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!

• 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.
• What are the 8x8 speed slams?
  Speed slams follow all the same rules as the standard slams, except the three rounds have 3-, 2-, and 1-minute time limits.
• 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 round-robin: the three poets will perform in a three-round rotating order and the top scorer will be assessed the winner.
  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.

All pages copyright 2004-2010 by slamnews.com.
Questions? Email us at cantab@slamnews.com.