Tap your old shoes to a ‘slamming’ beat

The Old Factory Coffee shop: by day it’s a cozy little nook in Orange city frequented by tourists, locals and college students wishing for a quiet study time with some tasty coffee.
But once the clock strikes nine on Saturday night, the little coffee shop takes on a whole new atmosphere. There’s a new rhythm to the movement of the regulars. A spirit of rowdiness falls over the group, and there is an excitement you can taste in the air. Both regulars and newcomers know that the power of words is about to be proven. It’s time for the poetry slam.
A warning to any readers who, in this moment,  are thinking something like: “Poetry? Yuck! It’s just a sappy person speaking words into a microphone, right?” You are most certainly mistaken.
This is a new type of poetry—“blue collar poetry,” perhaps. Easily distinguished from traditional or rhyme-based poetry, slam poetry bears a beat-driven, conversational form with an urgent or revolting spirit. Interactions between the audience and the speaker are encouraged, as this art seeks to be an agent of social change.
Also unlike open-mike poetry readings, slams are competition based and are judged on both the performance and the poetry itself. The readers are not just readers; they’re the artists of the spoken word.
Poetry Slams began in 1985 after former construction worker and poet Marc Smith began a series of poetry readings at a club in Chicago- the “Get Me High Lounge.” The readings became so popular that Smith approached Dave Jemilo, owner of “Green Mill” in Chicago, and proposed once-a-week competitions in poetry. On July 25, 1986, the first “Uptown Poetry Slam” was formed.
This is the first year that poetry slams have been hosted at The Old Shoe Factory. The inclusive group, hosted by Steve Mahr, has the goal of competing in various slams around the state and other high-level competitions. The “Factory” is their “home base,” where they will host slams monthly and meet together on a regular basis.
For those unfamiliar, the Old Factory is owned by English professor Richard Sowienski and his wife. A sign in front of the coffee shop reads “Community. Conversation. Inspiration.” This is the theme that inspired Prof. Sowienski to open his doors to the group. “We’re thrilled,” he said. “This is indicative of a growing interest in the arts in Orange County- and it’s good to be a part of that growth.”
Sophomore Holly Stewart has been competing in poetry slams since her freshmen year of high school. To students who want to participate she gives this advice: “Don’t think that what you have to say is stupid or not important or sounds silly. If it’s how you feel, it matters. It’s reality. Don’t be scared to slam. It’s a freeing experience.”
The shop opens its doors this Saturday at 8:00 p.m. It is recommended that you come early if you wish to  register for a spot in the competition.  Remember that slams are all about emotion and difficult topics, so not all content is “G-rated,” Some may find the subjects and language offensive.
But that’s just another example of the art’s edge. It is, after all, called a “slam.”