What is the Poetry Slam?
The Fargo Poetry Slam
A Brief History of the Fargo Slam
Special Thanks



There's a big difference between a poetry slam and an open-mic reading. The Poetry Slam originated in the mid-1980s, when a Chicago poet named Marc Smith came up with the idea of a poetry competition to entertain the Sunday regulars at a bar named the Green Mill. To push it a little further, Judges were chosen at random from the audience to "score'' the poems. Several years and evolutions later, the phenomenon has caught on nationwide.

A poetry slam is like a lyrical boxing match that pits poets against other poets in a bout. Typically five people randomly chosen from the audience before the bout will give each poem a score from 0.0 to 10.0, with 10 being the highest. The high and the low scores are dropped, and the three remaining scores are added. Each poet has a time limit of three minutes, with a 10- second grace period. After the grace period is passed, points will be deducted from the poet's final score.

Unlike theater or music performance, the poetry slam is a pared- down event because poets aren't permitted to use props, costumes or music.

- Shilanda Woolridge, Austin writer, Austin-American Statesman



"Slam on the Plains"- The Fargo Poetry Slam is usually held on the last Monday of the month at The Conservatory at Luigis. Its an open slam, with Boston Cantab influences, featuring the classic open mic, a feature poet and a slam. Most slams serve as a means to generate funds for service organizations in the Fargo-Moorhead community.

The first Fargo Slam originated on September 29, 1997 at the First Avenue Cabaret in downtown Fargo and drew more than 120 crazed patrons. Ten first-time slammers went head to head and Kevin Zepper won the first slam and $25. The same three part dynamic (Open mic, Feature and Slam) went into affect that evening and after 19 slams to date, it still remains the format today.

November 1997 (the 3rd slam) began our tradition to donate the door proceeds to a charity or community agency. We raised $180 for the local Fargo Salvation Army. We have since raised over $3,100 for local service agencies. Fargo Poetry Slam is a Civil Action.

March 1998, four-time National Poetry Slam Champion and award winning journalist, Patricia Smith features at the "Women's History Month- All Women Poetry Slam" and draws in an audience of approximately 150. Patricia rocked the house and received a five minute standing ovation..

May 1998 served as our first Fargo Invitational to prepare a team for the 1998 National Poetry Slam. Eight invitations went out to the top poets from Sept 97-April 98. Five guest judges were selected from the local Fargo television, radio and print media. Our first grand slam champion was Charles Hinton. The first Fargo Slam Team included: Charles Hinton, Robb Q. Thibault, Lyska Janecek and James Walsh.

June 1998 the Minneapolis and Fargo national slam teams go head to head two times and split the "Two Sides of the Great Divide Collide" series. Minneapolis wins at their venue (Kierans Irish Pub) and five days later Fargo wins at home at First Avenue Cabaret.

August 1998, Fargo sends its first slam team to nationals in Austin, Texas. We drive 2700 miles round-trip and placed 39th. Charles Hinton places 8th in the individuals. We were featured as part of the CNN Entertainment Weekly story on the 1998 National Poetry Slam.

October 1998, the feature, Modern Man buys drinks for everyone in the house.

November 1998, Slam on the Plains-The Fargo Poetry Slam logo is created by Becky Haag. Last Days of October, 1998 our home venue, First Avenue Cabaret closes down. The November Slam (the 15th Slam) slated for Nov 29 is moved upstairs to Luigis at the Conservatory, which now serves as home to the Fargo Poetry Slam. Thank you Mike !!

January 1999, A farmer, Dave Kragnes during dinner watches a news broadcast about the Fargo Poetry Slam and shows up to read in the open mic. He competes and wins the slam ! He also gets a standing ovation !

April 22, 1999, The 1st Live Internet Broadcast of Slam on the Plains-the second Grand Slam Invitational. The night saw 14 poets compete for a spot on the Fargo Slam 99 Team. Marc Smith, The Father of the Poetry Slam dished up the feature and Kristin Garaas won - She is the Grand Slam Champ of 1999. The Team includes: Kristin Garaas, Jerry Covington, Lyska Janecek, Kevin Zepper and Andrea Heldt

In its history there has never been a perfect score of "30.00" at the Fargo Poetry Slam.

The following local, regional and national poets have been featured at

"Slam on the Plains"-
Four Poets - Mark Vinz - Bill Snyder - Mariposa - Mohan Dutta - Kevin Zepper - Patricia Smith - The Poetry Chicks - Brian T. Hanson - '98 Minneapolis National Slam Team - Ken Hunt - Alan Davis - Bao Phi - Modern Man - Thom Tammaro - Charles H. Hinton - Kevin Charles - Sarah Kobrinsky - Shadd Piehl- Marc Smith (So What!) - Clebo Rainey- Lyska Janecek - Steve Juenemann - Robbie Soto - Brett Axel - Lisa Gill - Rusty Russell - Jerry Covington



Thanks to those who helped make the first live internet broadcast of the Fargo Poetry Slam possible:
Robb Thibault (Slammaster) Assistant Director, Memorial Union
Russ Staiger at NDSU Campus Attractions
Don Simon at SENDIT
Clark Coffman at Information Technology Services
Bruce Curtis at Information Technology Services
Nancy Lilleberg at Information Technology Services