The following story was written by Manitowoc Public Library Marketing Associate/Programming Coordinator, Tim Gadzinski.
It’s a topsy-turvy world to say the least. And getting people to agree on anything feels like an arduous task anymore. It doesn’t matter if it’s politics or pudding—people seem almost predisposed and reluctant to find common ground.
That’s why it’s so important to find points where the lines intersect, to take small steps to create and uncover commonality and community. And believe it or not, that’s where Manitowoc Public Library’s “Tales from the Taproom: An Adults-Only (21-+) StorySlam Evening at PetSkull Brewery” comes into play. Allow me to explain.
Granted, it’s hard to know how a storyslam can bring people together if it’s not clear what it is. So, let’s cover that first. Simply put, it’s an evening where people from the community get together to share their true stories. True stories tend to convey what we have in common, bringing us together instead of driving wedges between us. Who couldn’t use a little more of that?
It’s not stand-up comedy or a platform for political manifestos or an opportunity to do a public reading from an as-of-yet unpublished post-apocalyptic neo-tribal zombie/cyborg saga. It’s a true story zone. There are no props and no notes. Just five minutes and a true, personal favorite story. Everyone has a story to tell! Why not tell yours at “Tales from the Taproom.” Sponsored by Seehafer Broadcasting, all the narrative action takes place on Thursday, February 27, at PetSkull Brewing Company, 1015 Buffalo Street, Manitowoc, from 6-8 PM.
The evening’s theme is “How Embarrassing!” Because no matter which way you slice it, absolutely everybody has a story to tell from when they found themselves in an embarrassing situation. And as this is an Adults-Only event, nothing is off limits—if you’re willing to tell it, it’s a story worthy of the hearing. True stories told on a cold winter night in a microbrewery known for camaraderie and shenanigans. It doesn’t get a whole lot better than that!
You don’t have to come to “The Taproom” to tell a story—you can come to just listen and enjoy. However, should you want to step up to the mic to share a story on-line with the evening’s theme, please note that sign-up begins at 5:30 PM and we’ll fit in as many stories as possible during the allotted time. Five minutes may seem like a lot, but it goes by quickly. And we’ll have a timekeeper to keep you on-track. Keep in mind, though—they will cut you off at five minutes, so knowing your story well is a necessity.
With that in mind, we contacted Ex Fabula—Milwaukee’s preeminent StorySlam organization (www.exfabula.org) to ask for some guidelines for how to best prepare! Without further ado, here are some helpful hints:
- Pick a story that you love. Your story should be true, personal, and related to the theme.
- Tell it to several different people to gauge interest.
- Focus on the moments that push the story forward; cut meandering tangents that don’t.
- Edit and ask yourself questions. How did this experience change me? How is this story universal? What larger themes does my story touch upon? Does my story have details that make it come alive?
- Pare the story down to an outline with a clear beginning, several plot points or turning points in the middle, and a clear ending (that resolves the story), including the final line of your story.
- Rehearse your story. Time yourself; trim the story as needed so it is 4½-5 minutes long.
We can’t wait to hear your embarrassing story at “Tales from the Taproom!” Because there aren’t too many things more universal than embarrassment!