Marc Kelly "So What" Smith is the founder of Chicago's Uptown Poetry Slam.  Founded 21 years ago at The Green Mill, the slam is still going strong.  I spoke to Marc a couple of months ago when I was reading at The Mill.  He's a pretty busy fellow, but I got him to answer a few questions for Outsider Writers this week. 

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DB: First, let me congratulate you on the twenty-first anniversary of the Green Mill’s Sunday night slam.  It seems like so many things start out hot and then fade.  What do you credit with the long popularity of this event?

Marc: There are several principles that have guided the slam from its beginning and it's these principles which have nurtured its popularity.

a) It's the poet's job to communicate effectively to his/her audience. Slam poets take the art of pewrforming as seriously as they do the art of writing poetry.

b) The show is as much of an art form as the poems read on the stage. Slam organizers have learned how to put on good shows.

c) Slam poets are not ashamed of being entertaining. They know that all great art is entertaining.

d) The competition has been used as a compelling theatrical device to hold an audience's attention but it is not the only component of a slam events. The side shows, the open mic, the guests performers, etc. add a variety to an evening that gives the audience several opportunities at witnbessing something worth their time and money.

e) Slam nis a celebration of all forms of poetry and all walks of life. People like the big view of humanity they see at the slam.

There are more but I'm tired of typing.

DB: You’ve said that slam isn’t about the poet, it’s about the audience.  But every performance art needs both a performer and an audience.  How does a successful slam differ from say, a stand-up comedy act, or from a vocal performance?

Marc: Slam has incorporated aspects of all the performing arts into its aesthetic. It's the merging of the art of writing poetry with the art of performance.

DB: Anything that’s been around as long as slam has develops stereotypical expectations.  Could you comment on some of the false stereotypes people may hold about slam poetry?

Marc:   Two of the most annoying stereotypoes are that slam is a bunch of drunks shouting poetry to a bunch of drunks being shouted at and that it's a hip hop battle of off-the-cuff rhymes backed up by beats.

DB: If a poet wanted to try performing slam poetry, what would you suggest she do to appeal to the audience?  What would you suggest she avoid?

Marc:   Write good poetry and learn the performing arts. Avoid thinking that you know more than your audience.

DB: I’ve heard you recite some very classical poems at the Green Mill beforean open mic.  Could you tell me what other types of performances you are personally involved in?

Marc:   I work with bands performing both my works and the classics. I've written a couple plays and I've acted in a few productions. I've formed several poetry ensembles and staged many shows. I think of myself as performer, show-maker, and writer.

DB: Do you want to do anything different in the next twenty-one years?

Marc:  Yes. Just keep me out of the nursing home. Let me die on stage.

DB: Thanks, I really appreciate your time.

You can find out more about Marc Kelly Smith at his website, Slampapi.Com

Last update : 19-09-2007 18:49

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