Lights Out! Chris Rich Wins July Story Slam!

Just as we were starting our "Promises" Story Slam on Tuesday, July 8th, a storm swept through the borough and electricity was lost inside Side Bar. When emcee Mikey Gleason wondered aloud in the darkness if we should start the show, the packed house started chanting, "Stories! Stories! Stories!" The show must go on! The awesome staff at Side Bar brought out tea candles for tables and served whatever dishes the kitchen had just finished preparing as we launched into the night's stories without an operable PA system or lights. The good news? Our video camera and lavaliere mic are battery powered, so we have audio!

Six people had thrown their names in the hat by 8 p.m., with a few more planning on entering at intermission. By the time we listened to the first six stories, all told without a mic to a particularly attentive and hushed crowd, the room was growing warm. We had wedged a mic stand into one of the windows to get a bit of breeze, which also caught the occasional sound of police sirens, but determined to wrap it up early for the safety of the crowd and crew. I love the fact that, as is customary at West Chester Story Slam, many folks decided to linger and chat as the crew cleared tables in the darkness.

In the end, Christine Rich won our Story Slam with her story about a dear uncle. Chris won the coveted West Chester Story Slam coffee mug and earned a slot in our Grand Slam, coming this November.

The video is really too dark but we will be showcasing a few stories in our West Chester Story Slam podcast, and will produce this podcast earlier in the month so you can hear some of the stories. Here's Chris Rich's winning story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P75JJXr0leU&feature=youtu.be STORYTELLING WORKSHOP - SPOTS AVAILABLE! If you were in the audience last night, you heard Mikey Gleason chat about our Storytelling Workshop coming up on Saturday, July 19th. Click HERE to learn more!

Our "Promises" Story Slam, Tuesday, July 8th, has Sold Out

Updated on July 2nd: Seats for our July 8th Story Slam have sold out. Thank you. Updated on July 5th: Our Standing Room only tickets have now sold out. Thank you. Tickets for the August Story Slam will go on sale Wednesday, July 9.

Our next Story Slam, being held on Tuesday, July 8th, promises to be interesting! The theme of the night is "Promises." The story slam is being held at Side Bar & Restaurant in downtown West Chester. The show starts at 8 pm, but most people arrive at 7 for dinner and drinks. Tickets can be ordered HERE.

Here's the Merriam Dictionary definition for Promises:

prom·ise noun \ˈprä-məs\ : a statement telling someone that you will definitely do something or that something will definitely happen in the future : an indication of future success or improvement : a reason to expect that something will happen in the future

We've all heard the phrase, "Promises are made to be broken." But what do stories about Promises look like? Have you ever made a promise that turned out to be more difficult to keep than you had imagined? Has someone promised you something for your support, and then it didn't quite work out? A wedding vow is a promise, and we know they sometimes don't work out. Perhaps you received a promise of a job or financial assistance in a time of need. We make (and often break) promises we tell ourselves. Have you made a promise you had to renege on? We want to hear stories about promises kept and promises broken. Smart promises and terrible promises.

Seating for our Story Slams are limited. Reserve your seats for July 8th by clicking HERE.

ALSO - CHECK OUT OUR STORYTELLING WORKSHOP! Our popular Storytelling Workshop returns on Saturday, July 19th at Doc Magrogan's in West Chester. This class covers the basics of storytelling plus the chance to tell your story in front of a small live audience constructive feedback. Read more about the class HERE.

Terry Heyman wins our "Home Sweet Home" Story Slam!

Congratulations to Terry Heyman for winning our June "Home Sweet Home" Story Slam! Terry told the story of preparing to celebrate a final Christmas with her mother-in-law. It was a humorous and touching story. The range of stories were heard tonight was astonishing. We heard about trashing a rental unit in Hawaii and shooting rap videos in the 'hood. We laughed about inheriting a Hawaiian shirt adorned with naked women, and recalled a solemn remembrance to a fallen soldier. We also laughed at the recollection of how the French eat gourmet burgers and dealing with a squishy tub.

Thanks to our storytellers, our judges, and everyone who came out and laughed and cheered, and in some cases, cried just a little bit.

Here is Terry's winning story below. We'll post videos of the other stories soon so check back in!

Our July 8TH Story Slam is themed "PROMISES." You can reserve seats by clicking HERE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Yg9_aVRdA&feature=youtu.be

Our June 10 Story Slam is Themed "Home Sweet Home!"

Update: Monday, June 9th at 8 p.m. Seats for the June 10th Story Slam have sold out. Thank you. We do have a few Standing Room Only tickets remaining. We're coming home in June. Our June 10th Story Slam is themed "Home Sweet Home!" Seats can be reserved by clicking HERE.

What kind of stories fit into the "Home Sweet Home" theme? Be creative! We want to hear stories about how a trip went awry, or how you once were homesick while traveling to a far corner of the earth. Perhaps home to you will always be that house you grew up in, with the smells of your mother's chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen. Maybe you once bought a house because it looked so beautiful, but finally determined it was a money pit and had to swallow your losses and sell, sell, sell. What makes your home the home you look forward to returning to at the end of each day? What's the best place you ever lived? What's the worst place you ever lived? Have you ever been homeless? Maybe you worked with Habitat for Humanity to help someone afford a home? There's many ways to spin this theme. Tell us your story.

Our home for the "Home Sweet Home" Story Slam is the second floor of Side Bar. The Slam is being held on June 10th at 8 p.m. Most folks arrive around 7 p.m. to enjoy dinner and quality craft beer. Seats are limited so reserve your seats today by clicking HERE. ________________________________________________________________________________________

SHOPLANDIA, the debut novel by West Chester Story Slam Founder Jim Breslin, peels back the curtain to give a humorous glimpse into the familial bonds that form in the working lives of the crew at a home shopping network. Jim worked at the home shopping network QVC for seventeen years. Learn more about SHOPLANDIA, read reviews, and more by clicking HERE.

Steve wins the "Rebel" Story Slam

Steve won the "Rebel" Story Slam with his tale of acting rebellious on the mean streets of Northeast Philadelphia. Congratulations to Steve who secured a spot in our 2014 Grand Slam. The audience was as rebellious as the theme tonight in their support of our twelve storytellers. Diane told a story of how she rebelled against her parents by changing clothes at school. Peter discussed his early infatuation with David Bowie nearly backfired on him at home. Jon told a story of mistaken identity while teaching at school. We heard tales of teenage rebellion, and dealing with rebellion by our own teenagers. We even heard someone rebel against telling a story.

We ended up hearing twelve stories on the night. Unfortunately, we did not get to all our storytellers so we hope those who did not get to the mic will look ahead and see if their tales will fit into another story slam.

You can watch Steve's winning story below. We will be posting videos of several stories throughout the day on Thursday so check back.

Meanwhile, mark your calendars! Our June 10 Story Slam is themed "Home Sweet Home." Tickets are available here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7J4D98-4Ms&feature=youtu.be

Our "Rebel" Story Slam is Tuesday, May 13!

Updated: Tuesday, May 6 - Seats for the May 13th Rebel Story Slam are sold out. Thank you. As of now, we have Standing Room Only tickets available which does include a few seats at the bar. Are you a rebel? At one point in your life, did you rebel? This is the theme of our May 13th Story Slam!

We want to hear stories on rebellion. We know teenagers rebel. Maybe you rebelled by getting a tattoo or running away or shunning your family. Perhaps you were caught up in a rebellion while vacationing in a foreign country? Have you been fired for being a rebel in the workplace? Maybe you have had to deal with rebellion of your own offspring or another member of the family. Did you ever start a riot? Have you ever met a famous political or cultural rebel? Has a cultural rebel changed your way of looking at life. Are you singing David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel" in your head right now? Or perhaps you are a "Rebel Girl?"

Our REBEL Story Slam will be held on the second floor of Side Bar and Restaurant. Showtime starts at 8 p.m., but most people secure tickets and arrive around 7 p.m. to order food and drink. Seats often sell out, so reserve your seats today. We also sell a limited amount of Standing Room Only tickets which includes a few seats at the bar. For tickets, click HERE. ___________________________________________________________________________ SHOPLANDIA, the debut novel by Jim Breslin, launches at Chester County Book Company on Thursday, May 15th. A novel told through stories, Shoplandia peels back the curtain to give a humorous and tragic glimpse into the familial bonds that form in the working lives of the crew at a home shopping network. The event starts at 6p.m., with a short presentation/reading scheduled for 7 p.m. To read more, click HERE!

Our "Satisfaction" Story Slam Ends in a Tie!

Tonight's Story Slam truly satisfied, and in the end Mike Mauger and Justin Daniel walked out with a tie for first place. Mike Mauger told the hilarious story about being assigned to cover one of his favorite musicians and the awkward spot he found himself in. Justin Daniel jumped up immediately afterwards and told a story of serving in the Navy with a sex addict. Both Mike and Justin won a slot in our November Grand Slam! The sold-out audience heard many other phenomenal stories tonight as well. We heard about an odorous gift received from a trash-picking father and how to organize a fundraiser. We learned how mistaken identity led to being arrested by police and another series of awkward moments. We also were introduced to the term, "being Shakespeare's bitch."

Now, the bad news. We just realized we had audio issues while recording last night's stories so only the final two stories are useable. We're so sorry about this, because last night's stories were all very entertaining. Below is Veronica Redd's powerful story which ended the Story Slam last night. Also - check out Maddie's excellent story about a job application.

Thanks to all our storytellers, the judges and everyone in the audience who made last night a magical night.

Our next Story Slam, scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, is themed "Rebel." Rebel can be said as either a noun or a verb! To reserve tickets, click HERE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPbZY-ft4-0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbV9A8kZ3RA&feature=youtu.be

Our April 8th "Satisfaction" Story Slam has sold out

UPDATE: Tuesday, April 8th at 12 Noon. Tickets have sold out for tonight's Story Slam. Thank You. Tickets for the May 13 Story Slam will go on sale on Wednesday, April 9th. UPDATE: Thursday, April 3 - Standing Room Only Tickets Remain! Seats have sold out for the April show. Hanging at the bar is always a fun time for these shows. There are bar stools at the bar also, so pick up tickets and come early to grab a bar seat. Click HERE for tickets.

We're taking on the theme "Satisfaction!"

Our April 8th West Chester Story Slam will feature stories where we seek, crave, pursue, and possibly even achieve some level of satisfaction.

We all sometimes have fleeting moments where we do not feel satisfied - about our work, our legacy, our loves. Yet, other times we pause to reflect on moments that have brought us immeasurable satisfaction. Satisfaction is also fleeting. Think of that last moment in the movie "The Graduate," where Benjamin Braddock's face goes from joyous smile to a questioning look of "what now?" Perhaps you've received satisfaction from revenge, or from proving your point, or by moving across the country. What has brought you great satisfaction? What have you given up to achieve satisfaction?

Our "Satisfaction" Story Slam is Tuesday, April 8 at Side Bar & Restaurant, which is located at 10 East Gay Street in downtown West Chester, PA. The show starts at 8 p.m. Seating remains. To reserve seats, click HERE.

Oh, did you see the winning story last month? Here is Kevin Ginsberg on the theme "Regrets."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw2phFMop1s

Kevin Ginsberg wins our "Regrets" Story Slam

Congratulations to Kevin Ginsberg! Kevin won the March Story Slam with his hilarious story about getting lost in Camden while trying to go see the play "Jesus Christ Superstar." Check out the video below. We heard some very interesting stories about the theme "Regrets" tonight. Some were humorous and others were touching. We heard a heartfelt story about the effects of losing a childhood friend. We heard about the regret from wearing slippers in the snow, from forgetting ski goggles, and from not remembering a French barista's name. We listened to stories about how awkward it can be to meet your dentist on the street, and how awkward it can be singing Karaoke. We heard about the dilemma faced when a love cat dies and your yard is frozen. We also learned about the regret of faking orgasms.

Special thanks for Luanne Sims for being our guest emcee tonight. Thanks to our judges and the awesome staff at SideBar.

Don't forget - if you want to take the West Chester Story Slam's Storytelling Workshop, which we're doing in conjunction with the Chester County Night School, please click HERE to sign up. Limited space remains.

Tickets for the April 8th Story Slam, themed "Satisfaction," are now on sale. Click HERE.

Check out Kevin's winning story below. To see all the stories told on the night, click HERE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw2phFMop1s

March Story Slam (Sold Out), Workshop and More

UPDATED: FEBRUARY 21, 2 P.M. - Seats for the March Story Slam have sold out. Thank you. Standing room tickets have also sold out as of March 10th. We have so much going on during the West Chester Story Slam's fifth season, so let's break down our post into three sections:

OUR MARCH STORY SLAM IS THEMED "REGRETS!"

Our March Story Slam is themed "Regrets" and will be held at Side Bar on Tuesday, March 11th. Show starts at 8 p.m. We do expect the show to sell out soon so please reserve your spot early by clicking HERE.

What type of stories are we looking for with the theme of "Regrets?" We want small regrets and large regrets. Funny regrets and sad regrets. Did you let the love of your life get away? Did you turn down a chance to work with that geeky computer kid Mark Zuckerburg? Perhaps you passed up the chance to work overseas. Maybe you pulled off something really amazing, but passed up the chance to put the cherry on top.

STORYTELLING WORKSHOP OFFERED

Have you wanted to build confidence in crafting your stories? West Chester Story Slam has partnered with the Chester County Night School to offer a two-night storytelling workshop. West Chester Story Slam founder Jim Breslin and multi-slam winning storyteller Terry Heyman will facilitate this class, which is limited to twelve participants. The workshop will take place over two nights, April 2nd and 9th. The class will focus on: What Makes a Good Story, Basic Story Structure, and Creative Language. On the second night, each participant will tell their own story and hear constructive feedback from the group. Click HERE to read more and enroll.

NEW PODCAST DEBUTS

Beginning with our January Story Slam, we have launched a new improved podcast. Have you listened to stories on a podcast before? It's simple, fun and free. Perfect for taking those forthcoming spring walks or working in the garden. Hook it up to your car radio and listen on your commute. We package three of the best stories each month. Oh, and thanks to your podcast sponsor, Billy Burger and Bakery, the podcast is free!

To check out the West Chester Story Slam podcast on iTunes, click here.

To check out the West Chester Story Slam podcast for an MP3 player, click here.

Diane Yannick wins our "Curiosity" Story Slam!

Diane Yannick won our February Story Slam with her tale of culinary curiosity. She told the story of her first visit to dine Italian with her future husband's family, and how she survived a most embarrassing predicament. We heard many stories about curiosity in varied ways: twelve years old boys watching Animal House, the perils of gathering props for a sex education class, riding in the back of a hearse, joining Christian Mingle as a joke, recalling the artistic pursuits of a grandmother, and more.

Tickets for our March 11th Story Slam, themed REGRETS, are now for sale. For tickets, click HERE.

Diane's winning story can be seen below. To watch more stories from the night, click HERE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O09JQ3GKTFw&feature=youtu.be

Our "Curiosity" Story Slam, Feb. 11th, Sold Out! New Podcast Debuts!

Our February 11th Story Slam, themed "Curiosity," sold out rather quickly. Thank you. We're glad to see this event is dodging the snow storms and we're looking forward to hearing stories on Tuesday night. If you have been curious about the West Chester Story Slam but could not get tickets this month, or if you are just curious because you've never been the our Story Slam, please consider checking out our new West Chester Story Slam podcast. It's easy to listen to the podcast while at your computer, or subscribe/download the latest podcast to your smartphone or iPod and listen while you are doing chores or walking on the treadmill. Each podcast is about 20 minutes long and features three stories from the latest live event. Check out the podcast on iTunes by clicking HERE. Check out the podcast for your MP3 player by clicking HERE.

Our upcoming live events are as follows:

The next Delco Story Slam will be held on Wednesday, February 19th and the theme is "Love Hurts." Delco Story Slam is held at Burlap and Bean in Newtown Square. This is a coffeehouse and a BYOB, and it's really a great venue. Click HERE for tickets.

Tickets for the March 11th West Chester Story Slam will go on sale on Wednesday, February 12th.

Our February 11 Story Slam is Sold Out

UPDATE: January 28th, 11:30 p.m. - Seats for the February 11 Story Slam have sold out. Thank you. We have tickets for the DELCO Story Slam, which will be at Newtown Square's Burlap and Bean on Wednesday, February 19. Click here for more info. Tickets for the March West Chester Story Slam will go on sale February 12th. Our February Story Slam is themed "Curiosity" and will be held at Side Bar on Tuesday, February 11th. Show starts at 8 p.m. We do expect this show to sell out so please reserve your seats early by clicking HERE.

So what do we mean by Curiosity?

Merriam-Webster Dictionary gives us the following definition:

curiosity (n.)

: the desire to learn or know more about something or someone : something that is interesting because it is unusual

Some people are naturally more curious than others. Our lives are spent learning, searching for new opportunities, trying to understand the patterns of business, love and life. Curiosity often gets people in trouble or places them in dangerous situations. Curiosity leads to the pursuit of knowledge, and sometimes leads us to know something we wish we hadn't. Perhaps your children are curious and this makes you cautious while you watch them discover the world. Acting on curiosity leads to great inventions and new business models. No matter how curious a person is, we can never understand it all.

Anyone can take the stage and tell their five minute true story based on the night’s theme. Three judges will be chosen from the audience and the storytellers will be given scores based on content and presentation. The winning storyteller wins a coveted West Chester Story Slam coffee mug and, more importantly, a slot in the 2014 GRAND SLAM!

A reminder – you don’t have to tell a story to attend. We usually hear about ten stories and have approximately 65 people in the audience. Most folks reserve seats and arrive around 7 p.m. to enjoy dinner before the event begins. Don’t forget to read our Parking Tips located on the Home Page Menu.

Also – if seats sell out, we will update the website. We hope to see you on February 11th!

A First! January Story Slam Ends in a 3-Way Tie!

Our fifth season is off and running, and what a fun night it was. The January Story Slam was themed "Firsts," and we heard twelve stories on the night. When it was all over, we had our own first - a three way tie! Jane Butler, Tim Megaw, and Marty Hoban each won a slot in our November Grand Slam. Jane told a story about how sex education differs from generation to generation, Tim detailed an important lesson he learned while running a race, and Marty recalled the time he nearly had a cameo in a major motion picture.

We heard many more remarkable stories on the theme of "Firsts," including a first Thanksgiving dinner, a first Christmas, and the first time attending a meeting of the Red Hat Ladies. We also heard about the first and repeated attempts to make babies, first time facing down the barrel of a gun, first time being published, first time cursing and flying, and how the first time having cable TV led to being on a famous game show.

Our next Story Slam is February 11th and is themed "Curiosity!" Tickets are available now by clicking HERE.

Here's the three winning stories below. To see all the stories on the night, click HERE!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrFbLF6xJs0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkCpLum7qeo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5L7Qkvz-pM

Our January 14th "Firsts!" Story Slam has Sold Out

UPDATED: Friday, January 10th at 10 a.m. - Seats for the January Story Slam have sold out. Tickets remain for our January 15th "Embarrassing Moments" DELCO Story Slam in Newtown Square. Thank you. Our fifth West Chester Story Slam season kicks off on Tuesday, January 14th with our Slam themed "Firsts!" The Story Slam is held on the second floor of Side Bar in downtown West Chester and begins at 8 p.m. Seats can be reserved by clicking HERE.

The theme "Firsts" could be about your first love, first job, first wife, first husband, first car, first bicycle, first child, first pet, etc. You get the idea! We want to hear your memorable moments - good and bad - and what you learned from your first ___________!

Anyone can take the stage and tell their five minute true story based on the night's theme. Three judges will be chosen from the audience and the storytellers will be given scores based on content and presentation. The winning storyteller wins a coveted West Chester Story Slam coffee mug and, more importantly, a slot in the 2014 GRAND SLAM!

A reminder - you don't have to tell a story to attend. We usually hear about ten stories and have approximately 65 people in the audience. Most folks reserve seats and arrive around 7 p.m. to enjoy dinner before the event begins. Don't forget to read our Parking Tips located on the Home Page Menu.

Also - if seats sell out, we will update the website. We hope to see you on January 14th!

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Don't forget to check out dates and themes for our sister event, DELCO STORY SLAM, located in Newtown Square, PA.

Dates and Themes for 2014 Season Announced

The 2014 Story Slam Season will once again take place on the second Tuesday of the month at Side Bar & Restaurant in West Chester, PA. All events begin at 8pm. Here's the dates and themes for the 2014 Season:

January 14 - Firsts February 11 - Curiosity March 11 - Regrets April 8 - Satisfaction May 13 - Rebel June 10 - Home Sweet Home July 8 - Promises August 12 - Small World September 9 - Scars October 14 - Courage

November 11 - Grand Slam Theme and Location TBD

Tickets for each Story Slam go on sale the day after the previous month's event and can be ordered by clicking HERE!

Luanne Sims and Karen Randall Win The Grand Slam!

Luanne Sims and Karen Randall are the co-winners of the West Chester Story Slam's 4th Annual Grand Slam! They share top honors of "Best Storyteller of West Chester, after competing to a sold out audience at the Chester County Historical Society. These two women will have their names added to the Storytellers Cup, joining past winners Patrick Carmody, Eli Silberman, and Robert Williams. We heard many excellent stories on the theme of "Changes." Thanks to all our storytellers! Also thank you to our judges, Mark Mitchell, Kelly Simmons, and John Dixon. Finally, a big thanks to everyone who came out to cheer on the storytellers.

Here is a Slide Show with photos supplied by Photos by David James. To see all David's photos, check out his gallery by clicking David James Photography.

Below the photo gallery you can find the two winning stories. To watch all the stories, click HERE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4toSitX1EOU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAy41SIuEE8

2013 Grand Slam is TONIGHT!

The winning storytellers from the 2013 season will be competing for the title of “Best Storyteller in West Chester” during the season’s big finale - the West Chester GRAND SLAM! The Grand Slam will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 8 p.m., at the Chester County Historical Society. The theme for the night is “Changes.” Tickets for the Grand Slam are $10 and on sale now. You can purchase your tickets by clicking HERE. Here’s a list of the 2013 winning storytellers: January - Luanne Sims February - Eryn Travis and Karen Randall March - Patrick Carmody April - Tim Megaw May - Terry Heyman June - Sylvie Washington (is not able to attend) July - Diane Yannick August - Russell Ohneck September - Shari Donath October - Bill Kilpatrick

Here's a short video showing our Grand Slam Storytellers in action.

http://youtu.be/SD2Qrng0JRk

Our venue for the GRAND SLAM is the Chester County Historical Society.

The Chester County Historical Society is located at 225 N. High Street in West Chester, which is walking distance from restaurants where Grand Slam attendees can enjoy dinner and drinks. In honor of the event, Side Bar is offering a special. On November 12, diners who show a Side Bar server their Grand Slam ticket will receive 15% off their dinner bill, drinks not included. Read our Parking tips - a link is located at the top of this page.

Bill Kilpatrick wins Our Chaos Story Slam

Bill Kilpatrick took home the win - and the coveted West Chester Story Slam coffee mug - at our Chaos Story Slam. Bill told the story of an awkward encounter with a man who pulled a gun on him. Bill won our last slot for the Grand Slam. 

The theme brought out several entertaining stories on the night. We heard a tale of how Animal House inspired a teenage prank on a parade and how chaos ensued while digging up a New York City street while looking for bones during a Halloween parade. We heard stories about the chaos experienced by teachers and nannies, beekeepers and kayakers, television producers and production assistants. 

Thanks to all our storytellers on the night, as well as our judges and the rowdy crowd. 

The 2013 GRAND SLAM will be held on Tuesday, November 12th at the Chester County Historical Society, which is located at 225 N. High Street, two blocks from Side Bar. We hope you will come out and watch the winning storytellers from the 2013 Season as they compete for the title of the Best Storyteller of West Chester. The GRAND SLAM theme is "CHANGES!" Order tickets for the GRAND SLAM by clicking HERE. 

Here's Bill's winning story!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjW58PRFEcI

Our October 8th Story Slam is "Chaos!" (Sold Out)

Update: Monday, October 7 5:00pm - Seats for the October 8th Story Slam are sold out. Thank you. October 8 4:15pm - Standing Room Only Tickets have sold out. Thank you. Our October 8th Story Slam, the final regular season story slam of the year, is themed "Chaos!" Come out and watch as storytellers try to secure the final spot for November's Grand Slam. The October 8th Story Slam will be held on the second floor of Side Bar. We start hearing stories at 8pm. Reserve your seats by clicking HERE.

The theme "Chaos" is pretty straightforward. Chaos often stirs change. All organizations experience chaos in some form or another. Gremlins get into the machine and start wreaking havoc on the best laid plans. Chaos is experienced in sports, music, literature, business, families, and also in a person's mind. The internet and new media has brought chaotic disruption to newspaper and magazine publishers. Anarchy is a form of chaos. Storytelling in itself is a way of brining meaning to a life of chaos. What really matters in life is how we respond to the chaos around us.

Here's the definition.

chaos

noun

1. complete disorder and confusion

Last month, Shari Donath won our Story Slam, which was themed "Respect." Shari's story had a bit of chaos in it. Check out her story here and think about what your Chaos story will be! We hope to see you on October 8th.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8LWd4QnUo0