Congratulations to all our Slammers
Well, what a night: the 2010 Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor’s Poetry Slam was a huge success thanks to all those – [...]
Posted on September 9th, 2010 by Steven Schwartz
Well, what a night: the 2010 Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor’s Poetry Slam was a huge success thanks to all those – students and staff – who summoned up the nerve to get on stage and perform their verses. Congratulations, every one of you.
Our MC Miles Merrill was excellent in directing the event and I’d like to thank him for all his hard work, not just in the Slam but also in the prior “wordshop” he ran to coach would-be Slammers.
And now the winners (scored by judges selected at random from the near-capacity audience):
The $1000 first prize, sponsored by Macquarie University Village went to Macquarie student Adrian Cullen.
Student Shireen Fernandez picked up the second prize of books worth $500 from The Coop Bookshop, while Adrian Lee collected the third prize of vouchers worth $300 from Macquarie University Campus Experience. I also gave consolation prizes to two performers who really impressed me – Stephanie Fenton and Stuart Rays. Thanks again to all our sponsors, and well done winners.
Let’s do it again next year.
- Steven Schwartz
Comments
And, we TOO have to pay our dues... Thank YOU to all who put together a great evening. Fellow Slammers (I wish I could put all your names here!), I am so humbled and awestruck by your courage and talent. Like it or now, our friendship is sealed forever now by that experience. Thank you VC for coming out to play with us, you were such a good sport. Miles, thank you! I dont think you quite realise how grateful we are to you for so generously sharing your talent and time with us. You are ridiculously funny and downright impressive. Your encouragement threw us onto the stage and, we love you for it. Morganics, thank you for that crash course in hip hop. You have no idea what it did for our confidence and stage presence. Bravo Child, you set the bar so frighteningly high, I am going to crash trying or get there when I am sixty. Sarah, nice work. The organizers, THANK YOU! To the tech-xperts, what would we have done without your sense of humour and expertise. Thanks for making us look like stars. Thanks guys from the Marketing team who were softly handing out encouragement and pride. You were wonderful. The waiters and security guys were dishing out praise and good luck with the drinks and snacks. Thank you! Shireen Fernandez
Shireen Fernandez - September 9, 2010
I was so impressed by the slammers - just being brave enough to get up there and perform for us is impressive enough, but some wonderful thoughts were shared. The judges also performed well, and I agree with their decisions. They deserved the chocolates. Adrian - total talent - well deserving of the first prize. Shireen - I was totally moved, and wished others could take note and learn from her experiences. All the best to you and your family - what a wonderful mother. Adrian Lee - you have a wonderful gift of humour, making fun of the irritations of life. You really made me laugh. Hope you publish your poem.
Margaret Levy - September 10, 2010
I was blown away by the slammers - not only having the courage to get up and be heard but to present such heartfelt material - so adroitly and creatively. Seriously impressive. But my vote also goes to Shireen's mum, she's clearly a powerhouse...and thanks Shireen for sharing her with us!
Gail Whiteford - September 10, 2010
Congratulations to everybody who got up with their words at the slam. At a time when all the political speeches are stiff and redundant all the celebrities are scripted, I was so excited to hear new, very unique voices and perspectives. It's great that people who don't call themselves "poets" can use the medium as a pure creative outlet. Excellent work. Thanks Shireen for offering so much thanks. Some incredible talent is burgeoning from these slam events and wordshops. Let your two minutes be just a sample of your show. A few of you should get together with a musician and head to a cafe, a bar, or just the park on a sunny afternoon share a few of poems. Make an evening of it. Bottle of wine. Discuss your work. Invite an audience. Dare I say it- start your own regular spoken-word night. If starting your own spoken-word revolution seems to daunting, there are a few opportunities to try out your performances around the city: The first Tuesday of every month at the Friend In Hand Hotel in Glebe, they have a featured performer and host a slam. Check it out: www.wordinhand.org There's also the national slam you can get info about local slam heats at- australianpoetryslam.com Thanks again to all of you and I look forward to the next session.
Miles Merrill - September 20, 2010