Welcome to Austin - A long, detailed list of reasons why we think Austin is going to be the perfect site for this year's National Slam. Includes links to all sorts of Austin-related web-sites and guides. This town is the Bomb.
What exactly IS a National Poetry Slam? - It's conceivable that you might not know.
Who is coming to town to throw down? - A list of the teams attending, with bios and links.
What about Prizes? - Let's take a look at a few of the fabulous prizes we have waiting in our showroom!
Who's running this thing? - This will help you seperate the Chiefs from the Indians.
Where are we gonna SLAM?! - A pictoral guide to the venues we have lined up for this years Nationals. You can also see all of them in the photo above.
Where do we sleep, if and when we do? - Accomodation info, where and how to make reservations, and a list of every single play to get aroom in Austin, from the Four Seasons to the fleabags.
How are you gonna promote it? - Here is our ever growing Press Kit. We know the power of the Media.
How can I help out? - How nice of you to ask.
The Schedule - Have a look at the week's itinerary.
What do we do during the Day? - Well, assuming you're awake during the daylight hours, we'll all sort of cool things to see and do.
And at Night? - What's happening after the bouts.
And the Final Night Venue? - This year's Spoken Word Thunderdome will be at the grand Paramount Theatre.
WILL IT BE HOT OUTSIDE?
Yes, it will. God yes. We won't lie to you. Temperatures are likely to be in the mid-90s
to low 100s in the hottest parts of the day (generally, 3 to 6 p.m.), and should
"cool down" to the mid-70s to mid-80s once it gets dark. Here are some tips:
* If you can, stay inside under some good air-conditioning. Most of the venues have excellent air-conditioning.
* If you do walk around - like, say, to the excellent day events or around downtown - take water and wear sunscreen or, even better, sunblock. This sounds basic, but this will make a big difference, especially to those of you unaccustomed to walking outside and feeling the first big curl of hot air rush at you. Your first reaction will be, "What the hell is this?" It's Austin in August. And the shade only provides some moderate comfort. It's not desert heat.
* Bring some extra shirts and underwear. It's not unusual to want to shower and change clothes in the middle of the afternoon here. Or, as Wammo says, be like him, and just don't wear underwear.
* Sunglasses. The sun here is not only hot; it's inordinately bright.
* Know that it will get cooler at night, and you will notice a difference.