Description

Bemidji, MN - Add this to your New Year's resolutions list: It's time to get your poems ready for Watermark Art Center's first slam of 2025 happening on February 20 and held at Fozzie's Smokin' BBQ at 114 3rd Street NW, Bemidji. 

The slam is FREE to participate and FREE to watch. Cash prizes will be given to the top three performers. Live music will begin at 6pm. Performances begin at 7pm. Poets may call Watermark to pre-register 218-444-7570. Registration is also available at the venue if space allows.

What's a Poetry SLAM? A poetry slam is a competitive art event in which poets perform spoken word poetry before a live audience and a panel of judges pulled from the audience. Poets are not required to memorize their poems and are welcome to use notes.

While formats can vary, slams are often loud and lively, with audience participation, cheering and dramatic delivery. Poets should prepare three original SLAM! poems – one for each round, are new in the last three years, have not been previously performed at a state or local event, and each under three minutes reading time. Get more information, guidelines and rules here: watermarkartcenter.org/poetry-slam-news/