University Open Mic Contests
These are performances, workshops, and poetry contests all combined into one evening or weekend event. Each event has an MC, a warm up poet, a feature poet, then the university open mic contests for poems about overcoming adversity in one’s life. We’ll have a $100 cash prize for the best poem, with $50 for second and $25 for third. We’ll also work on exchanging contact information in order to build a community at each university. Some of the winning poems will be posted on Facebook and our website. We’ll follow the event up with an online survey.
Kiara Lanier from MU, our very first feature poet for our university open mic contests
2010 – 2011 University Open Mic Contests
Many thanks to all the student organizations who made all of the university open mic contests possible.
December 4, 2010, University of Missouri – Columbia and Moberly Area Community College. Hosted by the English Department and the Council of Social Work Students. Publicity help by the Wellness Resource Center. Click here for photos and videos.
February 8, 2011, Park University, Parkville, MO. Hosted by the English and Modern Languages Department and Sigma Tau Delta, The International English Honor Society. Click here for winning videos.
March 10, 2011, Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis, MO. Hosted by Sigma Tau Delta, The International English Honor Society, and Students Working Against Trauma (SWAT). Location Bank of America Theater/Emerson Hall, 7 pm. This ended up being our second biggest of the university open mic contests of the year with 83 students.
April 5, 2011 University of Missouri at Kansas City. Hosted by the Counseling Center, The Student Veterans Organization, The Undergraduate English Council, The Writing Center, The African American Student Union, and the NAACP Chapter. 7 pm Jazzman’s Cafe, Student Union. Of all
April 6, 2011. Penn Valley Community College, Campus Center, Lower Level. Kansas City, MO. Hosted by the Counseling Department, the English Department, and Campus Life and Leadership. Noon – 1:30 pm, Student Union, Lower Level
April 7, 2011. Avila University, Kansas City, MO. Hosted by Visual and Communication Arts, Graduate Psychology Club, and Avila’s Artist In Residence. Thornhill Art Gallery, 7 – 9 pm.
April 11, 2011. University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO. Hosted by Edifice. 7 – 9 pm Student Union
April 12, 2011. Moberly Area Community College. Hosted by Jessie Adolph and Orr Street studios. 7 pm Orr Street Studios. This ended up being our biggest university open mic event of the year with 113 students in attendance.
April 20, 2011 Truman State University, Kirksville, MO. Hosted by Active Minds on Campus. 7 pm Student Union Spanish B room. This ended up with the most mental health recovery stories at any of the university open mic contests.
April 29, 2011. Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO. Hosted by Student Wellness Activity group. Possible partnerships also include: Psy Chi, Art Guild or Art Club, Theater Department, Music Department, University Peer Education, and To Write Love on Her Arms. Broadway Books and Roasting Company. 7 – 9 pm. Our very last of the university open mic contests turned out to be one of best, completely filling the coffee shop.
We are now booking university open mic contests for the 2011 – 2012 school year! Contact us before we book up.