Host Eric Thomas reading the rules
Last Tuesday night, my date and I went to a Story Slam, a unique event sponsored by First Person Arts that is part theater, part stand-up comedy, part open-mic, and part game show. Ten volunteer contestants each vie to be named best storyteller of the night by regaling the audience with personal tales related to a predetermined theme. Each story must be less than five minutes in length, and Judges award points for content and delivery. Between sets, we were kept well entertained by quick-witted host Eric Thomas, who at one point put on a t-shirt bearing the slogan “I did Justin Three Times” and explained that — although he had bought the shirt for Justin Timberlake — it had become very awkward for him to wear the shirt ever since the ascent of Justin Beiber because, in his words, “Bieber is a 15 year old lesbian.” That was only one of the many laughs my date and I shared as Thomas and the rest of the storytellers each took their turns on the stage.
After the Slam, which took place at L’Etage, a swank nightclub on the corner of 6th and Bainbridge in Queen Village, we meandered downstairs to Beau Monde, a cozy french-style crêperie that proved to be the perfect spot to indulge in a little post-show dessert.
How cheap we talkin’: $10 per person entry to the Story Slam. One shared crepe at Beau Monde: $7-8, including tax and tip.
Why this will impress your date: I did mention that Beau Monde has Nutella, right?
The Inside Game: If you decide to order anything during the Slam, pay in cash so you don’t have to wait for your check at the end.
Score Extra Points: By putting your name in the bucket! Nothing is sexier than an abject willingness to expose oneself to public humiliation. (Remember, most of the shows are taped for You Tube).
Next Date: L’Etage hosts a slam every fourth Tuesday of the month. There are also Story Slams every second Monday at World Café Live, which are open to all ages (L’Etage is 21+). Check the First Person Arts web calendar to confirm upcoming dates.
The low molded ceilings and heavy ruby drapes give L’Etage a vaguely speak-easy vibe, while the small tables set out in four neat rows in front of the stage reminded me of a dinner theater or comedy club. We arrived when doors opened at 7:30pm and had our pick of seats, but before we knew it, the place had filled up and it was standing room only.
The Slam started around 8:30pm and the theme of the night was “Epic Fail.” This topic provoked mostly humorous tales of humiliation, from a graphic description of a gay man’s first exposure to a vagina (unequivocally an “epic fail”) to an endearingly self-deprecating recollection of a woman’s aborted attempt to hook up with an ex. The winning story was a masterfully delivered vignette by a woman who mistook a paper plate for a pita triangle at a picnic and didn’t figure it out until she had tried, repeatedly, to eat the thing while talking to a new acquaintance. An epic-nic fail, if you will.
Everyone in the audience is invited to share, and it seemed like there was a good mix of first-timers and experienced storytellers who got called up. My date and I were both too shy to put in our names (they pick contestants by pulling names out of a bucket), but there was a couple there on a first date who both got called up to speak (one was the vagina guy as a matter of fact).
We giggled, guffawed and gasped our way through the evening along with everyone else, taking care after each performance to scribble down our scores on the cards provided. (The night’s winner receives an invitation to participate in a quarterly “Grand Slam” showcasing the best storytellers from previous competitions, and an audience favorite is recognized as well).
The Slam ended around 10:30pm, just in time for us to grab a table next door at Beau Monde and enjoy a crêpe, their speciality. Dessert crêpes start at $2.75 and for an additional $2.25-$3.00 you can add toppings like Caramel, Berry Sauce, Chestnut Creme, Sorbet, Bananas, White Chocolate, or — the ultimate indulgence in my book — Nutella. The crêpes are generously sized, so ask to share. They will even split it for you onto two plates, carefully presented with whipped cream trim, thus saving you from stumbling into any early-dating food sharing pitfalls like cutting uneven halves and having to decide who gets the bigger one. We chose the lemon curd. It was perfectly light, sweet, and tangy — a very successful way to end an evening that was otherwise all about failure.
i’m ashamed to point this out… but you mispelled “justin bIEber.” i-before-the-e. so ashamed.
Don’t be ashamed – I want accuracy in reporting! (Well ok, you should be a little ashamed.)