ETSU’s Story Slam returns in-person this Thursday, Sept. 22, for the first time in two years. The Story Slam event will be held at The Down Home at 300 W. Main Street, Johnson City and is open to student contestants and members of the public as well. The event is presented by ETSU’s Storytelling program, with additional support from the student organization StoryU and the Department of Communication and Performance.
The event is an open competition that allows anyone in the audience to submit their name in a drawing to be chosen as a participant. There is no admission price to the event or to enter the drawing, but organizers suggest a $5 to $10 donation. Each meeting, ten participants are selected and have five to seven minutes to tell a true story from their own life that relates to the theme.
“Story Slams are like jam sessions for the storytelling world. Each slam has its own theme. The theme for our first show is, fittingly, ‘Beginnings,’” said Nancy Donoval, Storytelling Program coordinator at ETSU.
After each contestant has told their story, the audience votes on which story they enjoyed the most that night and the winner receives a $50 prize.
“We encourage the audience to listen for a few things in each story: Did they emotionally connect to it? How was the crafting of the story? The performance? Did the story connect to the theme of the night,” Donoval stated.
You do not have to have a background in performing or storytelling to enter, and everyone is encouraged to participate.
“Just by getting up on stage you are already our hero, and often sharing a story from your life can make you feel seen and your experiences feel validated,” said Cory Howard, Graduate Student in the Storytelling Communication program.
If you are not up for taking the stage, people are still encouraged to come and sit in the audience to enjoy the experience and the stories others have to offer.
“A Story Slam without an audience is like having a pitcher with no catcher. Come out and simply enjoy the stories with us,” Howard stated.
Additional Story Slam events will be hosted on Oct. 27 and Nov. 21 with themes to be announced. For more information, contact the ETSU Storytelling Program at storytel@etsu.edu or call (423) 439-7606.
