Rustbelt 2015

My next task as an intern of UrbArts which you can check out at, UrbArts.org, was to attend the Rustbelt 2015 competition with the UrbSlam 2015 team.

The first thing we did this time round was go over our pieces and our coach was traveling with us this time round. During the first bout we went in strong making sure our order was set and we had to pay attention to the poems in the room. The room was filled with poets that were happy to be there and it was a coffeehouse setting.

The second bout was in a shop that had kittens you could hold before the bout started. Not all bouts were created equal and were not convenient to walk to, teams needed a car. Rustbelt was a mix of lack of organization and unity among the artist. Our team went in prepared and it showed as we found ourselves on final stage. Another one of our teammates, Freeman Word, made it to final stage.

Final stage was mixed with Indie finals AND team finals so people were there for awhile. Discovering what teams were where with the scores was challenging, but once it got started it was great to see and experience. There were many things that people could say about Rustbelt, but overall it is a fun Regional slam that is great for teams going to nationals or those just starting out.

​Short and sweet. Rustbelt was exciting and a nice trip before our journey to Nationals.