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514-B Central Avenue
Hot Springs, AR 71901
Phone: 501-762-5197
Hours of Operation
9am -5pm Monday thru Saturday Wednesdays 9am until 10pm
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The
Loft Blog
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday Open Mic
2010 Events
Wednesday February 3rd
8:00pm
Arkansas Grand Slam
November 5th & 6th



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BREAKING
NEWS!
Listen up poets!!! The cap is back ...registration ends Oct
31st. Our registration limit will hold at 45 contestants.
There will be 3 rounds of 15 "random round -random drawl".
The Top 5 scores from each round go to Fridays finals equaling
15contestants. The next 2 highest scores from each of the
3 rounds equaling 6 contestants will go to the SECOND CHANCE
ROUND on SATURDAY afternoon. The top 5 scores from second
chance will join the top 15 from Friday night to slam it out
on the final stage which will consist of 3 rounds all 20 contestants
to top 10 to top 5. Accumulative scores determine position.
SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT... ITS BIG, IT’S HOT, IT’S
ON!!!!!! ARGS 2011
ARGS 2011
November 4th and 5th 2011
Official Sponsor
THE POET"S LOFT and
DALLAS/ FORT WORTH
POETRY SLAMS
GRAND PRIZE $2000.00 CASH
Open to only 50 world class
contestants
Registration is $100.00 payable thru PayPal, cashiers check
or money order mailed to
The Poets Loft
514b Central Ave
Hot Springs AR 71901

Click Here for a PDF file of the Registration Form for ARGS
2011
Deadline is October 31st.
(NO REGISTRATION AFTER OCTOBER 31st)

Hosted by Mike Guinn
#1 POETRY PROMOTER
IN THE WORLD and
Michael
Guinn-MSW is a published author, dedicated humanitarian,
social worker and internationally recognized performance
poet who is the current president and founder of one
of the most effective underground social awareness groups
in the metroplex. The Fort Worth National Poetry Slams.
Founded December 12, 2000, this soon to be non profit
has spent the past ten years facilitating, presenting,
coordinating, consulting and inspiring audiences at
1000s at multicultural events in front of 1000s of businesses
throughout the world.
Michael’s
significant contributions to Dallas/Fort Worth began
as a CPS Investigator with DFPS (1997 – 2002)
where he spent six years protecting children and rebuilding
families. In 1997, he began expressing his experiences
as a CPS investigator via poetry and started an annual
National Child Abuse Awareness Reading called “Never
Meant To Hurt You” which brings together 100s
of women, children & teens who’ve suffered
domestic violence and abuse using the art of creative
self expression as a positive therapeutic outlet for
their trauma as well as facilitating a safe haven for
healing, trusting and believing again. He also coordinates
the Annual Read My Lips Poetry Slam at TCU which is
part of The V DAY Week Campaign promoting Domestic Violence
awareness. Michael’s work with numerous organizations
to promote domestic violence awareness over the past
thriteen years has made him a nationally known social
advocate & mentor. He founded the Fort Worth National
Poetry Slams and DFW Youth Poetry Slams so that he could
continue to provide weekly workshops, poetry open mics
and other forums of creative self expression for 1000s
to come share their stories. In 2011, Michael formed
UBU (Unique Brothers United) an organization that mentors
African-American men who statistically are more prone
to committing domestic violence to repeated exposure.
It is in this realm where he’s masterful at fostering
respectful and professionally appropriate behavior for
men, women and teens. He’s spent his life showing
men how to treat women with respect and is someone youth
and young adults instantly look up to. His strengths
are his powerfully creative writing skills and his uncanny
ability to connect with people from all walks of life
via the passionate presentation of his original poetry
and spoken word. No one gives more of their time to
promoting social awareness. I’ve yet to meet anyone
who exemplifies the dedication he exhibits towards maintaining
integrity for women. His legacy is the unselfish gift
of his heart and his tireless promotion of worthy social
causes via youth empowerment.
Michael has
received recognition as community mentor from the Fort
Worth City Mag in 2009, because of his tireless commitment
to the Youth in Fort Worth. And was nominated for the
Legacy Of Men Award which recognizes men who effectively
promote domestic violence awareness. He is the author
of “Crying In Colors” available at online
bookstores globally has coordinated creative arts programming
for FCAC, TCU, FW Public Library, City Of Fort Worth,
Century 21, FWISD, Tarrant County College District,
Impossible Possibilities, Thank You Darling, Benbrook
Library, The Fort Worth Opera, Samaritan House, MITOP,
United Community Centers, TCMHMR, Communities in Schools,
Catholic Charities, Boys & Girls Club, BBBS, Everman
ISD, Keller ISD, Saginaw High School, the Embargo and
numerous other groups and organizations in and around
the metroplex. Michael’s greatest social achievement
to date is his nomination for the Legacy Of Men Award
2011.
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Pamela R. Rawls
OWNER AND OPERATOR
OF THE WORLD RENOWED POET'S LOFT
2 day
event,
check in time is 3pm on Friday November 4th late
arrivals forfeit competition slot.
Friday November 4th elimination rounds.
Saturday November 5th side events workshops and grand finals
( bring your a game. There is no second chance round. If your
not confident enough that you will make
finals stay home. This is the real deal. You will not win
this competition
on your popularity or your delusions) this is a championship
competition and definitely separates the chumps from the champs!
TICKETS
2xaa
passes are 30.00 in advance
save a total of 20.00. 40.00 at the door save 10.00
Friday prelims 15.00
Saturday daytime 15.00
Saturday night finals 20.00
Confidence Omenai is your
accommodations host
Michelle Nimmo and Seth White are your check in
and welcoming committee
Lisa Felton and Frank Patton or your door greeters
Raymond Barnett is your video-0grapher
Mary Z Gray and kirk Hardesty are your official score keepers
Mike Guinn and Pamela R. Rawls are your offical time keepers
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|
Arkansas Grand Slam 2011
How big is the Arkansas Grand Slam?
The event is strictly limited to 50
contestants. Attracting hundreds of audience members it
is a smaller, more intimate festival with all the excellence
and excitement of the much larger National Poetry Slam and
IWPS. You do not have to be a PSI member to compete in this
event. Because the event is exclusive, the quality of the
competition is some of the best in the world.
What are the prizes?
GUARANTEED PRIZES:
- $2000.00 1st. ARGS FIRE MIC
TROPHY
- $300.00 2ND PAID ENTRY FOR
2012
- $125.00 3RD
- $50.00 4TH
- $25.00 5TH
- AUDIENCE FAVORITE WILL RECEIVE
A NEW TOTE BAG JOURNAL AND PEN SET
Who can compete in ARGS?
Competitors must be over the age of
18. Fifty slots are reserved for individual representatives
of nationwide venues. Those are available on a first come,
first served basis.
How do I register?
We are expecting ARGS 2011 to be highly
competitive and, as always, maxed out with qualified poets.
First come first serve, register
NOW thru PayPal
Registration is transferable but not
refundable.
ALL PAID ENTRIES RECEIVE A WELCOME
BAG FULL OF GOODIES AND DISCOUNTS AN ALL ACCESS 2 DAY PASS
AND MEAL VOUCHER “THAT’S RIGHT! NOBODY GOES
HUNGRY OR THIRSTY HERE!”
There will be many prize opportunities
for registered participants.
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|
| General Info |
| |
Will
There Be A Last Chance Slam? |
| |
|
NOT
THIS YEAR! We will generally follow National Rules and will
announce any differences... Be prepared to show current valid
I.D. with your address! |
| |
When
does ARGS take place? |
| |
|
First full weekend
in November. It is a two day event, with preliminary rounds
on Friday and finals on Saturday. November 4th and 5th 2011 |
| |
When
should I arrive? |
| |
|
We strongly recommend
competitors arrive no later than 3PM ON FRIDAY night. We happily
encourage visitors and competitors alike to arrive the Wednesday
BEFORE ARGS to enjoy the beauty of Hot Springs National Park,
as well as the numerous events local organizers have scheduled
before the competition. |
| |
What is the
format for ARGS? |
| |
|
ARGS IS a 2 Day
tournament. Prelims are on Friday and Finals are on Saturday.
All the competitors perform in Prelims. The top 15 poets advance
to Finals, which is three-round elimination. The top scoring
poet of the final round is the new champ. Numerous official
side events before and after the competition are scheduled.
|
| |
How
many poems do I need to win? |
| |
|
1) You need at
least FOUR poems. Prelims are a 1 CHANCE 3MINUTE TIME LIMIT
slam so each poet much prepare TO DELIVER THE BEST STRAIGHT
OUT OF THE GATE. Finals are a three-round elimination slam with
standard 3-minute poems. |
| |
|
2) Repeats are NOT allowed during the competition. If you really
want to win, however, it is wise to WRITE WELL, SPEAK WELL,
AND PERFORM WELL; you will find that substance wins here. |
| |
How
does the competition actually work? |
| |
|
Up to 50 poets will
battle head-to-head during one night of preliminary competition
in the Poets Loft. In a attempt to make the final stage, The
TOP 15 SCORES from the pervious night meet on the final stage
and that’s where the battle begins. 15 will slam it out,
and then 10, then 5 for the top prize, all rounds and orders
are randomly drawn. All rounds have a no repeat rule and 3 minute
time limit. |
| |
Who
judges the poetry? |
| |
|
What makes Poetry
Slams unique is that judges are randomly selected from the audience!
One of the basic humanistic tenants of the Slam is that everyone
is entitled to an opinion, and that performance poets are accountable
to their audiences. The Bout Manager then carefully screens
potential judges to ensure they were not ‘planted’
by one of the competitors. |
| |
Who
can participate? |
| |
|
Anyone and everyone!
Aside from being an active listener in our audiences, you are
welcome to read your poetry in the many open mics during the
tournament. Competition is limited to registered poets |
| |
May
I perform if I'm not competing? |
| |
|
Absolutely. Many
of the side-events are not competitions, and there will be open
sign-ups for the general public. |
| |
Who
do I call if I get lost? |
| |
|
Competitors will
get the 24-hour “Hotline” number of a Hospitality
Specialist after you register. One week before the event, we’ll
announce a hotline number for the general public.
back to top |
| |
What
is the weather like? |
| |
|
Weather in Arkansas
is usually mild, and some of our best weather of the year is
in the fall! Don't be fooled! Locals always bring a jacket,
because the fog can arrive at any time dropping temperatures
from the 80's to the 50's in a flash! Temperatures in November
average in the high 60’s during the day, and low 40’s
at night. Precipitation is minimal (less than two inches). It
has always been joked that if you do not like the weather here
stick around it’ll change in a day or two |
| |
What
do I need to know about Hot Springs National Park? |
| |
|
Dubbed Americas
first resort, Hot Springs, AR literally sprang to life in
an Ouachita Mountains valley containing a remarkable array
of 47 thermal springs. The town has long been and remains
Arkansas's top tourist destination, and for good reason. Its
topflight attractions include Hot Springs National Park with
its famed Bath House Row and thermal baths, live and simulcast
thoroughbred racing, Magic Springs/Crystal Falls theme and
water parks, the 210-acre Garvan Woodland Gardens and a renowned
arts community. Other attractions include music, magic and
religious shows, lake tours and more. Shopping opportunities,
including antiques, abound in the Spa City, as do options
for lodging.
Outdoor activities in the Hot Springs,
Arkansas area include golf, horseback riding, and mining for
quartz crystals, as well as fishing and water sports that
center around area lakes Hamilton, Catherine, Ouachita and
DeGray. Those activities combine with private lakeside resorts,
rental houseboats and other accommodations, including those
at three state parks nearby, to create numerous vacation options.
Additional recreational opportunities are afforded in the
nearby Ouachita National Forest. |
| |
What
do I eat? |
| |
|
Downtown Hot Springs
is a gourmet's delight, and it is difficult to find bad food.
Options are great. Near the venues, especially late at night.
The poets loft has a gourmet menu and the kitchen will be open
at all times. A limited amount of free (yes, FREE) food will
be provided for registered poets and ARGS staff on Friday and
Saturday. Pam always feeds you!! There are also several restraints
and coffeehouses, open during the day. You will be advised of
participating restaurants that offer considerable discounts
to participating poets. |
| |
WiFi
& Internet Access? |
| |
|
Many cafes in Hot
Springs offer free WiFi. 2 blocks down the Java Jungle, has
computers with free internet access for public use. |
| |
How
do I get around? |
| |
|
The epicenter of
ARGS “The Poet’s Loft” is in the center of
the downtown historic district everything ARGS is held under
the same roof. If you are staying in a hotel in downtown, everything
is walking distance... If you don't want to walk, you can always
take a cab. If you DO have a car, you'll need to pay for parking
downtown. On-street parking is A PAIN there is a secure parking
deck on Exchange Street behind The Poet’s Loft. |
| |
Airports?
|
| |
|
Hot Springs Airport
is closest less than 7 miles from The Poet’s Loft, but
Little Rock International Airport is a convenient 30 minute
drive to The Poet’s Loft. |
| |
Can
I get to ARGS by Greyhound? |
| |
|
Yes if you wish
to take Greyhound, we suggest disembarking at the Hot Springs
Greyhound Station, which is not too far from the Downtown Historic
District and within walking distance of The Poet’s Loft.
|
|
| ARGS 2011 Schedule |
|
|
| Friday Nov 4rd [SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT] |
| 2pm-5pm |
Check in |
| 5:30pm |
Courtyard Meeting Poets and Host |
| 6:30pm |
Prelims |
| 10 pm? |
SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED BY “QUAD KILLER”
HIP
HOP ELECTRO-ROCK, MUSIC SPOKEN WORD FUSION.
|
|
|
| Sat Nov 5th |
| 10am |
LOFT OPENS |
| 10:30 am |
Merchants and Vendors until 7pm |
| 11am |
Improv Slam with the first poet awake an not hung over |
| 12pm |
POP AND LOCK FUNK-TASTIC DANCE ENTERTAINMENT PROVIDED BY DANCERS
JAMES GUEST AND PATRICK WILDER |
| 1pm. |
HIP HOP RAP HEAD TO HEAD FREESTYLE BATTLE with southern made
entertainment |
| 2pm. |
HEAD TO HEAD HAIKU BATTLE WITH KIRK HARDESTY |
| 3pm. |
YOUTH SLAM WORK SHOP WITH MIKE GUINN |
| 3:30 |
YOUTH SLAM |
| 5pm. |
SECOND CHANCE SLAM
|
| |
|
| 7pm |
FINALS
|
|
|
Winners of the 2010
Arkansas Grand Slam!
Christopher Michael - Texas
Seth Walker - New Hampshire
Will Gibson New Hampshire
Andi Kauth Chicago
Confidence


Host: Michael Guinn
Congratulations All!
|

Currently Registered
Falita Hicks San Marco TX
Christopher Michael Killeen TX
Daniel Ramos Midland TX
Jeremyah Payne Seabrook TX
Christopher Brown Killeen TX
Sam B Hot Springs Ark
Krystle Wit-A-E Tampa Fl
Wil “one l” Gibson’ Chicago
Jisaidia Sentino LGB TX “PENDING”
Justin David Tate
Michelle Nimmo MO
Seth White MO
Seth Walker
Jisaidia Sentino Dallas
T.j. Mendel Bryant Arkansas
Preston Switcher Dallas TX
Houston Hughes Arkansas
Robert Goudy “ROCK BABY” Texas
Teresa Davis Atlanta GA
Donald Walkingbear ”themanwiththegreenhat” Mo
Jerri Hardesty Al
Beau Williams NH
Billy TuttleIll
Confidence Omenai OK
|
What is the Arkansas Grand Slam?
The
Arkansas Grand Slam or ARGS
is a performance poetry tournament not connected with,
however much like the National Poetry Slam AND IWPS.
Though designed for individual competition, poets from
all over the world meet and compete in a multi-day performance
poetry contest.

How big is
the Arkansas Grand Slam?
The event is strictly
limited to 40 contestants. Attracting hundreds of audience
members it is a smaller, more intimate festival with
all the excellence and excitement of the much larger
National Poetry Slam and IWPS. You do not have to be
a PSI member to compete in this event. Because the event
is exclusive, the quality of the competition is some
of the best in the world.
What are the prizes?
GUARANTEED
PRIZES:
$1250.00
1st.
$750.00 2ND
$350.00 3RD
$150.00 4TH
$100.00 5TH
Audience
favorite $50.00
Who can compete in ARGS?
Competitors must
be over the age of 18. Forty slots are reserved for
individual representatives of nationwide venues. Those
are available on a first come, first served basis.
How do I register?
Generally speaking, participants are qualified by
featuring at the historic Wednesday Night Open Mic
or scheduled SPA CITY SLAM they will then be sent
an invitation to compete in ARGS 2010
once they receive that invitation, they then can pay
for registration, we are expecting ARGS 2010
to be highly competitive and, as always, maxed out
with qualified poets.
Click
Here for a PDF file of the Registration Form for ARGS
Will There Be A Last Chance Slam?
Yes! That will
be held at The Poet's Loft on Friday
the same the night before ARGS 2010
begins we reserve the right to change the format depending
on the number of poets signed up. We will try to include
as many competitors as possible! We will generally follow
National Rules and will announce any differences...
Be prepared to show current valid I.D. with your address!
When does ARGS take place?
First full weekend
in November. It is a two day event, with preliminary
rounds on Friday and finals on Saturday.
When should I arrive?
We strongly recommend
competitors arrive no later than 3PM ON FRIDAY night.
We happily encourage visitors and competitors alike
to arrive the Wednesday BEFORE ARGS
to enjoy the beauty of Hot Springs National Park, as
well as the numerous events local organizers have scheduled
before the competition.
What is the format for ARGS?
ARGS
IS a 2 Day tournament. Prelims are on Friday and Finals
are on Saturday. All the competitors perform in Prelims.
The top 10 poets advance to Finals, which is three-round
elimination. The top scoring poet of the final round
is the new champ. Numerous official side events before
and after the competition are scheduled.
How many poems do I need to win?
1) You need at
least FOUR poems. Prelims are a 1 CHANCE 3MINUTE TIME
LIMIT slam so each poet much prepare TO DELIVER THE
BEST STRAIGHT OUT OF THE GATE. Finals are a three-round
elimination slam with standard 3-minute poems.
2) Repeats are
NOT allowed during the competition. If you really want
to win, however, it is wise to WRITE WELL, SPEAK WELL,
AND PERFORM WELL; you will find that substance wins
here.
How does the competition actually work?
Up to 40 poets
will battle head-to-head during one night of preliminary
competition in the Poets Loft. In a attempt to make
the final stage, the remaining poets who did not score
in the top 10 during prelim, will scrap it out Nov 7th
in a second chance round to hopefully become one of
the top 5, and will join the top 10 from the pervious
night and that’s where the battle begins. 15 will
slam it out, and then 10, then 5 for the top prize,
all rounds and orders are randomly drawn. All rounds
have a no repeat rule and 3 minute time limit.
Who judges the poetry?
What makes Poetry
Slams unique is that judges are randomly selected from
the audience! One of the basic humanistic tenants of
the Slam is that everyone is entitled to an opinion,
and that performance poets are accountable to their
audiences. The Bout Manager then carefully screens potential
judges to ensure they were not ‘planted’
by one of the competitors.
Who can participate?
Anyone and everyone!
Aside from being an active listener in our audiences,
you are welcome to read your poetry in the many open
mics during the tournament. Competition is limited to
registered poets.
May I perform if I'm not competing?
Absolutely.
Many of the side-events are not competitions, and there
will be open sign-ups for the general public.
Whom do I call if I get lost?
Competitors will
get the 24-hour “Hotline” number of a Hospitality
Specialist after you register. One week before the event,
we’ll announce a hotline number for the general
public.
What is the weather like?
Weather in Arkansas
is usually mild, and some of our best weather of the
year is in the fall! Don't be fooled! Locals always
bring a jacket, because the fog can arrive at any time
dropping temperatures from the 80's to the 50's in a
flash! Temperatures in November average in the high
60’s during the day, and low 40’s at night.
Precipitation is minimal (less than two inches). It
has always been joked that if you do not like the weather
here stick around it’ll change in a day or two
What do I need to know about Hot Springs
National Park?
Dubbed Americas first resort,
Hot Springs, AR literally sprang to life in an Ouachita
Mountains valley containing a remarkable array of
47 thermal springs. The town has long been and remains
Arkansas's top tourist destination, and for good reason.
Its topflight attractions include Hot Springs National
Park with its famed Bath House Row and thermal baths,
live and simulcast thoroughbred racing, Magic Springs/Crystal
Falls theme and water parks, the 210-acre Garvan Woodland
Gardens and a renowned arts community. Other attractions
include music, magic and religious shows, lake tours
and more. Shopping opportunities, including antiques,
abound in the Spa City, as do options for lodging.
Outdoor activities in the
Hot Springs, Arkansas area include golf, horseback
riding, and mining for quartz crystals, as well as
fishing and water sports that center around area lakes
Hamilton, Catherine, Ouachita and DeGray. Those activities
combine with private lakeside resorts, rental houseboats
and other accommodations, including those at three
state parks nearby, to create numerous vacation options.
Additional recreational opportunities are afforded
in the nearby Ouachita National Forest.
What do I eat?
Downtown Hot Springs
is a gourmet's delight, and it is difficult to find
bad food. Options are great. Near the venues, especially
late at night. The poets loft has a gourmet menu and
the kitchen will be open at all times. A limited amount
of free (yes, FREE) food will be provided for registered
poets and ARGS staff on Friday and
Saturday. Pam always feeds you!! There are also several
restraints and coffeehouses, open during the day. You
will be advised of participating restaurants that offer
considerable discounts to participating poets.
WiFi & Internet Access?
Many cafes in
Hot Springs offer free WiFi. 2 blocks down the Java
Jungle, has computers with free internet access for
public use.
How do I get around?
The epicenter
of ARGS “The Poet’s
Loft” is in the center of the downtown
historic district everything ARGS is
held under the same roof. If you are staying in a hotel
in downtown, everything is walking distance... If you
don't want to walk, you can always take a cab. If you
DO have a car, you'll need to pay for parking downtown.
On-street parking is A PAIN there is a secure parking
deck on Exchange Street behind The Poet’s
Loft.
Airports?
Hot Springs Airport
is closest less than 7 miles from The Poet’s
Loft, but Little Rock International Airport
is a convenient 30 minute drive to The Poet’s
Loft.
Can I get to ARGS Greyhound?
Yes if you wish
to take Greyhound, we suggest disembarking at the Hot
Springs Greyhound Station, which is not too far from the
Downtown Historic District and within walking distance
of The Poet’s Loft.
|
|
| |
Sign Up to Slam
514-B Central Avenue
Hot Springs, AR 71901
Phone: 501-762-5197
Email: poets.loft514@gmail.com |
| |
|
| |
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
BILLY TUGGLE, Founding Member/President
Billy has racked up six consecutive
National Poetry Slam appearances including finishes on two top-10
teams- Mental Graffiti/Chicago; He was twice a finalist in the
Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam, one-time champ- Mental Graffiti/Chicago;
Chicago Grand Slam Champion of 2008; Represented Palatine, IL
in 2007 Dallas Invitational Poetry Slam & NPS.
Billy, also known as Karma
Threesixty, is a HipHop Culturalist, vocalist and member of PolyRhythmic-
a Chicago arts collective. Billy has lectured and facilitated
performance workshops on primary and secondary school and university
levels as well as appeared in McGraw-Hill educational video. Billy’s
influence as a mentor can be seen in his affiliation with the
Louder Than A Bomb Festival and its producers Young Chicago Authors
where he has sat on panels and hosted bouts as well as staff volunteering.
ANDI KAUTH, Founding Member/Chief
Officer
After coaching her Palatine,
IL team in the National Poetry Slam at age 17, Andi made consecutive
competitive appearances including a #31 rank as an individual
in 2006. She was a finalist in the 2007 Arkansas Grand Slam and
also competed in the 2007 Dallas Invitational Poetry Slam with
Palatine, where she was “slam mistress” for 3 years.
Andi presented a segment of the Vagina Monologues for Loyola University
and was named Loyola’s 2008 Vagina Warrior.
Andi has performed at colleges
and led youth writing classes and workshops. She has appeared
in a Literature Launchers McGraw-Hill Educational video. As a
high school student, Andi made herself an integral part of Writer’s
Week at her alma mater Fremd High School under the tutelage of
Henry Samson who mentored her and introduced her to the national
slam scene. She is currently also a member of the PolyRhythmic
arts collective.
RODRICK GOUDY/ROCK BABY
Rock Baby, the 2009 Arkansas
Grand Slam champion, is a native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Appearing twice on HBO’s Russell Simmons’ Def Poetry
Jam, he offered television explosive performances with his distinct
style of comedic poetry. Additionally, he has made headlining
and supporting appearances at colleges, festivals, concerts, comedy
clubs and poetry venues not to mention the numerous awards and
top ranking for competing.
Rock Baby is also the local
organizer for the Dallas Poetry Slam and for seven years he has
been responsible for sending a team of local poets to compete
on the national level. The Dallas Poetry Slam is the home to one
of the best nationally ranking teams in the south.
This poet, comic and writer
has delighted, educated and entertained people of various ages
and ethnicities across America quickly making him a crowd favorite
within the chitlin circuit of spoken word. Rock Baby is hailed
as a contemporary artist that will definitely leave a lasting
impression on those who are fortunate to experience his energy
and passion.
MICHELLE NIMMO
Michelle Nimmo has been writing poetry since
the age of twelve and has been performing poetry since 2007. She
was MO Poetry Slam Springfield's representative in 2008, 2009,
and 2010 at The Women of The World Poetry Slam. Michelle has also
competed at The National Poetry Slam, the Individual World Poetry
Slam and Arkansas Grand Slam. Michelle is a member of the Missouri
State Poetry Society and Springfield Missouri's Poets & Friends.
Michelle Nimmo is the official "Slam Momma" for MO Poetry
Slam Springfield.
MIKE GUINN 2005 ARKANSAS GRAND SLAM CHAMPION AND THE OFFICAL HOST
OF ARGS.
For years Mike Guinn a member
of the Fort Worth Slam Team has built a national reputation for
coordinating and hosting quality spoken word/poetry events, workshops
and presentations that have helped hundreds of other poets grow
into their potential as aspiring spoken word artists. And by doing
so is uniting the poetry and spokenword community. Arkansas Grand
Slam Champion. Last Man Standing Slam Champion. TCC NW Poetry
Slam Champion. 4 Time Fort Worth Grand Slam Champion. 3 Time AIPF
International Slam Champion. Sawgrass Performance Poet Winner.
Poetry Society Of Texas Performance Contest Winner.
THE ORIGINAL WOMAN
NITCHE WARD 2007 ARKANSAS GRAND
SLAM WINNER Her Signature Poem “The Original Woman”
explains it all. Through her pride in her own full-figure she
teaches our youth and reminds the adults to “love your body.”
In an effort to free our people from the slave like mentality
of being “light, white and thin” she uses historical
references to remind us of who The Original Woman really was.The
Original Woman approaches the stage and confesses, “I have
to tell the truth. I’m not really a poet. I’m a people’s
soldier. I only use poetry as a tool to mobilize the people.”
This people’s soldier, a native of North Carolina, has been
educating, training, and mobilizing since 1996. Recruiting soldiers
one by one, she prepares to mobilize an army around unity, African
self-determination, and feminism.“Just Call me Mama Tubman”
Those who have witnessed a
live performance may have heard her reference Harriet Tubman.
Before Tubman could lead her people to the Underground Railroad,
she had to have chat sessions to remind them that they were still
slaves. So many people were content with working the plantations,
and the rations their master gave them that they had forgotten
they were slaves. Similarly today we have grown so content with
our nickel and dime jobs and our slave mentality, that we are
blind to oppression. The Original Woman uses spoken word as her
chat sessions; the first step in emancipating her people mentally,
and liberating them spiritually and physically.
The Original Woman’s
performances and organizing has no borders. You can find her raising
consciousness from North Carolina to Western Europe; the March
for Women’s Lives being among her favorite audiences.
Representing North Carolina
to the fullest with the Durham, NC slam team she is currently
the #1 ranked individual poet in North Carolina and crowned one
of the top ten poets in the country by the 2005 National Poetry
Slam! You can find out more information about the National Poetry
Slam at www.nps2005.org . Even with her national recognition she
still has a policy of 1 or 1000, she has performed for audiences
from 100 – 1.15 million! She has graced the mic for the
BET’s reality commercial Mic Check, NAACP, NOW, the Democratic
Party, Planned Parenthood, and shared stages with artist such
as Alix Olsen (Def Poetry Jam), Ishle Park (NAACP Image awards
and Def Poetry Jam), Whoopi Goldberg, Infamous Peter, Paul, and
Mary (National Legendary Folk Singers), Ani DiFranco (“Riteous
Babe” folk singer), Moby (The face of techno), Wanda Sykes
Hall (Comedian), Nikki Giovanni (Poet and activist), Yolanda Adams
(Gospel Singer), MC Lyte (Hip Hop Pioneer), Myra J. (Comedian),
Helena D. Lewis (Def Poetry Jam). She reigns as the Author of
Naked Expression and one of the most commonly requested chapbooks
Spoken Word: The Movement. She is also the creator of three of
the hottest CD’s on the spoken word circuit, Life –
By Any Means Necessary!, The Messenger of Truth, and her most
recent project The Addiction.
KIRK HARDESTY
Kirk Hardesty has been writing since he was
a kid. He's even had a few poems published. But he found Poetry
Slam in Florence, Alabama in 1997. He began hosting slam in Birmingham
in 1998. Later that year he took over as slam master of the Montevallo
Poetry Slam which he hosts, sending slam teams to the Southern
Fried Regional Poetry Slam and the National Poetry Slam ever since.
He began hosting Head to Head Haiku poetry slams in 2001. He was
elected Tournament Director of Southern Fried in 2007 and holds
that position still.
Kirk lives in a cozy house in the central Alabama
woods with a few dogs, a cat and the love of his life, Jerri.
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