WHAT IS THE SYRACUSE STORY PROJECT?
A monthly open-mic storytelling event in which anyone in the audience can share a 5-minute story on the night's theme.
THE NIGHTLY PROGRAM
Doors at 6:30pm.
Storyteller hopefuls put their name in a hat
Event begins at 7:00pm.
Local poet and MC, Tim Carter, will kick things off. Most nights will kick off with a short performance by a local artist.
10 stories, 5 minutes each.
One by one, storytellers are randomly chosen from the hat and take the stage to share their personal story.
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
We follow The Moth storytelling guidelines. Check out the link in our bio for more info, but here are the basics:
. It must be TRUE.
. It must be ON THEME.
. It must have STAKES.
. It must be YOUR STORY TO TELL.
. It must be ON TIME (5 min max!)
. It must be TOLD, not read. (No notes, paper or cheat sheets allowed on stage.)
The following should never be included in your story,
· Racial slurs or hate speech.
· Caricatures, "explaining" a culture that is not your own.
· Making another person's identity the punchline.
· Celebrating unwanted sexual advances.
ELEMENTS OF A GREAT STORY
Have a great first line that sets up the stakes and grabs attention.
Connect with the audience. Choose a meaningful story. Show what you value and who you are.
It should be more than an anecdote. How did it feel emotionally, how you were affected, how did you react?
Practice, practice, practice .... but remember that rote memorization can kill the vibe!
Stick the landing! Tie up your story with a clear ending, make it clear that you ended in a different place than you started.