Joining the Fountain City Poets Slam Team

The Point System

Points are earned during the Fountain City Poetry Slam Season, from September through April. These points are added throughout the season, and the top 9 scoring poets will then be invited to compete in The Fountain City Grand Slam, held in May.

We will host Off-Season Slams in June, July, and August, but no points will be awarded for slamming.

During slams, points will be awarded based on the following system:

  • 1st place = 5 points

  • 2nd place = 4 points

  • 3rd place = 3 points

  • Every other competitor = 2 points

  • Sacrificial Poets - the Host - the Bout Manager = 1 point

One spot in The Grand Slam is reserved for the winner of The Last Chance Slam, held in April.

The 1st place winner of the Grand Slam will hold the title of “Fountain City Grand Slam Champion” until the next year’s Grand Slam. They will also receive a trophy, a feature spot in September’s Rookie Slam, and a $100 (minimum) cash prize.

Earning a place On the Fountain city poets slam team takes dedication and work throughout Our slam season.

If eligible, the top 15 highest-scoring poets of the Slam Season will be invited to audition for the Fountain City Poets Slam Team.

This team will represent Poetic Underground KC while competing in regional and national competitions throughout the following year.

The selection panel, made up of at least 3 PUKC leadership team members, can also choose to extend additional audition invitations to (up to) 5 poets within the PUKC community who did not meet the points requirement.

Poets who accept their invitation to audition for the FCP team will be tasked with preparing 2 original works to perform during a designated audition time.

They will also be asked to fill out a self-evaluation and to read the team contract prior to their audition.

The Fountain City Poets Slam Team can have up to 5 team members total. Each year, all 5 spots will be made available to those who choose to audition.

Poets who were on the previous year’s FCP team must earn enough points throughout the slam season in order to be invited back for auditions.

There are no circumstances in which a poet would be “grandfathered in” to a spot on the next year’s team. Every poet must audition for their spot, every year.

Furthermore, each prospective team member must demonstrate a commitment to the poetry community and must not have any unresolved violations of our code of conduct to qualify for team selection.

After auditions, if a poet is invited to join the FCP Slam Team, they will be asked to sign the team contract.

This contract outlines exactly what time, artistic, community, and financial commitments they will be expected to uphold while on the team.