Alt Slam Procedures

[rcathome]

There was some discussion at the last Slam Family meeting that we need to post some basic organizational info for those putting on the 2nd Monday "Alt Slams" at the Van Slam. 

Trevor Spilchen aka Spillious is the Alt Slam liason.  If you have questions about your night/event please contact him first and then if he can't answer you questions he will try and find someone who can.

If you are organizing an ALT SLAM it is your responsibility as the show producer to...

Book a feature  (you will also need to fill out an Van Slam invoice and have the feature sign it when the show is done and they're paid.)
Find a host
Find volunteers for the night
Do the promotion for the show (a media list has been provided on this website.)
If you want or need pre confirmed performers then it is your job to find them.

These shows are seen as fundraisers for the slam so if you need assistance in putting on your show then please ask some of the Van Slam irregulars to see if they can help.  Be it with promoting the show, getting volunteers and so on.

Your show's budget is as follows...$125 for the feature, $60 for the sound, $75 in prizes.  You have to be able to guarantee the feature and sound people get paid.  If you are unsure you can get a crowd into your event to cover the costs then you need to speak to the Slammasters to get the money ahead of time.

As for the $75 in prizes...you can use that how you like.  You can give out cash prizes.  You can spend it on other prizes.  But anything over and above the $75 prize budget comes out of your pocket.  This also includes any special decorations or score cards or costumes and so on.  If you are spending the money ahead of time please keep your receipts and then present them to Sean so you can get an invoice.

The ALT SLAMS are YOUR shows.  One of the goals of having the Alt Slams was to give people other than the regular organizers an opportunity at producing a show and getting a taste for it.  It might be the only gig you produce.  It might end up being something you like to do.  So run with it. 

Again, if you need help please ask.  I am willing to help out if needed but I a not interested in organizing it for you.

Next year's Alt Slam schedule is not set in stone.  If you have an idea for a 2009 Alt Slam contact Trevor Spilchen to talk about it first.

Good luck.

RC

Any questions or comments then of course discuss.

[Sean]

Hello All,

I know its early but I was hoping that people could start looking at what kinds of Alt Slam they want to be doing in the new year. We'll be deciding on them at the November (exact date TBA) slam family meeting.

Based on audience turn out from outside of the regular community and reactions and participation from the regular performers within the community I would have to have to think that the alt slams that we must do are,  "The Pan African Showcase", "The Sistahood Slam", "The Anarchy Slam", and "The Queer Slam".

Additionally I would suggest that the Labour Slam, The Erotica Slam and The Nerd Slam would/have done well enough for and by our community that they warrant another year's worth of doing them at the very least. That being said it would be up to certain individuals to choose if they wish to do one of those events in the following year. And I should note that this does not mean we shouldn't do the exact same shows that we did last year. I have not spoken to those hosts as of yet.

As Randy posted in June, it is up to each host of each specialty slam to OWN there own show. Along those line I'm asking those who wish to host/organize one of those events to prepare a simple paragraph about the event they wish to do that can be posted here and given out at the next Van Slam meeting in November.

Where possible this paragraph would include which month you wish to do the slam in, top three choices for features and anything particular about how the show will be run (for the prop slam everyone maybe has to use bob's wooden leg or my toupee).

I'm quite curious to see what everyone wishes to do.


Sean




January   
February   Pan-African Showcase
March   The Sistahood Slam
April   
May   The Anarchy Slam
June   
July   The Queer Slam
August   
September   
October   
November   
December   

[RCW]

Does that mean that the Anarchy Slam is now an Alt Slam and not a weird ass freak of nature that pops its head into our regular schedule?

I think either way works.  Just double checking.

[Sean]

I think the anarchy slam is the perfect antedote to finals. If I could, I would schedule it the slam right after finals. Also, I would like to do torrettes without regrets type slam where we give the audience nerf balls to throw at the poets...and make sure that the cafe only serves plastic cup for that evening.

[sue]

Chrystalene and I would like to host another Instant Poetry Slam. We did it in April this year. April 2009 would work fine for us.

[Lisa]

I'd like to do another Erotica slam. I can't commit to doing it before April, though. Anytime after that is OK.