IWPS Qualifying

[admin]

Just in case you haven't heard... which would be understandable since I don't think it's been posted anywhere... all regular slams from now until September will help choose who competes in our indy play-offs and represents Vancouver in the Individual World Poetry Slam:

http://www.individualworldpoetryslam.com/

So far only the Svelte Ms. Spelte and Julie Peters have qualified for the play-off round. I believe there five or six qualifying bouts left. Sean, our slammaster, has said that only one person per bout will qualify for play-offs (so either the winner, or if they've won before, the next in line). If this seems confusing, talk to Sean for clarification.

The IWPS play-offs bout will be three rounds, and poets will be asked to do some non-3 minute length poems, probably a one, a two and a four minute round – but that has yet to be finalized.

I'll post updates in this thread.

[rcathome]

There have been rumours posted on here and stuff I have overheard elsewhere that there is going to be a format change to this year's IWPS playoff.

IF that is the case then with basically 2 months to go until the Sept 15th playoff then I suggest the poets need to know now.  It may have already been decided but the info needs to be made available well enough in advance that the poets lucky enough to compete can prepare.

What length of poems will be required?  How many rounds?  In what order will those rounds go?  Time penaltie and grace periods and so on.

Something posted in the next few days or before the June 30th slam would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[Sean]

Qualifying to be Vancouver’s 2008 IWPS representative.

If you are interested in qualifying for the competition to be Vancouver’s representative for the Individual World Poetry Slam held this year in Charlotte, North Carolina please read the following.

1)   Qualifying slam will be held on

June 2nd
June 16th
June 30th
July 7th
July 21st
August 4th
August 18th
and
September 1st

2)   The winner of each slam will move on to our playoff on September 15th. If the winner of that slam has already qualified for the IWPS playoff than the individual that places second will receive qualification for that slam; if first and second are both already qualified, then third place qualifies etc.

3)   For the slam on September 15th, poets are expected to bring one minute, two minute and four minute poems to slam for that evening. Standard rules (no props, costumes, etc.) apply. In the event of a tie after three rounds there will be a fourth round consisting of three minute poems.

4)   Jack McCarthy will be the feature for the September 15th Vancouver Qualifying Slam.

5)   This years IWPS will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina December 10th- 13th.

[RCW]

Thanks, Sean.

Very helpful.

[admin]

The June 30th bout was won by The Svelte Ms. Spelt with an outrageously high score of 59 point something.

Because Ms. Spelt has already qualified for the IWPS play-offs on September 15th, it's the second place finisher who guaranteed themselves a spot in the play-offs. And that person was... Sean McGarragle, one of our co-slammasters!

Also making the second round were Ms. Radio, Gavin and Sharsa. I'll post the exact scores if I can track them down.

So far this is the list of IWPS-qualified poets:

• The Svelte Ms. Spelt
• Julie Peters
• Sean McGarragle

There are only five slams left, and thus, five spots left to be filled for what should be a very exciting night of poetry.

[admin]

Another fine night of p-word shenanigans, and another IWPS qualifying slam in the books.

Sara Bynoe was excellent as always. She will be performing at the Railway Club this Friday. Get there early (as is 7:30pm) and bring your angsty teenage writings to share. Should be a good time.

Tonight's winning poet and newest qualifier for the play-offs on Sept 15th to represent Vancouver at the Individual World Poetry Slam is me. Here are the full results from the second round:

1. Faust McKenzie
2. Spillious
3. Clint 'Father Goose' Wilson
4. Julie Peters
5. Van Kitty

Van Kitty was a newcomer who made a big impression with her hip hop stylings and great big smile. We hope to see her at many poetry slams to come.

With four IWPS qualifying slams remaining half of the field for the play-offs has been determined. They are:

• The Svelte Ms. Spelt
• Julie Peters
• Sean McGarragle
• Faust McKenzie

They are only 4 qualifying bouts left for the 4 final spots. I'm willing to bet that the intensity of each bout as we approach September 15th is only going to become greater and greater. As Hulk Hogan would say: Can you feel it?

[admin]

Just spoke with Sean, our slammaster. I wanted to know what the format will be for the IWPS qualifying night. Here's how the show is planned (tentatively):

Open Mic
4-minute sacrifice poet
4-minute round, random draw

break

Jack McCarthy feature set
2-minute sacrifice poet
2-minute round, poets go in reverse order from the 4-minute round
1-minute sacrifice poet
1-minute round, poets go from highest cumulative score from prior rounds to lowest

No grace period in any round! If you're just one second over the time limit, points will be deducted.

The ordering of poets in the three rounds is the same ordering that we used for the three rounds on NPS finals night.

[admin]

Moe Clarke, aka Lady Mot, threw down a great set. In the poetry slam, it was RC Weslowski, Julie Peters, Fernando Raguero, the Svelte Ms. Spelt Sean McGarragle, and a newcomer whose name eludes me (it rhymed.... help me out here) who made it to the second round. The Svelte Ms. Spelt took home his third win of the summer season, while Fernando placed second, meaning that he qualifies for the IWPS play-offs in September.

So far the IWPS play-offs qualifiers are:

• Svelte Ms. Spelt
• Julie Peters
• Sean McGarragle
• Fernando Raguero
• Faust McKenzie

Only 3 slots left. Holy Bananas! Who will qualify? Who will represent Vancouver at the Individual World Poetry Slam? The suspense is killing me!!!

[Sean]

Your enthusiasm fills me with hope. I only sacrificed last night though. Phenomenal show for the second consecutive week!!! And the new volunteers!!!!! Awesome, awesome, awesome!

[ms_spelt]

hmmmm can i win three more? ;)seriously tho'-i'm flattered to be keeping such esteemed company on this list.thanks for the clairification on the format so i can get my poetry in order for the big night.
many thanks-great contributions being made on stage and off in the summer season.
much love
ms spelt

[admin]

After the Van Slam family meeting, some changes have been made to the originally proposed format for the IWPS play-offs bout. Namely, the order of poets performing in the three rounds will no longer be random, reversed, highest-score-to-lowest; it will be random, reversed, random. Clear as mud?

Just in case it is, I'll repost the format with the changes...

Open Mic
4-minute sacrifice poet
4-minute round, random draw

break

Jack McCarthy feature set
2-minute sacrifice poet
2-minute round, poets go in reverse order from the 4-minute round
1-minute sacrifice poet
1-minute round, random draw

No grace period in any round! If you're just one second over the time limit, points will be deducted.

This is now the finalized format for the September 15th show.

[admin]

Hey, who won Monday's slam? I'm in Madison this week... (and it has made me appreciate Van Slam so much more).

Anyone is allowed to contribute to this thread!

[RCW]

I forgot to post who won.  Thanks for the reminder.

A fellow by the name of Dave Morris won.  I think it was his first time out to the slam.  I got his contact info and I've let him know what he needs to know and have ready for Sept 15th.  He seems into it.

Good luck tonight.  Move some crude!

[ms_spelt]

no grace period?
since when?
i recall the vote for the format change had to do with the random,reverse,random-but we nver discussed let alone voted on grace periods.
i do recall that we are trying to build a democracy though.

[admin]

Since July 10th when I posted the tentative format.

http://vancouverpoetryhouse.com/forum/smf/index.php/topic,100.msg489.html#msg489

It was mentioned at the Van Slam family meeting but not discussed in detail nor voted on, because at the time there was no objection to it.