#########
Home ######### About Us ######### Contact Us  
pArtners In Education Showcase

School Programs
Festival
Tellabration
Campus Slammer
Directory
Make A Donation
Become a Member
Leave a Storied Legacy

 


Producer Guidelines     |     Story Guidelines    |     Story Slam FAQ's


What Is a Story Slam?
A Story Slam is an open mic event in which audience members share stories. Frequently there is a competitive piece. Based on a poetry slam format and similar to American Idol, MassMouth, The Moth, a Story Slam is a contest of words by known and undiscovered talent. Appropriate language should be used in the stories please.

Slammers sign up on the night of the event to tell a 5-minute short story on the evening's theme. Participants are randomly chosen. Usually 8 to 10 names are drawn based on time allotted for the competition.

What is a Story Slam Competition?
It is a competition based on who tells the best story. It puts a dual emphasis on content and performance, encouraging storytellers to focus on what they're saying and how they're saying it. It is an exercise in crafting stories within a set time limit. It is great entertainment.

Tellers perform their work and are judged by panels chosen by the the producer or another organizer of the event. Judges are instructed to give numerical scores (on a zero to 10 or one to 10 scale) based on the storyteller s' content and performance.

Campus Slammers have a team of 5 judges - interested amateurs, storytellers, theater people, educators and speakers, and one judge not from a related field will make up the judges panel.

Who gets to participate?
Attendees wishing to participate enter their names into a drawing on the evening of the event. Eight to ten names are selected based on time allotted for the event. Each host campus may select their teller make-up from: campus and community; student only; or student, staff, and faculty.

What are the rules?
The basic rules are: Each story must be of the storyteller’s own construction – Copyright laws apply to literary works, so do not tell them.

Poetry is not encouraged - unless the poem is original, 5 minutes long and tells a story.

Each storyteller gets 5 minutes (plus a 1 minute grace period) to tell a story. If the storyteller goes over the 6 minute time, 1 full point will be deducted from the total score. A warning timer can be rung at 4 minutes.

The storyteller may not use props, costumes or musical instruments.

What are some Campus marketing tips?
Common groups and classes that have interest in this type of event are: Spoken Word Student Club, Improv or Comedy Club, Theatre Dept, Education Dept., English Dept., Public Speaking classes.

Other marketing ideas: Campus email blast, staff announce in class, posters in residences and dining areas, Face Book page, My Space Page, Twitter blasts, send You –Tube links and invites.

Are the rules the same from Slammer to Slammer?
We will adhere to these basic guidelines, campus organizers may institute some variations of their own.

What Colleges are participating?
For 2013 6 college campuses and 2 other venues in college towns: University of Hartford, Connecticut College, Eastern Connecticut State University, Western Connecticut State University, University of Connecticut, Manchester Community College, Koffee on Audubon (New Haven - Yale), and The Buttonwood Tree (Middletown - Wesleyan, Middlesex Community College)

Where will Campus Slammers be held?
Coffee shops, black box theatre space, auditoriums, community rooms, lounge, restaraunt room, multi-purpose space.

What is needed to run a Campus Slammer?
A microphone if space warrants, promotion on campus and in community, timer, coordinator, judge, emcee, registration form with contact info for particpants, entry form (to draw from hat) additional prizes.

How does a Slammer differ from an open mic?
A story slam is a challenge to the teller and a gift to the audience, open mic settings are meant as a support network for storytellers. Slam performances are crafted for the audience enjoyment. These are competitions and winners will be selected based on scoring.

What can the audience do?
Listen, laugh, applaud and weep. No interrupting. No heckling.

What kind of stories are told at Slams?
Narrative, tales from real life, original reincarnations of classic tales and YOUR personal experience is the intent of these events.



Producer Guidelines     |     Story Guidelines    |     Story Slam FAQ's





CT Commission on Culture and Tourism Connecticut College League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling The National Storytelling Network The Graduate Institute The New Jersey Storytelling Network