National Poetry Slams

The art of competitive performance poetry, known as poetry slams, is a fairly recent development. Developed in 1986 by Marc Smith in Chicago, the phenomenon of poetry slams spread quickly in only a couple of years. Today, National Poetry Slams are held annually in August in which teams of poets compete against each other.

The first of the National Poetry Slams was held in San Francisco, and was won by Patricia Smith, now one of the famous black female poets. Subsequent National Slams have been hosted in Boston, New York, and, most recently, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Currently, the competition is limited to 80 teams, each of which must pay a $400 fee to gain entry into the event, as well as being a member of Poetry Slam, Inc. and winning at least 2 certified poetry slams. Poetry slams, especially national or regional ones, are known for the high degree of audience participation. The audience in a poetry slam is encouraged to boo or cheer a performer, such that unpopular poets may be forced to leave the stage. Judges will also review poets, giving them a score from 1 to 10.

The winners of the most recent of the National Poetry Slams in 2009 was the St. Paul, Minnesota team Soap Boxing, who beat three other finalists to win the coveted title and trophy. The National Poetry Slam trophy, up to this point, had yet to rest in the state of Minnesota, making the team an unlikely winner. The audience for the National Poetry Slam has yet to peak, with audiences numbering at least 15,000 people over the course of the 5-day event.