19-Year Anniversary Show featuring Wayne Henry of Texas.

On September 26, 2021 at 7:30, Wits End Poetry will host its19-Year Anniversary Show at the Radio Room in Greenville, SC at 110 Poinsett Hwy with host Moody Black! 

HEADLINE FEATURE FROM TEXAS! WAYNE HENRY! Wayne Henry is a poet who is dedicated to bringing awareness to issues such as mental health, oppression, depression, and concepts of spiritual growth. Raised in South Central Los Angeles, he was exposed to a melting pot of different cultures, giving him a broad canvas for his work. Henry moved to Dallas in 2008 and has become a passionate poet who writes each line to watch it come alive through poetry. Apart from poetry, working with youth has been his crowning achievement. The Writer’s Garret, Big Thought, Wordspace, and Dallas Poetry Slam have all served as platforms for his teaching artist career. Henry likes to use visual, culinary, religious, and conceptual art to help express thought and emotion to further drive the creativity of youth.

The hottest spoken word acts from across the region will come together for this socially distanced event! This special event will be celebrating Wits End Poetry 19 years as the longest-running open mic in the South Carolina. You do not want to miss this show. Only 40 tickets will be available!

Radio Room is a large event space with socially-distanced audience seats. FULL RESTAURANT AND FULL BAR AVAILABLE. 

 Wits End Poetry's mission is to mentor and grow Carolina poetry talent in order to help poets make a living as poets.  The poetry slam events do have a short open mic available for those with "audience tickets."

Fresh Out The Oven Slam

 

On August 22, 2021 at 7:30, Wits End Poetry will host its annual Say What Fresh Out The Oven Slam at the Radio Room in Greenville, SC at 110 Poinsett Hwy! With Host Moody Black! The first-place prize is $100. New poems only!!! (New poem defined as a poem that has never been used in a poetry slam or competitive event before).

Poets register below using PayPal or Cash app $15 to $witsendpoetry. Audience tickets are available via Eventbrite.

We are excited to welcome veteran and emerging poets. Wits End Poetry's mission is to mentor and grow Carolina poetry talent in order to help poets make a living as poets.  The poetry slam events do have a short open mic available for those with "audience tickets."

HOST: Moody Black

Bout Manager: 

REGISTERED POETS:

1.  San the Poet

2.  Curtis Levon

3.  Your Favorite Murse

4.  ShAy Black

5.  Davelyn Athena 

6.  Dove Dupree

7.  Kendra Yates

8.  Black Phoenix

9. Jenice Pleasant

10.  Asma

Limited to 10 poets. No waitlist. Poets scroll to the bottom of this page to see all the rules.

REGISTER NOW! VIA CASHAPP ($WITSENDPOETRY) OR PAYPAL

Poet Name

REGISTRATION IS OPEN. Cashapp $15 to $witsendpoetry with the words POET. "poet name" to register or register ABOVE with Paypal. $15 General Admission. Buying an audience ticket does not register you for the slam. 

REGISTERED POETS: Order will be randomly drawn on the night.

Tournament rules: New Poems only!!! Poems may have been performed in an open mic previously but they may never have been used to compete in a poetry slam.
1. Prize Money:  $100
2. Bout draw is at 7:15pm
If you are late for the draw, you will automatically be the 1st poet in the slam!
3. We are only taking 10 poets. No Waiting List. No refunds.
4. No Tie for First. In the event that there is a tie for first after the third round, then each poet tied for first will perform one additional poem. A coin flip will determine order. Judges will vote for the winner by writing down the name of the poet who they believe should win.
5. Three Round Poetry Slam. 10-6-3. First two rounds are cumulative. Final round is clean slate. Order will be high to low for second round. Final round will be redrawn for order.
6. The Time Limit. 3:00 minute time limit. A poet is certainly allowed several full seconds to adjust the microphone and get settled, but as soon as s/he makes a connection with the audience (“Hey look, she’s been standing there for 10 seconds and hasn’t even moved”), the timekeeper can start the clock. 

After 3:00 minutes, there is a 10-second grace period (for example: up to and including 3:10:00). Starting at one-hundredth of a second over the grace period, 3:10:01 a penalty is automatically deducted of .5 from the poet’s overall score. An additional .5 is deducted for each additional 10 seconds. THE MC/BM MAY STOP THE POET AT 4:00 MINUTES.
7. Influencing the Crowd Before the Bout Begins. Poets are allowed to talk casually with anyone in the crowd before the bout begins (except the judges, if they have already been chosen). They are not, however, allowed to give anything to the audience or have anyone do this for them. See full PSI
 tournament rules for more information.
PSI Rules

1) Poems can be on any subject and in any style.

2) Each poet must perform work that they have created. Sampling should be no longer than 30 seconds of the overall poem. 

3) No props. Generally, poets are allowed to use their given

environment and the accouterments it offers microphones, mic stands,

the stage itself, chairs on stage, a table or bar top, the aisle as long as

these accouterments are available to other competitors as well. The rule

concerning props is not intended to squelch the spontaneity,

unpredictability, or on-the-fly choreography that people love about the

slam; its intent is to keep the focus on the words rather than objects.

Refer to Section V (Definitions) for further clarification on what is and is

not a prop. Poets who inadvertently use a prop (for example, a timely yet

unwitting grab at a necklace) can be immediately penalized two points if

the MC of the bout deems the effect of the violation to have been

appreciable, but sufficiently lacking in specific intent. A formal protest

need not be lodged before the MC can penalize a poet in this way,

however, the decision of the MC can be appealed after the bout.

Individuals whose use of props in a poem appears to be more calculated

and the result of a specific intent to enhance, illustrate, underscore, or

otherwise augment the words of the poem will be given a retroactive

score for the poem equal to two points less than the lowest scoring

poem in that bout. This deduction, which can only be applied after a

formal protest has been lodged against the offending poet, will not be

made by the MC, but by the Protest Committee.

4) No musical instruments or pre-recorded music, a poem which

violates this rule will be assessed a score of zero.

5) No costumes. (Do not put on or take off clothing during bout)The Protest Committee may apply a two-point deduction for violation of the costume rule. For example don't wear a superman shirt and do a poem about superman. Don't wear a witch hat and do a poem about witches. So do not wear clothing that highlights or underscores your poem content. Wear your normal street clothes. 

Haiku Death Match

Sunday, July 25th, 2021 Haiku Slam. Host will be Black Phoenix. Poets bring your haikus to compete in our annual Haiku Death Match (National Style). Poets should have at least   15-26 haikus to compete. Winner will receive $200. Coffee Underground. 1 East Coffee Street Greenville, SC. 7:30pm. $10. 

Produced by Wits End Poetry, these poetry events are made possible in part by the generous support of the South Carolina Arts Commission and the Metropolitan Arts Council with funds received from the City of Greenville, BMW Manufacturing Company, Michelin North America, Inc., SEW Eurodrive and the South Carolina Arts Commission. More information at www.witsendpoetry.com. 

Follow our social media @witsendpoetry across all platforms.

#yeahthatgreenville #gvlarts #greenvillesc #poetryslam #poetry

Haiku Slam Rules

REGISTERED POETS: Order will be randomly drawn on the night of slam.

Prize Money: $200

You'll need to have at least 15-26 Haikus. "The more the better." In cause you to go all the way

-There will be a “Red” poet and “Not Red” poet

-There will be a bout draw to see who goes first, second, etc.

- Each poet name will be placed in a section of a bracket, the lower number in each section will be red

-“Red” Poet will read first in every bout. “Not Red” reads first in that round if they win.

-Poets will come to the stage in pairs, bow to each other to show respect to the poet and honor the competition, and face off one haiku at a time

-First round, each Haikuster will read the best of 3 Haiku, 2^nd round- best of five, 3^rd round- best of seven, and 4^th round-best of eleven. This number can be adjusted based on the number of participants

-For example, if there are not enough haiku warriors signed up to make a full show it may go to double-elimination (you need to lose two rounds to be eliminated).

-We encourage pre-sign ups for slams. If not a sold out show, you may sign up at the venue

-Last haiku warrior standing wins the trophy and cash prize

$10 General Admission. Buying an audience ticket does not register you for the slam. 

REGISTRATION IS OPEN. 8 slots for sign up

REGISTERED POETS:

1. ShAy Black

2. Davelyn Athena

3. Mista Funn

4. Jennifer Stohlmann

5. Devon Taylor

6. Carol G

7.

8.

Poet registration via PayPal $10 below or via Cashapp $witsendpoetry

Poet Name

Summer Heat Slam July 18th

 

Congratulations to Curtis Levon and Dove Dupree for being Co-Champions! Due to an anonymous sponsor, both poets were awarded $700 (for a total of $1400).

On July 18, 2021 at 7:30, Wits End Poetry will host its annual Say What Summer Heat Slam at the Radio Room in Greenville, SC at 110 Poinsett Hwy! With Host Jenice Pleasant! The first-place prize is $300! 2nd Place $100. 

Poets register below using PayPal or Cash app $15 to $witsendpoetry. Audience tickets are available via Eventbrite.

We are excited to welcome veteran and emerging poets. Wits End Poetry's mission is to mentor and grow Carolina poetry talent in order to help poets make a living as poets.  The poetry slam events do have a short open mic available for those with "audience tickets."

HOST: Jenice Pleasant

Bout Manager: 

REGISTERED POETS:

1. ShAy Black

2. Curtis Levon

3. KP The Wordsmith

4. Starry Lail

5. Black Phoenix

6. Jahbu 

7. Bawston Massacrr

8. Southern Stylz

9.Dove Dupree

10. Carol G Superstar

Limited to 10 poets. No waitlist. Poets scroll to the bottom of this page to see all the rules.

REGISTER NOW! VIA CASHAPP ($WITSENDPOETRY) OR PAYPAL

Poet Name

REGISTRATION IS OPEN. Cashapp $15 to $witsendpoetry with the words POET. "poet name" to register or register ABOVE with Paypal. $15 General Admission. Buying an audience ticket does not register you for the slam. 

REGISTERED POETS: Order will be randomly drawn on the night.

Tournament rules:
1. Prize Money: $400. First $300. 2nd $100
2. Bout draw is at 7:15pm
If you are late for the draw, you will automatically be the 1st poet in the slam!
3. We are only taking 10 poets. No Waiting List. No refunds.
4. No Tie for First. In the event that there is a tie for first after the third round, then each poet tied for first will perform one additional poem. A coin flip will determine order. Judges will vote for the winner by writing down the name of the poet who they believe should win.
5. Three Round Poetry Slam. 10-6-3. First two rounds are cumulative. Final round is clean slate. Order will be high to low for second round. Final round will be redrawn for order.
6. The Time Limit. 3:00 minute time limit. A poet is certainly allowed several full seconds to adjust the microphone and get settled, but as soon as s/he makes a connection with the audience (“Hey look, she’s been standing there for 10 seconds and hasn’t even moved”), the timekeeper can start the clock. 

After 3:00 minutes, there is a 10-second grace period (for example: up to and including 3:10:00). Starting at one-hundredth of a second over the grace period, 3:10:01 a penalty is automatically deducted of .5 from the poet’s overall score. An additional .5 is deducted for each additional 10 seconds. THE MC/BM MAY STOP THE POET AT 4:00 MINUTES.
7. Influencing the Crowd Before the Bout Begins. Poets are allowed to talk casually with anyone in the crowd before the bout begins (except the judges, if they have already been chosen). They are not, however, allowed to give anything to the audience or have anyone do this for them. See full PSI
 tournament rules for more information.
PSI Rules

1) Poems can be on any subject and in any style.

2) Each poet must perform work that they have created. Sampling should be no longer than 30 seconds of the overall poem. 

3) No props. Generally, poets are allowed to use their given

environment and the accouterments it offers microphones, mic stands,

the stage itself, chairs on stage, a table or bar top, the aisle as long as

these accouterments are available to other competitors as well. The rule

concerning props is not intended to squelch the spontaneity,

unpredictability, or on-the-fly choreography that people love about the

slam; its intent is to keep the focus on the words rather than objects.

Refer to Section V (Definitions) for further clarification on what is and is

not a prop. Poets who inadvertently use a prop (for example, a timely yet

unwitting grab at a necklace) can be immediately penalized two points if

the MC of the bout deems the effect of the violation to have been

appreciable, but sufficiently lacking in specific intent. A formal protest

need not be lodged before the MC can penalize a poet in this way,

however, the decision of the MC can be appealed after the bout.

Individuals whose use of props in a poem appears to be more calculated

and the result of a specific intent to enhance, illustrate, underscore, or

otherwise augment the words of the poem will be given a retroactive

score for the poem equal to two points less than the lowest scoring

poem in that bout. This deduction, which can only be applied after a

formal protest has been lodged against the offending poet, will not be

made by the MC, but by the Protest Committee.

4) No musical instruments or pre-recorded music, a poem which

violates this rule will be assessed a score of zero.

5) No costumes. (Do not put on or take off clothing during bout)The Protest Committee may apply a two-point deduction for violation of the costume rule. For example don't wear a superman shirt and do a poem about superman. Don't wear a witch hat and do a poem about witches. So do not wear clothing that highlights or underscores your poem content. Wear your normal street clothes. 

King of the South 2021

The historical, original all-male poetry slam held in Greenville South Carolina! Don't miss the top male poets of the southeast region showcase their power and spoken word skills! Located at RADIO ROOM 110 Poinsett Hwy Greenville SC 29609. BUY AUDIENCE TICKETS at witsendpoetry.eventbrite.com

HOST  Moody Black

Bout Manager Kimberly J Simms

REGISTERED POETS:

1. BLACK PHOENIX

2. MAGIC MOSLEY

3. JORDAN BAILEY

4. CURTIS LEVON

5. JUSTIN BLACKBURN

6. ROSCOE BURNAMS

7. BREEZE

8. DOVE DUPREE

9. SUPERMAN THE POET

10. AQUIL ALI

11. AZAR

$15 General Admission. Buying an audience ticket does not register you for the slam. 
    REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

REGISTERED POETS: Order will be randomly drawn on the night.

Tournament rules:
1. Prize Money: 1st $300  2nd $100
Top 3 poets will have the title, "King of the South Finalist"
2. Bout draw is at 7:15pm
If you are late for the draw, you will automatically be the 1st poet in the slam!
3. We are only taking 10 poets. No Waiting List. No refunds.
4. No Tie for First. In the event that there is a tie for first after the third round, then each poet tied for first will perform one additional poem. A coin flip will determine order. Judges will vote for the winner by writing down the name of the poet who they believe should win.
5. Three Round Poetry Slam. 10-6-3. First two rounds are cumulative. Final round is clean slate. Order will be high to low for second round. Final round will be redrawn for order.
6. The Time Limit. 3:00 minute time limit. A poet is certainly allowed several full seconds to adjust the microphone and get settled, but as soon as s/he makes a connection with the audience (“Hey look, she’s been standing there for 10 seconds and hasn’t even moved”), the timekeeper can start the clock. 

After 3:00 minutes, there is a 10-second grace period (for example: up to and including 3:10:00). Starting at one-hundredth of a second over the grace period, 3:10:01 a penalty is automatically deducted of .5 from the poet’s overall score. An additional .5 is deducted for each additional 10 seconds. THE MC/BM MAY STOP THE POET AT 4:00 MINUTES.
7. Influencing the Crowd Before the Bout Begins. Poets are allowed to talk casually with anyone in the crowd before the bout begins (except the judges, if they have already been chosen). They are not, however, allowed to give anything to the audience or have anyone do this for them. See full PSI
 tournament rules for more information.
PSI Rules

1) Poems can be on any subject and in any style.

2) Each poet must perform work that they have created. Sampling should be no longer than 30 seconds of the overall poem. 

3) No props. Generally, poets are allowed to use their given

environment and the accouterments it offers microphones, mic stands,

the stage itself, chairs on stage, a table or bar top, the aisle as long as

these accouterments are available to other competitors as well. The rule

concerning props is not intended to squelch the spontaneity,

unpredictability, or on-the-fly choreography that people love about the

slam; its intent is to keep the focus on the words rather than objects.

Refer to Section V (Definitions) for further clarification on what is and is

not a prop. Poets who inadvertently use a prop (for example, a timely yet

unwitting grab at a necklace) can be immediately penalized two points if

the MC of the bout deems the effect of the violation to have been

appreciable, but sufficiently lacking in specific intent. A formal protest

need not be lodged before the MC can penalize a poet in this way,

however, the decision of the MC can be appealed after the bout.

Individuals whose use of props in a poem appears to be more calculated

and the result of a specific intent to enhance, illustrate, underscore, or

otherwise augment the words of the poem will be given a retroactive

score for the poem equal to two points less than the lowest scoring

poem in that bout. This deduction, which can only be applied after a

formal protest has been lodged against the offending poet, will not be

made by the MC, but by the Protest Committee.

4) No musical instruments or pre-recorded music, a poem which

violates this rule will be assessed a score of zero.

5) No costumes. (Do not put on or take off clothing during bout)The Protest Committee may apply a two-point deduction for violation of the costume rule. For example don't wear a superman shirt and do a poem about superman. Don't wear a witch hat and do a poem about witches. So do not wear clothing that highlights or underscores your poem content. Wear your normal street clothes.