Baton Rouge's first experience with the National Poetry Slam came in 1999, when a group of four poets, a coach, and a supporter/photographer took off for Chicago, Illinois, in August. Coached by Ray Sibley, the team consisted of Christian Champagne, Clara Connell, Jeremy Garland, and Mike Melancon. Jennifer Larkin (who took all of these picures) came to lend support to the team.

The team started off at Phyllis's on Division Ave in Chi-town, where, on Wednesday, August 11, they faced off against teams from Vancouver BC, and Woodstock NY. The Baton Rouge team ran a close 2nd, nearly knocking off Vancouver.

Thursday, August 12, the BR team squared off against powerhouses Dallas and San Jose at the Subterranean on W. North Ave. (San Jose ended up winning first place at Nationals that year!). Though Baton Rouge's poetic warriors were vanquished, they gave a spirited (and in one case, controversial) performance.

Poetryslam.com maintains an archive of the 1999 Slam here

1999 team The 1999 Baton Rouge National Poetry Slam Team outside of the Chicago Theater, site of the 1999 National Slam Finals.	chris practicing Chris Champagne runs his riff in Grant Park.	chris subterranean Chris explains the intricacies of New Orleans mayoral politics to a Nat'l Slam crowd.	clara phyllisss Clara gets the crowd going at Phyllis's.
clara practicing Clara doing her stuff for the other team members.	clara subterranean Clara runs Skeeter for a Nat'l Slam audience at the Subterranean.	cow Mike and Heather and friend.	jeremy phyllisss Jeremy Garland rocking Phylliss's.
jeremy subterranean Jeremy electrifying the crowd at the Subterranean.	mike phyllisss Mike rocks the mic at Phyllis's on Divison Ave.	mike practicing Mike practicing - Grant Park, Chicago.	mike subterranean Mike layin' it down for the crowd at The Subterranean.