Queen Bee's Art & Cultural Center 3925 Ohio St
San Diego
California 92104
The San Diego PoetrySLAM has become one of the nation’s premiere poetry slam venues. It provides a space for poets of all skill levels to fellowship and support each other in a competitive atmosphere while facilitating a transformational experience for the audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often does the slam happen?
The San Diego PoetrySLAM happens on the
2nd Monday of every month
Is a slam the same as an open mic?
Not exactly. A slam is a competition with judges
What is a Qualifier?
Qualifiers are 2 round slam competitions and the top competitors will qualify for the Grand Slam Finals.
How many Qualifiers are there?
There will be 5 qualifiers. The top 3 from September, November, December, January and the top 2 February will qualify for finals in March. Finals will have 14 poets
How do I sign up for the slam?
2 slots will be reserved for current slam team members.
1 slot reserved for slam alumni.
The next 7 slots will be 1st come 1st serve and we will have a lottery for the last 4 slots.
(If there are no slam team members competing, the slot (s) can be given to slam alumni, or they will be added to 1st come 1st serve)
What time should I get there to sign up?
The earlier you get there, the more likely you are to get a slot
How many poems should I have?
All competitors should have at least 3 poems
Do my poems have to be memorized?
No, poems do not have be memorized
Is there a time limit for poems?
Yes, poems have to be under 3 minutes and 10 seconds
Can I use a prop or a costume?
No, using a prop or costume will lead to disqualification
Can I use a poem that someone else wrote?
No, poems have to be written and performed by its original author.
Can I compete in every Qualifier?
Participants cannot compete in back to back qualifiers.
For example, if a poet competes in the September qualifier, they cannot compete in October, but they can participate in November. We will only make an acceptation if the list is short. In this case, we will have a lottery for the remaining slot (s)
Is there a repeat rule?
If you earn a spot in the Grand Slam Finals, the poems that were used to qualify are retired and you cannot use them in the finals
How do I make the team?
The top competitors of the season will qualify for the finals and the top 5 from the finals will be the slam team
Queen Bee’s
3925 Ohio St
San Diego, CA
8 pm (7:30 arrival recommended)
$5
