If you subscribe to our email lists and follow us on social media, you might know that The Moth Mainstage is returning to Atlanta on December 4. Hosted by Jon Goode, The Moth Mainstage brings together professional storytellers for a curated event recorded for The Moth Radio Hour and the accompanying podcast. But if you’ve never been before, it can be a bit daunting about what to expect: how many people attend shows by The Moth? And do you need to tell a story in order to attend? To find out, I ventured into downtown Atlanta for the September StorySLAM show to understand why local storytelling is so powerful. 

Right from the start, I knew this would be an intimate event made up of a vibrant community: held at the Balzer Theater, the organizers were pleased to announce that this month was a sold out show to groups of attendees who excitedly chatted with fellow fans. That’s what Kirsten Staples, swing producer, shared with me: she’s spent two years volunteering with The Moth Atlanta and explained that many attendees come every month with their friends to either tell a story or listen to what’s being told. 

And without listeners, The Moth wouldn’t be possible. The gist of the monthly StorySLAM events is this: unlike The Moth Mainstage, which is a curated event made up of coached, professional storytellers, The Moth’s monthly StorySLAMs are more open-mic competitions where local storytellers with varying degrees of experience battle for a spot in the annual The Moth Atlanta GrandSLAM. Prospective storytellers (commonly known as ‘tellers’) prepare a five-minute story in advance, submitting their names into a hat upon arrival at the venue. Ten tellers are then drawn and invited to the stage to tell their story before they are judged by three groups of audience members, encouraged to award points based on the teller’s ability to stay under the time limit, highlight the chosen monthly theme and explain a clear conflict and resolution. The teller with the most points at the end of the evening wins the coveted GrandSLAM spot.  

List of rules for StorySLAM

Keep these 'don'ts' in mind if you want to tell a story at Atlanta StorySLAM.

But the September show brought a twist to the formula: how do you judge for staying on theme when the theme for the month is themeless, and what will tellers choose to share with the audience? As it turns out, the stories varied - as much as their tellers did, showcasing perhaps the best aspect of being part of The Moth; a supportive, curious space where everyone is encouraged to both participate and learn about the world outside of their own. Over the course of the evening, I listened to stories about teenage adventures at rock concerts, how drugs and diseases reshaped lives and families, how a milestone birthday can bring feelings of both despair and hope, and how teachers both teach and learn from their students, to name a few. By the end, I had laughed and cried at stories that had touched my heart, walking away with a greater appreciation for Georgia stories. 

The Moth storytellers and winners

The tellers from September's Atlanta StorySLAM, including the winner of the month and the host.

The Moth Radio Hour airs on GPB’s statewide radio station Fridays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m. Book your tickets for The Moth Mainstage now.