Thanks to everyone who came out to the show last Thursday. We had a wonderful night. Todd, Bob, David, Kate, Lisa, and Chris all did an amazing job. We heard stories about running, drinking, marrying, taking care of other people’s kids, dads, and professional cuddlers. Looking out over the audience, you’d never know all the stories those folks held inside them. I’m always so touched by what people will share.

Three days before the show the most amazing thing happened. The walls in my basement began to weep. It was almost biblical. How can walls weep? I’ll tell you how they can weep. A pipe somewhere in your backyard can rot through and start pushing tasty, ice-cold well water into your house. By the day of the show, I was exhausted from pushing shop-vacs around and dragging waterlogged boxes up a flight of stairs. I almost canceled the show.

I’m so glad I didn’t. Hearing those stories, and meeting all the new people who just discovered us, was exactly what I needed. Thanks to everyone who came up to me and the other tellers after the show. Talking and getting to know each other afterward is a big part of FGS. The audience is just as much a part of the show as the tellers. 

Send me an email if you told a story and would like the audio of it. I can get that out to you in a few days. Our next show is September 19. I’m bringing back a theme we did a few years ago, “The best bad thing that turned out good.” I can’t wait to hear your stories. I’ll get the invite out as soon as I can.

Thanks again to everyone who came out and supported us. See you next month!

Paul
freshgroundstories@gmail.com

Hi Everyone,

I hope to see a bunch of you at tonight’s show and that some of you are bringing stories.

Tonight’s theme is Fools Rush In – Stories of acting before you think

https://www.meetup.com/fresh-ground-stories/events/302431179

Our building is having a little work done on the outside but everything is fine on the inside. The show is still on. Looking forward to seeing lots of names in Mr. Coffee 🙂

Paul

Freshgroundstories at gmail dot com

Hi Everyone,

The big show I’ve been telling you about for months is now accepting applications for tellers!

NAMI’s annual fundraiser, The Brainpower Chronicles, features people sharing personal stories of living with a mental health condition or being a family member/caregiver of someone with a mental health condition. A number of FGS folks have been in this show over the years, including myself. It’s always a touching, inspiring night and I’m grateful they keep asking me to host.

Here’s a brief bit of text from their website:

“This is NAMI Washington’s signature fundraising event and features true, personal stories that are hopeful and inspiring while reducing the stigma of mental illness.

This year’s event will be held on November 16th at Kane Hall on the UW Seattle Campus.  UW has graciously partnered with us to host BPC this year! UW students, alumni, staff, faculty are strongly encourage to apply.”

Here’s the link to the site if you want to know more:

https://www.namiwa.org/brainpower-chronicles

And here’s the link to the application form if you’d like to tell them about yourself and your story:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5YOedDKPkIjhFgdIfHLlqvpmzbkn1T01hjFA8Rzq7NyJM9w/viewform

The application deadline is August 30 so don’t delay if you want to try to be in the show. I’m not connected with the show in any way other than hosting so I can’t give you any more details than what they have on their website. 

Good luck to everyone who applies. I hope to see you onstage in November 🙂

Paul

freshgroundstories@gmail.com

PS – don’t forget the next FGS show is coming up in a couple of weeks on August 15. The theme is, “Fools Rush In – Stories of acting before you think”
https://www.meetup.com/fresh-ground-stories/events/302431179/

This month’s theme is about one of my favorite things to do, rushing into things without thinking it all the way through. I do it for almost everything. Love. Work. Money. Hobbies. 98% of all my online purchases. Consequences? I don’t believe in consequences. I believe in delusion, impulse, and magical thinking.

From big mistakes come great stories. That’s what I tell myself after the consequences hit and I’m home on the couch shaking my head wondering how I got myself into this. Knowing I’m going to get a story out of whatever happens to me is how I keep going. It’s how I turn bad things into good. Or at least as good as I can make them.

These are the stories we’re looking for at our next show on August 15. Tell us about a time when you rushed into something without realizing what could happen if it didn’t work out. Did you rush into marriage? Quit your job in a snit? Maybe you got in a bar right with a guy who turned out the be the welterweight champion of the world. Did you learn anything from it or are you still rushing into situations you have no business being in? Whatever you rushed into, we’d love to hear the story, even if everything worked out. 

Remember to practice your story out loud on as many people as possible and time yourself when you’re doing it. Please don’t get onstage if you haven’t practiced your story. The audience is giving you their time and attention. It’s not fair to them if you get up there and try to wing it.

All stories have to be under 8 minutes. Stories can be as short as you want but not over 8 minutes. Stories also have to be clean in both language and content. Send me an email if you have any questions about that.

The rest of the rules and guidelines are below:

Storytelling Rules and Guidelines

We have a free monthly online workshop that’s a great place to get feedback on your story. 

https://www.meetup.com/Fresh-Ground-Stories-Storytelling-Workshop/

I’m also happy to help anyone with a story they’re working on. Send me an email and we can set up a phone call.

See you on Thursday, August 15 at 7 pm, at the Chabad of Queen Anne – Magnolia. 1825 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 (Remember, no non-kosher food in the building)

Paul
Freshgroundstories at gmail dot com

Doors open at 6:30 tonight, not 6:00. Sorry for the wrong info yesterday!

Hope to see some of you there 🙂

Eastside Fire & Rescue admin building
175 Newport Way NW
Issaquah

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560437551704

Paul