Sour Skittles: JC slam
If you love JC slam please do not read this post! I’ve learned honesty is the best policy so here it goes…
I went to jersey city slam last night finally quelling my friend Lyte Epps. Hes been wanting me to hit that stage since forever… i got there… everyone standing around, place dark and i find out it they told everyone 9 but it doesn’t start til 10… strike 1
I came all the way from work in Brooklyn to spit…knowing that i would only get an hour / hour and half artist inspiration was saddening. But i met a dope poet that often frequents the Nuyorican, i was feeling a little better. I also met a person who frequents Louder Arts so i was thinking about taking away strike 1. But no, Be on time.. i understand an half hour grace period but an hour! C’mon..
But then the host came up… she was soooo long winded! Say the rules and get to steppin love! I do appreciate the dirty hiaku u spit before my set, that was dope… but strike 2 for you not wearing shoes… professionalism love professionalism…
I performed “how to make sugar” and a new piece, “patience”… so glad i didn’t do “lesson plan” (only 4 people would hv gotten it)..
On the open mike, there were some good deep poets that i thoroughly enjoyed. You could tell the artistry; i love that. Two outta four comedians were good… and then the poet laureate of Union City came up…Strike 3.. aweful!
Strike 4… inside jokes with the regulars… not including the new folks…
The slam… the sacrificial poet was timid… you couldn’t hear her… she had some dope lines but the piece needed work… i mean when u say sacrificial poet i am expected to be blown away ie Louder Arts & Nuyorican… plus i talked to her before it started & she said SHE WASN’T A POET! how you hv someone as a sacrificial poet who doesn’t even think she’s a poet?!?! Really JC! Really! STRIKES 5 AND 6!
Because it started an hour late, only got to hear 1 person in the slam…. Theron… he restored my faith in the slam… but when i saw his score against the sacrificial poet… i was done… not really gonna put a strike here bc the truth is… SOMETIMES THE AUDIENCE HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE DOING?!…
the strike 7 goes to the time penalty…I don’t know how you deserve to have the harshest time penalty in all of slam..1 pt deduction every second if your poem exceeds 3min20s…
The moral of this story is… I hope u believe in you have a second chance to make a first impression bc JC slam… u really need that second chance!
Some sour Azúcar this morning!
Peace!