Name: Counterjam Poetry Slam
Start: 2024-10-07T19:00:00-04:00
End: 2024-10-07T21:00:00-04:00
Location: College Park Gallery

The Counterjam Poetry Slam is not a poetry slam. This is an immersive improv experience, where the poetry is really not the point.
About this Event

Hello, there.

You're invited to the Counterjam Poetry Slam, on October 7th at 7:00pm at the College Park Gallery.

Poetry slams often have a certain connotation. People may think of various things when they hear those two words, and whatever that is for you: you're right.

The Counterjam Poetry Slam is not a poetry slam. This is an immersive improv experience, where the poetry is really not the point. You can think of this as an immersive M**der mystery event, except that instead of M**der, it's poetry, and instead of mystery, it's satire. Essentially, an entire evening to make fun of the tropes and stereotypes of a poetry slam, and... inadvertently participating in one.

For this evening, you attend not as yourself, but as a character who would be at the poetry slam. Upon entrance, you will write your character's name on your name tag, or select a character from the many name tags we will have available, if you prefer that. As soon as you enter the space, you are this character until you leave. How different this character is from yourself, is entirely up to you.

Our host will gather topics before the slam begins, and introduce them one at a time. Then, there will be a two minute writing period to write a poem on this topic. These can be genuine, sarcastic, foul, inappropriate, funny, sad, or anything in between. After the writing period is over, all who would like to are encouraged to get up and share their work, and reflect on other poet's creations. After everyone has shared, we will introduce a new topic, and repeat!

Toward the end of the evening, we will have the lightning round, where the topic is introduced, but the two-minute writing period is removed. This will be an on-your-feet, on-the-spot poetry tournament, for those whose mental might does not require the preparation of a pen.

All attendees are welcome and encouraged, but not required, to share poetry. If your character would rather just enjoy the evening without sharing, that is perfectly fine. Kick back with an iced coffee or a pumpkin IPA, and enjoy the atmosphere.

Whoever you are, come be someone less interesting (but who thinks they are more interesting) for a night, at the Counterjam Poetry Slam.