Take the Mic

Table of Contents

Introduction How to Use This Book Companion Book A Note from the Publisher Acknowledgments

Chapter 1: What You Think You Know May Not Be Slam The Big Definition of Slam Poetry What Slam Is and Isn't Poetry and Performance Where Art Thou, Slam?
Finally…Attention and Respect Staged Bouts for Audience Appeal Sowing the Seeds of Slam
"The Points Are Not the Point"
Who's the Best and Who Cares?
Striving for the Best of Both Worlds Performance Poet as Audience Servant New Life for a Dying Art If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 2: Getting into the Spirit of Slam Spoken Word's Long Tradition Battling Bards Oral Tradition's Dark Ages Spoken Word's Rebirth Slam Takes Center Stage Who Inspired This Madness? and Why?
Slam Poetry Goes National Slam Poetry Goes Global Slam Poetry Here and Now The Spirit of Slam: Poetry for the People Breaking Down the Color (and Collar) Barriers The Culture of Democracy If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 3: Slam Competition—Rules, Regulations, and Other Formalities It's a Game, Stupid!
The First Slam Competition Who Says Who Wins?
The Basic Rules of Slam Engagement Perform Your Own Work Three Minutes Is All We Can Stand No Props, Costumes, Trombones, or Other Carry-On Luggage Scoring: 0 to 10 (or Down to Minus Infinity)
The Mean Chicago Rules The Official Emcee Spiel Used at the National Poetry Slams Slams Are Open to All All Styles, Forms, and Subject Matter Are Welcome The Prize Is Not the Point The All-Important Audience Is Always in Control If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 4: Penning the Powerful Slam Poem Once Upon a Slam— Storytelling What's Your Point—Oratory, Poetics, or a Laundry List of Love?
Pop Ideas and Newspaper Politics Write from Experience Seeing Is Believing— Concrete vs. Abstract Language Slam Examples of Concrete Language Abstract Language Exercises Flaccid Phrasing Exercises Too Smart for Your Performance It's Gotta Sound Good, Too Rock to the Rhythm Exercises Old Testament Stanzas Exercise If You Must Rhyme...
The Hip-Hop Line & Rhyme Caution on the Motion—Too Much Rhyming Commotion No Sermons, But If You Must Preach…
All Forms Can Slam If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 5: Confronting Stage Fright— Overcoming the Fear What Is Happening to Me?!?
Slay the Confidence Busters It's Not Natural…It's an Art Is That Text Well-Prepared?
Visualize Success Practice, Practice, Practice Shift Your Focus Breathe Already!
Please Release Me Tricks (or No-Brainers) of the Trade Not Recommended Celebrating Your Slam Virginity, and Then Losing It Confessions of a Virgin Virgin— Joel Chmara Confessions of a Virgin Virgin—Mary Fons Accumulate Stage Time If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 6: Slammin' Fundamentals Engage Entertain Affect The Entertaining Fundamentals Vary the Volume Exercises Classroom Activities Tweak the Tempo Exercises Classroom Activity Articulation Exercise Classroom Activity Breathe Deep and Pause Exercise Classroom Activity Look 'Em in the Eye Exercises Memorization How We Make Memory Deposits Total Recall The Memorization Curve Exercises in Flexing the Memory Muscle If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 7: Body Talk—Shake, Gesture, and Move Warming Up Exercise: Shake Out Exercise: Breathe Exercise: Vocal Warm-Ups Classroom Activity: Warm-Ups Elements of Movement Exercise: In the Bubble Exercise: Catching Butterflies Exercise: Imagine the Stone Exercise: Paint the Reading Room Red Laban's Eight Efforts Exercise: Applying Effort to Your Words Classroom Activity Down to Specific Body Parts Working Out the Kinks Posture and Stance Crossing the Boards Dos & Don'ts of Movement If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 8: Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse Establish a Rehearsal Regimen Set a Rehearsal Schedule Rehearse in Layers Spice It Up with Some Variation Finding Voice, Tone, and Mood through Rehearsal Discovering a Poem's Voice (Character)
Exercise: Exploring a Poem's Voice Discovering a Poem's Tone (Attitude) & Mood (Emotion)
Exercise: Exploring a Poem's Tone and Mood Discovering the Situation and Identifying the Unseen Audience Exercise: Exploring Situation and Audience Classroom Activity Practicing Your Approach: Stepping Up to the Mic Make the Right Approach Use Your Nervous Condition to Your Advantage Hitting Your Mark Exercise: Practicing Your Approach and Stage Movements From Closet to Mirror to Tape Recorder to Friendly Ears Through the Looking Glass Audio Replay Video Replay Recruiting a Critique .
If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 9: Shaping a Performance and a Few More Skills Mastering the Art of Seductive Revelation Enter and Open with a Flair Exercise Hold 'Em Mixing It Up Something Up Your Sleeve From Knee-Slappers to Sidesplitters Spectacle and Visual Accessories Musical Accompaniment and Sound Effects The Edge Closers Underpinning It All: Style and the Subject Matters All Forms Can Slam— Take Two Avoiding Common Performance Clichés Performing in the Zone If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 10: Where and How to Gig Around All the Gigs You Can Do Open Mic Search Bookstore Readings Don't Forget the Slams Performance Venues of Every Variety Nightclubs, Saloons, and Other Informal Venues Late-Night Theater Slammin' in the Schools (Educational Outreach)
Do-It-Yourself Venues (Create Your Own Show)
Performance Poetry Etiquette 101
Look & Listen & Get to Know Behave Yourself, Be Courteous, & Do Your Job Audience Etiquette If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 11: Book Me! Please!
Thinking Like a Marketing Mogul Hitting the Campaign Trail Press Pack Page One and Only One!
In-Depth Résumé
Look at Me!
In the News!
Finally My Poems!
Audio Component The Do-It-Yourself Audio Method Getting a Little Sound Advice Studio Time The Clock's Ticking Aftersounds—Editing and Production Roll 'Em: Filming Your Act Built-In Opportunities Call the Pros Establishing a Web Presence Blog Launch a Website Populate Your Website or Blog with Content Promote Your Website or Blog Explore Social Networks Share Podcasts of Your Performances Post Video Clips on YouTube Low Budget or All-Out Glitz?
Putting the Tools to Work If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 12: Getting the Word Out: Publicizing Your Performance Know What You're Promoting Marketing Materials: Forms That Fit Making a Name (and Logo) for Yourself Cheap, but Effective: Flyers and Postcards Not as Cheap, but Very Effective: Posters Garnering Some Free Press, Radio Time, and Exposure Generating Feature Stories, Interviews, and Media Attention Step 1: Write a Press Release Step 2: Send the Press Release Step 3: Call 'Em Work Your Angle Press the Airwaves More Methods for Getting the Word Out Managing Mailing (and Emailing) Lists Press the Flesh Paid Ads Cool Calls Website Appeal Never Underestimate Word of Mouth If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 13: Taking Your Show on the Road Tour Planning 101
Step 1: East Coast? West Coast? No Coast?
Step 2: Book a Big Gig Step 3: Find More Dots (Gigs) and Connect Them Step 4: Route Your Tour Step 5: Filling in the Gaps Step 6: Get a Ride Step 7: Find a Place to Sleep and Shower Step 8: Promoting Your Tour Step 9: Before You Start the Engine Schmoozing the Bookers, the Waiters, the Ticket Takers Slams and Their Masters Nightclub Owners and Their Managers Buttering Up the Booking Agents Concert Halls—Performing in the Big House Don't Get Set Up to Fail Getting Paid If you remember anything, remember…

Chapter 14: Old-School Advice: Act Professional Oh, Behave!
Keep It Down During a Performance Don't Pull Focus While Others Are Performing Don't Glower No Hoot-and-Holler Cheerleading Keep Conspicuous Negative Opinions to Yourself It's Not Your House Would You Talk That Way to Grandma?
Be Courteous: Nobody Likes a Jerk Final Reminders—Last Bits of Advice Be Prompt: Early Never Hurts Offstage Preparation: Recap Getting the Nerves Out Primping for the Stage Hawking Your Wares Respect Your Audience and Your Fellow Performers If you remember anything, remember…

Appendix A: Slammers:
Performance Poetry Poetry Collections Audio Recordings Anthologies Publishers of Slam Poetry Agents

Appendix B: Books on Poetics & Performing Appendix C: Slammin' Websites Appendix D: PSI—Certified Slams

About the Authors

Marc Smith began the poetry slam over twenty years ago at the Green Mill in Chicago. He is the co-editor of The Spoken Word Revolution and The Spoken Word Revolution Redux. Joe Kraynak has written or co-written dozens of books ranging from computer basics to poetry.

Joe Kraynak has written or co-written dozens of books ranging from computer basics to poetry.