RULES
Everyone is welcome on the Berkeley Slam stage — you don’t need to be a seasoned poet to compete. We welcome singers, rappers, comedians, and all other word artists who are bringing original work! All we ask is that you respect the mic and your fellow artists. Keep it to three minutes, keep it honest, keep it original, and we can all be friends!
The slam takes place every Wednesday, rain or shine, except on major holidays and on the rare occasion St. Patrick’s Day lands on a Wednesday. (Apparently, drunk people who like to think they’re Irish don’t want to hear poetry in an Irish pub on that day. Who knew?).
SIGN UP
We take twelve poets in each slam. The sign up list goes out on the stage at 7:30pm on the dot and stays out until 8:15pm. The twelve poets are randomly selected, not first come/first serve, so you may not make the list every week you sign up! (We have very little sympathy for complainers who “didn’t know.” It says so right on the sign up list. Three times). Worried about making the list? Come to our pre-show writing workshop! It’s right on the stage at 6:30pm every week before the show, and four people from the workshop automatically get on the list.
RULES FOR COMPETING
(1) — Poems
One original poem per round, with a time limit of 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Time begins at first utterance (aka as soon as you start talking, whether or not you're starting your poem), but if you’re being a total clown and wasting our time, we’ll start the clock early.
Poets lose 0.1 points per second over time and will be played off stage by the band or DJ if they are still reading after 4 minutes. If poets refuse to leave the stage after we begin playing them off, we get the audience to start clapping until they go. It’s very embarrassing for everyone.
(2) — Content
Like the spiel says, the Berkeley Slam is a free speech zone, and we don’t try to control or censor poets. However, freedom of speech is not freedom of accountability, so just because you can say it doesn’t mean you should, or that you won’t face repercussions for doing so. We reserve the right to remove a poet from stage if they are dangerously intoxicated or performing hate speech, and to make judgment calls about giving that poet stage time again in the future. Also, we won’t protect you from irate audience members unless they get violent (and even then, we ain’t putting our faces in front of their fists to protect your face).
Singing and rapping are allowed, but the use of musical accompaniment, costumes (things you wear to influence the audience beyond your poem itself), props (things you use to influence the audience beyond your poem itself), or nudity will result in disqualification. Nudity will probably get you booted from the bar; our bartender doesn’t cotton to such hijinks, and you do not want to see a large bald man vaulting the bar to chase you out the door.
For most slams, group pieces are allowed, but all poets in the group must perform in both rounds.
(3) — Judging and Scoring
Five judges are picked from the audience. Poems are judged on a 10-point scale from 0.0 to 10.0. High and low scores are dropped, and the middle three scores are added. The bonus point for Word of the Day may be earned in the first round only and only if the word is integrated into the body of the poem (not awkwardly thrown in at the beginning or end with no context).
Keep in mind that judges can be opinionated assholes or just plain drunk. They may decide they don’t like the look of you. If you can’t handle being judged by people who aren’t as pretty, as smart, or as talented as you are, grow a thicker skin or work on your indifference and come back when you can handle their response. Always remember: The point is not the points. The point is the poetry.
(4) — Best Written Poem
.... But we all know the points rarely reflect the poetry, so that's why we let the audience get involved. During the break, the audience can write in votes for the best written poem of the first round. What does that mean? It's up to any individual audience member! The votes are tallied at the end of the break and the overall winner is guaranteed a spot in the second round, even if they didn't score high enough, plus some kind of weird prize.
(5) — Format
Open slams have two rounds. Twelve poets read in the first round. The top five scoring poets make it into the second round, plus a potential sixth poet via best written poem votes. Scores are cumulative across all rounds.
There is a break between the first and second rounds. Visit the bar, hit the bathroom, get some eats, smoke whatever you smoke. All we ask is that anyone outside please use their inside voices; the bar’s in a residential area, kids! As for poets, if you don't make the second round, don't just leave at the break and skip the rest of the slam — it's not against the rules, but it's what's technically known as a "dick move."
(6) — Prizes and Points1st place: $50, 4 points in standings
2nd place: $30, 3 points in the standings
3rd place: $20, 2 points in the standings
Anyone else in the second round: 1 point in the standings.
Poets do not earn points during theme slams or when they perform group pieces.
(7) — No Repeat Rule
Poets who win a qualifying slam cannot repeat the pieces they used in competition until semifinals/finals of that year. Theme slams and Indie/WOWPS finals are exempt from this rule (with the exception of New Shit Slams, obviously). You can check our list of burned poems for the season here.
(8) — Have fun!
The more you participate in the slam, the more you’ll get from it! Good-natured heckling from the audience is encouraged, but intimidation and cruelty are not welcome. It takes a lot of nerve to get up on stage, so please support all of the performers!
Audience: The more energy you give the poets, the more energy you get back. Performers feed off your love and adoration (or applause and screaming). You are guaranteed to get more value for your buck if you participate in the show, clap loudly, laugh, cry, scream occasionally, and respond to lines you think are hot!
Poets: You’re in a bar. People talk in bars. Some people talk very loudly and don’t care about your feelings. Your job is to get the audience to pay attention to you. It’s your three minutes to be the star of the show, the belle of the ball, the whatever in the wherever! Make it count!
Everyone: Please support the features and support the bar! Our features come in from all over the world. Have you seen the price of plane tickets these days?! The slam ain’t paying for travel! We pay our rent to the bar by buying beer and food. Please take the time to buy at least one drink (they have nonalcoholic beverages, too!), and the food is banging. Also, did you know that booze makes poetry sound better? It’s a scientific fact.
The slam takes place every Wednesday, rain or shine, except on major holidays and on the rare occasion St. Patrick’s Day lands on a Wednesday. (Apparently, drunk people who like to think they’re Irish don’t want to hear poetry in an Irish pub on that day. Who knew?).
SIGN UP
We take twelve poets in each slam. The sign up list goes out on the stage at 7:30pm on the dot and stays out until 8:15pm. The twelve poets are randomly selected, not first come/first serve, so you may not make the list every week you sign up! (We have very little sympathy for complainers who “didn’t know.” It says so right on the sign up list. Three times). Worried about making the list? Come to our pre-show writing workshop! It’s right on the stage at 6:30pm every week before the show, and four people from the workshop automatically get on the list.
RULES FOR COMPETING
(1) — Poems
One original poem per round, with a time limit of 3 minutes and 10 seconds. Time begins at first utterance (aka as soon as you start talking, whether or not you're starting your poem), but if you’re being a total clown and wasting our time, we’ll start the clock early.
Poets lose 0.1 points per second over time and will be played off stage by the band or DJ if they are still reading after 4 minutes. If poets refuse to leave the stage after we begin playing them off, we get the audience to start clapping until they go. It’s very embarrassing for everyone.
(2) — Content
Like the spiel says, the Berkeley Slam is a free speech zone, and we don’t try to control or censor poets. However, freedom of speech is not freedom of accountability, so just because you can say it doesn’t mean you should, or that you won’t face repercussions for doing so. We reserve the right to remove a poet from stage if they are dangerously intoxicated or performing hate speech, and to make judgment calls about giving that poet stage time again in the future. Also, we won’t protect you from irate audience members unless they get violent (and even then, we ain’t putting our faces in front of their fists to protect your face).
Singing and rapping are allowed, but the use of musical accompaniment, costumes (things you wear to influence the audience beyond your poem itself), props (things you use to influence the audience beyond your poem itself), or nudity will result in disqualification. Nudity will probably get you booted from the bar; our bartender doesn’t cotton to such hijinks, and you do not want to see a large bald man vaulting the bar to chase you out the door.
For most slams, group pieces are allowed, but all poets in the group must perform in both rounds.
(3) — Judging and Scoring
Five judges are picked from the audience. Poems are judged on a 10-point scale from 0.0 to 10.0. High and low scores are dropped, and the middle three scores are added. The bonus point for Word of the Day may be earned in the first round only and only if the word is integrated into the body of the poem (not awkwardly thrown in at the beginning or end with no context).
Keep in mind that judges can be opinionated assholes or just plain drunk. They may decide they don’t like the look of you. If you can’t handle being judged by people who aren’t as pretty, as smart, or as talented as you are, grow a thicker skin or work on your indifference and come back when you can handle their response. Always remember: The point is not the points. The point is the poetry.
(4) — Best Written Poem
.... But we all know the points rarely reflect the poetry, so that's why we let the audience get involved. During the break, the audience can write in votes for the best written poem of the first round. What does that mean? It's up to any individual audience member! The votes are tallied at the end of the break and the overall winner is guaranteed a spot in the second round, even if they didn't score high enough, plus some kind of weird prize.
(5) — Format
Open slams have two rounds. Twelve poets read in the first round. The top five scoring poets make it into the second round, plus a potential sixth poet via best written poem votes. Scores are cumulative across all rounds.
There is a break between the first and second rounds. Visit the bar, hit the bathroom, get some eats, smoke whatever you smoke. All we ask is that anyone outside please use their inside voices; the bar’s in a residential area, kids! As for poets, if you don't make the second round, don't just leave at the break and skip the rest of the slam — it's not against the rules, but it's what's technically known as a "dick move."
(6) — Prizes and Points1st place: $50, 4 points in standings
2nd place: $30, 3 points in the standings
3rd place: $20, 2 points in the standings
Anyone else in the second round: 1 point in the standings.
Poets do not earn points during theme slams or when they perform group pieces.
(7) — No Repeat Rule
Poets who win a qualifying slam cannot repeat the pieces they used in competition until semifinals/finals of that year. Theme slams and Indie/WOWPS finals are exempt from this rule (with the exception of New Shit Slams, obviously). You can check our list of burned poems for the season here.
(8) — Have fun!
The more you participate in the slam, the more you’ll get from it! Good-natured heckling from the audience is encouraged, but intimidation and cruelty are not welcome. It takes a lot of nerve to get up on stage, so please support all of the performers!
Audience: The more energy you give the poets, the more energy you get back. Performers feed off your love and adoration (or applause and screaming). You are guaranteed to get more value for your buck if you participate in the show, clap loudly, laugh, cry, scream occasionally, and respond to lines you think are hot!
Poets: You’re in a bar. People talk in bars. Some people talk very loudly and don’t care about your feelings. Your job is to get the audience to pay attention to you. It’s your three minutes to be the star of the show, the belle of the ball, the whatever in the wherever! Make it count!
Everyone: Please support the features and support the bar! Our features come in from all over the world. Have you seen the price of plane tickets these days?! The slam ain’t paying for travel! We pay our rent to the bar by buying beer and food. Please take the time to buy at least one drink (they have nonalcoholic beverages, too!), and the food is banging. Also, did you know that booze makes poetry sound better? It’s a scientific fact.