Heidelberg slams draw national talent, local amateurs

Organized by Ann Arbor residents Steve and Deb Marsh, Dan Jacobs, and Larry Francis, the Heidelberg Poetry Slam occurs the first Tuesday of every month. This event features a diverse collection of poets who volunteer to read from their original work. It begins with about an hour of open mike at the beginning of each session, followed by a feature poet who reads for the next hour. The Poetry Slam competition, what many consider the heart of the event, is then next on the agenda. To conclude the evening there is also the option of another open mike session, or what is affectionately called the "Big Dog" session by the late night crowd.

Consistent with a prospering present, the Heidelberg Poetry Slam has a rich 12-year tradition in Ann Arbor. This event is the second oldest of its kind, following its creation in Chicago by Mark Smith. Heidelberg employees say a man named Vince Kuet

JESSI JOHNSON/Daily Poet Michael Salinger reads from his poetry at Heidelberg Restaurant on North Main St. Tuesday Night. The Heidelberg features poetry slams every first tuesday of the month.

er subsequently brought the event to Ann Arbor after its conception in Chicago, establishing a community tradition at the Heidelberg restaurant.

Everyone is invited to attend and participate in the Heidelberg Poetry Slam in several ways. The audience usually ranges from high school students, University students, community members and visitors to Ann Arbor. There is also a mixture of professional poets, amateur poets, as well as interested spectators in the crowd. It is the diversity of the audience is what creates the exciting ambiance of the Heidelberg Poetry Slam.

Those who usually hit the stage for open-mike sessions is an exciting mesh of people who usually relate their experiences through their unique styles and subject matter of their poetry. Anna Vitale, a first time participant in the open mike session, was thrilled by her experience.

"It's incredible to read your own poetry in public, especially to a positive and receptive crowd," Vitale said. "It is always interesting to hear the author's insight through their inflections and emphasis upon the words in their own poems." Vitale, a high school student from Birmingham, Mich., says she aspires to be a regular at the Heidelberg slams because "poetry is not only an important part of our culture, but it fun to hear."

Michael Salinger, a poet from Cleveland, was the featured reader of the Dec. 1 slam. Salinger read from his own collection of poems, and illustrated his energy by his animated performance. Audience members visibly responded well to Salinger's poetry, his wit and his stage presence.

The Poetry Slam consists of a competition between six self-appointed poets and judged by five audience members. Steve Marsh, the event's commentator, explained the rules of the Poetry Slam: "Each poet has around three minutes to read his or her original work. The five judges immediately rate the poet on a determined scale, taking into account both content and performance to determine the poets with the two highest scores." The judges are audience members who volunteer for the position at the beginning of the night.Organizers hope those selected as judges are as impartial as possible.

Once the top two poets are selected, they then face off in another round to determine the night's winner. The poets must read a different original poem in this round and the judges once again rate their performance. This contest does not just stop when the night is over, but the winners are then invited to participate in the Grand Poetry Slam held in the months of April and May.

The Heidelberg Poetry Slam is guaranteed to be a highly entertaining evening. The event is put on by people who love poetry and its continued tradition within the Ann Arbor community. This tradition is perpetuated by enthusiastic participants and spectators.

LSA senior Nora Neidlinger said she enjoyed the first-ever slam she attended. "I had a fantastic night, and I think that there was some real talent at the event," Neidlinger said. "I think that everyone on the University of Michigan campus should go to the Poetry Slam at least once."

Heidelberg Restaurant is located at 215 N. Main St. Call 663-7758 for more information.

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