What we’re about
Rockland Poets hosts poetry slams, workshops, open mics, and other poetry events in Rockland County NY, in New York's Lower Hudson Valley.
We are dedicated to providing an outlet for people to create, share, and listen to poetry. We currently have an in-person poetry slam on the first Saturday of each month in Nyack NY, and have been hosting online workshops on Sunday, Thursday and Friday, in addition to online Open Mics over Zoom.
What is a poetry slam? A poetry slam is a performance poetry competition judged by the audience. Where traditional poetry readings are about supporting the poet, poetry slams focus on the interaction between audience and poet. Strong writing and strong delivery are both important. Whether you want to come out and participate by performing or by spectating, you are welcome. We've been putting on events since March 2011.
We're currently holding a poetry slam the first Saturday of each month.
What's a poetry slam? It's a performance poetry competition judged by the audience. We use anonymous whole-room voting, so everybody in the audience gets to decide how the slam goes. CShep is hosting this one.
If you want to complete in the slam, bring at least 3 original poems, each of duration 5 minutes or less.
Show consists of:
- short open mic [4 people max]
- a poetry slam limited to 8 folk; the slam'll be 3 rounds with poets eliminated each round
- a $5-$10 cover (sliding scale: $10 if you can manage $10, otherwise $5)
- prizes: $100 for first place, $25 for second place
Sign-ups and doors open at 6:30 PM; sign-ups close at 7:00 and the show proper starts at about 7:02.
CART captioning is available with sufficient advance notice.
Slam format/rules @ https://www.rocklandpoets.org/slam-format-rules
Upcoming events (3)
See all- May Poetry Slam at Round Table in Garnerville NY -- $100 prizeRound Table Brewery, Garnerville, NY
We're currently holding a poetry slam the first Saturday of each month.
What's a poetry slam? It's a performance poetry competition judged by the audience. We use anonymous whole-room voting, so everybody in the audience gets to decide how the slam goes. CShep is hosting this one.
If you want to complete in the slam, bring at least 3 original poems, each of duration 5 minutes or less.
Show consists of:
- short open mic [4 people max]
- a poetry slam limited to 8 folk; the slam'll be 3 rounds with poets eliminated each round
- a $5-$10 cover (sliding scale: $10 if you can manage $10, otherwise $5)
- prizes: $100 for first place, $25 for second place
Sign-ups and doors open at 6:30 PM; sign-ups close at 7:00 and the show proper starts at about 7:02.
CART captioning is available with sufficient advance notice.
Slam format/rules @ https://www.rocklandpoets.org/slam-format-rules
- May Poetry Open Mic @ Burger Loft in Nyack NY feat. Nina Belén RobinsThe Burger Loft, Nyack, NY
This is our monthly poetry mic in the side room of The Burger Loft on N Broadway in Nyack. We're doing it the 3rd Saturday of each month.
Doors / sign-ups open at 6 PM. Poetry starts at 6:33 PM. Anyone that wants to can come and sign up to read up to 5 minutes of original poetry, but we do cap the number of readers. If you're signed up by 6:30 PM and we have more than our max number, we'll randomize who gets to read.
$10 recommended donation at the door; no one turned away for lack of funds.
Our featured poet this month is Nina Belén Robins.
Nina Belén Robins is a three time national slam poet, and author of Supermarket Diaries, A Bed with my Name on It, T. Gondii, Warm Blooded Tree, Ode to Dymphna and Saturday Morning Serotonin.
She was a finalist for "Poet laureate" of Westchester County, NY where she lives with her husband and cats working in the bakery department of a supermarket.
She spent 17 years living in various institutions, but has finally broken free and wants to help normalize and destigmatize mental illness as best she can.
She is a member of the Coalition for Mental Health Advocacy in Greenburgh, NY.
