Maureen Egan Wins our March Story Slam!

Maureen Egan took home the prized pint glass tonight after telling her story of growing up the kid sister in an Irish Catholic family. The theme of the night was "Innocence." Maureen has earned a slot in our November Grand Slam where she will compete with other winning storytellers from the season for the title of Best Storyteller in West Chester. We heard a wide array of interesting stories on both Innocence and Innocence Lost. Chuck recounted the day JFK was shot. Alex recalled being on campus the day of the horrific Virginia Tech shooting. Heidi told about how being a mother has deeply changed her. We heard about innocence lost in a Dublin Bar, in a darkened stairwell, and in front of a classroom of students. We heard about being investigated by the FBI and being teased by fellow classmates. Thanks to all our storytellers, our judges and the audience for making this a stellar night.

Video of Maureen's winning story is posted below! All the stories from the night are posted on the West Chester Story Slam YouTube Channel.

STORYTELLING WORKSHOP - COMING SOON! Our Chester County Night School Storytelling Workshop starts Wednesday, March 18th. Click HERE to learn more and register.

ANNOUNCING - TWO APRIL STORY SLAMS!

In April, we're holding our regular monthly West Chester Story Slam AND a special Late Night Story Slam. At the Late Night Story Slam, we want to hear raucous stories - the stories you wouldn't want recorded for YouTube or podcast. You know, those stories you don't want your kids to hear. The stories you wouldn't want your mom to hear. The winner of Late Night Story Slam does not earn a slot in the Grand Slam but will win a special prize. What happens at Late Night stays Late Night!

So decide which slam you'll attend in April:

WEST CHESTER STORY SLAM Theme: The Sweet Life Tuesday, April 14th at 8pm. For tickets to West Chester Story Slam, click HERE.

LATE NIGHT STORY SLAM - Will go on sale shortly! Theme: Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n Roll Thursday, April 30th at 10pm. For tickets to Late Night Story Slam, click HERE.

Here's Maureen's winning story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-kBoI6q3u0&feature=youtu.be

March Story Slam, Storytelling Class, and Podcasts!

MARCH STORY SLAM HAS SOLD OUT. THANK YOU. Our March 10th Story Slam is themed "Innocence" and tickets have sold out. Thank you. Tickets for the April Story Slam will go on sale March 11th.

This theme of innocence can be spun several ways. The Merriam Webster Dictionary definition:

Innocence: : the state of being not guilty of a crime or other wrong act : lack of experience with the world and with the bad things that happen in life : lack of knowledge about something

We want stories about losing one's innocence. Stories about naivete. We want to hear about being accused of something you didn't do. We want to know about how your lack of knowledge led to something traumatic - but hopefully turned out okay. Don't procrastinate because this Story Slam will sell out.

CHESTER COUNTY NIGHT SCHOOL If you are intrigued by telling a story on stage, but feel you would like help crafting your story, check out our upcoming two-night Storytelling Workshop through Chester County Night School.

The workshop consists of one night of two-hour instruction on crafting a compelling story, including basic story structure and creative language. On the second night, participants will tell their five-minute story and receive feedback from instructors and peers. Jim Breslin and Terry Heyman are class instructors.

Class nights are March 19 and March 25 and the class is being held at Henderson High School in West Chester.

Space is limited.

To register, click HERE.

UNUSUAL WORLD PODCAST Each month, we produce a podcast with three of our favorites stories from the live event. Thanks to our sponsor, Chester County Book Company, we're making these podcasts even better this year. You can download a podcast or subscribe to receive each month's podcast when it hits iTunes. Our Unusual World podcast features the winning story by Rich Eagles, plus crowd favorite stories by Chuck Bauerlein and Mike Mauger. You can listen to the podcast on your computer or on your mobile device.

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.

Rich Eagles wins our Unusual World Story Slam!

Rich Eagles won our February Story Slam with his Special Education story! He took home a prized pint glass and earned a spot in our November Grand Slam. Our Unusual World theme drew out stories of growing up Catholic, dorm life, traveling overseas, dating days, homelessness, family history and more.

Our next Story Slam is themed "Innocence" and will be held on Tuesday, March 10th at 8pm at Side Bar & Restaurant. Tickets can be ordered HERE.

You can watch video of Rich's winning story below. To watch all the stories, click on over to our West Chester Story Slam Youtube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv_8PCEA-9Q&feature=youtu.be

Our February Story Slam has Sold Out. Thank You.

UPDATED JANUARY 29: Tickets for the February event have sold out. Thank you. We have a few tickets for the Delco Story Slam on February 3. Learn more at delcostoryslam.com. We each see the world through our own eyes, and sometimes this life appears rather... unusual. Join us on Tuesday, February 10th for our "Unusual World" Story Slam. The Story Slam starts at 8pm, but most people who have secured seats arrive by 7pm for dinner. Seats are going fast so don't delay, purchase your tickets by clicking HERE.

Let's chat more about "Unusual World." Humans have created a bizarre set of systems and beliefs on this earth. What might seem typical to a suburban American could be deemed bizarre and unusual by a Gende Tribesman. Perhaps you've experienced an usual world in your travels to the far reaches of the globe. Maybe your everyday life - at work and at home - has revealed the truth that we live in an unusual world. Did you ever hold an unusual belief that you only divested yourself of later in life? Perhaps today's technology have opened a portal into how truly unusual this world is. We want to hear stories about this "Unusual World!"

Pick up your tickets today. We hope to see you at SideBar on February 10th.

DON'T BE LOST! LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST! If you missed our "Lost" Story Slam in January, you can listen to three of our favorite stories on the West Chester Story Slam podcast, now sponsored by by Chester County Book Company. It's easy to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or listen on your computer by clicking HERE.

STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS Once again, we're teaming up with Chester County Night School to offer at two night Storytelling Workshop at Henderson High School. The class includes one night of instruction to help you develop your story and one night of telling your stage in front of classmates. To register for CCNS Storytelling Class, click here. We've also started offering custom Stoytelling Classes for businesses and non-profits. Learn more here.

Diane Yannick Wows with her "Lost" Story Slam Win

Our first Story Slam of the 2015 season is in the books, and Diane Yannick has won the first ever "prized pint glass" and secured a spot in the 2015 Grand Slam. She told a poignant story of her rehabilitation after a serious injury for the well deserved win in front of a sold out and rather rowdy audience. Some pretty wild stories were told on the theme of "Lost." We heard about getting lost while drunk, waking up in a bed with a friend's mother, and getting lost while attending a funeral. Stories also included losing a child at a baseball game, losing a child at  the zoo, and losing grandmom at the mall. We also explored nearly losing one's soul at the Renaissance Faire.

Our next West Chester Story Slam will be Tuesday, February 10th. The theme of the night will be "Unusual World." Tickets can be ordered by clicking here. 

Watch Diane's winning story below, and check back as more stories are added on Wednesday.

http://youtu.be/uf8JYFOIXhU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HHa_BAaPRE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYbYFl6_xeE

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vcn4o67qOU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3HfTmIBCh8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otl2gkD8_B8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwY_KO18xnM

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCdM0TVNKCI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDAGP0YNpRk&list=UUaWSpYlrapF2tp_5-wjd1jA

Our January 13th Story Slam is Sold Out! Thanks!

UPDATED: 12/28/2014 - Seats for the January 13th WC Story Slam have sold out. Thank you!  West Chester Story Slam returns for it's sixth season on January 13th and the theme is LOST!" As of December 15th, half of the seats are sold out so don't delay. Pick up a copy of the West Chester Story Slam anthology and slip two tickets inside for that perfect holiday gift. Order your tickets by clicking here.

We want to hear stories about being lost, maybe you were on a hiking trail, in a big city, or in a foreign country. Perhaps you were lost at work, unsure what to do to get the job done. We've all felt lost in life at times. Did someone save you? Maybe a co-worker or a stranger in a foreign land? When you were lost, did you panic? Did you feel frustrated or a sense of calm? Did you have a lost loved one? Maybe a friend of yours disappeared, ending a relationship abruptly. Did you lose your dog? We all know the saying, it's better to have loved and lost, than...

Tell us your lost story on January 13th at Side Bar & Restaurant. The Story Slam begins at 8pm.

And don't forget, West Chester Story Slam now fits in a Stocking!

Give a smile to that story lover in your life! Pick up a copy of West Chester Story Slam: Selected Stories 2010-2014 to share with family over the holidays. Forty stories from the first five years of West Chester Story Slam; including some of the classic stories told by Eli Silberman, Terry Heyman, Luke Stromberg, Luanne Sims, Kevin Ginsberg, Chuck Bauerlein, Jane Butler, Veronica Redd, Patrick Carmody, and many more.

Available at Chester County Book Company, Chester County Historical Society, BookPlace, IndieBound and Amazon.

Dates and Themes for 2015 Season Announced

Our sixth season of West Chester Story Slam returns on Tuesday, January 13 at Side Bar and Restaurant in downtown West Chester. Story Slams begin promptly at 8pm. This could be the season you take the mic and tell your story! Check out our themes below, email your friends and plan a night out. You can check out our Rules page, and watch a few stories being told on our YouTube channel to prepare. Tickets for the January Story Slam can be ordered HERE. January 13 – Lost February 10 – Unusual World March 10 – Innocence April 14 – The Sweet Life May 12 – Wake Up Call June 9 – Illusion July 14 – Freedom August 11 – Hunger September 8 – Saved October 13 – Blood and Guts November 10 – GRAND SLAM! Theme TBD.

Can't wait until January? Pick up a copy of West Chester Story Slam: Selected Stories 2010-2014 to share with family over the holidays. Forty stories from the first five years of West Chester Story Slam; including some of the classic stories told by Eli Silberman, Terry Heyman, Luke Stromberg, Luanne Sims, Kevin Ginsberg, Chuck Bauerlein, Jane Butler, Veronica Redd, Patrick Carmody, and many more. Available at Chester County Book Company, Chester County Historical Society, BookPlace, IndieBound and Amazon.

Tim Megaw wins the 2014 Grand Slam!

Over 250 people packed the Chester County Historical Society to hear 12 of the year's top storytellers on Tuesday night, and when the night was over Tim Megaw won the 2014 Grand Slam with a breathtaking story of his father's dying days. Tim will have his name immortalized on the Storytellers Cup and was also awarded gift certificates for Side Bar and Chester County Book Company. You can watch Tim's winning story below. It was a truly remarkable night of stories. We heard about a weekend of silence, tense moments in a hot tub, being pranked at a most inappropriate time, kissing a girl at the most inappropriate time, the fine line of a MRI, dealing with a busted tooth, the guilt that came from drinking one night on a Maine Beach, and more.

For videos of all the stories told at the GRAND SLAM, click on the West Chester Story Slam Youtube Channel.

To see photos from the Grand Slam scroll below Tim's winning story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZjmkA8Wkec&feature=youtu.be

Seats for our Grand Slam have Sold Out! Thank you!

UPDATED: November 11, 2014. 4:25pm. Seats for our Grand Slam have sold out. Thank you. We will offer limited Standing Room Only tickets ($10) starting at 7:45 pm. On Tuesday, November 11th, the winning storytellers of the 2014 season will go head-to-head in the 2014 West Chester Story Slam Grand Slam! The theme of the night is "Fine Line." Join us at 8pm at the Chester County Historical Society for a night of excellent stories. Tickets are still available and can be purchased by clicking HERE.

For the Grand Slam, we will be strictly enforcing the 5 minute rule. Each Storyteller will be signaled at 4 minutes and 30 seconds and then again at 5 minutes. Any story over 5 minutes and 30 seconds will not be counted in the final scores.

Scheduled to compete in the 2014 Grand Slam are:

Luanne Fox Sims left a career in higher education in 2005 to raise her kids full-time and pursue her creative interests. She paints a little, draws a little, writes a little, and is becoming a regular at story slam events near her home in West Chester, PA. Luanne is a co-winner of the 2013 West Chester Grand Slam and the Delco Story Slam.

Steve Clark is a two-time First Person Arts Grand Slam winner and has been called "Best Storyteller in Philadelphia" by Philadelphia Magazine. This fall, he is competing in four Grand Slams - West Chester, Delco, First Person Arts, and the Moth. He lives in Philadelphia.

Terry Heyman is a wife, mother, and former lawyer. Currently writer, frequent story slammer, and a lifetime member of Weight Watchers. She was featured in the 2013 Wilmington production “Listen To Your Mother” and recently performed at the 2014 Women in Comedy Festival in Boston. You can follow her blog Greetings from Insanity.

Jane Paffenbarger Butler was raised with over 70,000 acres of trees out her back door in the Hudson Valley of New York. She has been inspired to write the stories of her unique childhood in a memoir, excerpted in the anthology Unclaimed Baggage: Voices of the Main Line Writer’s Group, and to find opportunities to speak out about what she is learning while growing up, as sometimes heard at the West Chester Story Slam, or as detailed in her blog, myownpersonalsky.wordpress.com.

Mike Mauger, A West Chester resident and Chester County native, Mike Mauger has two degrees in the English language and utilizes neither one of them as the Business Development Manager for a local family business and a freelance writer and photographer in the Philadelphia music scene. He attends the Story Slam because his friends have already heard his stories and they can't take it anymore.

Chris Rich is an award-winning comedian, comedy writer, author and keynote speaker. She has been featured on Comedy Central and shared the stage with comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, Roseanne and Sherman Helmsley. She is currently working on her one woman show in which she captures her family stories on stage. Learn more at Chris Rich.

Tim Megaw is a local author and former television writer, producer, director and TV executive. He is host of the Stottsville Story. UK born and grown up in Canada, he currently resides in Chester County, PA, with wife Erica and three children.

Diane Yannick, Diane Yannick enjoyed teaching kids to read and write for 35 years in area public schools. Her life is now governed by whims instead of rules. She lives with her talkative husband who lives in fear of what story she might tell next.

Marty Hoban teaches video production and media arts at The Hun School in Princeton, NJ. He lives in West Chester, PA with his wife Angela and daughter Anna.

Kevin Ginsberg, Kevin Ginsberg is a 6th grade teacher in the Lower Merion School District. He began telling stories long before anyone was listening.

Jeff Hazelwood started frequenting West Chester Story Slam in early 2014 and wowed the crowd with his candid, raucous stories. He works in the finance industry.

Jill Salkin is a singer/songwriter who performs in the Philadelphia area and has three CDs out. Learn more at Jill Salkin.

Justin Daniel has told stories at both West Chester and Delco Story Slams.

2014 West Chester Grand Slam Set For November 11th

Our 2014 GRAND SLAM, celebrating the culmination of our fifth season, will be held at the Chester County Historical Society on Tuesday, November 11th at 8 p.m. Tickets are available now. To order your tickets, click HERE. The GRAND SLAM features the winning storytellers of the regular season as they go head-to-head for the title of “Best Storyteller in West Chester” and the opportunity to have their name immortalized on the legendary Storytellers Cup. Storytellers who have earned a slot in the GRAND SLAM are: Jane Butler, Tim Megaw, Marty Hoban, Diane Yannick, Kevin Ginsberg, Mike Mauger, Justin Daniel, Steve Clark, Terry Heyman, Chris Rich, Jill Salkin, Jeff Hazelwood and Luanne Sims.

The theme of the 2014 GRAND SLAM IS “Fine Line,” as in, there’s often a fine line between right and wrong, between good and bad, between good luck and bad luck.

For the GRAND SLAM, we will be strictly enforcing the 5 minute rule. Each Storyteller will be signaled at 4 minutes and 30 seconds and then again at 5 minutes. Any story over 5 minutes and 30 seconds will not be counted in the final scores.

Also, at the GRAND SLAM, we will be celebrating the publication of West Chester Story Slam – Selected Stories 2010-2014. These forty stories were selected from the first five years of West Chester Story Slam and include classics that you’ll want to share with friends. Copies will be on sale the night of the GRAND SLAM. This Christmas season, copies will be available at Chester County Book Company, BookPlace, and Amazon.

We hope to see you on Tuesday, November 11th for what is sure to be a memorable night of storytelling, and join us afterwards for an after-party on the second floor of Side Bar.

Luanne Sims wins the "Courage" Story Slam

Luanne Sims won our final regular season Story Slam of the year, earning the final slot in our upcoming GRAND SLAM. Luanne was one of the co-winners of the 2013 GRAND SLAM, so she will be defending the title. Luanne's winning story is posted below!

The theme of Courage brought out many stories - some fun and others rather touching. We heard about fear of heights and fear of speaking. We listened to stories about courage saving someone from being beaten, courage during a night-time scuba dive, and the courage to forgive.

Thanks to all our storytellers tonight. Also thanks to our judges, emcee Mikey Gleason and everyone who came out to listen on our final regular story slam of the season.

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2014 GRAND SLAM DETAILS

Our 2014 GRAND SLAM will be held at the Chester County Historical Society on Tuesday, November 11th at 8 p.m. Tickets are available now. To order your tickets, click HERE.

The GRAND SLAM features the winning storytellers of the regular season as they go head-to-head for the title of "Best Storyteller in West Chester." Storytellers who have earned a slot in the GRAND SLAM are: Jane Butler, Tim Megaw, Marty Hoban, Diane Yannick, Kevin Ginsberg, Mike Mauger, Justin Daniel, Steve Clark, Terry Heyman, Chris Rich, Jill Salkin, Jeff Hazelwood and Luanne Sims.

The theme of the 2014 GRAND SLAM IS "Fine Line," as in, there's often a fine line between right and wrong, between good and bad, between good luck and bad luck.

For the GRAND SLAM, we will be strictly enforcing the 5 minute rule. Each Storyteller will be signaled at 4 minutes and 30 seconds and then again at 5 minutes. Any story over 5 minutes and 30 seconds will not be counted in the final scores.

Also, at the GRAND SLAM, we will also be celebrating the publication of West Chester Story Slam - Selected Stories 2010-2014. These forty stories were selected from the first five years of West Chester Story Slam and include classics that you'll want to share with friends. Copies will be on sale the night of the GRAND SLAM. This Christmas season, copies will be available at Chester County Book Company, BookPlace, and Amazon.

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

Our October "Courage" Story Slam is Sold Out!

Our final regular season Story Slam will be held on Tuesday, October 14th and the theme is "Courage!" UPDATED: September 25th - The October Story Slam is SOLD OUT. Thank You. We have tickets for Delco Story Slam. Learn more by clicking HERE. We're looking for stories of courage during rough times - courage to break from the norm, courage to do the right thing, courage to help someone in their time of need, courage to conquer an obstacle. Perhaps you witnessed courage in someone else, maybe you were saved by a stranger who displayed courage. We hope you will step to the mic and tell your story!

GRAND SLAM NEWS

Tickets for the West Chester Story Slam's GRAND SLAM will go on sale the day after the October Story Slam. The GRAND SLAM will be held at Chester County Historical Society on Tuesday, November 11th at 8pm. We hope you will save the date and come out to watch the 2014 winning storytellers compete for the title of Best Storyteller in West Chester. Last year, we heard several classic stories and the competition should be just as intense this year.

Also, at the GRAND SLAM, we will be celebrating the launch of West Chester Story Slam - Selected Stories 2010-2014. These forty stories from the first five years of our Story Slam are a great way to remember some of the tales told and make a great introduction for those who have never been to the live event. We hope to see you on November 11th.

Jeff Hazelwood wins the "Scars" Story Slam

Jeff Hazelwood won the "Scars" Story Slam with his tale of accidentally igniting an Italian man's shirt on fire with a lit cigarette! Jeff won the coveted West Chester Story Slam coffee mug and a slot in our November Grand Slam. The range of stories tonight provided a rich experience for the sold out crowd. We heard humorous stories about thyroid scars and mountain biking accidents. We heard tales of the scars suffered at the hands of nuns and gym teachers, and how wearing a fake scar changes peoples' perceptions. We heard about the scar of a dog mistreated at a puppy mill and how that was transposed with the scars our country faced on 9/11. We also heard powerful stories about the emotional scars of sexual abuse.

Thank you to all our storytellers who took to the stage and told their stories. It was a remarkable night.

Scroll down to see Jeff's winning story.

In the meantime, our next events are as follows:

Saturday, September 13 - West Chester Center Stage: Faith - click HERE for details and tickets.

Wednesday, September 17 - Delco Story Slam: Heaven - click HERE for details and tickets.

Tuesday, October 14 - West Chester Story Slam: Courage - click HERE for tickets.

Here's Jeff's winning story! More stories to follow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhxXkgqP8zI&feature=youtu.be

West Chester Center Stage: "Faith" Debuts September 13th

West Chester Story Slam Presents Center Stage, an occasional series of storytelling events focused on important themes and issues. Center Stage is a night of stories selected and arranged for the audience. Think of it as a curated anthology of nonfiction told live on stage, right here in the borough.

Our first Center Stage event is themed FAITH, and will be held on Saturday, September 13 at Thomas Patrick Hall, which is located behind St. Agnes Roman Catholic Church. The night will consist of approximately 10 personal stories told by people who practice diverse faiths – Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and other faiths. Would you like to see an example of a story about faith? Scroll down to watch a story told by Terry Heyman at a recent Story Slam.

Tickets for West Chester Center Stage: FAITH can be purchased for $15 by clicking HERE.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Act In Faith of Greater West Chester, a local interfaith non-profit that provides support for the un- and underemployed in the West Chester area. Click HERE to learn how they support our community. St. Agnes has parking with an entrance of New St. and additional parking is available at the municipal lot at New and Gay St. 

The lineup of storytellers for FAITH can be found HERE.

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UPDATED: September 5, 10 am. SCARS STORY SLAM IS SOLD OUT. Thank you.

Jill Salkin wins the "Small World" Story Slam!

After a full night of wild stories, Jill Salkin edged her way to a win with her tale of an arduous hike up Mt. Washington. She won the coveted West Chester Story Slam coffee mug and a spot in November's Grand Slam. Scroll down to watch her story.

We heard some amazing stories that spanned this "small world." We heard about fibbing in France, singing international drinking songs, and being misidentified in China. We also listened to stories about being immortalized - one person in a book and another person's scream preserved on vinyl. We heard about the impact traveling as a pre-teen had on a young woman and we heard about how technology helped with a genealogy search.

We also heard some traumatic stories, such as coming to the realization that your nurse is your husband's ex-girlfriend and the tale of waking up nude in a hotel hallway, thirty minutes before being due at work.

A truly fun night of stories - thank to our storytellers, judges, and everyone who came out to cheer them on!

Now, mark your calendar, because we have two events in September.

West Chester Story Slam: SCARS - Tuesday, September 9th at 8 p.m. Side Bar. Tickets here.

West Chester Center Stage: FAITH - Saturday, September 13th at 7 p.m. Tickets here. Read more about Center Stage here.

Here's Jill's winning story. Videos of other stories from our "Small World" Story Slam will be posted later today so check back.

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

August 12th Slam Sold Out, Center Stage Launches in September

UPDATED: August 12, Noon - Seats and Standing Room Only tickets for the August Story Slam have sold out. Thank you. Tickets for West Chester Center Stage: Faith are available now and you can learn more here. Tickets for the September Story Slam will go on sale Wednesday, August 13th. UPDATED: July 29, 5 pm - Seats for our August 12th Story Slam have sold out. Thank you. We have a limited amount of Standing Room Only tickets available. Reserve now by clicking here.

"It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to paint it." - Steven Wright

The world keeps getting smaller, doesn't it? The world is made up of connections, often unlikely connections. Have you ever been traveling and met a stranger who automatically starts searching for a connection with you. "My aunt lives in New Jersey. Do you know her?" We've all had strange moments where we realize some strange connection - sometimes in a situation we might rather forget. Technology has made the world an even smaller place. That moment when you see that ex-girlfriend is friends with your boss on Facebook. How did that happen?

Our Small World Story Slam is Tuesday, August 12th at Side Bar & Restaurant. Seats have been selling fast so we expect this event to sell out early. Reserve your space now by clicking here.

WEST CHESTER CENTER STAGE DEBUTS IN SEPTEMBER

We're excited to debut a new Storytelling night. West Chester Center Stage will be an occasional series featuring storytellers telling stories on an important theme. Our first West Chester Center Stage is themed FAITH and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Act In Faith, a local non-profit that serves un- and underemployed residents in the greater West Chester area.

Click here to learn more about West Chester Center Stage and submissions.

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.