This is how the slam works(or as I understand it):

a poet(or a group of poets) goes on stage and has 3 minutes to recite a poem. They can't have any props or nonvocal accompyment. Then they are scored-5 boards are distributed to the audience and the 5 people holding the boards judge them olympic style(1 through 10, ten being the best). Then other people from their team go, and the numbers are tallied up.

Then the winner is raised up on crowd's shoulders and one finger(or toe) is removed from each member or the loosing team and given to each winner to put on their keychain.

Simple, gruesome, fun!