Messages

16

Slam Selection Processes / Re: Houston Poetry Slam Qualifying Process

« on: May 30, 2012, 06:09:52 PM »

Synopsis of the 2012 Final

I haven't been able to keep up with 2012 updates here due to a hectic year of out-of-town work and computer issues. I didn't know how much I relied on the desktop or laptop until I was without one. The laptop is still dead, but the desktop finally rebelled against the dominance of the reliably frustrating Microsoft  OS with it's gradual yet inevitable system...... s...l...o...w...d...o...w...n. So I switched to Linux. It's free, but has it's own issues. I've gone through innumerable installations of Ubuntu, PClinux OS, and finally settled on the Ubuntu based Linux Mint. So far, so ok. It's not as buggy as Ubuntu, but seems to freeze up for no apparent reason.

While out of town working, my designated assistant Slammaster didn't keep as thorough of a record as I like. Suffice it to say the winners of the 2012 Houston Slam Team Grand Slam Final held in early February WERE: 1st. Savannah Blue, 2nd Brother Said. 3rd Karega Ani. 4th Softly Spoken and Black Blues is our alternate as usual. 

BUT in keeping with long standing Houston slam team tradition - Softly Spoken was removed from the team in late April. Karega Ani left the team in early May.  For those of you dying to know, we will keep you posted

17

General Discussion / Re: 2012 Executive Council Members

« on: March 11, 2012, 03:06:18 PM »

I voted for most of you. Looking forward to the results of your work. By the way I suggest you guys make Henry our new President and Jesse the new Secretary.

18

General Discussion / Re: Brother Said: Candidate For EC

« on: February 18, 2012, 10:52:55 AM »

ENDORSEMENT

Sam Costello vote for this guy not simply because he gets a lot of praise from existing EC members - and that's important to know that present EC members praise his work. Vote for him because his resume is impeccable and he's already improved the EC. He's got the EC to get a Finance Committee up and running - although I think it should include one or two people from the Slam Masters Council.

19

General Discussion / Re: Brother Said: Candidate For EC

« on: February 18, 2012, 10:22:35 AM »

Here's a question from Scott Woods:

5. Do you believe that the concept of legacy is important to PSi? If not, why not? If so, how would you see that manifested?

We must preserve that which is good about PSI: certain traditions, customs, and history. We have a tradition of the EC basically not getting involved in local deputes - and that's cool. We also have a tradition of the EC micro-managing the Slam Masters Council. That has tended to stunt the growth we claim we want.

PSI has clearly grown and adapted with the times. We must improve what hasn't been working, things that are actually going to make the organization grow. With growth (the addition of new members) comes new ideas, new vision - some of which should rightly be rejected as not in keeping with the greater good of our community. But we need to be open to the opportunities that growth presents as well.

20

General Discussion / Brother Said: Candidate For EC

« on: February 18, 2012, 09:57:50 AM »

Before we get to my agenda here are my endorsements for other EC members:

Inkera: vote for her because she has the experience and dedication. She is also thoughtful, caring, and wise. She's the one you want in the front seat of the car when the kids are in the back seat acting crazy.

Dahled Jeffries: vote for him because he would be a fresh addition to the EC. We need more new blood with vision on the EC. He's a little overly sensitive, but he's got fresh ideas and he's ALWAYS on the forums.

Alvin Lau: vote for him because he would be a fresh addition to the EC. We need new blood with vision on the EC. He's a little too analytical and too competitive, so he will be challenged to make his exhaustive analyses clear for the "C" students. If he's willing to accept the EC as a service to the community and not a competition - he'll be fine.

Syd Mallicious: a little too new, but another numbers cruncher and we need a numbers cruncher on the EC. Another "A" student like Alvin, so you have to be willing to get her to break her smarts down so we can understand it.

Those are my endorsements for now. I'll update later with additions or subtractions if the need arises. The EC is a service job. People who get authority often lose sight of the fact they have authority for service. It's up to us to keep them honest.

I hereby announce my candidacy for membership on the EC. I've been Slammaster of Houston Poetry Slam for seven years, and the Founding Director and board member of our non-profit Wrighters Ink for seven years. I've been a member of PSI since 2005. I've attended most Slam Master meetings, and if you do a forum search and read my postings - you'll notice that I'm one of the most despised and respected Slam Masters of PSI. So think about that before you vote for me. People often react negatively to me, and that's their right, and that's life, and I'm still living. If you're conflicted about whether to vote for me or someone else, vote for someone else. I view membership on the EC as a service position. If you think I can represent your interest as a member of the EC, then vote for me.  I will serve you well.

Now on to questions posted by the Slam Master from Denver:

1. "The mission of Poetry Slam Incorporated (PSI) is to promote the performance and creation of poetry while cultivating literary activities and spoken word events in order to build audience participation, stimulate creativity, awaken minds, foster education, inspire mentoring, encourage artistic statement and engage communities worldwide in the revelry of language."

How do you plan to help this organization grow and accomplish this mission?  Please be specific.

If elected I plan on promoting efforts to market PSI and it's mission. We need a marketing budget and a marketing plan. We need to follow our bylaws and encourage and empower the Slam Masters Council to elect their own chairman and form their own committees. A marketing committee would be  a good place to start.

2. What experience do you have with non-profit organizations - as an employee, as a volunteer, as a board member?  I am especially interested in hearing about experience working with non-profit ARTS organizations, but I do think that all of your professional experience is relevant.

I've founded a non-profit. I wrote the Articles of Incorporation, and the bylaws. I've run board meetings. I've obtained a $5000 dollar grant locally which involved presenting an artist statement, presenting a proposed budget, and accounting for expenditures at the end of the granting period.

3. How many hours a week do you have available to dedicate to PSI?  And what is your typical availability (days/evenings/weekends)?   

At least 4 hours a week typically. More if and when a specific need arises.

4.  What would you most like to see changed about PSI?  What would you most like to see preserved?

We need to actually enforce the governance system embodied in our bylaws. According to our bylaws, The EC and the Slam Masters Council are two separate bodies. Executive authority is vested in the EC, but it's so that the EC can report to the Slam Masters Council - not run the Slam Master Council meetings. The Slam Master's Council has limited oversight authority over the EC.
(the most important oversight authority being WE vote for who gets on the EC).

I would like most to see The Slam Masters Council with it's own chairman, it's own secretary, and it's own committees like our bylaws say. If we do what our bylaws say the EC wouldn't be so overwhelmed, burnt out, and frustrated.

If we're not going to follow our bylaws, then we need to revise our bylaws to give full executive authority of PSI to the EC.

I won't be in Denver for the Spring Meeting. My proxy will give you my final statement if any is necessary.

21

General Discussion / Re: a couple random NPS questions

« on: July 24, 2011, 06:24:26 PM »

some teams bring 4, some 5, others 6 - how about the cost reflect that? what if $450 got your team registered and 4 passes, $500 got you 5 passes and $550 got 6? Or what if some other consideration was given... say teams were able to purchase an additional pass or 2 at 1/2 price or some other discounted rate? It's not just this - it's this on top of the (continued use of an) expensive hotel, and the increase in registration (a couple years back) and that doesn't take into account increased travel costs, etc.

Can we get this as a motion for the Slammaster meeting? Or is this purely a EC decision?

Even if it's a EC decision, I'd like to see it as a recommendation.

22

General Discussion / Re: Slam: "Mock" Competition- What are the national events today?

« on: May 08, 2011, 03:22:48 PM »

Bro Said: Well put.

Zork: I dig the Slam-as-family concept. We certainly can be dysfunctional.

Shaggy: I must admit, I didn't like your slam at first. It ain't for the ambitious or faint of heart. But it is fucking fun. But those were the short sighted days of my slam youth. You can't help but assume what slam SHOULD BE or IS when you first start slamming. I think those of us who are wiser and experienced and not jaded or cynical  (YET) need to emphasis to new slammers this absolute to save some heart ache and disillusionment:

Since slam is a game played with poetry, when the judges pick a winner whether they realize it or not - they're NOT picking the best poet, or even one of the best poets, or nearly the best poet. They're picking the poet who played the better game that night.

23

Slam Selection Processes / Re: Houston Poetry Slam Qualifying Process

« on: May 06, 2011, 02:21:02 PM »

As of Sunday May 1, 2011, Micheal Reado a.ka. Khalid Khaliq has resigned from the Houston Slam Team as a result of two days of discussions concerning his attendance and commitment at practice and fund raisers.

Savannah Blue moves up from the alternate position, and I have scheduled a slam to get a new alternate. The Houston Poetry Slam emergency slam is scheduled for 8pm Wednesday downtown at Notsuoh. This slam features poets Micheal Kahlil Taylor, Black Blues, Da Truth, and Jerome Washington.

24

Slam Selection Processes / Re: Houston Poetry Slam Qualifying Process

« on: May 06, 2011, 01:52:49 PM »

Synopsis of the 2011 Final

The 2011 Houston Slam Team Grand Slam Final on Friday February 18th was not as filled with anticipation, drama, and intrigue as in years past. Outspoken, Khalid, Rain, and Brother Said were among some of the players favored to win, and they met little competition. Rain had led the rankings during most of the season. Khalid over took her and claimed the No.1 spot, and then during the final weeks of the season Outspoken catapulted to the top of the rankings. He claimed no.1 for Super Slam Week as well, but didn’t show up to the Final to defend his spot. No other ranked poets showed up to the Final to compete in their earned bouts. No other poets were present to claim open positions vacated by ranking poets. So Brother Said, Marie Brown, Khalid, and Rain were declared the 2011 Houston Slam Team by default. By rule a competition must occur with at least four poets for final ranking. The results are listed below and for the second year in a row Khalid is the 2011 Houston Slam Team Grand Slam Champion. Savannah Blue is possibly the alternate for this year having qualified as the next runner up on the Super Slam Week list of ranking poets.

Khalid – 117.9
 Marie Brown – 117.7
 Rain – 116.5
 Brother Said – 111.3

25

General Discussion / Re: Slam: "Mock" Competition- What are the national events today?

« on: May 06, 2011, 01:10:54 PM »

Trying to build a career off of slam winnings is like trying to pay your rent every month in a casino.

Slam is a competition the way poker is a competition. Poker is a game of both luck and skill. People who have recently won money at poker will tell you it's entirely about skill. People who have recently lost money at poker will tell you it's entirely luck.

Some of us, of course, just like to wear tuxedos and play cards.

The poker analogy doesn't completely apply to poetry slam because there are no group of spectators called judges picking who wins the poker game.

And because poetry slam judges have no rigorous standards or usually no experience to judge the poetry with (as in some Olympic contests or dance competitions or even a sonnet contest)  - they usually seem to go with an overall visceral emotional response. That means, that no matter how skillful of a poet you are, if the judges don't have a favorable emotional connection to your poem you COULD lose.

That means, because emotions are fickle and have degrees of intensity, the element of chance can trump skill at any given moment in a slam.

Now one can skillfully weave a poem that appeals to the visceral response of judges and win. But then the question becomes, did the poet win based on simple principles of craft or the balance of craft and emotional appeal? Of course, most would claim skill.

That is neither good nor bad nor legitimizes nor de-legitimizes the competitive or poetic aspects of poetry slam for me. Most of the shit we do in life is about getting people to like you. You can't get pussy or be President unless somebody likes you.

 But 85% of the time, I believe the judges get it right when they pick the winner under certain circumstances.

26

General Discussion / Re: Slam: "Mock" Competition- What are the national events today?

« on: April 30, 2011, 06:53:12 PM »

My 2 cents. Slam is a Game played with poetry. It should be apparent that it is NOT simply a game of skill (while skill is involved - but that is completely up to the poet).

It is clearly a game of chance. Like all games of chance that are based on hope - the poet uses his skill to impress the judges enough and HOPE for a good score.

That Game IS indeed the Show. Which is good enough for me.

27

General Discussion / Re: NPS 2010 Recap

« on: August 16, 2010, 10:38:24 AM »

We already do that. If they come to me (where you start) and you don't have the whole team's registration ready, we won't process you. On Monday, we processed ONLY 10 teams, that means we had 90% of the teams come through on Tuesday. That's gonna take time no matter how you do it.

And that will always be an issue: paper work done or not, most teams arrive on Tuesday.

28

Slam Selection Processes / Re: Houston Poetry Slam Qualifying Process

« on: July 12, 2010, 06:04:52 AM »

In a head-to-head bout Saturday night at G's and Z's held to replace a poet removed from the team, Rain the Poet beat Marie Brown two rounds to one.

Round One: Marie Brown - 9, Rain - 20.
Round Two: Rain - 9, Marie Brown - 20.
Round Three: Marie Brown - 0, Rain - 30.

Rain qualifies as a top four poet on the team, and Marie qualifies as the alternate.

29

Slam Selection Processes / Re: Houston Poetry Slam Qualifying Process

« on: July 10, 2010, 01:11:50 PM »

Public Notice:

Unfortunately, after many months of trying to be patient, finally this past week I was forced to remove a poet from the team for numerous violations of the team contract: continued tardiness to practice, missing practices, missing fund raisers, and most disturbingly, unsportsmanlike comments about a fellow team member. And apparently, the alternate poet has left the team in support of the team member I had to remove (neither one of these players would communicate with me directly, preferring to communicate with others)
 
Tonight, I will hold an Alternate Slam to replace the poet I had to remove, and then search for a true alternate from my competition list.

30

Slam Selection Processes / Re: Houston Poetry Slam Qualifying Process

« on: May 26, 2010, 09:27:41 PM »

For those of you dying to know, this is an update concerning the Houston Slam Team roster. The starting lineup for the team based on finals was Khalid, Shelz, Savanah Blue, and Brother Said. Fluent1 qualified to be the alternate, but decided against it some weeks later. Q accepted the alternate spot, but then moved out of town, Black Blues won the alternate spot in an Alternates slam in March, but recently had to leave the team for personal issues.

Black Blues has been replaced from the Super Slam Week competitor list by Jamesetta Marshall aka Jem.

Hopefully, this ends the musical chairs for the alternate spot.