The Moth Radio Hour started on NPR about 5 years ago and has been wildly successful. The format is simple – regular people tell a true story from their personal experience. If you’ve ever heard the radio show, its compelling listening.
The Moth story phenomenon seems to have spread quickly with regular Moth events in cities across the country. In addition to the official Moth events it seems to have spurred a resurgence of public story telling in general.
Last night I went to a standing-room-only story telling event in Wellfleet on Cape Cod called Mosquito. Ten people each told a 5 minute story and there wasn’t a dud in the bunch. They were all over the map in terms of style and content. Some were uproariously funny, others emotionally moving, other just put a smile on your face.
It got me thinking that it would be a fun and simple sort of event to put together. So here’s the deal – if you’d consider publicly telling a 5 minute story to a live audience, send me an email ([email protected]). If you know someone else who might, pass it along. If I get sufficient interest from potential storytellers, we’ll organize a public event in Newton in Sept or Oct and maybe even broadcast it on NewTV
Jerry you are the best. I love this idea. It would make a terrific alternative to a traditional campaign debate!
A very good opportunity for us to put aside our smartphones and tablets. I often worry that this level of face-to-face conversation, which is necessary for good citizenship, is in jeopardy. Personal connection – the nuance of empathy and understanding – is often more incremental and complex than Twitter.
Fabulous idea Jerry!
I use the MOTH in my class, and I’m a huge fan. My students get extra credit for telling a story and they have come up with some that haunt my dreams. I predict success for this venture — and I promise in advance to send a reporter.
@Emily Costello – … and send your students too. Thanks
Start polishing those stories of yours now. A “story slam”event is definitely coming next month, under the auspices of the new Newton Nomadic Theater. More details soon.
Does this have to be truth or fiction, or something in between???
Yes, a true story
Not even the slightest bit of embellishment??
Whats a good story with out a bit of embellishment?
We’re all set to go for the first Nomad Story Slam on Nov 21. Come hear the stories or come tell one yourself. For more info or or tickets see NewtonNomadicTheater.com.
Besides all of your stories, we also have a few surprise celebrity story tellers signed up for the night.
In the meantime, here’s one of my favorite stories that I heard this summer at the Mosquito story slam in Wellfleet.