Question

[citizenwind]

In the poetry slam world, I think there's a huge skill gap between the average slammer and high level competitors.  In fact, there's an inordinate amount of people who are merely "above average," despite being "professionals," a term I use loosely.  Talking to most consistent, high-finishing competitors, they've noticed it too.  Why do you think

Comments

[degram]

*draws a bell curve*

[citizenwind]

but it's not. it's like, the first half of the bell curve, then a freefall!

[citizenwind]

although i'd argue, especially among the "old guard," that they're just doing the same thing over and over. :)

do you think the main problem is work ethic, or talent?

[anonymous]

Good question. A true professional studies his/her craft, learns new ways of exploring his/her talent and executes them with excellence.

Everyone secretly desires to be a "master" at something. Performance poetry happens to be incredibly accessible. You can't walk into the Fed and say you are an economist. You can walk into a coffeehouse and say you are a poet.

[citizenwind]

so why is it so hard for people to make the leap from "mediocre" to "decent?"

[anonymous]

Okay I don't know if that last comment came through entirely. The point is that in the poet world there are absolutely no barriers to entry. Some people will always just be mediocre because skill and talent draw a thin line of definition around them. Others will learn and grow and expand their uniquely expressed talent.

IMHO it's just a question of capability.

[citizenwind]

yeah, there are no barriers to entry. that doesn't explain why people stay average.