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Writer and editor Home > Blogs > Brain Droppings > Archives > 2009 > October > 16 > Entry
Dayton Poetry Slams: They’re back!
You may have forgotten about the Dayton Poetry Slam, or thought it had gone away.
Not to take anything away from the efforts of the folks who were trying to keep it going for a few years, but the event had fallen on hard times. Now, thanks to a change in leadership and venue, it’s back and thriving.
A local poet and teacher named Bill Abbott started up the first Dayton slam 10 years ago at Canal Street Tavern, when slams were growing in popularity around the United States.
The structure was simple: Anybody could get up to the mic and read poems they’d written, up to three minutes. Three judges selected from the audience (I got the job one night; it was a hoot) graded on a 1-to-10 scale, with a slam-off at the end. Props and costumes were usually discouraged — the idea was to get up there and let your words do the talking.
The mix of written verse with spoken performance, whirred together before a live audience, made for some intellectually frisky, and even magical moments. After a few years of good-sized crowds, the slams started moving from bar to bar in search of the perfect home, and interest dwindled.
Last summer, a 29-year-old writer and self-described “aspiring poet” named Jolene Pohl-Crowell agreed to take up the reins as “Slam Mistress.”
She immediately settled the slams into the colorful confines of downtown’s c{space performance area at 20 N. Jefferson St. She made the events free, asking for donations, and settled them onto the last Tuesday of every month.
And suddenly, the slams are back. “In the last 10 years they had changed hands (in leadership) several times and it was about to fade out; there were only about five people coming,” Pohl-Crowell said. “I said I thought I could get it going again, so I got handed the mic, put it on Facebook and lo and behold, we’re getting an average crowd of 35 to 40 people each time.” Up to 25 poets may perform on a typical night.
The Dayton slam is affiliated with the National Poetry Slam organization that offers advice and connections to regional and national competitions, “and we need to keep 35 people on average to stay certified. But there’s always room for more,” she said. “Slam Master” or “Slam Mistress” are the official titles of the slam’s chief organizer, and as Mistress, Pohl-Crowell gets the word out, passes the donation bucket and runs the programs. The next slam, from 8-11 p.m. Oct. 27, will have a Halloween costume theme.
“I think Jolene’s doing a pretty good job,” said founder Abbott. “I mostly just give advice, though she doesn’t really need to ask me very much.” He said that between the combination of a free door, the c{space home and Facebook marketing, the new slams attract a diverse, lively crowd that doesn’t show signs of flagging.
Pohl-Crowell feels that a healthy slam not only helps add to Dayton’s cultural scene, but also reflects positively on the good things happening in town lately.“I think that Dayton’s creative people just need to be fed; they’re starving for creative life, and to be able to give that a little support is nice. It becomes a community, and it really helps Dayton.
“I’ve met people at the slams that I never would’ve met before, and just passed on the street. Now my members call it a family; they feel comfortable, they can express themselves, and not feel judged at all. And they keep coming back.”
Stop by and have a look; visit www.daytonpoetryslam.com for details. Remember it’s OK to drop in and just listen — but if you decide you want to brave the open mic, there won’t be anybody stopping you.
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