How to Start a Poetry Slam in Long Beach

Long Beach, California, is a city steeped in cultural diversity, artistic expression, and community resilience. From its vibrant waterfront to its historic neighborhoods like the Eastside and the Pike, Long Beach has long been a breeding ground for creative voices. Yet, despite its rich literary heritage and active arts scene, organized poetry slam events remain underdeveloped compared to neighboring cities like Los Angeles or San Francisco. Starting a poetry slam in Long Beach isn’t just about hosting a night of spoken word—it’s about creating a platform for marginalized voices, fostering civic dialogue, and revitalizing public spaces with raw, authentic storytelling. This guide walks you through every practical step to launch, sustain, and grow a thriving poetry slam in Long Beach, grounded in local culture, community needs, and proven best practices.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Define Your Vision and Mission

Before securing a venue or recruiting performers, you must answer the fundamental question: Why are you starting this poetry slam? Is it to uplift youth from under-resourced neighborhoods? To amplify immigrant narratives? To create a safe space for LGBTQ+ poets? Your mission will shape every decision—from the tone of your events to the poets you invite and the partners you align with.

Write a clear mission statement. For example: “The Long Beach Open Mic Slam is a monthly community-driven poetry event that centers the voices of Black, Brown, queer, and working-class poets, providing a platform for unfiltered expression and collective healing.”

Keep your mission visible. Print it on flyers, include it in social media bios, and read it aloud at the start of each event. A strong mission attracts like-minded participants and builds trust within the community.

2. Research the Local Poetry Landscape

Long Beach already has pockets of literary activity. The Long Beach Public Library hosts occasional poetry readings. CSU Long Beach’s creative writing program nurtures student poets. Local cafes like The Artistic License and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf have hosted open mics. But there’s no consistent, citywide poetry slam series with competitive structure, regular scheduling, or audience-building infrastructure.

Reach out to existing organizers. Attend their events. Take notes on what works and what doesn’t. Ask questions: How do they recruit poets? How do they handle sound? Do they have a judging system? What’s the average attendance? This research prevents duplication and helps you innovate.

Identify gaps. Maybe there’s no slam for teens. Maybe no events happen on weekends. Maybe poets from South Long Beach feel excluded. Use these insights to carve out a unique niche.

3. Choose the Right Venue

Your venue sets the tone. It must be accessible, affordable, and culturally aligned with your mission. Consider these options:

• Public libraries – The Long Beach Public Library system offers free event spaces and built-in audiences. They often welcome community programs and may even provide promotional support.
• Local cafes and bookstores – The Book Cellar, Moe’s Books, and The Artistic License have hosted spoken word before. They benefit from foot traffic and often waive rental fees for cultural events.
• Community centers – The Long Beach Recreation & Parks Department manages venues like the Walter Pyramid Event Center and neighborhood centers in North Long Beach. These are ideal for larger events and often have sound systems.
• Outdoor spaces – The Pike Outlets, Shoreline Village, or even the Long Beach Museum of Art courtyard can host summer slams. Always check city permit requirements for amplified sound and public gatherings.

When approaching venues, come prepared with a proposal: expected attendance, duration, noise level, cleanup plan, and promotional strategy. Offer to help promote their space in return for use. Many venues are eager to host culturally rich events—they just need someone to initiate them.

4. Establish the Format and Rules

A poetry slam follows a structured format to ensure fairness and energy. The standard model is the National Poetry Slam (NPS) format, but you can adapt it for your community.

Here’s a recommended structure for your Long Beach slam:

• Duration: 2–2.5 hours
• Number of poets: 8–10 per event
• Time limit: 3 minutes per poem, with a 10-second grace period. Poems exceeding 3:10 are penalized (0.1 point per second over).
• Performance rules: No props, costumes, or musical accompaniment (unless acoustic instrument only). Focus is on the voice and the word.
• Scoring: Five randomly selected judges from the audience score poets 0–10 (no decimals). Highest and lowest scores are dropped; the middle three are summed. Max score: 30.
• Selection of judges: Use a sign-up sheet at the door. Judges must be 18+, not performing that night, and willing to score fairly. Diversity in age, background, and experience is encouraged.

Always begin with a clear explanation of the rules. Read them aloud. Post them on a whiteboard or slide. This builds trust and transparency.

5. Recruit and Train Poets

Don’t wait for poets to find you—go to them. Reach out to:

• High school creative writing clubs (e.g., Long Beach Poly, Wilson, Millikan)
• CSU Long Beach’s English and Ethnic Studies departments
• Local youth organizations like Long Beach Youth for Change or the Boys & Girls Club
• Community centers serving Black, Latinx, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander populations

Offer free “Slam 101” workshops. Teach poets how to write for performance, manage stage fright, use pacing and silence, and connect emotionally with audiences. Partner with local poets—like Kamilah Aisha Moon or L.A.-based slam veterans—to lead these sessions.

Create a poet roster. Maintain contact info, preferred performance dates, and past participation. Encourage returning poets to bring new voices. A strong slam thrives on continuity and community.

6. Recruit and Manage Judges

Judges are the backbone of a slam’s legitimacy. Their scores must be fair, consistent, and representative of the audience’s collective response.

Set up a simple sign-up system: a physical clipboard at the door, or a Google Form linked in your event description. Ask for:

• Name
• Age
• Background (e.g., “teacher,” “student,” “retired,” “no poetry experience”)
• Why they want to judge

Before the event, gather judges for a 5-minute orientation. Explain scoring: “You’re not choosing the best poet. You’re choosing the poem that moved you most.” Emphasize emotional impact over technical perfection.

Rotate judges regularly. Avoid letting the same people judge every time. Diversity in judgment = diversity in recognition.

7. Build a Marketing and Promotion Strategy

Without promotion, even the most powerful slam will go unnoticed. Use a multi-channel approach:

• Social Media: Create Instagram and Facebook pages. Post teaser videos of poets rehearsing, behind-the-scenes photos, and countdowns. Use hashtags:

  LongBeachSlam #LBPoetry #SpokenWordLB

• Local Media: Submit press releases to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, LAist, and Long Beach Post. Pitch stories: “Local Teens Use Poetry to Process Trauma” or “New Slam Brings Community Together in North Long Beach.”
• Posters and Flyers: Design eye-catching flyers with QR codes linking to your event page. Distribute them at libraries, cafes, community centers, and college campuses. Use local artists to create the visuals.
• Email Lists: Build a mailing list via Mailchimp or Substack. Offer a free downloadable poetry chapbook in exchange for sign-ups.
• Partnerships: Collaborate with local bookstores, record stores, and art galleries. Cross-promote each other’s events.

Consistency matters. Post weekly updates. Feature a “Poet of the Week.” Share audience reactions. Make your event feel alive, even between shows.

8. Secure Funding and Sponsorships

Most poetry slams operate on shoestring budgets. But sustainability requires resources—for venue fees, sound equipment, printing, poet stipends, and refreshments.

Start small. Charge a $5–$10 suggested donation at the door. Use Venmo, Cash App, or Square for easy payments. Always say “suggested donation”—never mandatory. This keeps the event accessible.

Seek local sponsorships:

• Independent bookstores may donate books for door prizes.
• Local coffee roasters can provide free drinks for poets and staff.
• Small businesses in the Arts District may sponsor a “Poet of the Month” with a gift card.
• Apply for small arts grants from the City of Long Beach Cultural Affairs Division or the California Arts Council.

Consider crowdfunding. Platforms like GoFundMe or Kickstarter work well for community arts projects. Tell a story: “Help us turn a vacant corner into a stage for the unheard.”

9. Host Your First Event

Plan your first slam like a production. Create a checklist:

• Confirm venue and setup time (arrive 2 hours early)
• Test microphone, speakers, and lighting
• Print score sheets, judge instructions, and rules
• Set up sign-in table and donation box
• Prepare a playlist of ambient music for transitions
• Assign roles: host, timekeeper, score tabulator, door greeter

Designate a host. This person keeps energy high, introduces poets, explains rules, and manages transitions. They should be charismatic, calm under pressure, and deeply familiar with the mission.

Start the night with a land acknowledgment: “We gather on the ancestral territory of the Tongva people.” It’s respectful, educational, and sets a tone of inclusion.

End with a community circle. Invite the audience to share one word that describes how they felt. Record these on a board. They become your most powerful testimonials.

10. Evaluate and Iterate

After every event, conduct a quick feedback loop:

• Hand out 3-question surveys: “What did you love? What could improve? Would you come again?”
• Hold a 15-minute debrief with your core team: What worked? What didn’t? Who didn’t show up? Why?
• Review social media comments and DMs.
• Track attendance trends. Are more teens coming? Are poets returning?

Use this data to refine. Maybe you need more seating. Maybe the sound is too loud. Maybe poets want more time between sets. Small changes make big differences.

Best Practices

1. Center Inclusion and Accessibility

A true poetry slam welcomes everyone. Ensure your event is physically accessible: wheelchair ramps, ADA-compliant restrooms, and quiet spaces for neurodivergent attendees. Offer ASL interpretation for deaf poets and audience members—partner with local disability advocacy groups to arrange this.

Make your event language-inclusive. Allow poets to perform in Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or indigenous languages. Provide printed translations when possible. This isn’t just inclusive—it’s artistically richer.

2. Prioritize Emotional Safety

Poetry slams often involve trauma, grief, and political rage. Create a “Content Warning” protocol. Encourage poets to state a warning before performing (e.g., “This poem contains references to sexual violence”).

Designate a “Safety Liaison”—a trained volunteer who can offer support if someone becomes overwhelmed. Have resources available: crisis text lines, local mental health hotlines, and a quiet room.

Enforce a zero-tolerance policy for heckling, interrupting, or disrespectful behavior. Train your host to shut down toxicity immediately.

3. Build a Ritual Around the Event

Rituals create belonging. Start every event with a group breath. End with a collective clap. Have a “poetry wall” where audience members pin handwritten lines from poems they loved. Create a signature song or chant that plays as people enter.

These small traditions turn a series of performances into a sacred gathering.

4. Document and Archive

Record audio (with permission) of each slam. Upload clips to SoundCloud or YouTube with timestamps and poet bios. This builds a digital archive of Long Beach’s poetic voice.

Consider publishing an annual anthology. Collect poems from each season. Print a limited run. Sell at events or donate to local libraries. This gives poets tangible recognition and creates a lasting legacy.

5. Foster Cross-Community Collaboration

Don’t silo your slam. Partner with:

• Local theater groups for stage direction workshops
• Musicians for live accompaniment nights
• Artists for visual installations during performances
• Schools for student slam competitions

Host a “Long Beach Poetry Festival” once a year—a multi-day event with readings, workshops, and open mics across the city. This positions your slam as a cultural anchor, not just a monthly night out.

6. Train the Next Generation of Organizers

Don’t be the sole leader. Mentor emerging organizers. Create a “Slam Internship” program for high school or college students. Teach them how to book venues, manage social media, recruit judges, and handle conflict.

When you step back, your slam should continue. That’s true sustainability.

Tools and Resources

Essential Tools

• Google Forms – For poet sign-ups, judge applications, and feedback surveys.
• Canva – Free design tool for flyers, social media graphics, and scorecards.
• Mailchimp – Email marketing to build your audience.
• Calendly – For scheduling poet rehearsals or partner meetings.
• SoundCloud – To host and share audio recordings.
• Square or Venmo – For seamless donation collection.
• Facebook Events – Primary tool for promotion in Long Beach.

Recommended Reading

• The Spoken Word Revolution by Mark Eleveld
• How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy (for lyrical structure)
• Words in Your Face: A Guided Tour Through Twenty Years of the New York City Poetry Slam by Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz
• Black Poets of the American Century by Langston Hughes and others

Local Long Beach Resources

• Long Beach Public Library – Offers free meeting rooms and event promotion.
• CSU Long Beach Creative Writing Program – Connect with faculty and students.
• Long Beach Arts Council – Grants and cultural partnerships.
• Long Beach Poetry Collective – A loose network of local poets (find them on Instagram).
• Arts District Long Beach – A hub for independent artists and pop-up events.

National Organizations for Support

• Button Poetry – Offers free performance guides and video resources.
• SlamNBA – National youth slam network with curriculum materials.
• Poetry Foundation – Free educational toolkits and poet directories.
• National Poetry Slam – Rules, training videos, and event templates.

Real Examples

Example 1: The Eastside Open Mic Slam

In 2021, a group of CSULB students launched the Eastside Open Mic Slam at the Long Beach Public Library’s North Branch. They targeted youth from low-income neighborhoods, offering free transportation via city bus passes. Each poet received a $20 gift card to a local bookstore. Attendance grew from 12 to 90 in six months. Their secret? They partnered with a local youth center to recruit poets and offered free snacks—tacos and horchata—every week. The event now runs monthly and has inspired similar slams in Lakewood and Cerritos.

Example 2: The Long Beach Queer & Trans Poetry Night

Founded by a nonbinary poet named Marisol Vega, this monthly event began in a back room of The Artistic License. It was intentionally small—only 6 poets, 30 audience members—to create intimacy. They banned male-presenting poets unless they identified as trans or nonbinary. The space became a sanctuary. One attendee, a 17-year-old from Signal Hill, wrote a poem about coming out to their immigrant family. It went viral on TikTok. Now, the event is hosted at the Long Beach LGBTQ+ Center and draws crowds from Orange County.

Example 3: The Beachside Slam at Shoreline Village

In summer 2023, a group of surfers and poets organized a free, open-air slam on the pier. They used battery-powered speakers and invited poets to perform while the sun set over the Pacific. No tickets. No judges. Just poetry, salt air, and applause. Attendance hit 200. The City of Long Beach noticed. They invited the organizers to apply for a public arts grant—and now it’s an official city-sponsored summer series.

Example 4: The High School Slam Circuit

Three Long Beach high schools—Millikan, Wilson, and Jordan—launched a quarterly slam competition. Each school hosts one event. Winners advance to a citywide finals at the Long Beach Museum of Art. Teachers use it as a curriculum tool. One teacher reported a 40% increase in student writing engagement. Now, the district is considering making it a mandatory extracurricular.

FAQs

Do I need to be a poet to start a slam?

No. Many successful slam organizers are educators, community workers, or even former audience members. What you need is passion, organization, and the ability to listen to your community.

Can I charge admission?

You can suggest a donation, but avoid mandatory fees. Poetry slams should be accessible to all. A $5 suggested donation helps cover costs without excluding anyone.

How do I handle controversial or triggering poems?

Respect the poet’s voice, but prioritize safety. Have a clear content warning system. Train your host to pause and de-escalate if needed. Offer post-event support resources. Never silence a poet—but always protect your audience.

How often should I host a slam?

Start monthly. Once you build momentum, consider biweekly during peak seasons (spring and fall). Avoid holidays and exam weeks—respect your poets’ and audience’s lives.

What if no one shows up to my first event?

That’s okay. Your first event isn’t for the crowd—it’s for the poets. One person in the audience who feels seen is enough. Keep showing up. Consistency builds trust.

Can I make money from this?

Not directly. Poetry slams are community projects, not businesses. But you can fund them through grants, sponsorships, and donations. Any surplus should be reinvested into the community—paying poets, buying books for schools, or funding youth workshops.

How do I get poets to return?

Recognize them. Feature them on social media. Send thank-you notes. Pay them—even $10 or a gift card. Invite them to help organize future events. People return when they feel valued.

Is there a city permit required?

If you’re using amplified sound in public spaces (like Shoreline Village or the Pike), yes. Contact the Long Beach Parks and Recreation Department for permits. For indoor events, most venues handle this.

What if the venue cancels last minute?

Always have a backup. Keep a list of 3–5 alternative spaces. Libraries, churches, and community centers often have last-minute openings. Flexibility is key.

Conclusion

Starting a poetry slam in Long Beach is more than an artistic endeavor—it’s an act of civic reclamation. In a city marked by economic disparity, racial tension, and cultural erasure, the poetry slam becomes a sanctuary where silence is broken, pain is named, and beauty is reclaimed through rhythm and rhyme. You are not just organizing an event. You are building a movement.

The steps outlined here—defining your mission, choosing the right space, recruiting diverse voices, fostering safety, and documenting the journey—are not just logistical. They are ethical. They honor the tradition of spoken word as resistance, as healing, as truth-telling.

Long Beach doesn’t need another open mic. It needs a poetry slam that reflects its soul: gritty, generous, multilingual, and unapologetically alive. Whether you’re a high school student, a retired teacher, a single parent, or a new resident—you have the power to create this space. Start small. Be consistent. Listen more than you speak.

The first line of your slam doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be spoken.

And when it is—someone in the back of the room, trembling, will finally feel seen.