book is actually based- loosely inspired- by a 3 minute poem called "Yet Another Hippie Poem".  So there IS a slam connection!  Plus, local SA poet Joshua "Lakey" Hinson designed the cover...so that's 2 connections! Yeah!

Anyway, that's it.  Thanks for your time and see you at slam!

Jason "Shaggy" Gossard
PuroSlam Slammaster/San Antonio, TX

7

General Discussion / Inspire slammers to write new poems!....?

« on: July 22, 2010, 09:48:39 AM »

Hey y'all-
 Someone suggested I share this with y'all just because of the success we have had here with it in San Antonio:
  Last year, we had a situation where the same handful of poets were winning every slam using the same handful of poems.  The audience loved em but many of the non-winning poets started getting pissed and started issuing weekly challenges- in the form of new poems and by devoting their three minutes to pure improv- that called for New Poems!!!  After things got pretty heated one week last October, I, as slammaster, accepted the challenge and announced- in hopes of calming the drama AND inspiring new poetry- that I would write a new poem every Tuesday and then read it as a sacrifice poem that same Tuesday.
   That was 35 weeks ago and after having done this for close to 9 months, the results have been awesome.  Those people winning the slam every week with the same old poems? Well they are writing new poems and doing some interesting stuff with their new work.  More new poets have come out of the woodwork and some have personally credited this project as a motivating factor.  The slam is no longer ruled by the same three or four voices and any given week, there is no odds on favorite as to who will win.

I'm not posting this to credit myself but I did want to share something with the community that has had a positive effect on our local slam.  As a poet, it has done wonders for my writing and I recommend this for anyone willing to challenge themselves.  As a slammaster, it has issued a "Show Don't Tell" proclamation that has quelled drama in our scene.

Just wanted to share that with y'all....

8

General Discussion / Okarks/Sulphur Springs?

« on: July 20, 2010, 03:26:08 PM »

Does anyone on here have any info about an Ozarks poetry reading in or near Sulphur Springs? I poet in SA heard about it somewhere and will be in the area soon and wants to check it out, if possible?

Any and all info would be great- when, where, who runs it, etc.  Thanks!!!!

9

General Discussion / What are the dates for NPS 2009?

« on: February 16, 2009, 01:55:10 PM »

So....what are the dates for NPS 2009?

10

Slam Selection Processes / San Antonio PuroSlam

« on: August 13, 2007, 04:10:33 PM »

San Antonio's PuroSlam
Every tuesday night
Sam's Burger Joint
330 E. Grayson, San antonio, Tx 78215
www.puroslam.com or myspace.com/puroslam

THIS IS STRAIGHT FROM THE WEBSITE:

2008 PUROSLAM TEAM
Are you interested in trying out for the 2008 PuroSlam Nationals team? That’s right, I said 2008. The 2007 PuroSlam was determined this past April and those poets are currently working out and preparing themselves for the Nationals Showdown this August in Austin. But guess what? We’re already starting the selection process for the 2008 team.

Since PuroSlam has no shame, we are a) borrowing or b) stealing the Qualifying Point System that the Austin Poetry Slam uses to determine its annual team (with some slight changes). Simply put, poets now earn points every time they slam, use those points to qualify for Semis, use Semis to qualify for Finals, use Finals to make the team, and then use the team to become rich and famous and get your face on a Wheaties box.

And guess what? We start counting points in May!

Points
At each weekly slam, poets can earn points based on the following formula:
1st place = 5 points
2nd place = 4
3rd place = 3
4th place= 2 (this applies to Semi Final bouts only; see below)
Everyone else who slams that night = 1

Notes
1 In the event of a tie, both poets are awarded the points for the higher place, i.e. if two poets tie for first, they both get 5 points.

2 Poets who make the third round do not receive the 1 point for participating, i.e., a poet who wins a slam gets 5 points, not 6.

Semi Finals
Semi Finals are for the top 10 scoring poets in the months prior to that specific Semi Final (see Calendar below). The top two placing poets in each Semi Final round advance to Finals.

Each Semi Final slam will consist of 3 rounds: round one-cut to six; second round, cumulative, cut to 4; a clean slate final round.

At the conclusion of the fourth and final Semi-Final round, the two poets who did NOT qualify for Finals AND who have the highest cumulative point total based on Semi Finals rounds only will be awarded the first and second positions in Finals.
Example: Jon and Jane read in all four Semi Final slams but do not earn a spot in Finals. Jon took 3rd place in each Semis for a total of 12 points, while Jane took 4th in each Semis for a total of 8 points. Having the two highest point totals of Semi Final poets who did not qualify, Jon and Jane earn the 2nd and 1st reading positions in Finals, respectively.

In the Case of a Tie: A one poem tie breaker to be performed immediately after the fourth Semis, or if both poets are not present, immediately before Finals.

Calendar
The PuroSlam is using a calendar that is not balanced, equal, reasonable, aligned with the moon, the stars, or the Post Office. You are responsible for knowing it.

First Period: May thru August- Semi Finals I: 1st Tuesday of September
Second Period: September thru October: Semi Finals II: 1st Tuesday of November
Third Period: November thru January: Semi Finals III: 1st Tuesday of February
Fourth Period: February thru March: Semi-Finals IV: 1st Tuesday of April

***All points return to 0 after each Semi Finals. Yes, you must start over every time.
FINALS
The 2nd Tuesday of April.

4 poets, 1 alternate will make the team.

10 poets compete. 3 rounds. Cut to 8 after round one. Cut to 6 after round two, based on cumulative. We wipe the slate clean in round three and the top 4 take it.

NO REPEAT RULE: If you were a member of a previous PuroSlam team in any year from 2000-2007, you may NOT read a poem that you previously read in a team finals.  and yes, Shaggy has  a list of every poem read so.....

There are 2 conditions: Poets must meet the following to qualify for finals....

1) Attend 8 slams between May and the end of March

2) Qualify for Finals through the Point System

CONFUSED? I don’t blame ya. Just remember, the more you come to slam, the more points you’ll have, and the better your chances of making the team.

Email Shaggy at pincheshhh@yahoo.com with questions.

11

General Discussion / Southwest Shootout results

« on: July 06, 2007, 10:39:00 AM »

Anyone reading this have any Southwest Shootout updates, for us sitting at work not knowing what happened last night because our poets forgot to stop partying so they could phone home?

12

General Discussion / Housing Touring Poets: Question about?

« on: January 23, 2007, 06:40:16 PM »

I have a question for y'all:
  Since when did it become the responsibilty of a Slam to house its touring
features?

I had a feature scheduled for tonight.  I did the promos, the press releases,  all that jazz, only to have the poet cancel- via email, from a different state-  because I couldn't find a place for him to stay.  I looked, and asked around, and did all I could, but our current housing scene in San Antonio is not good right now and thus, no luck for this particular tuesday.

NOTE: If he had featured next week, I could have put him up.  This week, no such luck.

Anyway, he knew this, we had exchanged emails about this several weeks ago, and everything seemed cool.  Then today- the day of his feature- I receive an email in which he cancels his feature because of "the circumstances I put him in" and he hopes that "next time I will be able to work with him."

I'm pissed and frustrated.  I'm running a slam, not a hotel.  I did my best and couldn't find him a floor to sleep on.  Is that my problem?  Am I a bad
slammaster?  What is going on here??

This kind of stuff makes me want to give up on features altogether.

How do others feel?  Am I being ridiculous?  I toured the country several times years ago and I was thankful when someone put me up.  I never expected it.  What's going on here?

-Shaggy
-one frustrated San Antonio Slammaster