The Lavender Mic Poetry Slam

The Lavender Mic Poetry Slam is a recurring monthly poetry slam, where 10 poets compete for a $100 cash prize.
About this Event

The Lavender Mic Poetry Slam is a monthly reoccurring poetry slam held at Town Hall Collaborative, where 10 poets will compete for a $100 cash prize. The Lavender Mic aims to highlight queer and marginalized voices, and bring the community together for a night of creativity, joy and inspiration.

**Portion of ticket sales go towards:

• The winning poet
• The support of Town Hall Collaborative
• Feature performers
• 10% to a local charity (determined each month based on need)

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SLAM RULES:

• Check-in & Draw Time: 7:00 PM at Townhall Collaborative
• Poets who do not attend the draw will be taking the #1 spot! So get there on time poets!
• Slam Format & Rules:
• The competition will be conducted in 3 rounds.
• Rounds 1 and 2 are cumulative—scores from both rounds will be added together to determine which poets advance.
• Round 3 is a clean slate—finalists will start fresh with no previous scores carrying over.
• The round cuts will be
• Round 1: All 10 poets
• Round 2: Top 5 poets
• Round 3: Top 3 poets
• Poets will randomly draw their performance order at check-in.
• Time Limit: Each poem must be 3 minutes or less, with a 10-second grace period. After 3:10, time penalties will apply:
• 3:10-3:20 = 0.5-point deduction
• 3:20-3:30 = 1-point deduction
• 3:30+ = Disqualification for the round
• Your time starts as soon as you speak into the mic or engage with the audience.
• No props, costumes, or musical accompaniment—the power is in your words and performance.
• Each poem must be original and written by the performing poet.
• Random Judges will be selected in the audience. Judges will score poets on content, performance, and overall impact on a scale of 0.0 to 10.0 (highest and lowest scores dropped, middle three averaged).
• If there is a tie for the final round, a 1 minute sudden-death round may be implemented.

FAQ:

• Q: How many poets will be allowed to compete?
• A: There will be a total of 10 poets. First come, first serve basis.

• Q: How much is the cash prize for the winning poet?
• A: $100 cash prize for the winning poet

• Q: How many poems should poets have prepared?
• A: Poets should have 3 poems under 3 minutes prepared as well as one 1 minute poem.

• Q: Is a slam the same thing as an open mic?
• A: No, a slam is a competition with judges.

• Q: How can I sign up to compete?
• A: Arrive at 7pm (30 minutes early to sign up for one of 10 competing poet spots. First come, first serve. must have general admission ticket purchased.

• Q: Will we always donate to the same charity?
• A: Charities will change quarterly! we are always open to suggestions as well!

FEATURE POET INFO:

Suzi Q. Smith is an award-winning poet and author who lives in Denver, Colorado.

The author of poetry collections Poems for the End of the World, A Gospel of Bones (winner of the 2019 Electric Press Award), and the chapbook collection, Thirteen Descansos, Smith is also the co-editor of two anthologies, Tell It Slant: An Anthology of Creative Nonfiction by Writers from Colorado's Prisons and All the Lives We Ever Lived, Volume I, both Finalists for the Colorado Book Award. While primarily known for her poetry, Suzi is also an organizer, an educator, a singer-songwriter, playwright, and interdisciplinary creative. She has created, curated, coached, organized, and taught for over 25 years, touring throughout the United States. Smith is also a Pushcart-nominated essayist with an MFA in Creative Writing from Randolph College. Recipient of the 2023 Beacon Award for Excellence in Teaching, she is currently a Faculty member with Lighthouse Writers Workshop and Regis University’s Mile High MFA, and the Writing Director with Chateau d’Orquevaux in France, where she was a resident artist in 2023. As an organizer, Smith is the recipient of the 2024 Social Impact Artist Award from Bonfils-Stanton Foundation and Denver Arts & Venues, as well as the 2018 Denver Foundation Swanee Hunt Leadership Award, and she has worked with arts and cultural organizations for over 25 years, in Denver and around the U.S.