Slam Rules

Go in, poet!

• Each poet must perform work for which they are the primary author.
• No props (Referencing or using ANYTHING that is not available to all poets).
• No costumes (Wearing clothing or accessories that are obviously meant to accentuate a poem or that are worn to enhance a specific performance).
• No musical accompaniment or musical instruments.
• Poets who use props, costumes or musical accompaniment will be deducted 2 points.
• Poets have 3 minutes and a grace period of 10 seconds to perform their poem, after which time 0.5 points will be deducted for every 10 seconds or part thereof that they go over.
• A poet’s time starts as soon as they engage the audience. This includes any introduction.
• Group poems are encouraged.
• There will be one sacrificial poet to calibrate the judges before the 1st round.
• The order that the poets will compete in each round will be drawn randomly.
• The slam is two rounds. The top four poets from the 1st round will compete in the 2nd round.

Grand Slam Champ

Each year Guelph sends one poet - our Grand Slam Champion - to compete in the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (CIPS) in Vancouver in April. 

Unfortunately the Vancouver festival and competition is cancelled this year due to the need for social distancing, but we look forward to sending a representative in 2021!

​To qualify for an invitation to compete to represent Guelph at CIPS, a poet has to compete a minimum of three times throughout the season.

Scores

Of the scores the poet receives from the five randomly selected judges, the high and low scores are dropped and the middle three are added together, giving the poet a total score of 30. Poets 1st round and 2nd round scores will be added together for an accumulative score out of 60.

Once each slam has come to a conclusion a final overall ranking based on the poet's accumulative scores and previous ranks is given.