Logo of Charlotte's slam

You can get daily podcasts from In The Loop from Minnesota Public Radio or New York’s The Moth. Story Slams are in Philly (First Person Arts) , West Chester Story Slam, Asheville (Synergy Story Slam)  and San Francisco (Porchlight) and gaining popularity as fast as a wildfire can jump the road. A few months ago I reported on Phoenix’s addition (Great Arizona Story Slam).

And now Tucson has joined the movement with Double O Story Slam. In Heat: Surviving the Summer is the theme for this all ages show on Monday, June 27 at Fluxx Studio and Gallery, 414 E. 9th Street. Come at 6:30 to sign up and the show starts at 7:15. Refreshments will be available.

In the simplest terms, a story slam is a contest where people tell real stories from their lives on a theme. No costumes, no props, no notes, no music…just the STORY. Each story is five minutes or less in length and there are a maximum of ten tellers.

Selected audience members will determine the winner who will receive a prize. The criteria may include how well the story is told, its construction, how it explores the theme and if the teller honors the time limit.

Anyone can tell a story. There is no preregistration. The slots will be filled by people who sign up at the event, and sign-up will start at 6:30 pm. We’ll pull names from a hat to determine the order. The first ten people will have their five minutes of fame and a chance to win.

If you want to tell a story consider these tips:

Tell a true (personal) story

Choose a story that has meaning to you

Organize your story with a beginning, middle, ending ~ and a point

Know your first and last line

You can start in the action (middle) and set up the stakes

Make the story succinct and have the point be obvious – but your method of getting to the point may be surprising and have punch

Add lots of details so that listeners can picture themselves in the story

Get your body and emotions into the story

Don’t worry about being funny or serious or both; just be yourself

A good time to get serious is right after a laugh

Don’t memorize, just remember an outline, your beginning, ending and a few lines of plot; storytelling is an oral art, not a literary recital

Stick to the 5 minute or less time limit

There will be reminders when you need to start wrapping up and when it’s time to stop

Don’t rant; this is a place for stories, not lectures or diatribes

Relax, breathe, play

Take time to finish. Look at people, smile, and enjoy their appreciation — it’s their chance to give you something back

For more info contact Maya Asher, 480-390-1063 or Penelope Starr (yes, that’s me), 520-730-4112, Penelope(at)odysseystorytelling.com

See for yourself at the FREE Youth Poetry Slam (18 and under) on Saturday, November 13th, at 7 p.m. at Bentley’s House of Coffee and Tea, 1730 E. Speedway Blvd. The slam sign-up starts at 6:30 but don’t miss the free poetry workshop for youth (19 and under) from 5 to 6.

This will be a regular happening on the 2nd Saturday of the month in the University area featuring $50 in cash prizes for the top three competitors and fun coupons from local businesses.  Each month there will be a performance by a local or national poet mentor (this month features poet and personality David “Doc” Luben), a poetry workshop led by either the featured artist or other dynamic performers, artists, and educators, and great poetry for everyone in attendance.

On the 4th Saturday of the month (tomorrow!) you can still come down to Bentleys for the ongoing adult slam where you will always be amazed (and sometimes shocked) by the brilliant talent of our Tucson slam poets. More info at www.tucsonyouthslam@gmail.com or 520.413.2382 and 480.390.1063.

Join in the fun at Robots, Zombies, and Mad Scientists on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mat Bevel Institute / Museum of Kinetic Sculpture, 530 N Stone Ave (just north of 6th St).  It’s an all ages show and for only five bucks you can witness ”an urgent, life-or-death spoken word showcase to help prepare our community for upcoming apocalyptic struggles.”

They will addressing questions like:

* What kind of apocalypse is best for OUR community?

* Should we place our trust in the Scientific Genius driven mad by his lust for power, or on the Genius Scientist driven insane by hubris?

* What kind of boundaries should you set for your own zombie as he reaches older, more challenging stages of decomposition?

You’ll see all new work by some of your favorite Arizona poets and help “take the next step into a promising world of wild anarchy and horror.”  The show will be hosted by Doc Luben, with Maya Asher as The Disciplinarian and will include a feature performance by Paulie Lipman as well as an Underdog Monsters Haiku Death Match.  Since it’s almost Halloween, you are, of course, invited to come in costume.

For more info or if you want to get on their email list, contact Lindsay Miller <linzm@email.arizona.edu>