By Marc Kelly Smith, with Joe Kraynak
Stage a Poetry Slam is a comprehensive guide for both budding and seasoned Slammasters — people in charge of organizing and promoting poetry slams and spoken word events. In this book, Marc Kelly Smith takes you back stage to reveal the techniques and strategies he’s picked up over his 20 years plus of developing world-class Slam shows. Stage a Poetry Slam leads you through the process of shaping your own Slam from vision to opening night, as you discover how to…
- Fashion a crystal clear vision that drives the development of your first show
- Plan a detailed itinerary for a Slam extravaganza
- Scope out a venue that fits your vision
- Choose the right stage type for maximum impact
- Deal with the technical stuff — lights, mics, props, & drops
- Recruit and organize emcees, volunteers, and other support
- Discover talented performance poets and spoken word artists
- Publicize and promote your show to attract an eager audience
- Stage special shows for corporate and community events
- Take ownership of your show, so it doesn’t get hijacked
- Negotiate fair compensation with club owners and other patrons of the arts
Stage a Poetry Slam is packed with practical, world-tested advice on how to craft a compelling spoken word poetry event and promote in such a way to pack the seats and leave a line out to the streets.
You’ll also find a brief history of slam, the rules and regulations that govern official slam competitions, and a list of PSI (Poetry Slam, Inc.) Certified Slams, so you always have a place to visit to pick up ideas and talk shop with other Slammasters!
