2026 Slam Team
Slam Season is Here!
Heard Em Say is thrilled to launch our 2026 Slam Team Qualification Season! This year the largest international youth poetry slam and festival, Brave New Voices, is taking place in Bay Area, California.
To qualify, youth need to: Attend at least (1) designated workshop and compete in the poetry slam qualifier during our April show. Dates, times, locations, and registrations and details below!
Save the dates for BNV: July 15-18.
Qualifying Workshops
Attend at least one, but as many as possible! Workshops will cover writing and performance techniques needed to be successful at the sport of poetry slam. Register in advance to secure your spot!
Workshop #1: Saturday, March 14th at Lutz Branch Library from 1:00-3:00p
Workshop #2: Saturday, March 21st at Robert Saunders Library from 1:00-3:00p
Workshop #3: Saturday, March 25th at C. Blythe Andrews Library from 1:00-3:00p
Workshop #4: Saturday, April 4th at Riverview Public Library from 1:00-3:00p
Workshop #5: Saturday, April 11th at Brandon Regional Library from 1:00-3:00p
Unsure? Still come! Keep your options open by attending workshops to learn more, meet other teens in the Tampa Bay area, and practice your writing and performance skills.
We’ll provide light snacks and any writing supplies you’ll need!
Qualifying Slam: Friday, April 24th
Sign up below to take part in our qualifying slam to make the team! The slam will take place during our normal monthly open mic and show on the last Friday of April - Friday, April 24th from 7:00-9:00p at the Sulphur Springs Museum in Tampa.
Slam Rules:
Competing teens will need to have two (2) original poems.
Poems do not have to be memorized.
Each poem must fit the time limit of 3:40 - 3 minutes with a 40 second grace period.
No profanity or vulgarity.
No props - i.e. if your poem is about Starbucks, don’t bring a Starbucks cup on stage with you to gesture with.
Poets will be scored by pre-selected judges - every effort will be made to make sure the judges do not know the poets