(Poetry) Slam 201 with C.L. “Rooster” Martinez

Saturdays, May 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2-4pm, in-person at Gemini Ink
Instructor: C.L. “Rooster” Martinez
Nonmember: $125; Member: $105; Student/Vet/Mil $75

*EARN CPE’S

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE. 

Class Cancelled

Imagine stepping up to the mic at a poetry slam with less than 3 minutes to captivate the audience.
What will you say? How will you use your voice, face, and body language to take the audience on an emotional rollercoaster? 

(Poetry) Slam 201 is a generative and performance workshop focused on individual and collaborative writing for live competition. We will briefly examine the history and rules of the Slam Poetry genre, write new and exciting work as individuals and teams, use a critique session to delve deep into the poem’s intended message, and focus on moving the written word from the page to the microphone. Participants will receive performance tips and feedback that will add emotional depth and impact to their spoken word delivery.

(Poetry) Slam 201 is designed for most writers (17 years old and up) of any experience level. 

*For those who took Slam 101, this class will expand on the knowledge gained in the first class and is more generative and performance-focused. Please note (Poetry) Slam 101 is not a prerequisite, as this class will briefly reintroduce the lessons of the former class.

Participants will leave this class with the following tools:

• Knowledge of Slam Poetry history & rules
• Practice writing individual and collaborative poems 
• Writing and performance feedback for creating a powerful stage presentation

Christopher “Rooster” Martinez is an educator and spoken word poet from San Antonio, Texas. He earned a MA/MFA in Creative Writing, Literature & Social Justice at Our Lady of the Lake University. He is the author of two poetry books: A Saint for Lost Things (Alabrava Press, 2020) and As it is in Heaven (Kissing Dynamite Poetry Press, 2020). For twelve years, Rooster competed and won slams across the country and co-founded the literary nonprofit Write Art Out Inc. 

Parking at Gemini Ink

Gemini Ink offers free parking along the back wall of our downtown offices. Please access this parking lot from Augusta St and first park in any of the 12 spots along the back wall. Only when these 12 spots are full do we ask that you park elsewhere in our lot. We now rent our offices from UTSA and are collaborating with them to create a secure and accessible parking lot for our community of writers and readers.