London's Poetry Slam is a knockout
When Elyse Maltin decided
London needed a poetry slam in
November 2007, she had no idea it
would continue to bring success
and stir the creative minds in the
city. Every month since it began in
February 2008, the London Poetry
Slam has been going strong.
"It started out originally at the Alex P. Keaton (bar), which only had room for 30 people," said Melissa Krone, the Director of the London Poetry Slam. "The first slam was originally going to be a single event, but it was so successful that Mark Kulmala, who manages the APK, suggested we make it monthly."
Though it has moved locations throughout the years — from the APK to the Black Shire Pub on Talbot to the London Music Club on Colborne — the Slam has finally found a permanent home at the London Music Hall, located at 178 Dundas St., which has enough room to house the large crowds the finals draw.
"At every slam, we host a feature poet that we have selected because of their influence on the spoken word scene, and so that the slams are not only a place where Londoners can share their own work, but where they can be exposed to many forms of spoken word poetry," said Krone. The London Arts Council supports the LPS with a grant to pay for venue rentals and to bring in feature performers.
Krone added that they handpick random audience members to judge the slam, preferably one person who has never attended a slam before.
"This is because the slam movement is really about saying that it doesn't matter where you come from, or whether you 'get' poetry. Everyone is welcome and has a valid opinion about what moves them. That's why the focus is on the connection between the poet and the audience. People can share their unique views and experiences of the world and the audience gives back to the poets."
Along with critiquing, audience participation is always appreciated, added Krone. "We encourage audience members to make their thoughts known, whether it's by shouting, clapping, snapping or moaning when a line moves them, or by cheering and jeering at the scores!"
London Poetry Slam participants have been recognized on the national stage. The first team was sent to the National Slam in Vancouver in October 2009.
Along with monthly slams, the LPS now offers free workshops on Saturdays after the event in The Palace Theatre on Dundas Street. Krone said she hopes to develop London's poetry community, and "the workshops are helping us to accomplish that. We have some of the country's most recognized spoken word poets out to feature our slam, and we hope to build our audience enough so that we can place a bid host the 2014 National Slam, which is part of the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word."
"We have until October 2012 to double our audience," she added, so Fanshawe students, show your support! Krone stated that they are hosting a special slam at Fanshawe College on October 19, which she hopes will awaken the poet in every college student.
"We are currently fundraising to send our team to represent London at Nationals this October in Toronto. The National Slam is only a small part of the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, which takes place October 11 to 15.
So grab your journal and head to the upcoming monthly poetry slam at the London Music Hall at 178 Dundas St. on September 16. You never know where your words and rhymes will take you!
For more information or to volunteer, email Melissa Krone at londonpoetryslam@gmail.com and check out londonpoetryslam.ca. The next slam is Friday, September 16, and all slam participants meet on the third Friday of every month. Workshops are held 12 to 2 p.m. on the day after the slam at the Palace Theatre, free of charge. Everyone is welcome and donations are appreciated.
"It started out originally at the Alex P. Keaton (bar), which only had room for 30 people," said Melissa Krone, the Director of the London Poetry Slam. "The first slam was originally going to be a single event, but it was so successful that Mark Kulmala, who manages the APK, suggested we make it monthly."
Though it has moved locations throughout the years — from the APK to the Black Shire Pub on Talbot to the London Music Club on Colborne — the Slam has finally found a permanent home at the London Music Hall, located at 178 Dundas St., which has enough room to house the large crowds the finals draw.
"At every slam, we host a feature poet that we have selected because of their influence on the spoken word scene, and so that the slams are not only a place where Londoners can share their own work, but where they can be exposed to many forms of spoken word poetry," said Krone. The London Arts Council supports the LPS with a grant to pay for venue rentals and to bring in feature performers.
Krone added that they handpick random audience members to judge the slam, preferably one person who has never attended a slam before.
"This is because the slam movement is really about saying that it doesn't matter where you come from, or whether you 'get' poetry. Everyone is welcome and has a valid opinion about what moves them. That's why the focus is on the connection between the poet and the audience. People can share their unique views and experiences of the world and the audience gives back to the poets."
Along with critiquing, audience participation is always appreciated, added Krone. "We encourage audience members to make their thoughts known, whether it's by shouting, clapping, snapping or moaning when a line moves them, or by cheering and jeering at the scores!"
London Poetry Slam participants have been recognized on the national stage. The first team was sent to the National Slam in Vancouver in October 2009.
Along with monthly slams, the LPS now offers free workshops on Saturdays after the event in The Palace Theatre on Dundas Street. Krone said she hopes to develop London's poetry community, and "the workshops are helping us to accomplish that. We have some of the country's most recognized spoken word poets out to feature our slam, and we hope to build our audience enough so that we can place a bid host the 2014 National Slam, which is part of the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word."
"We have until October 2012 to double our audience," she added, so Fanshawe students, show your support! Krone stated that they are hosting a special slam at Fanshawe College on October 19, which she hopes will awaken the poet in every college student.
"We are currently fundraising to send our team to represent London at Nationals this October in Toronto. The National Slam is only a small part of the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, which takes place October 11 to 15.
So grab your journal and head to the upcoming monthly poetry slam at the London Music Hall at 178 Dundas St. on September 16. You never know where your words and rhymes will take you!
For more information or to volunteer, email Melissa Krone at londonpoetryslam@gmail.com and check out londonpoetryslam.ca. The next slam is Friday, September 16, and all slam participants meet on the third Friday of every month. Workshops are held 12 to 2 p.m. on the day after the slam at the Palace Theatre, free of charge. Everyone is welcome and donations are appreciated.
