Tim is one of those people you want to thank but don’t know how. He’s saved lives and done what he could to make things right in the world. His scars run deep and his job now is to heal. The only way I know how to thank him is to give him a place to tell his stories and to keep reminding him that he’s an inspiration not only for what he’s done but for what he continues to do every day as a husband, father and friend.

First kiss, first day of school, first time you stared death in the face. First times, they’re the beginning of one thing and perhaps the end of another. First day sober? First day single after ten years of marriage? What happened on your first time?

October’s theme is First Times. First time anything. (well, there could be kids in the room so, you know, use some clever euphemisms or something) We want to hear about the first time you did something or maybe even the first time you didn’t do something. That’s cool too. You know these themes are intentionally broad so you can interpret them as you wish.

Important thing to remember: Stories revolve around something physically happening. Try to remember that as you develop your story. Feelings and memories are fine but they must be tied to something actually happening to make it a story.

Go now to the couch, curl up with a glass of wine, cup of tea or votive candle holder full of scotch. Whatever gets your juices flowing. Say the story out loud. Say it again out loud. Practice it a bunch of times in the car, the bathroom or walking around the lake. Then bring it to the show October 25 at 7pm. Put your name in the hat and cross your fingers. See you there.

Roy Street Coffee
700 Broadway Ave E
SEATTLE, WA, 98102

Every now and then we get a complaint from someone who feels that the stories at our show are not up to their standards. We had one a few days ago on our Meetup site (the complaints are always online, never in person) and I’m responding here due to space considerations.

I would like to remind everyone that not only is this an open-mic it is also free. If you are disappointed in the performers you are more than welcome to leave at any time. We are here not only to share stories but also to learn how to tell them. The only way you can get better at telling stories is by failing over and over again until you get it right. That is the nature of the art form. In fact, it is the nature of any art form.

There are a number of shows around Seattle that feature professional, or semi-professional, storytellers. Ira Glass was just at Benaroya Hall. The Vinyl Cafe is coming to the Paramount in December. A Guide to Visitors has a show every other month at The Theater Off Jackson. There are others if you look.

Though I remind the audience before every show we want stories with a beginning, middle and an end we still get folks on stage that are trying to figure that out. That is fine. Open-mic is where you are allowed to do that. As long as people don’t go over their time limit I am not going to embarrass them by yanking them off stage. As long as I feel you are doing your best to tell a story you will get the same respect as everyone else.

If you think are our show is a waste of your time then you should go find a show that makes you happy.

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Seattle’s first Moth StorySLAM last night was amazing but I want to remind everyone that there is an equally great story show in town that’s been running for over ten years. A Guide to Visitors is one of the best pure storytelling shows you’ll see in Seattle. If The Moth is fireworks then AGTV is a beautiful sunrise. Or something like that.

Both are great but for different reasons. I love The Moth because, well, it’s The Moth. It’s Dan Kennedy and that podcast I’ve been listening to for years. The room is hot and cramped and people are twisting in their seats hoping their name is called and they get to run onstage. The best part, of course, is knowing that if you really nail your story you might get to hear yourself on the radio one day.

A Guide to Visitors happens every couple of months in a nice, airy performance space with hand-picked storytellers and more relaxed time limits. As a storyteller you really get to dig into your story and at the same time expand it to just the length it needs to be. The workshopping experience with Jeannie, Rebecca and Phyllis has been invaluable to me over the last two years and is at least half the reason I keep pitching ideas to them. The audiences are smart and patient and are always fun to talk to after the show.

Our show, Fresh Ground Stories, is an open mic similar to The Moth but definitely more relaxed. There are no judges and the time limit is 10 minutes instead of five. It’s a great place to practice stories that you hope to perform later at either AGTV or The Moth. It takes place the 4th Thursday of each month (with changes around the holidays) in a coffee shop (Roy Street Coffee) so occasionally you’ll have to talk over a coffee grinder or steam nozzle.

I think we’re pretty lucky in the town to have three shows run by people who really care about this art form. I left a comment on a different post that said, “It doesn’t get better than The Moth.” Well, that’s true in a sense but I could also say that about AGTV. Both shows are fantastic and you’d be a fool to miss out on either one of them.

A Guide to Visitors was the first show I ever told a story at and I hope to keep performing with them for as long as they’ll have me. The Moth is new and exciting and I have to admit kind of scary. It’s weird to be judged but at the same time I can see how it will force people to work on their story before they get on stage. Fresh Ground Stories has been a blast to host for the past year and a half and as long as people keep coming out to see it I will be there to run it.

If anyone lives in the Tacoma area there is a Tacoma version of AGTV called Drunken Telegraph. I performed at their first show in July and it was great fun. Look them up on Facebook and pitch them your story. (Their next show is September 12)

Also, there is another coffee shop story show that runs right when Fresh Ground Stories is running. It’s called Aunt Mama Storycorner and is held at the Madison Park Starbucks. I haven’t had a chance to go because I’m busy running FGS but the woman who runs it, Mary Anne Moorman, is a great southern storyteller and has been very nice to us. I recommend catching her whenever you can.