Griot Slam

Get ready for an unforgettable night of raw talent and spoken word at the Griot’s Poetry Slam! This high-energy event brings together 12 of the most powerful voices in poetry to compete for $2,000 in cash prizes. Hosted by the dynamic Bluz (aka Boris Rogers), the slam will take you on a journey of passion, creativity, and connection. Whether you’re a poetry lover or new to the scene, this is a night you won’t want to miss. Grab your tickets, and be part of the magic as poets battle it out in three intense rounds, where every word counts.

Are you ready to take the stage and show the world what you’ve got? The Griot’s Poetry Slam is calling for all wordsmiths, performers, and storytellers to step up and compete for $2,000 in cash prizes. This is your chance to deliver powerful poetry in front of a live audience and expert judges. With 3 rounds, 12 poets, and only one winner, every line, every word, every breath matters. Bring your best—because the competition is fierce, and the stakes are high!

Slam Rules:

Original Work Only: All poems must be original and written by the performer.

Time Limit: Each poem must be 3 minutes or less, with a 10-second grace period. After that, points will be deducted.

No Props, Costumes, or Music: The performance must be just you and your words—no background music, props, or costumes allowed.

Judging Criteria: Poets will be judged on content, delivery, and overall impact, with scores ranging from 0.0 to 10.0.

3 Rounds: There will be three rounds of performances. The highest-scoring poets will advance after each round until one winner is crowned.

Prizes: Cash prizes will be awarded to the top 3 performers.

Respect the Stage: All performances must be respectful to fellow poets, judges, and the audience

Poetry Slam Structure:

Order of Performance:

Round 1:

All poets’ names will be entered into a randomizer to determine the order of performances for the first and final round.

Poets will perform in the order drawn, and each performance will be scored by the judges.

The top 8 poets with the highest scores advance to the second round.

* If there is a two-way for the 8th place both poets will be in a three way head to head. So it will be 8av8bv4, 3v5, 2v6, 1v7.

Round 2 – Head-to-Head Battles:

The second round will be structured as head-to-head matchups based on rankings from the first round.

Poets will be paired based on their rankings, with the highest-ranked poet deciding who performs first.

The matchups will proceed in this order:

4 vs 5

3 vs 6

2 vs 7

1 vs 8

The winners of these head-to-head battles will move on to the final round.

Final Round:

The remaining 4 poets will perform in a random order (determined by another randomizer that will happen before the slam starts) if they made it to this round.

The judges will watch all 4 performances, then rank the poets based on their performances in this round. The poet with the highest average ranking from the judges will win the competition. In case of a tie, the judges will deliberate and vote on the poet who they believe deserves to win.

Judging:

Judges will score poets based on content, delivery, and overall impact in the first and second rounds. In the final round, instead of scoring, they will rank the poets from best to least effective.

Prizes:

1st Place: $1,000

2nd Place: $500

3rd Place: $250

Poem of the Night: $250 (awarded to the highest-ranked poet who didn’t place in the top 3).

Poem of the Night:

Poem of the Night is a special award given to the poet who delivers an unforgettable performance but doesn’t place in the top 3. This honor goes to the poet who captivates the audience and judges with their unique style, passion, or creativity, ensuring that even if they don’t take home a top spot, their words still resonate. The Poem of the Night will receive a $250 prize, recognizing the power and impact of their performance.

Mentimeter Ranking System:Audience participation will play a crucial role in selecting the Poem of the Night! After all poets have performed, you’ll have the opportunity to rank each performance using the Mentimeter Ranking System. Each poet’s name and round number will appear, and you’ll rank them based on their performance. The poet with the highest audience ranking—who doesn’t place in the top 3—will win the Poet of the Night award and take home a $250 prize. Your vote matters, so be sure to participate and help us crown the crowd favorite!