Post-Season Update

The regular season may have come to an end*, but not to worry, there’s still lots of exciting events coming up.

On April 16th the CPC is hosting a No Rules Slam at Cafe Alt. For one night only, we have lifted our ban on costumes, props, musical accompaniment and animal acts. You won’t want to miss it!

And of course, we still have the Capital Slam Finals on May 21st. The top poets of the season will compete for the championship title and a place on the 2016 CapSlam team. Come out to see all of CapSlam’s best poets in one show!

Stay tuned for more updates on the Capslam post-season!

*reminder: there is no slam April 2nd or May 7th

Final Regular Season CapSlamReCap

Another season comes to a close which means one last slam for poets to try and win spots in the CapSlam semi-finals!

This year we had TEN poets sign up for the final throw down!

With everyone wanting to slam, there was no open mic so we went straight into the competition! 2015 CapSlam Champ Nina Vuleta was hosting and 7-time CapSlam team member Rusty Priske was the sac poet! 9.5 7.6 7.2 7.9 8.5 – 24.0

Then it was on to the Magic Hat!

First up, DMP! 9.7 9.2 9.5 9.7 8.5 – 28.4! Big scores right out of the gate!

Next was Emma F.! 8.7 8.8 9.2 9.0 8.1 – 26.5

Next was this year’s standings leader, Blue! 8.6 9.6 9.5 9.1 TEN – 28.2!

Next was the return of Lazy Hero! 8.4 9.1 7.4 7.9 8.2 – 24.5

He was followed by the sophomore appearance by Kirsten Pulles! 8.7 9.4 9.9 9.2 8.9 – 27.5

Next we got a freestyle by newcomer, Sky! 7.5 9.8 7.4 6.9 8.9… and a 1.5 time penalty for 22.3

He was followed by Liz C.! TEN 9.3 8.2 9.2 9.9… and a .5 time penalty for 27.9

It is always D-Zaster time! 9.2 9.5 8.3 9.4 8.8… and a 1 point time penalty for 26.4

The penultimate poet of the round was Omar Saghir! 9.6 9.5 9.2 9.8 8.9 – 28.3

We finished up with CPC Director Sarah Ruszala! 9.5 9.6 9.3 9.8 9.8 – 28.9!

 

After a short break we had a dynamic set by Cambridge’s own, Rafay Ansari!

 

The top five poets from Round one were back for round two!

First up, Blue! 9.8 9.4 9.4 9.6 TEN – 28.8!

Next, DMP! 9.5 9.6 9.2 9.5 TEN and a .5 time penalty for 28.1

He was followed by Liz C! 9.9 9.4 9.3 9.8 9.9 and a .5 time penalty for 28.6

Then we brought back Sarah Ruszala! 9.0 9.2 9.5 8.9 9.7 and yet another .5 time penalty for 27.2

Lastly, Omar Saghir! 9.3 8.6 9.2 9.4 TEN – 27.9

 

Lots of time penalties and it cost TWO poets the win!

Final results

1. Blue – 57.0
2. (tie) DMP – 56.5
   2 (tie) Liz C – 56.5
   4. Omar Saghir – 56.2
   5. Sarah Ruszala – 56.1
   6. Kirsten Pulles – 27.5
   7. Emma F. – 26.5
   8. D-Zaster – 26.4
   9. Lazy Hero – 24.5
   10. Sky – 22.3

 

CapSlam ReCap RunDown

 

We are a little behind on the CapSlam ReCaps as our Slam Master has been dealing with some health concerns. So, we are going to do a Lightning Round of ReCaps  o make sure everyone is up to date!

 

Feb. 6th

Feature: Sabrina Benaim

Results:

1. DMP – 55.8
2. Blue – 55.5
3. Lazy Hero – 53.9
4. Schuster – 53.4
5. Emma F. – 52.6
6. Omar Saghir – 25.9
7. Nina Vuleta – 25.7
8. Sophie – 22.8

 

Feb. 13th

CIPS Qualifier to pick the CapSlam rep for the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championships.

1. Apollo the Child
2. Kay Kassirer
3. DMP
4. Omar Saghir
5. Blue
6. Nina Vuleta
7. D-Zaster
8. Emma F.
9. Billie the Kid
10. Victoria Lucas
11. Sarah Kabamba

 

Feb. 20th

Feature – Prufrock

The penultimate regular season slam

1. Nina Vuleta
2. Kirsten Pulles
3. Omar Saghir
4. Word Witch

 

Now you a re all caught up! Our final regal reason CapSlam in on March 5th and features Rafay Ansari!

CapSlamReCap 2016 Edition!

(Feature poet Amal El-Mohtar, owl not included.)

2016 is two weeks old and we finally kicked it off properly, with a new edition of Capital Slam!

There was a very mice crowd on hand, with a mix if old faces and a whole bunch of first-time slam fans! That carried over into the poet list as well!

Rusty launched into the show, welcoming the audience to a new year of slam. We lost an open mixer between sign up and show start (come out next time Ember!), but we were still well served by a veteran of the Montreal scene, Lynn, who led us in dance to welcome the snow and ice to Ottawa!

Then it was time for the slam itself and Rusty introduced his personal favourite poet to act as Sacrifice for the show – Rusty Priske! 9.1 8.3 9.3 9.0 9.3 – 27.3

Then we went into the magi chat to find out who would be hitting the stage first… it was Origin, making his season debut! 9.4 8.8 9.5 9.4 9.4 – BUT he went 3:25 so ended with 27.2

Next up was the CPC Director herself, Sarah Ruszala! 8.9 9.7 9.3 8.7 9.0 – 27.2

Newly transported to O-town, a member of the reigning CFSW Champions, Larissa Tarasoff was next! 9.1 8.6 9.0 9.2 8.8 – 26.9

Another new voice on the CapSlam stage, Schuster was next out of the hat and into our ears! 8.7 8.6 9.1 8.7 8.9 – 26.3

Next up was one of the new CapSlam regulars, Word Witch! 8.5 9.0 9.0 8.4 9.0 – 26.5

The penultimate poet of the round was the current points leader, Blue! 9.4 9.6 9.7 9.0 9.2 – 28.2

We wrapped up the round with Rick from Lanark County! 9.0 9.5 8.9 7.9 8.5 – with a HUGE time penalty after going 5:20, ending with a 19.4

 

With the first round in the books and a break under our belts it was time for our very special feature! Amal El-Mohtar is a supremely talented multi-threat who shared fantastic lines about everything front he troubles in Syria to the right choice in gifts of honey. Wonderful. (I was happy to see the poets snapping up copies of her book, The Honey Month.)

Then we were back for the second round of the slam!

We started off with Word Witch sharing some pain with us. 9.2 9.5 TEN 8.8 9.1 – 27.8

Next was a second coat of Blue! 9.6 9.2 9.5 9.1 9.2 – 27.9

National Champ Larissa Tarasoff  was next up! 9.6 9.3 9.3 9.0 9.0 – 27.6

Rick was back! Would he get it in under 3 minutes this time? (No.) 9.3 8.4 9.9 8.0 8.8 – but a time of 3:59 for a final score of 24.0

Speaking of time penalties, how did Origin do in round 2? 9.9 9.8 9.9 9.5 9.2 – but a time of 3:23 for a 28.2

The penultimate poet of the night was Schuster! 9.7 8.7 9.6 9.3 9.1 – 28.0

We finish dup with Sarah Ruszala! 9.8 9.8 TEN 8.7 9.3 – 28.9

 

FINAL RESULTS

1(TIE) – SARAH RUSZALA – 56.1
1(TIE) – BLUE
3 – ORIGIN
4 – LARISSA TARASOFF
5(TIE) – SCHUSTER
5(TIE) – WORD WITCH
7 – RICK

COMING UP:

JAN. 17th – OYPS at PRESSED featuring Amal El-Mohtar!
JAN. 20th – Our Slam Master, Rusty Priske is featuring at the Sawdust Reading Series at the Pour Boy
FEB. 6th – the next CAPITAL SLAM features SABRINA BENAIM!

CapSlam ReCap

We wrapped up 2015 with a show that featured one of the biggest names in Canadian Spoken Word – Ian Keteku!

Plus there were presents!

Plus there was a Rusty Carol!

Plus there was a slam!

Rusty took the stage as host and introduced the first Open Micer – a newcomer to our stage, Maisaloon!

With the strains of ‘Come Back’ echo gin through the room, Rusty Priske tried to make singing a Christmas Carol Parody about himself an annual tradition.

Then it was time for the slam… but as every SlamFan knows, we can’t have a slam without spilling a little sacrificial blood. It was CPC Director and OYPS Slam Master, Sarah Ruszala offering herself up! 8.0 8.8 9.2 8.5 8.8 – 25.6

Then it was time for the magic hat and the first name out was a familiar face, of late off in Toronto, Kay Kassirer! 8.0 9.0 9.3 8.3 8.5 – 25.8

They were followed by another mainstay, D-Zaster! 8.4 8.9 9.1 8.7 9.5 – 26.7

Third up was this year’s new star, Blue! 9.7 9.5 9.6 9.0 9.2 – 28.3!

Man, myth or Urban Legend? Infinite Mind was next! 9.8 9.1 8.8 8.7 9.4 – 27.3

Next was one of our new regulars, Word Witch! 8.0 8.3 8.0 8.1 8.0 – 24.1

One of three CapSlam Champs in the house, Nina Vuelta was next! 8.6 9.4 9.2 8.5 8.8 – 26.6

The penultimate poet of the round was a CapSlam newcomer, Sarah Kabamba! 8.5 8.5 9.1 9.0 8.7 – 26.2

We wrapped up with the return of DMP! 8.9 9.0 9.5 9.1 9.6 – 27.6

 

After a break it was time for former CapSlam Champ, former CFSW National Champ, former WORLD Champ, and all-around poetry powerhouse, IAN KETEKU!

It was great to have the legend back at CapSlam!

(Also, shout out to the third CapSlam Champ who stopped by for the show… Sense-Say was on hand!)

Then it was back to the hat, and back to the slam!

First up would have been Infinite Mind but he had to duck out so it was back to the hat for… D-Zaster! 8.5 9.0 8.9 8.6 8.5 – 26.0

Then we were back for a new shade of Blue! 9.0 9.8 8.9 8.9 9.0 – 26.9

Next up… DMP! 8.8 8.6 9.3 9.7 9.2 – 27.3

He was followed by his teammate, Nina Vuleta! 8.8 8.9 8.7 9.1 8.8 – 26.5

First-timer, Sarah Kabamba was back! 9.5 9.0 8.4 9.3 8.5 – 26.8

Next back was Kay Kassirer! 9.0 9.7 8.5 9.5 9.5 – 28.0!

We wrapped up with Word Witch! 8.0 8.2 8.6 8.3 8.2 – 24.7

FINAL RESULTS

1. Blue – 55.2
   2. DMP – 54.9
   3. Kay Kassirer – 53.8
   4. Nina Vuleta – 53.1
   5. Sarah Kabamba – 53.0
   6. D-Zaster – 52.7
   7. Word Witch – 53.8
   8. Infinite Mind – 27.3

 

Next CapSlam is on January 2nd and features AVONLEA FOTHERINGHAM!

CapSlamReCap

 

The Penultimate Capital Slam of 2015 was full of wonder and magic and heartbreak and struggle and art and art and art!

CPC Director Sarah Ruszala handled the hosting duties and she heralded a strong lien up of 8 slammers, 2 open mixers and a kick-ass feature!

The first poetry heard on the stage this evening came from an infrequent voice in our scene, Kel Seashore!

The second came from someone making his spoken word debut, Linzey Mentor!

Then it was time for the slam… but what is a slam without a little blood?

Sarah handled the sacrificial duties herself, far from the ever-present Parliament Eye. 8.0 8.7 8.5 8.7 8.0 – 25.2

Then it was time for the Magic Hat! The first name out was a poet who has already repped at the National level, but she was making her CapSlam debut – Emma F.! 8.5 9.5 9.0 9.0 9.4 – 27.4

Next up was an Urban Legend, Infinite Mind! 9.0 9.8 9.0 9.6 9.5 – 28.1

The 2015 CapSlam Champ was next up! Nina Vuleta! 9.0 9.7 8.8 9.7 8.5 – 27.5

Another debut! Ambiguous! 7.5 9.1 8.0 7.7 7.2… but he went 3:28 so got a 1 point penalty. 22.2

Always great to have visiting poets… A Block of Cheese was next! 7.9 9.3 8.5 8.4 7.7 – 24.8

With Sarah hosting, what was Rusty Priske doing? Slamming! 9.5 9.6 9.5 9.9 8.7 – 28.6

The penultimate poet of the round was also the person who has been leading both the CapSlam and OYPS rankings! Blue! 9.8 9.9 9.6 TEN TEN – 29.7!

We finished up with Word Witch! 8.5 9.2 9.4 9.5 9.0 – 27.6

(Though, according to the scoresheet provided by Nina Vuleta, there was another poet int he first round… John Cena. He got a 30.)

After a short break we were back with an amazing feature by the winner of the 2015 Underground Indies, Rabbit Richards! Rabbit had lots of real talk for us and we loved having her as… part of our world.

Then it was back to the slam!

Round 2 kicked off with Emma F. biting the bullet again! 8.0 9.3 9.0 8.8 8.8 – 26.6

Since Emma was first in both rounds, why not have Infinite Mind second on both rounds? 9.0 TEN 9.4 9.2 9.3 – 27.9

The trend was crushed by A Block of Cheese! 9.0 9.3 9.0 9.3 8.9 – 27.3

The first half of the last round was capped by Ambiguous! 8.0 9.1 8.5 8.4 8.0 – 24.9

Next up was vet (and recapper), Rusty Priske! 8.8 9.5 9.5 9.9 8.4 – 27.8

Would Blue continue her momentum? (Spoiler: yes) 9.8 TEN 9.7 TEN TEN – 29.8!!

Word Witch was the penultimate poet of the night! 9.0 9.2 9.0 9.4 9.3 – 27.5

We wrapped thing sup with Nina Vuleta! 9.3 9.9 9.5 9.5 9.7 – 28.7

RESULTS

1. Blue – 59.5
2. Rusty Priske – 56.4
3. Nina Vuleta – 56.2
4. Infinite Mind – 56.0
5. Word Witch – 55.1
6. Emma F. – 54.0
7. A Block of Cheese – 52.1
8. Ambiguous – 47.1

 

Capital Slam is back on Dec. 19th, with poetry super star, IAN KETEKU!!!

CapSlamReCap

 

It’s slam time!

CapSlam was at a special venue  this time out as we collectively checked  out the brand new Origin Studio! Origin Studio is a real intimate venue in the heart of Hintonburg. It was a great atmosphere for sharing poetry and we had a lot of that, with not one but FOUR features and a line-up of six slammers!

We started out with a very special open mic as our volunteer co-ordinator, Jenica Shivkumar finally made her poetic CapSlam debut!

Remember this day folks and one day you will be asked , “Where were you with Jenica Shivkumar read her first poem at CapSlam…”

 

Our veteran awkward host doubled as sacrificial poet for the evening, but what does it mean? 7.5 9.2 9.6 8.0 7.0 – 24.7

 

But enough about him, what about the slammers? Who was going to be first out of the magic hat? (no, not Rabbit… she will be at the next slam.)

First up was poetry superstar, Cathy Petch! 8.0 8.1 9.0 9.0 7.0 – 25.4

Next was a brand new poet to our stage, Victoria Lucas! 9.5 8.5 9.4 8.7 7.5 – 26.6

Next up was CPC Director Sarah Ruszala! 7.5 9.7 8.0 7.0 8.0 – 23.5

Reigning CapSlam Champ, Nina Vuleta was next! 8.7 8.5 8.5 9.2 7.5 – 25.7

The penultimate poet of the round was D-Zaster! 9.5 9.3 9.2 7.0 8.5 – 27.0

We wrapped up with Blue! 9.2 9.4 9.5 9.0 9.0 – 27.6

After a 10 minute break, we were back with our very special feature, the 2015 Toronto Poetry Slam Team! Kay, Trevor, Justin and Spin kept us spiralling through laughter and emotional punch! A treat!

But there was no resting on our laurels as we still had another round of slam to go!

Sarah Ruszala was back to infect our minds with a Westminster Chime Ear Worm. 8.5 8.7 9.0 9.0 9.6 – 26.7

Blue had the lead after round 1… could she hold it? 8.9 9.5 9.1 9.0 9.7 – 27.6

Nina Vuleta was back… and got one of only two TENS on the night! 9.8 9.1 9.5 TEN 9.4 – 28.7

Another poem from Victoria Lucas! A great debut! Hopefully we will hear more from Victoria at future slams! 8.5 9.3 7.8 8.0 9.1 – 25.6

Penultimate again! D-Zaster! 8.7 9.0 9.0 7.5 9.3 – 26.7

Didn’t I say there were two TENS? Cathy Petch! 9.3 9.2 TEN 9.0 9.8 – 28.3

FINAL RESULTS

1. Blue – 55.2
2. 2. Nina Vuleta – 54.4
3. D-Zaster – 53.7
4. Cathy Petch – 53.4
5. Victoria Lucas – 52.2
6. Sarah Ruszala – 50.2

Don’t forget OYPS tomorrow at Pressed with Kay Kassirer and then CapSlam is back at Cafe Alt on Dec. 5th featuring Rabbit Richards!

 

CapSlam is at ORIGIN STUDIO this week!

There has been some confusion about the location of our next slam (featuring the TPS Team!)

ORIGIN STUDIO is at 57 Lyndale in Hintonburg. Is one block away from Scott and 2 blocks from Parkdale.

http://mapq.st/1X2ug8a

This is NOT the same place as Origin Studios on Sussex.

Postering Blitz

This Sunday, November 15^th, Capital Slam is hosting a postering blitz and you are all invited. We will meet at the University Centre (85 University Private), on the University of Ottawa campus at noon. All volunteers will be provided snacks, supplies, and good karma. Then we will split off into small groups, and cover the city with colourful paper and the call to poetry.

Everyone who helps out will get out a voucher good for one free CapSlam show.

If requested, volunteers can receive highschool volunteer hours.

For more information or to RSVP please email us at ottawapoetrycollective@gmail.com

CapSlam ReCap

Our first CapSlam in November was also our second CapSlam at Cafe Alt! Trying t make sure everyone could find their way in was a job, but once things settled down, we had a list of NINE slammers, including some out of town faces and a surprise CapSlam debut!!

Rusty Priske took the stage as host with a poem to get people in the mood before he turned it over to stand-up comedian Tommy Fitz for an open mic section!

Then it was on to the slam!

Spilling the sacrificial blood was one of the co-organizers of our ‘sister-show’ Urban Legends, Playto! 8.2 6.5 6.9 7.5 8.2 – 22.2

Then it was time for Rusty to reach into the magic hat and the first name out was multiple-time CFSW finalist, Made Wade! 9.2 9.5 9.6 9.0 8.7 – 27.7

Next up was a slam rookie, but quite a word spinner, Shakesfear! 8.9 8.2 9.1 8.3 7.9 – 25.4

Next was a visiting poet who has repped at CFSW a few times, Wes Ryan! 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.4 9.3 – 28.0

Next up was a CapSlam debut, believe it or not! In all this time, Apollo the Child had never slammed with us… until now! 9.5 9.6 9.4 9.5 9.0 – 28.4

The mid-point of the round was filled by the CPC Director, Sarah Ruszala! 9.1 9.0 9.5 9.3 9.3 – 27.7

Another visiting poet, in from Montreal after reaping Guelph at CFSW, EVT was up! 9.1 8.7 9.5 9.2 9.4 – 27.7

Another Urban Legend, Infinite Mind was next out of the hat! 9.2 9.0 9.4 9.4 9.5 – 28.0

Next up was Blue, and it you want to see the petition that we spoke about at the show, you can check it out here.

Lastly, CapSlam Champ Nina Vuleta hit the stage! 9.3 9.4 9.3 9.2 9.3 – 27.9

After a break it was feature time and we were treated to the powerful words of Truth Is…!

Truth Is… has been sharing poems at the National level since 2006 and it was a real treat to witness the work on our stage. It has been a little but, but for tonight anyway, the Truth was here!

Then we were back for another round of slamming! Back into the hat as (nearly) everyone came for another go ’round. (Shakesfear didn’t stick around.)

EVT – 9.0 9.0 9.3 9.3 9.2 – 27.5

Made Wade – 8.9 9.3 9.2 9.4 8.9 – 27.4

Nina Vuleta – 9.8 9.6 9.1 9.3 9.5 – 28.4

Wes Ryan – 9.2 9.3 9.2 9.4 9.6 – 27.9

Blue – 9.6 9.4 9.1 9.5 9.4 – 28.3

Apollo the Child – 9.8 9.5 9.3 TEN 9.6 (and a time of 3:14 for a .5 time penalty) – 28.4

Sarah Ruszala – 9.7 9.2 9.4 9.6 9.3 – 28.3

Infinite Mind – TEN 9.7 9.7 9.8 TEN (and a time of 3:25 for a 1 point time penalty) – 28.5

FINAL RESULTS

1. Apollo the Child – 56.8
2. Infinite Mind – 56.5
3. Nina Vuleta – 56.3
4. Blue – 56.2
5. Sarah Ruszala – 56.0
6. Wes Ryan – 55.9
7. EVT – 55.2
8. Made Wade – 55.1
9. Shakesfear – 25.4

The next CapSlam in on Nov. 21st and will be held at a special location – Origin Studio in Hintonburg! Our feature is the 2015 Toronto Poetry Slam team!