We had 5 poets, including a virgin who did really well. Since there were no cuts until the Improv round I kept cummulative scores instead of a clean slate in round 3-what the poets do in rounds 1 and 2 should count for something.
In the end it was Lori Hamilton and Jerri Hardesty facing off in Sudden Death Improv.
Lori put up a good fight, but Jerri's improv experience showed through and she took the slam.
It was great to see Liz Ott again. Thanks to Tyler and Amber for coming out. Thank you Suzanne for your support.
Lori did a fantastic poem, "If I had two breasts", but the poem was just over five minutes long- just proving that poetry is more important to Lori than points- I am proud of her.
We had a virgin who did a great job even though she had only one poem. Her second poem was improv and holds the record for the shortest poem in ValloSlam history.
In the Improv Round both Jerri and Glenwood produced poetry that would make you think it was written and practiced- except that the topics were randomly taken from the hat.
Was it an accident or planned that the B'ham and Vallo poetry scenes would come back together and bloom???
Terence Davis tied with Jerri Hardesty to win the Slam!
Jerri Hardesty won the Slam!
Jerri won the Slam with Wade coming in second.
The current standing in the Slam Team Selection Series are:
1 Jerri Hardesty
2 Wade Manney
3 Jennifer McGowan
4 J T Bullock
5 Lindsay Stone
We had slam virgins, old timers and some we hadn't seen in quite a while.
I presented Adam with a can of RC Cola and a Moon Pie which team Montevallo had won at Southeastern Regionals.
I also took a whole roll of film and decided that next time, I'll bring 3 or 4 rolls. I hope to have some pics up soon.
These are the complete standings for the 2002 Team Selections:
| Poet | Total Points |
| Jerri Hardesty | 264.8 |
| Wade Manney | 252.0 |
| Kirk Hardesty | 234.5 |
| Katie Asson | 113.4 |
| Lindsay Stone | 105.0 |
| Ted Barnett | 97.1 |
| J.T.Bullock | 82.7 |
| Corbin Streett | 77.9 |
| Alison Caddell | 76.9 |
| Jeff | 68.0 |
| Ronnie Raindeer | 57.3 |
'ValloSlam 2001, March 19
We had a bit of a small slam Monday night, probably due to the change of date ... we'll definately work harder to get word out next time. We had eight poets, including one virgin. Jerri Hardesty won the slam opposed by Ron Dumont in the Improv round. We video taped the entire slam and will soon have some pics up, if not all-out video! We had a few drummers turn out and after the slam Ron ran out and returned with a guitar and we had a fun jam until Adam closed Barnstormers.
Here are the current team series standings and the night's scores by round:
| Poet | Rank | Points | Mar Final | Round 4 | Round 3 | Round 2 | Round 1 |
| Jerri Hardesty | 1 | 242.9 | 90.1 | 24.6 | 24.3 | 22 | 19.2 |
| Kirk Hardesty | 2 | 238.4 | 64.9 | - | 22.8 | 23 | 19.1 |
| Katie Asson | 3 | 221.6 | 48.5 | - | - | 24.5 | 24 |
| Katie Bartee | 4 | 155.3 | 59.3 | - | 20.4 | 18 | 20.9 |
| Kim Cushion | 5 | 112.0 | 38.3 | - | - | 19.2 | 19.1 |
| Jennifer McGowan | 6 | 108.7 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ron Dumont | 7 | 99.1 | 99.1 | 24.3 | 27.5 | 24 | 23.3 |
| Trent Short | 8 | 94.4 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Corbin Streett | 9 | 77.2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Carey Martin | 10 | 75.9 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Lydia Simpson | 11 | 70.6 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nichole Gunter | 12 | 65.5 | 65.5 | - | 21.6 | 21 | 22.9 |
| Sam Elliot | 13 | 69.2 | 69.2 | - | 24.2 | 20.5 | 24.5 |
| Adam Renkly | 14 | 47.6 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Matt Hector | 15 | 47.1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Monty Bishop | 16 | 44.5 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Meg Livingston | 17 | 42.3 | - | - | - | - | - |
The turnout was standing room only Monday night with 9 poets hanging it out at Barnstormer. Again we had singing poets and drums beating and one poet got a 30! The winner was Jennifer McGowan against Trent Short in the Improv round.
Here are the scores for the night and the current team standings:
| Poet | Rank | Points | Feb Final | Round 4 | Round 3 | Round 2 | Round 1 |
| Kirk Hardesty | 1 | 173.5 | 78.5 | - | 24.2 | 24.3 | 30 |
| Katie Asson | 2 | 173.1 | 77.8 | - | 22.9 | 28.5 | 26.4 |
| Jerri Hardesty | 3 | 152.8 | 74.6 | - | 23.7 | 24.5 | 26.4 |
| Jennifer McGowan | 4 | 108.7 | 108.7 | 26.7 | 27 | 27.5 | 27.5 |
| Katie Bartee | 5 | 96.0 | 50.0 | - | - | 24.4 | 25.6 |
| Trent Short | 6 | 94.4 | 94.4 | 23.8 | 25.3 | 23.2 | 22.1 |
| Corbin Streett | 7 | 77.2 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Carey Martin | 8 | 75.9 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Kim Cushion | 9 | 73.7 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Lydia Simpson | 10 | 70.6 | 70.6 | - | 22.3 | 24.7 | 23.6 |
| Adam Renckly | 11 | 47.6 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Matt Hector | 12 | 47.1 | 47.1 | - | - | 20.5 | 26.6 |
| Monty Bishop | 13 | 44.5 | 44.5 | - | - | 24.3 | 20.2 |
| Meg Livingston | 14 | 42.3 | - | - | - | - | - |
'ValloSlam 2001, January 15
We had a great turnout for the first of the 2001 Slam Team selection series, with poets from out of town, singing poets, lots of open mic and drumming between rounds and after the slam, and even some slam virgins on the stage.
Katie Asson won the slam, facing off with Kirk Hardesty in the Improv round.
Here are the scores for the night and the current team standings:
| Poet | Rank | Points | Jan Final | Round 4 | Round 3 | Round 2 | Round 1 |
| Katie Asson | 1 | 95.3 | 95.3 | 19.8 | 26.1 | 24.0 | 25.4 |
| Kirk Hardesty | 2 | 95.0 | 95.0 | 17.5 | 26.9 | 26.4 | 24.2 |
| Jerri Hardesty | 3 | 78.2 | 78.2 | 25.8 | 26.0 | 26.4 | |
| Corbin Streett | 4 | 77.2 | 77.2 | 24.4 | 26.7 | 26.1 | |
| Carey Martin | 5 | 75.9 | 75.9 | 24.1 | 25.6 | 26.2 | |
| Kim Cushion | 6 | 73.7 | 73.7 | 23.2 | 27.5 | 23.0 | |
| Adam Renckly | 7 | 47.6 | 47.6 | 23.4 | 24.2 | ||
| Katie Bartee | 8 | 46.0 | 46.0 | 24.6 | 21.4 | ||
| Meg Livingston | 9 | 42.3 | 42.3 | 22.3 | 20.0 |
Montevallo Slam Report, April
Monday’s Slam was eventful and strange, beginning with the remodeling being done at Barnstormer Pizza. Before we could get started, some things had to be moved around, such as the two video games and some loose flooring materials, but the stage was intact, and in fact the lighting has been enhanced to add more versatility to the stage. The kitchen was closed, endangering our pizza party plans. However, Adam, the owner let us order delivery from Pizza Hut, and we were off to an odd start.
We announced the release of Parody the Parody, Katie Asson’s new chapbook. We also announced the certification of Barnstormer Pizza as a Slam venue with Poetry Slam, Inc., the governing body of the national poetry slam scene. (gee… guess that makes me the SlamMaster of the vast Montevallo empire! Mwahahahah!)
About forty persons came out for the final Slam in ‘Vallo’s Team selection series. Lindsay Stone, Birmingham’s SlamMaster was there and guest MC’d the second and third rounds. During the first round some juvenile heckling from one poet caused a stir which, between the first and second rounds turned into a heated argument. The heckled poet wanted the heckler disqualified and removed from the venue. When it was obvious that the two would not come to a mutually agreeable resolution, I intervened, and the Slam went on. The offended poet was vindicated when the heckler didn’t make the first cut- justice from the judges.
The winner of the Slam was Katie Asson, capping her night with icing and giving her the number one ranking in the Montevallo Slam Team selection series. Congratulations, Katie! Runner up was Lindsay Stone.
Here are the final standings for the selection series:
1. Katie Asson 2. Jerri Hardesty 3. Kirk Hardesty 4. Tina Harris 5. Lindsay Stone 6. Vic Swann 7. Ted Barnett 8. Jennifer McGowan
Note that since the majority of these Slammers are also vying for a spot on the Birmingham Team, the actual makeup of the ‘Vallo team will not be determined until after the B’ham Slam this Friday the 14th.
For complete scores and standings, check out the Montevallo Poetry Slam web site, which can be accessed @ http://www.poetryslam.net.
Next month’s Slam will be held on the first Monday, May 1st. Tentatively scheduled will be a feature poet: Hunter Bell.
Stay tuned for more info.
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March Slam Report
About forty people came out to the Montevallo Poetry Slam at Barnstormer’s Monday night, including eight poets. We had one first-timer who tried to fake experience, but we could tell right away he’d never ‘been with a slam’ before. He was just a little too awkward handling the mic to have been there before. Can’t blame him for trying though! The winner of the slam was another slam virgin, Daniel Spanier. The runner up was Tina Harris.
Here are the scores for Monday’s slam:
Poet R1 R2 R3 R4 Final Daniel Spanier 21 21 22.5 22 86.5 Tina Harris 23.5 17 23 17 80.5 Jerri Hardesty 21.5 21.5 20.9 63.9 Katie Asson 23 21 17 61 Kirk Hardesty 16.5 20.5 20.3 57.3 Ted Barnett 11 13.5 24.5 Steve Jarrett 6 15.5 21.5 Desrick Kirkland 6 15.5 21.5
And the currents standing for the Montevallo Slam Team are:
1 Jerri Hardesty 2 Katie Asson 3 Kirk Hardesty 4 Vic Swan 5 Tina Harris 6 Ted Barnett 7 Lindsay Stone 8 Jennifer McGowan
Go to www.poetryslam.net for links to the Birmingham and Montevallo Slams. This site is under construction and we hope to link to ALL southeastern slams, and eventually, all American slams. Email your slam info for inclusion at www.poetryslam.net.
Thanks,
Kirk