Edmonton Story Slam

Adam suggested I pass this on:

The Bunker Projects presents:
another Edmonton Story Slam (celebrating our 20th event!)
Wednesday, November 21, at the Blue Chair Cafe, 9624 - 76 Avenue
(& the third Wednesday of every month) 
Sign up at 7 p.m., stage opens at 8 p.m.
For details e-mail thebunkerprojects@hotmail.com or call Susan at 1 (780) 682-2559.
Special event: Exposure Festival's Queer Slam, Nov. 28, at the Blue Chair Cafe

 
 

Dear Slammers;

Why would anyone sign up to read their works at a Story Slam? It's not safe. Not comfortable. You sweat. Your breathing gets a little funny. Your insides are a wreck. What if you fail? What if you stand there paralyzed like in that recurring nightmare? You open your mouth; no sounds come out. What if you end up looking like some jerk?

Or worse. What if they don't get your bizarre sense of humour? 

You could stay home with the curtains drawn this Wednesday while others gather to celebrate literature as it comes alive at the Blue Chair Cafe. Or you can bravely sign up at 7 p.m. and share five minutes of your best prose with a welcoming community. Or simply join our audience to witness some of the finest performed prose in Edmonton. Stage opens at 8 p.m. Please arrive early to enjoy dinner and drinks and to ensure you get a seat.

If you haven't been to a Story Slam yet, please join us Wednesday for our 20th monthly Story Slam and celebrate our success as a growing community of talented and dedicated writers/performers. 

Thank you for your participation, support and talent. This is an inspired community worth building.

Please see Story Slam rules and information below.

 
 

Sincerely,

 
 

Susan Hagan, on behalf of The Crew: Alison Hagan and Lisa Gregoire.

 
 

Thank you to the Blue Chair Cafe, Vue Weekly and Tracy Kolenchuk (photos) for your generous support.

 
 

Story Slam Rules: We keep it simple and only use rules that are absolutely vital so writers can express their creativity fully. We reserve the right to tweak the rules, if it becomes logical and necessary, and will enhance the evolution of the event. Our goal, as the caretakers of the Edmonton Story Slam, is to keep the format simple and Story Slam fair and fun.

1. Writers must present their own original stories (no rerun stories).

2. Stop watch starts ticking as soon as contestant begins talking.

3. 5 audience judges are selected by the organizers. Highest and lowest scores are dropped, middle three added together.

4. Times of 5:05 minutes or less, no penalty (5 second grace period). Over 5 minutes and you receive a .5 point penalty for every 10 seconds (or portion) over (ie. 5:11-5:20 = 1 point. 5:51-6 min = 3 points).

5. Gong at seven minutes.

6. Writers names are drawn randomly from a hat for the order of appearance.

7. Highest score after penalty deductions receives ALL audience donations from pass the hat. (Tied high scores share the prize) and is eligible for a spot in Slam Off.

8. Sign up begins at 7 p.m. Cut off when the Slam stage opens/or 10 writers.

9. No props.

10. Past winners are welcome to compete again, but receive only one space in Slam Off.

Also, we encourage writers to present their unpublished stories that contain events which transpire over time. However, this is a strong suggestion only because enforcement becomes really tricky.