Sponsored by
Art That Heals, Inc. * McAllen Chamber of Commerce * Raul Tijerina, Jr. Foundation * Narciso Martínez Cultural Arts Center * El Zarape Press *
~Rio Grande Valley International Poetry Festival: Established 2008~
"Let the plethora of words commence!"
The Narciso Martínez Cultural Arts Center
Founded by Daniel Garcia Ordaz and Brenda Nettles Riojas with Creative Director: Vanessa Brown Now Seeking Sponsors to join Art That Heals, Inc., the Mcallen Chamber of Commerce, the Raul Tijerina, Jr. Foundation, McAllen Creative Incubator, the Narciso Martínez Cultural Arts Center, El Zarape Press, and Heredado Designs.
Phone: (956) 358-7211
Celebrate National Poetry Month . . .
WHAT: "Valley International Poetry Festival: Youth Slam and Adult Slam!
WHERE: Weslaco Public Library Theatre
ADDRESS: 525 S. Kansas Ave., Weslaco, TX
TIME: Youth Slam: 6 -- 7 p.m.
Competition will begin after rules are explained, etc., at about 6:15 p.m.
College/University Readings: 7—8:15
Featured Poet Reading: Jon Davis: 8:15 – 8:30 p.m.
Featured Poet Reading: Ken Jones: 8:30 – 8:45 p.m.
Featured Poet Reading: Olivia Gatwood: 8:45 – 9 p.m.
Adult Poetry Slam: 9 – 10:15 p.m.
FYI: All events will be free and open to the public. Books, Chapbooks, CDs, T-shirts, etc., for sale.
Contact: Daniel García Ordaz, Founder, @ 956-358-7211
SEE SLAM RULES BELOW
Note: Adult slam contest open to registered poets only. Slam Rules: below.
Rules:
1. Competitors must be present on stage (Adults) for final sign-in in order to compete.
Competitors will be posing for a group photo onstage before the slam, so be ready.
2. Competitors will be drawing numbers to choose the reading order.
3. Depending on the amount of poets competing, competitors should be prepared to read three to four poems. All poems must be original--written by the contestant. Poets may read one poem twice--in other words, they may repeat one of their poems--at any time during the competition. So poets should have at least two unique poems ready.
4. Everyone will read during round one. Each round at least one person and up to five poets may be eliminated.
5. Poets with the lowest scores are out. This will continue until only two poets are left onstage. They will flip a coin to determine the order of reading. The person with the highest cumulative scores will call heads or tails.
6. Each poet has three minutes to read. The time starts when the poet starts to speak. (If you have to start again, you may, but the clock starts when you start the first time.) No props. No costumes. No music. No groups or duets.
7. Poets going over the three-minute mark, plus a ten-second grace period--will be docked one point from their score for every ten seconds over three minutes.
8. An odd number of judges will be selected at random from the audience by the M.C., or head judge. Each judge will score poems on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest. The highest and lowest scores may be thrown out.
9. Scores will be cumulative, except in the final, or championship round. In that round, it's a one-shot deal; everyone starts with zero.
10. The festival founders, or their designee, are/is the final judge(s).
ALL EVENTS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (unless otherwise noted)
[2011 Registered Poets] [2011 Featured Poets] [2011 Schedule of Events] [2011 Venues] [2011 Poetry Pachanga] [2011 Sponsors & Sponsorship Opportunities] [2011 Volunteer Opportunities] [2011 Youth Poetry Slam] [2011 Adult Poetry Slam] [2011 Registration] [Boundless 2011 Anthology Submissions] [2011 VIPF Home]