WA Rules

All entrants to the Australian Poetry Slam 2011 agree to abide by the following rules and regulations:

• Maximum of 20 entrants per heat.
• Enter at the venue on the night of the heat 30 minutes before the heat commences. WA has online sign-up, but you must arrive by 630pm to confirm.
• Contestants must reside in the state in which they are competing
• Random draw for performance order.
• ABSOLUTE two minute limit. Time starts at your first word or when the timekeeper feels the performance has begun (no additional time allowed for introductions). Points will be deducted from the final score for exceeding the time limit — one point for every 30 seconds over time. For example: At 2:01 minutes you will lose a point. At 2:31 minutes you will lose another point..
• Five judges chosen by the MC at random from the audience.
• Judges hold up score cards using a 1 – 10 scale, with 10 being the highest. Of the five scores for each poet, only the middle three scores are counted. The decision of the judges is final. 
• Poem must be the original work of the performer written within the last 12 months. No plagarism folks. One or two recognisable pop culture references are okay.
• Performers must be prepared to perform two different poems in the heat.
•  In the case of a tie a “slam off” will be used at the discretion of the slam organisers. • No musical accompaniment. No props. No costumes. (ie; clothing related to the content of your poem)
• Two performers with the highest scores in each State Heats will proceed to the State Final
• Employees of libraries or venues that are hosting heats may not compete.
• Contestants must sign a copy of the rules prior to performing.