Sixth annual Teen Poetry Slam at the Tolland Public Library
Here are the details that teen poets will need to take part in the Tolland Public Library Foundation’s Sixth Annual Teen Poetry Slam March 16. See entry form and required photo release below.
Dear poet,
The Tolland Public Library and the Tolland Public Library Foundation are pleased to invite middle and high school students aged 12 to 18 to take part in the sixth annual Teen Poetry Slam on Thursday, March 16 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Library Program Room at 21 Tolland Green, Tolland.
To enter, fill out the attached form and photo release and return them to the public library, any Tolland High School English teacher or the high school library no later than Monday, March 13. The event will be held as long as we have at least five entrants. Preference for participation will be given to Tolland residents, but students from other towns may enter if space permits
By Monday, March 13, please email copies of three original poems to Foundation Secretary Kate Farrish at [email protected] so they can be shared with the judges. Each poem should take one to three minutes to perform.
Here are the rules, adapted from those of the National Poetry Slam:
- Each poem must be an original composition of the performer.
- Poets have three minutes to perform each poem, with a 10-second grace period. One point will be deducted from the score of poets who go beyond the grace period. One point will be deducted from the score of poets who speak for less than one minute.
- No props, costumes or musical instruments are allowed.
- No profanity or vulgarity are allowed.
- A panel of judges, made up of a THS student, educators, librarians and Foundation board members, will give each poem a score of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest level. The highest and lowest scores will be dropped.
- Poets with the three highest scores will win prizes after one or two rounds. In the case of a tie, those poets may be asked to perform another poem.
- Poetry slams were born in Chicago in 1986 to celebrate the competitive art of performance poetry. In that spirit, judges will give an equal weight to the writing of the poetry and the poet’s performance.
- Slams are designed to allow the audience to react vocally to the hosts, performers and judges’ scoring, but the Foundation asks that audience members be respectful.
We hope you are as excited about this event as we are. Please invite any relatives or friends you want to come cheer you on. They should register by calling the library at 860-871-3620.
Any questions can be directed to Kate Farrish at 860-871-8089 or at [email protected].
Tolland Public Library Foundation Inc.
Sixth annual Teen Poetry Slam at the Tolland Public Library
Entry Form
Name: ____________________________________________________
Best phone number to reach you: ______________________________
Email: ________________________
Grade and school where you are enrolled: ________________________
Age as of March 13, 2017 __________
Please return this entry form to the public library, any Tolland High English teacher or the high school library no later than Monday, March 13.
Please prepare three poems that will each take one to three minutes to perform. Poets will perform two poems, but we ask you to have a third poem ready in case we need to break a tie. The poems should be emailed to Foundation Secretary Kate Farrish at [email protected] no later than Monday, March 13.
Please have your parent or guardian sign the attached photo release and submit it with this entry form no later than Monday, March 13.
Audience members who wish to attend should call the library at 860-871-3620 to register.
Tolland Public Library Foundation Poetry Slam Photo Release
Participant who is 18 or over:
I am 18 or over and give permission to the Tolland Public Library Foundation to use photos of me taking part in its sixth annual Teen Poetry Slam on March 16, 2017. I understand that the photos may be sent to news outlets for publicity purposes and may be used on the Foundation’s Facebook page and website.
I understand that the photos will only be used to educate the public about library services and that the Foundation or the Tolland Public Library will not knowingly release the material for use in any advertising medium.
Permission given by:
Print name
_____________________________________________________________________________
Signature
_____________________________________________________________________________
Participant who is under 18:
I give permission to the Tolland Public Library Foundation to use photos of my child taking part in its sixth annual Teen Poetry Slam on March 16, 2017. I understand that the photos may be sent to news outlets for publicity purposes and may be used on the Foundation’s Facebook page and website.
I understand that the photos will only be used to educate the public about library services and that the Foundation or the Tolland Public Library will not knowingly release the material for use in any advertising medium.
Name of child:
____________________________________________________________________________
Permission given by:
Print name
___________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________Date:__________________________ Signature
____________________________________________ Relationship to child