In 2019, the Brown County Radio Hour presented their own Story Slam event series, in collaboration with the Nashville Arts & Entertainment Commission and Brown County Inn. The series attracted storytellers from all over the region to come in and share their tales on a variety of topics. In the style of “The Moth” story slams, the stories had to be true, as remembered by the teller.
Brown County has a rich history of story telling, and the slam series was to promote and encourage the craft of storytelling, as well as celebrate the diversity of our community.
We hope to start the Brown County Story Slam Series again some day, but until then, please enjoy some of the best stories that were shared in 2019.
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“Liar’s Bench” Story Slam Winners
Our June Story Slam topic was “The Liar’s Bench”! Our winners were David Denman, and Runner Up Kyle Birkemeier.
“Morel of the story” Story Slam Winner – Ash
Our May Story Slam had a theme “The Morel of the Story”. Ash was the winner of the slam, with a tale of fathers, football, and fungus.
“Fish Out of Water” April Story Slam pt. 3
“Fish Out of Water” Part 3: Marcia Taylor, Nancy Worland, and our winner Hondo Thompson.
“Fish Out of Water” April Story Slam pt. 2
“Fish Out of Water” Story Slam Part 2:Â we feature David Denman, Ann Deutch, Ash, and Jessica Bussert.
“Fish Out of Water” April Story Slam pt. 1
“Fish Out of Water”Story Slam Part 1: we feature Sarah Lyttle, Nathan Dillon, Gerry Guthrie, and Stephanie Spann.
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Rules
What we do is in keeping with the rules The MOTH use for their story events. (This is NOT a MOTH event, but we’re following their lead)
- 5 minute time limit.
- No notes.
- No props.
- Stay on-theme to the topic for the event.
- YOUR story to tell, as you experienced it, NOT a story about someone else.
- Previous winners can always come back, but you can’t win 2 months in a row. If a winner comes back the next month, they will be “exhibition only” 🙂
Do’s
- Your story must be true.
- Your story must be on-theme. We encourage creativity, but your story must relate somehow.
- Your story should have “Stakes”.
A story needs action, and the action must have consequences. What is gained or lost? What is urgent? What is the conflict? What is the goal and what is in your way? How did this experience shape you now? - YOUR story to tell.
Were you there? Are you a main character? Your involvement in the events as they unfold is essential. NO JOURNALISM. - Stories are ON TIME! 5 minutes. 🙂
We want you to hook us in. Make us care about you as you paint the scene. Clearly state your fears, desires, dilemma. Make us invested in your outcome. Introduce the conflict, make us worry, impress us with your observations. Rope us in to the moment when it all goes down!
How did you come out at the end? Triumphant? Defeated? Befuddled? Enlightened? Changed? Tell us….
Dont’s
- DON’T do stand-up comedy routines, Repeat stories, Stereotypes, Rants, Essays, How-to’s, Confessions, Lectures, Fiction, Anything Gratuitous.
- DON’T do a caricature of “explain” a culture that is not your own (no fake accents or telling about customs of a community you don’t belong to)
- DON’T make fun of another person’s identity (class, gender, race, orientation, body type, etc). Don’t make fun of anyone or make someone else the punchline. This is YOUR story and struggles.
- DON’T use another’s identity as a prop or plot point. If you use another persons characteristics (race, orientation, etc) bes ure is it intrinsic to the story.
- NEVER use racial slurs or hate speech.
Storytellers will check in when they arrive at The Corn Crib. We only have space for 10 storytellers, and we encourage you to use our signup form on this page to help us know who is coming.
We will choose a time keeper and 2 judges from the audience. Our MC will pick the order of the storytellers and keep the evening moving along. The event will be scored, with the winner being announced at the end of the event.
The event will be recorded and presented as a Podcast on Brown County Radio Hour.
The WINNER of the event will have their story featured on an episode of Brown County Hour on WFHB!
