Poetry Slam at the Cantab Lounge: 8x8 Slam Series Rules

Open slams at the Cantab run in a series of 8. After 8 slams, winners are split into two semi-final slams. Winners get $25, then slam against each other in the season final for the $50 prize... The season finalist is then invited to return for a shot at the ultimate title, the Cantab Champion of Champions!

• Fall 2007: Adam Stone
• Summer 2007: Adam Stone
• Spring 2007: Brian S. Ellis
• Fall/Winter 2006/2007: Dan Ames
• Summer 2006: Brian S. Ellis
• Spring 2006: Brian S. Ellis
• Fall/Winter 2005/2006: Ryk McIntyre
• Summer 2005: Adam Stone

The season champion goes on to slam against the current venue champion for the title of Champion of Champions and a $100 prize.

Our current reigning Champion of Champions is Brian S. Ellis.
Brian has held the title since May 23, 2007. Brian is scheduled to defend his title on Wednesday, May 21, 2008.

• Why is it called the 8x8?
  Every open slam consists of 8 open slots, and then we invite 8 open winners back. Hence: 8x8.
• Can I repeat poems from week to week in the 8x8 series?
  Yes! There is no repeat restriction within the 8x8.
• The SlamMaster told me I'm not allowed to compete in this 8x8. Why not?!
  One of two reasons:
  
  1. Any poet who wins an open slam in the 8x8 series must wait until the 8x8 semi-final to slam again. No poet is permitted to win twice in the open slams of an 8-slam series.
  2. The reigning Champion of Champions may not slam in any open slams.
  These rules are designed to encourage as many different slammers as possible to compete.
• I won an open slam! When do I show up for my semi-final?
  Check the schedule to see who is slamming in which semi-final slam. If there's no featured poet that night, slammers are expected to check in with the SlamMaster by 9:00. If there is a feature, poets may show up no later than 10:00.
• I'm in a semi-final slam, but no one knows if all the qualified poets are going to show up. What's the format?
  If all 4 semi-finalists show: poets face off head-to-head in the order in which they won their open slams. So it's Poet 1 vs. Poet 2 in a best-of-three, then Poet 3 vs. Poet 4 in a best-of-three, then winner vs. winner in a best-of-three.
  If only 3 semi-finalists show: the format is a 3-loss knockout; the three poets will perform in a rotating order and be assessed a loss for every round they do not win. After 3 losses, a poet is eliminated from the slam. The last poet standing is the winner of the semi-final.
  If only 2 semi-finalists show: the poets will face off in a single best-of-three match.
  If only 1 poet shows: the poet will be required to entertain the audience with three unscored poems in order to advance and take home the $25 prize.
  If no poets show up: the winner of the other semi-final still has to show up to the season final (see below).
• I won my semi-final! What's next?
  The two semi-final winners return for the season final to slam against each other. It's a head-to-head best-of-five for $50. If one opponent doesn't show, the other does 3 unscored poems for the audience to win the money and advance.
• I won the season final!! Now what?
  The season finalist is invited to return to slam against the reigning Champion of Champions for the title. This is a best-of-seven match for a $100 prize. If the challenger fails to show, the reigning champ does 3 poems and keeps the title and the $100. If the reigning champ fails to show, the challenger does 3 poems for $100, but no title is awarded; the title will remain vacant until two season champions can face off for it.
• What does the 8x8 have to do with qualifying to be on the Cantab Slam Team or representing the Cantab at NPS or IWPS?
  Nothing. The 8x8 championship series is a local title only. For details on qualifying to represent the Cantab at national or international events, click here.

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