The 8 Known Ways To Get Yourself DQed at the OM Center Poetry Slam:

[Note: Wording comes from official Poetry Slam, Inc. documents and even ones which state there will be “a two point deduction” or some such leniency will result in a DQ at the OM Center slam. We don’t quibble. It’s all or nothing. With us or against us. Something like that... ]

• 1. Each poet must perform work that s/he has created.

• 2. No props.
  Generally, poets are allowed to use their given environment and the accoutrements it offers - microphones, mic stands, the stage itself, chairs on stage, a table or bar top, the aisle - as long as these accoutrements are available to other competitors as well. The rule concerning props is not intended to squelch the spontaneity, unpredictability, or on-the-fly choreography that people love about the slam; its intent is to keep the focus on the words rather than objects. Teams or individuals who inadvertently use a prop (for example, a timely yet unwitting grab at a necklace) can be immediately penalized two points if the emcee of the bout deems the effect of the violation to have been appreciable, but sufficiently lacking in specific intent. A formal protest need not be lodged before the emcee can penalize a poet or team in this way, however, the decision of the emcee can be appealed after the bout. Teams or individuals whose use of props in a poem appears to be more calculating and the result of a specific intent to enhance, illustrate, underscore, or otherwise augment the words of the poem will be given a retroactive score for the poem equal to two points less than the lowest scoring poem in that bout. This deduction, which can only be applied after a formal protest has been lodged against the offending team, will not be made by the emcee, but by a special committee assembled for this purpose.

• 3. No musical instruments or pre-recorded music.

• 4. No costumes.
  The protest committee may apply a two point deduction for violation of the costume rule.

• 5. Maximum Time Limit.
  After one minute beyond the time limit for the round, only the MC must stop a poet from continuing to perform. [That is at 4 minutes at the OM Center Poetry Slam and, no, the emcee will not stop them. That’s up to the audience.]

• 6. No influencing the crowd before the bout begins.
  Poets are allowed to talk casually with anyone in the crowd before the bout begins (except the judges, if they have already been chosen). They are not, however, allowed to give anything to the audience or have anyone do this for them. Furthermore, inside the venue (in the presence or within earshot of the audience) they must not act in any way that would make more of an impression than another competitor waiting for the competition to begin. Poets who violate this rule will be given one warning by the emcee, bout manager, or house manager. Further violation will result in a two-point penalty for that poet’s score (or his team).

• 7. The No Repeat Rule.
  A poem may be used only once during the entire tournament.

• 8. The Individual Rule.
  Any less than genuine effort to elicit a response from the audience performed by anyone other than the performer may result in the poets disqualification. Poets are cautioned to warn their entourage to make no attempt to sway audience or judges on their behalf.

the Poetry Menu

Omaha Healing Arts Center

PoetrySlam.com

PoetrySlam.net

SlamNation on DVD

Links: MidVerse.com: Matt Mason and Sarah McKinstry-Brown