Messages

31

General Discussion / NPS 2011: Poets to be remembered

« on: July 19, 2011, 10:35:26 AM »

Hello, Slam Family:

I am writing to you all with a request for help at the 2011 National Poetry Slam: it's a small request that I think will be important to many people. The community voted to include a Moment of Silence on the NPS Finals stage every year to memorialize the poets who have come before us, and especially those we may have lost recently.

I am trying to create the very sad list of poets and community members whom we have lost this year. So far, I can think of Sheila Siobhan and Will Da Real One Bell, but I am distressingly certain that I am missing others. I do know that Chicago also lost a community member this year, but I am unable to find the thread here in the forums.

If you can recall the name of a slam family member whom we lost this year who had national impact --meaning that their name and/or deeds would be appropriate for the community to recall at a national event-- I would like to hear about it. I admit that we will not have time to memorialize any of these people in the way they deserve, but we would at least like to make sure we speak their names on the Finals stage and take a moment to reflect.

You may reply here, or email me directly at director@nps2011.com. Hope everyone is staying safe and well.

--simone
Simone Beaubien
Host City Director
National Poetry Slam 2011
http://www.nps2011.com

32

General Discussion / Re: Underage Slam Poets at NPS - Rules Question

« on: July 19, 2011, 09:39:31 AM »

I am never too busy too high-five. (I also give sweaty, awkward hugs.)

33

General Discussion / Re: Underage Slam Poets at NPS - Rules Question

« on: July 19, 2011, 07:15:20 AM »

The question: will there be venues where my underage poets can watch either bouts or side events (such as the Encyclopedia Show, or the Nerd Slam)? Alternatively: will there be a means for them to circumvent the 21+ requirement I saw posted on a lot of the NPS facebook events without getting anyone in legal trouble? I'm happy to escort them, or even to hold their hands if need be.  I'd just hate to take them all the way out to Boston without letting them see the best parts of NPS.

Andrew! Welcome back to NPS. Dahled is right that our website clearly marks all the bouts that are all ages, 18+, or 21+, and that there is no way to "circumvent" the 21+ requirement: this is set by our venues, not by NPS, and they do not want folks under 21 in the bars after 11:00. Boston is a college town, and the Cambridge police take underage drinking seriously, so our venues are just trying to protect themselves.

A lot of folks have asked me about what there is for the 18+ crowd to do after 11:00, though, so we are setting up a few "underground" events, as well as a guide for the website for the under-21 set. I'll notify everyone when the latter is posted, but you can also expect to receive both those guides at orientation.

34

General Discussion / Re: Hi All...

« on: July 18, 2011, 12:54:37 PM »

I'm not sure, either, which is why I left it alone for now.

35

General Discussion / Re: LETTER TO SMs about NPS

« on: July 15, 2011, 10:36:10 PM »

Heads up, guys: I've posted the schedules to all the above events, and more! They're in the PSi Members Forum in the Files section, here:

http://www.poetryslam.com/forum/index.php?topic=6817.0

Please check out the Registration/Orientation schedule (all pretty for you in PDF), Day Events, Night Events, and more!

36

General Discussion / Re: LETTER TO SMs about NPS

« on: July 15, 2011, 10:28:12 PM »

Folks! We are SO looking forward to hosting you here in Cambridge and Boston. Abbey is correct in saying that we do stay up very late thinking about you.

Abbey is also correct in saying that the SUPER-MANDATORY DON'T FORGET TO GO TO THE SlamMaster Meeting will happen on Friday from 10am-1pm.

The Slam Family Meeting is scheduled for Saturday at 10am-12pm. That seems early, but it's only so it won't interfere with the Slam Family Picnic and KICKBALL GAME. Yes, you heard me.

This will all be available to you in the festival guide when you get here, as well as in super-pretty PDF files available at www.nps2011.com. Can't wait!

37

General Discussion / Re: NPS 2011 hotel: still need a room?

« on: July 07, 2011, 12:37:27 PM »

We did it, folks! Henry Sampson has put together a overfow hotel for the 2011 National Poetry Slam!

Note that all orientation and registration activities will take place at the host hotel, one mile west of the overflow hotel. The host hotel has SOLD OUT for Thursday and Friday, but Henry negotiated the SAME RATE for people staying in the overflow hotel. Thanks, Henry! You can get all the details here:

http://www.nps2011.com/getting-around/lodging/

Or just keep reading...

Hyatt Regency Cambridge
575 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA 02139
1-888-421-1442 or 1-800-223-1234
http://cambridge.hyatt.com

Our own reservation link:
https://resweb.passkey.com/go/NPSL

People may also call in to the Hyatt number, and ask for the National Poetry Slam 2011 room block when making reservations.

Other details:
Price:  $149  for one or two people, one or two beds;   $25 extra for each extra person above two.
Parking - Reduced to $25 from standard $35.
WIFI - $12.95. (No breaks on this one, unfortunately.)
Distance - One mile further than the host hotel, but Hyatt has two 12-passenger vans that they will make available to our poets and audience members for transportation to anywhere in Cambridge!

Please book your reservations by JULY 18 in order to guarantee your spot. After that, you may be on your own, so please plan ahead.

If you have further troubles or concerns, please don't hesitate to email me at director@nps2011.com. Can't wait to see everyone!

--simone
Simone Beaubien
Host City Director
National Poetry Slam 2011
http://www.nps2011.com

38

General Discussion / NPS 2011 hotel: still need a room?

« on: July 02, 2011, 09:22:11 PM »

Hey, folks:

It has come to my attention that some of the nights at our host hotel for NPS 2011, Le Meridien Cambridge-MIT, have already been sold out at our discounted rate. That means that some people are being told that the hotel is booked, while others have been told that it is not booked, but they must book it at the much more inflated regular rate.

Henry is working to secure an overflow hotel, but it will help us to know how many poets and teams are still in need. Please post here (or email info@nps2011.com) if you are still interested in booking a room at the same block rate in another nearby hotel.

--simone
Simone Beaubien
Host City Director
National Poetry Slam 2011
http://www.nps2011.com

39

General Discussion / Re: What days or Opportunities will Orientation Take Place?

« on: June 26, 2011, 11:09:17 PM »

There's a full-on update on this over in the PSi Members forum, including a sneak peek at the Late-Night Event Schedule:

http://www.poetryslam.com/forum/index.php?topic=6769

40

General Discussion / Re: What days or Opportunities will Orientation Take Place?

« on: June 26, 2011, 08:21:17 AM »

The orientation times are set and firm for NPS 2011. Here they are:

Monday Registration: 2-5
Monday Orientation: 6-7
Tuesday Registration: 10:30-2:30
Tuesday Orientation: 3:30-4:30

All these will take place in the host hotel:

http://nps2011.com/getting-around/lodging/

Don't forget that every competing poet must attend one of the orientation sessions!

Hope this helps. We'll get this up in its own post later today.

41

General Discussion / Re: Just a thought - What if Bout draw for NPS Could Be Live and FANTASY POETRY

« on: May 16, 2011, 03:51:03 PM »

I stand corrected; thanks, guys.

To add: I, too, prefer that the draw happen as early as possible (both from a marketing standpoint and a coaching standpoint). However, doing the draw live on the web or on-location at the event site doesn't mean it has to happen at opening ceremonies.

I think mistafunn was envisioning something more like the NBA draft: awkward ties, side-bets, and a way to build interest during the off-season.

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General Discussion / Re: Just a thought - What if Bout draw for NPS Could Be Live and FANTASY POETRY

« on: May 16, 2011, 07:08:27 AM »

These are more questions for the EC and the community, I think, but as the Host City Director for NPS 2011, I can speak to both:

• I personally think a live bout draw would be more trouble than it's worth; our already-overworked webmaster, Erik Daniel, would have to spend time setting this up so perhaps a dozen people could watch it live. If this is being seeing as an issue of honesty, well... Anyone who has questions about "how random" the draw is should remember that the chances of drawing any one team to compete against in preliminaries is about 10%; it isn't that big a statistical surprise to compete against the same team more than once in a few years. Believe me, if someone was fixing the draw, we at the host city would sure as heck be setting up those rivalries and big bouts to gain maximum exposure and publicity, instead of sitting by trying to send objective press about all the bouts.
• Fantasy teams would be super-fun if you could work out the techncial kinks over the next few months. I cannot offer any volunteers from our squad, but I'd personally pay a small fee to participate in a well-run fantasy league.

43

General Discussion / Re: Anybody see Comedy Central's Comedy Awards

« on: April 12, 2011, 11:46:17 PM »

I like the Hall of Fame idea a little better; means there's an element of longevity required to be rewarded, and leaves a lasting legacy. Plus all the fun, MLB-style debate.

44

General Discussion / Re: WHY DO YOU SLAM?

« on: April 03, 2011, 08:09:53 AM »

Wow. I totally would have left that spam post undeleted if it hadn't contained so many links. Heehee.

45

General Discussion / Re: Sober alternatives for PSI events

« on: March 31, 2011, 03:17:03 PM »

It will be no problem for us to post/publish locations and times for AA meetings local to the hotel and event; I'll add this to our resources for poets on the website. A more extensive resource will be an additional task; if I can find someone to produce this for us, it will happen! If the work falls to some of our already hard-working staff, though, I can't guarantee that we can come through with more than a bare-bones listing. I do know there are many weekly meetings within walking distance of the hotel.  

I do not think we have room in the hotel to provide a designated social space free from drinking and drugging; we have one 24-hour conference room that has been left open for all to use, but getting a second one will pose a cost, one which I don't think will pay off, given the low attendance in such spaces in the past. I am going to ask our community for help with this one; if you choose to throw open your room for poetry tag/cipher, please consider making it a dry space, and think carefully before you bring alcohol into someone else's room.

I can guarantee right now that each day, there will be at least one day event (probably 2-3) and one competition event that will take place in environments without alcohol. Obviously, I cannot guarantee that poets in recovery will compete in non-bar spaces, but they will have non-bars to go to to enjoy their community during the day and during their night off from competition. I will work towards adding a non-bar late-night event to the schedule, too.

We are still working to secure pre- and after-party spaces for the tournament, but due to the nature of the area where we are holding NPS, I suspect these will be in bars. I will consider possible alternatives for poets in recovery on Saturday night, but for these events, I think I have to take what we can get in terms of party spaces.

Please keep posting your thoughts and concerns in this thread.