Week 52 – Part 1, 2 and 3: Poetry Slam, Drag Show and Psychic Reading
January 4, 2011
Here goes three experiences in one post. I figured I wouldn’t draw this out any longer – 2010 is over, I accomplished my NEW New Year’s Resolution of one new experience a week, now you just need to read about them.
1) Poetry Slam
My first new experience of the week had some people calling me freak. One asked, “Are you going to a coffeehouse in 1994?” and I said, “No, Kieran’s Irish Pub.” with a roar. It’s my last week of new activities to cram, so I went to my first Poetry Slam.
Pretty good, huh? Not really. I thought I would start my post with a poem to honor one of this week’s new experiences: a Poetry Slam. While I rhymed this poem, I don’t think any of the poet’s at the slam rhymed theirs – I think that’s an amateur (like me) thing to do.
Rose and I attended a Poetry Slam last Tuesday at Kieran’s. Besides the poetry, the room was a draw. Kieran’s moved last March and I still hadn’t scoped out all of the rooms. The Slam was held in the Titanic room and was beautiful – great room to rent out for a party.
Twelve poets compete in the Slam at each bout. The 1st round includes all 12 poets, the 2nd round, 6-7 poets and the 3rd round the top 2 poets. The poets move on based on points. See the rules below if you would like to know more. The poem topics ranged from falling in love with a lesbian, holding on to your culture, women’s rights, teaching children, having sex with zombie-women, autism, a study-abroad trip, wanting a hug from a large, black man, having a drink with God and more sex poems, but not with zombies.
I was very impressed with the poets and their work – the poems were really good and the poets read them well. And it was a lot of fun! A great way to get your poetry and a couple beers. 
Sorry no pics, I didn’t want to distract the poets while they were reading – however, there are plenty of pictures of the drag show for you.
The Rules
Each Poet (or duet) is given 3 minutes (for some events this time limit is changed) to perform an original piece of work in the name of poetry. The host will announce bout structure and explain any special rules for the evening at the beginning of the bout. Be sure to listen carefully!
Most slams have an open sign-up, these are called Qualifying Slams, if you place in the top 3 (or 4 for head-to-head bouts) at a Qualifying slam you are qualified to advance to one of the Finals Slams.
ORIGINAL WORK: Poets must perform original work.
NO-REPEAT RULE: In the first round of every slam, you are required to perform a piece that has not been previously performed during a poetry slam at Kieran’s during that season.
NO REPEAT SHEET: At each slam, competitors will be given a form to fill out listing the poems they competed with that evening. List only the poems that you used and turn the sheet in at the end of the show. You are not eligible to compete in another slam until the turned in form is received.
SAMPLING: using a part of another person’s poem within your own poem is allowed. For example, if you quote a line from Robert Frost, you can still use that poem. If Robert Frost wrote the poem and you include a quote from you cannot use the poem.
LENGTH: You have three minutes to perform one poem in each round.
TIME PENALTY: After three minutes (or whatever the allotted time may be) and a ten second grace period, your overall score will be penalized. Time penalties are half a point for every ten second you go over. For example: if your performance is 3:09:29, you are in the clear. If it is 3:10:01, 0.5 points will be subtracted from your score. If it is 3:42:05, then you will have 2.0 points deducted, etc.
PROPS: You cannot use props, costumes or musical accompaniment. You can beat box, make arm pit noises, whistle, or sing. You cannot break out the kazoo or bring a beat loop.
JUDGES: Your poem and performance will be judged by three to five judges selected before the show. Every effort is made to select a diverse group of judges that preferably do not have any connections to any of the competing poets. SlamMN! is limited by who is at the venue, and who is willing to judge. If a poet has a problem with any of the judges selected, they should notify the host before the competition begins.
SCORING: The judges will score each performance from 0.0 to 10.0. Zero is very bad, ten is very good. If we have five judges the high and low scores are dropped and the three scores in the middle are added together. This sum is your score for the round. On Head-to-Head nights the slam is based on judges’ preferences.
INFORMATION:
2) Drag Show at the Gay 90’s
I’m going to let my pictures tell you most of the story for my second new experience of the week – the Drag Show at the Gay 90’s. I will say that I had a great time, there was a very eclectic crowd and I made a couple new friends. Anyone looking for singing, dancing and beautiful women, head to the Gay 90’s – everyone is welcome.
See if you can figure out which musician the Drag Queen is impersonating – some are tricky. Scroll over the picture to find the answer.
INFORMATION:
Gay 90’s
Phone: 612-333-7755
Address: 408 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Drag Show Schedule:
MONDAY – DARK
TUESDAY – DIAMOND DIVAS 10pm (downstairs)
WEDNESDAY – 90′s Main Room 10pm
THURSDAY – 90′s Main Room 10pm
FRIDAY thru SUNDAY – LA FEMME SHOW LOUNGE 9:45pm
3) Psychic Reading
With the conclusion of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, I thought a psychic reading would be a great last new experience to finish my NEW New Year’s Resolution.
However, great isn’t the way I would explain it . . .
There is a house near mine that advertises Psychic Reading $10. So I went in planning to do the $10 reading and leaving a $5 tip (I think you tip psychics, it’s not like they are medical professionals). I walked in the door to be greeted by a slightly chubby, unkempt man sweating in a wife-beater and sweatpants. I thought he was going to get the Psychic when he told me to sit down – it turns out he was the psychic. He gave me all of the rates for their “specials”, which ranged from 1 card, 1 question for $10 to a full service appointment including stuff like aura balancing and smelling candles or something. I wanted more than 1 card (so I thought at the time) and I felt a little bad for the guy and it was the holidays, so I gave him $30 for 3 cards and two questions. I wouldn’t say this was the worst way I have ever spent my money, but close. I do think the psychic man needed the money more than I did, so I’m going to look at my spend as more of a kind gesture at the holidays than a service.
I shuffled the cards and cut them in two piles. I selected one of the piles and the psychic man flipped over my first card. He said I had accomplished a lot in 2010 and would have many choices and decisions to make soon. All right, that first card was on point so far. The second card was flipped and the words sounded about the same. The third card was flipped and again, 2011 would hold choices and decisions for me. Again, I was told there would be options and choices and decisions to be made when I asked my two questions regarding what 2011 and my career held in-store for me. Wow, repetitive, ambiguous and uninspiring.
To psychic man, I hope you enjoy that $30 more than I did.
INFORMATION:
I’m not going to give you information on psychics, just stay away.
