WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION
My summer adventures this year included a week at the Taos Poetry Circus (always a highlight each year) and a week at Naropa University's Summer Writing Program. The highlight for me at Taos was Sharon Doubiago... I highly recommend her new book Body and Soul (Cedar Hill Publications, 2001) -- and anything else of hers, for that matter. Rumors that my friend Rich and I boycotted the bout between Saul and Sherman are untrue. Yes, we meant to skip it, but did manage to see the last three rounds anyway because it went on sooooo long... truth is, we were just plain tuckered out. Plus ole Sherm's been the champion for four years now! Who is ever going to unseat him? Tag-team Poet Pat Payne was the Circus' "Sleeper Hit." She's a bolt of energy, writes and reads with fabulous diversity, and her basketball poem simply kicked ass. She's also just a wonderful human being and a joy to hang out with. I also attended the panel discussion with Saul, Sharon, and Glenis Redmond Sherer, which was fabulously inspiring due to these poets' abilities to share so much of themselves and respect each other and all of us.

While there, I picked up Renee Gregorio's The Storm that Tames Us (La Alameda Press, 1999) -- another highly recommended read. Her poems focus on finding the balance between independence and love. They are very personal, very authentic, and very beautiful, so much so, that I often can only read one per sitting.

Naropa highlights were Joanne Kyger and Alice Notley. Alice just lost her second husband (poet Douglas Oliver) and manages to place both the despair and reverence into her work without being melancholy. More book recommendations: Mysteries of Small Houses (Viking Penguin, 1998) by Alice and Joanne's newest Again: Poems 1989-2000 (again from La Alameda Press, 2001 -- those guys are on to something!).

THE 3:15 EXPERIMENT
And now, a shameless little plug for a recently released book from The Owl Press called The 3:15 Experiment. The 3:15 Experiment began in 1993 with poets Lee Ann Brown, Danika Dinsmore, Jen Hofer, Kathleen Large, Bernadette Mayer, and Myshel Prasad. It is a yearly collaborative writing experiment that takes place in August each year. Basically, the participants wake up at 3:15 am every morning for the entire month of August and write. The book contains selections from 1993-2000 by Lee Ann, Danika, Jen, and Bernadette. Thanks to Albert Flynn DeSilver (editor and publisher) for his patience in dealing with us and getting it all together.

NATIONAL POETRY SLAM 2001
But, of course, the BIG buzz around here is about the National Poetry Slam 2001, which takes place in Seattle this year from July 31 - August 5. Cheers to Allison Durazzi, Paula Friedrich, Karen Finneyfrock, Gabrielle Bouliane, and all the others (you know who you are) for making it happen. For more information, please write to nps2001@poetryslam.com or call 206.760.1550.

TICKETS
Festival passes and single event tickets may be purchased in advance with check, money order or Visa/MasterCard by mail:

NPS 2001
1122 E. Pike Street, #1166
Seattle, WA 98122

Tickets to the finals at The Paramount Theatre on Saturday night may be purchased from Ticketmaster online or over the phone, and also by walking up to The Paramount Theatre Box Office, 911 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101. Day of show tickets are also available at each of the individual venues (listed below).

Prices are as follows:

• Festival Pass $40
• Members of Eleventh Hour Productions $37
• Youths under 20 w/ID $35
  
  
• Preliminary bouts $5 at the door, each venue (various locations, Wednesday August 1 & Thursday August 2)
  
  
• Team Semi-Finals $10 at the door, each venue (various locations, Friday August 3)
• Individual Semi-Finals $10 at the door (Friday, August 3, King Cat Theater)
• Finals $17 (Saturday, August 4, The Paramount Theatre)

WORKSHOP INFO
For the first time ever, NPS offers a full schedule of workshops, panel discussions and an open forum! We are excited to include a number of the slam community's finest poets who have extensive experience in writing, performing and promoting poetry around the country. Poets and poetry friends of all ages and levels are welcome to participate in these events.

Workshop fees are sliding scale with a $10 suggested cash donation per person, per workshop session. This fee is non-refundable. Panel discussions and open forum are free of charge.

To participate, sign up and pay for the workshops you wish to attend during registration on Wednesday, August 1 at Town Hall from noon-5:00 pm. Spaces are limited, so reserve your place early! Spaces available for late registration may open up 15 minutes prior to the workshop session start time if cancellations have occurred.

EVENT SCHEDULE

TUESDAY, JULY 31

• 11 am-7 pm, continues through Sunday, August 5
  “Poetry Slam - A Sampled Perspective” photo exhibition, David Huang
  Photographer David Huang curated this collection of works by documenters of the poetry slam movement that detail its rich and vibrant history. ArtStar Project [free]
  
  
• 3 pm-5 pm
  Early registration for participants and volunteers
  ArtStar Project [free]
  
  
• 9 pm-1 am
  The James Whiton Combo
  James Whiton, one of the region’s most talented improvisational collaborators, brings together a mix of musicians to jam with select visiting poets. The music is improvisational, but it isn’t jazz. It makes you move your butt around, but it ain’t funk. The vocals are spoken and sung, but it’s not folk. There are hooks, but it isn’t pop. This is a rare opportunity to see some of the best performers show us what live performance can really do! Sit-n-Spin [festival pass or $5]

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1

• Midnight
  World Record Stage, 24-hour open mike, continues through Saturday, August 4. Poets from across Seattle and all points US & Canada make their mark with this world record open mike. Starting at midnight, drop in to hear featured sets or sign up to read your newly-inspired work. Advance sign-ups scheduled every 2 hours on the hour. Open to everyone; sign up for a time slot at The Hurricane Cafe. [Competing poets may only read work not performed in competition.] The Hurricane Café [free]
  
  
• 12 pm-5 pm
  Registration for participants and volunteers
  Town Hall [free]
  
  
• 3 pm-5 pm
  Opening Ceremonies
  Other cities have a poet laureate, but did you know Seattle elects our civic poet? The brainchild of Seattle City Council member Nick Licata: city-wide nominations determine the finalists, and the winner is announced at the annual Seattle Poetry Festival. Nick Licata introduces Seattle’s new Poet Populist, Bart Baxter, in one of his first official appearances! This welcome to Seattle is followed by one-minute introductory poems from each team of poets. Town Hall [free]
  
  
• 8 pm-9:30 pm
  First bouts of preliminary competition. In each of these bouts four cities' teams and two unaffiliated individual competitors face off as they vie for spots in Friday’s semi-final competition. Judges are selected from the audience. Venues listed below [festival pass or $5 at the door each venue]
  
  
• 10 pm-11:30 pm
  Second bouts of preliminary competition. Venues listed below [festival pass or $5 at the door each venue]

  Theatre Off Jackson, Northwest Asian American Theatre
  New Orleans Creole Restaurant
  Zasu
  Doc Maynard’s
  Contour
  Sit-n-Spin
  ReBar

• Midnight-1:30 am
  Cover Slam
  A karaoke version of the poetry slam! Bring a poem written by someone you love (or hate) and perform it in the original author's style. Imagine Stacey Ann Chin covering a Wammo poem and you see how terribly amusing it all is! Hosted by Slam America's power couple Shappy and Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz (Shaptowicz!)!!! Sit-n-Spin [festival pass or $3]
  
  
• Midnight-1:30 am
  Down There Erotic Poetry Showcase
  Seattle’s beloved ravishing redhead Gabrielle Bouliane hosts this showcase of national talents performing their steamiest works. Contour [festival pass or $5 at the door]
  
  
• Don’t want to sleep? Drop in at the World Record Stage’s 24 hour open mike! Hurricane Café [free]

THURSDAY, AUGUST 2

• 10 am-11 am
  Home Alive presents: “Teaching Tools for a Life Free from Violence and Hate”
  This workshop will cover safety planning, awareness, basic strikes and getting out of common grabs. Participants will learn boundary-setting skills with both strangers and familiar people in our lives. A SlamSister program. Downtown Seattle YMCA gymnasium [pay what you can, $10 suggested donation]
  
  
• 11:30 am-1 pm
  SlamSisters Meeting
  SlamSisters is a national arts organization supporting and promoting the empowerment of female writers, performers and slam competitors. Downtown Seattle YMCA [open to members]
  
  
• Noon-1 pm
  Workshop: “Monologues”
  Presenter: Ray McNiece
  A descriptive writing exercise -- meeting with remarkable people -- provides an opportunity to write from their shoes, to experience the same scene from their perspective. We will then find the center of that character and explore the dynamics of a mini-play. ArtStar Project [pay what you can, $10 suggested donation]
  
  
• 1 pm-2 pm
  Workshop: “The Art of Haiku: Performance, Precision and Daily Practice”
  Presenter: Aaron Yamaguchi
  A hands-on workshop working with the ancient and contemporary forms of haiku from performance to the art of seeing and applying it as a daily practitioner. Downtown Seattle YMCA [pay what you can, $10 suggested donation]
  
  
• 1:30 pm-3 pm
  “WordWoman: an act of Evolution”
  SlamSisters invites you to join us in this open reading celebration of the craft, tradition and voice of the women poets of Slam who paved the way for those of us attending/participating in NPS 2001. Hosted by Lynne Procope and Cheryl Latif. All sisters who have been past participants of NPS are invited to donate copies of their books to the reading so that this generation of sister slammers can share in your words. We're each reading a poem of our own and one poem by a woman slammer whose poetry touched our pen lives over the years. All books will be donated to the library of a women’s correctional facility in the Seattle area. This mix of showcased performers and open mike starts sign ups 30 minutes prior. New Orleans Creole Restaurant [free]
  
  
• 1:30 pm-3 pm
  “First there was the WORD...then there was the FIST!”
  This event highlights the oral tradition of storytelling and poetry as a fundamental medium for creating culture, preserving history, transforming community, and self. Hosted by isangmahal arts kollective. This mix of showcased performers and open mike starts sign ups 30 minutes prior. Theatre Off Jackson, Northwest Asian American Theatre [free]
  
  
• 2 pm-3:30 pm
  Panel Discussion: “Coaching a Poetry Slam Team”
  Panelists share their experiences with and tips for coaching a poetry slam team. Q&A to follow if time allows. ArtStar Project [free]
  
  
• 3:30 pm-5 pm
  “Comin' Up”
  The Teen Speakinest Slam this side of the Mississippi. Hosted by Buddy Wakefield & Seeking. Sign ups start 30 minutes prior. New Orleans Creole Restaurant [free]
  
  
• 3:30 pm-5 pm
  “Poesia En Fuego! Poetry on Fire”
  The Poesia En Fuego! showcase brings together the finest Latino performance poets in the world for a DNA-changing poetry explosion. Come hear poetic soul cries from the heart of Aztlan, la Isla de Borinque, Sur America, Espana and beyond. All Latino and Latina poets, musicians, comedians, warriors etc. are welcome to come and read/perform their truth. Limited sign up, please arrive 30 minutes early if you wish to perform! Hosted by Amalia Ortiz and Danny Solis. The Central Tavern [free]
  
  
• 4 pm-6 pm
  Soft Skull Press author showcase
  Birthed in the back of a Manhattan copy shop, Soft Skull Press is now one of the premiere underground presses in the country. Always stridently independent, Soft Skull has embraced the work of poetry slammers. Performances by seven dynamic poets published by Soft Skull. Reception to follow, courtesy of Soft Skull Press. Hosted by Big Poppa E. ArtStar Project [free]
  
  
• 5 pm-6 pm
  Workshop: “Finding Your Muse”
  Presenter: Elizabeth Thomas
  Do you sit down to write a poem or story and instead play tic-tac-toe with yourself? Has your muse moved in next door? Muse? What muse? In this writing workshop, participants of all ages will unearth the imaginative spirit that dwells in each of us (sometimes we gently prod it with the tips of our fingers, sometimes we hit it over the head with a shovel). Using a variety of creative prompts, we will write and share our work with each other. The workshop is designed to be stimulating and fun. It is open to all ages and levels of writing. Downtown Seattle YMCA [pay what you can, $10 suggested donation]
  
  
• 8 pm-9:30 pm
  The second round of preliminary competition pits teams against all-new lineups. Cumulative scores and rankings determine which cities make it to the team semi-finals on Friday. Judges are selected from the audience. Venues listed below [festival pass or $5 at the door each venue]
  
  
• 10-11:30 pm
  Second bouts of preliminary competition. Venues listed below [festival pass or $5 at the door each venue]

  Theatre Off Jackson, Northwest Asian American Theatre
  New Orleans Creole Restaurant
  Zasu
  Doc Maynard’s
  The Crocodile Cafe
  Sit-n-Spin
  ReBar

• Midnight-1:30 am
  Karaoke Night
  Join your Vancouver hosts Cass “Bohemian Rhapsody” King and Shane “Shaft” Koyczan for the infamous cavalcade of fools that is Karaoke night. No poetry allowed. Good pitch not required. Dress up real swell. Beware of flying produce. Sign ups start 30 minutes prior. Sit-n-Spin [festival pass or $3 at the door]
  
  
• Midnight-1:30 am
  Hip Hop Showcase
  Limited sign ups available, starting 30 minutes prior. The Crocodile Café [festival pass or $3 at the door]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3

• 10 am-11 am
  Workshop: “Teaching and Critiquing Performance Poetry”
  Presenter: Jeff Kass
  This workshop provides basic lesson plans for effectively teaching high school students how to write and perform poems. Participants explore techniques for mentoring students in critiquing their work and developing their voices. Downtown Seattle YMCA [pay what you can, $10 suggested donation]
  
  
• 11 am-1 pm
  SlamMasters Meeting
  This is a special meeting of the slammaster membership level (i.e. the local affiliated organizers of poetry slams) of Poetry Slam Incorporated. Some business from the annual March meeting will take place here in preparation for Saturday’s Slam Family meeting. Agenda furnished separately by PSI. Downtown Seattle YMCA [open to members]
  
  
• 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
  Workshop: “Couches Across America: Organizing and Promoting a Performance Poetry Tour”
  Presenter: Big Poppa E
  Steps on doing it. Stories from the road. How to build a press kit. ArtStar Project [pay what you can, $10 suggested donation]
  
  
• 1:30 pm-3 pm
  Fifth Wheel Slam
  Is it true those who can, do, and those who can't…coach? See for yourself! The fifth wheel slam competitors are the alternates and coaches from competing NPS teams. At one of the most popular side events of the NPS, see next year's stars be born! Your host, Michael Salinger. Sign ups start 30 minutes prior. New Orleans Creole Restaurant [free]
  
  
• 1:30 pm-3 pm
  “Transmissions”
  Poetry and spoken word on HIV and AIDS. AIDS has cut through a diverse array of communities. “Transmissions” brings us together -- participate as audience or tell your story. Be a part of how poetry and spoken word can heal. A collection will be taken in support of a local HIV/AIDS charity. Open to all, with a few special guests and hosts The Svelte Ms. Spelt and Marcus Rene Van. The Central Tavern [free]
  
  
• 2 pm-3:30 pm
  Panel Discussion presented by SlamSisters: “Safety on the Road”
  Members of The Morrigan give tips for safety on tour. The Morrigan’s Wandering Uterus Tour has criss-crossed American for three years. Other panelists TBA. ArtStar Project [free]
  
  
• 3:30 pm-5 pm
  Queer Showcase
  Come out to the Queer Showcase for a stunning presentation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans talent! Sign up to read, or just be dazzled. It's sure to be faaaabulous! Sign ups start 30 minutes prior. Hosted by Tara Hardy and Reggie Cabico. New Orleans Creole Restaurant [free]
  
  
• 3:30 pm-5 pm
  Slammasters Slam
  Depending on who you talk to, slammasters are either brilliant local organizers with a head for strategy or frustrated slammers who didn't make the team this year but who still love telling people what to do. Either way, watch them battle it out under the supervision of the original score creep himself, Taylor Mali. Sign ups start 30 minutes prior. The Central Tavern [free]
  
  
• 4 pm-6 pm
  “Road Warriors”
  If you missed them when they were in your town, here's your chance to catch the poets who've been burning rubber across the country -- all in one reading! Come reset your odometer with 75 mph poetry with members of the Ignition Tour, The Morrigan, Good Sista/Bad Sista, E-I-E-I-O the Humanity Tour, and Slam America's ringleader, Gary Glazner. ArtStar Project [free]
  
  
• 5 pm-6 pm
  Workshop: “How Big is Your Voice?”
  Presenter: Shailja Patel
  Participants will access and explore voices that are silenced: in themselves, in their community/family, and across the world. We will discuss the wider responsibility of calling out silenced voices in all the spaces we occupy and platforms we speak from as poets. Exercises will include movement, mime, breathwork, brainstorming, and commitment to concrete action steps outside the workshop. Expect to come away with the first draft of at least one new poem, and the genesis for several more. Downtown Seattle YMCA [pay what you can, $10 suggested donation]
  
  
• 7:30 pm-8:30 pm
  Exhibition rounds: 2 teams go head to head for bragging rights! The Crocodile Cafe, ReBar, Sit-n-Spin [festival pass or $10 each venue]
  
  
• 9 pm-10:30 pm
  Team Semi-Finals: The top 16 teams duke it out -- each bout’s winners advance to Saturday night’s finals competition. King Cat Theater, The Crocodile Cafe, ReBar, Sit-n-Spin [festival pass or $10 each venue]
  
  
• 11 pm-12:30 am
  Individual Semi-Finals: The nation’s top 10 performance poets go 2 rounds to earn a spot in Saturday’s finals competition! King Cat Theater [festival pass or $10]
  
  
• 11 pm-1:30 am
  “No Poetry Allowed.” Crocodile Café [festival pass or $7 at the door]
  
  
• Can’t sleep? Get some hot milk and read your best sheep-counting poem at the World Record Stage 24 hour open mike at The Hurricane Café.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4

• 11 am-1 pm
  Slam Family Meeting
  The annual meeting of the membership of Poetry Slam Incorporated, the body overseeing poetry slams worldwide. Agenda furnished to members separately by PSI. Downtown Seattle YMCA [open to members]
  
  
• Got more to say? Drop in at the World Record Stage 24 hour open mike at The Hurricane Café!
  
  
• 1:30 pm-3 pm
  “Head-to-Head Haiku”
  Head to Head Haiku is where performance poetry meets the tea ceremony. Purists say that it should really be “Toe to Toe Tanka,” but what do they know? To compete you'd need about 40 haiku, the luck to have your name picked out of the paper bag of hopefuls, and a sense of humor. In reverse order. The Central Tavern [free]
  
  
• 1:30 pm-3 pm
  “Poets Who Were Warriors”
  Wars should be fought with words, not guns. Come see the Native American poet war. As warring tribes once did, two teams of champions try to sway the people to their side to win the battle. Limited spaces, sign up 30 minutes in advance. With hosts Tamara Vining and Thomas Hubbard. The Central Tavern [free]
  
  
• 2 pm-3 pm
  Workshop: “So Real It's Surreal: A Writing & Creativity Workshop”
  Presenter: Michael Salinger
  Whether you are a seasoned writer with publications under your belt or a newcomer to creative writing, these prompts, games, and exercises based on surrealist parlor games will give a free rein to creativity. Subjects covered include: understanding and creating imagery and metaphor; narrative structure; editing, and the stream of conscious activity. Downtown Seattle YMCA [pay what you can, $10 suggested donation]
  
  
• 2 pm-3:30 pm
  Open Forum: Hosting a Poetry Slam Venue
  Ever wonder about what it takes to run a poetry slam? What issues are important to slam organizers? From promoting your weekly slams and organizing your featured performances to dealing with those hilarious or unusual moments, this is the open forum for slam organizers and poets from all over the country to come together in a moderated discussion. ArtStar Project [free]
  
  
• 3:30 pm-5 pm
  Group Pieces
  Austin Slammaster Mike Henry and San Antonio Slammaster Phil West, two of the biggest proponents of group pieces around, invite all poets with multiple-voice poems to participate in this showcase. Last year's inaugural showcase included an encore performance of the '98 Dallas Team's “Superheroes,” group poems by many of the 2000 competitors, and chestnuts from years past. Group pieces are categorically electric and dynamic and they'll cure your allergies. Sign ups start 30 minutes prior. The Central Tavern [free]
  
  
• 3:30 pm-5 pm
  “Chocolate City”
  Fasten your seat belts as we move coast to coast and points in between for a glimpse at black life in the new millennium. “Chocolate City” showcases the nation’s top African American spoken word artists. Hosted by Al Letson. The New Orleans Creole Restaurant [free]
  
  
• Inspired? Join the last few hours of the World Record Stage 24 hour open mike at The Hurricane Café.
  
  
• 8 pm
  NATIONAL POETRY SLAM FINALS
  After a week of elimination rounds, the nation’s top 4 teams and 6 individual competitors share the stage in this final performance with a shot at some serious prize money. This is poetry, experienced. Plus, for the first time ever, a special award presentation honoring the poet(s) who have exemplified “The Spirit of the Slam.” The Paramount Theatre [festival pass with ticket or $17]

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5

• 10 am-4 pm
  Cook out
  Poets and volunteers take a day off to appreciate our extended poetry slam family until we see each other again in Minneapolis next year. Bring games, poems, chapbooks, and a big heart. Magnolia Park [free with festival pass]

VENUE LOCATIONS

• ArtStar ,1020 1st Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98134
• Contour, 1st & Columbia, Seattle, WA 98104
• Crocodile Café, 2200 2nd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121
• Doc Maynard's, 610 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104
• King Cat Theater, 2130 6th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121
• ReBar, 1114 Howell Street, Seattle, WA 98101
• Sit n Spin, 2219 4th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121
• The New Orleans Creole Restaurant, 114 1st Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104
• The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101
• Theatre Off Jackson, Northwest Asian American Theatre, 409 7th Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104
• Zasu, 608 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104

Danika Dinsmore