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Laughter filled the basement of Dunn Hall as storyteller Jeremiah Miner stood with his hands clenched like claws, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets in a blank stare. The audience sat captivated with delighted smiles as Miner continued to tell about the pranks and adventures of his family in a Utah meat shop.
February 17 marked the first StorySmash event at the University of Maine, inspired by The Moth, a nonprofit storytelling organization in New York City. The organization hosts storytelling events for anyone who would like to share a true tale on stage without notes.
The Moth also produces The Moth Radio Hour and podcasts of its events. The live performances are sometimes large enough to fill a stadium and have sold out shows across the country within 48 hours since it’s been running.
On campus, StorySmash was an open event where people were invited to listen and share a story for five to 10 minutes without notes. Sarita Field, a graduate student in the communication and journalism department, came up with the idea with Professor Kristin Langellier who studies narrative communication. Field helped plan the event along with Miner, Nora Seitz and Ashley Pelkey, fellow graduate students.
“I was really excited because I listen to The Moth on the radio,” Field said.
She confidently told her story, which she shared many times before, and considered it a “get-to-know Sarita” kind of story.
“Although I did sign up to go seventh,” she said. “I wanted to see other people go first.”
Her tales of childhood hypochondria drew more laughter from the crowd as she explained how she thought she caught the plague at a young age.
“What’s the plague? What’s that do? What’s that about?” Field said sarcastically.
Seitz, the master of ceremonies for the evening, took a break from her duties to share a personal story as well. She explained how her husband proposed to her and the interesting people she met in his hometown the night he popped the question.
“She had written a sequel to ‘Pride and Prejudice’ called ‘Honor & Humility,’” she said, mocking the new woman who lived in her husband’s childhood home.
In total, 18 people were in attendance, with 10 storytellers.
“I’m happy with the turnout,” Seitz said.
“The Moth was founded by a writer from the South. When he moved to New York, he missed sitting out on the porch, telling stories with friends while moths would fly around the lights,” she added.
For the small campfire-like atmosphere reminiscent of the original storytelling tradition, Seitz said 18 attendees was the perfect amount of people. The event was posted to communication and journalism department forums, the thought being that people outside the department wouldn’t understand what the event was and would be unlikely to go. However, more than communication students participated.
Shane Perry, an independent radio producer and member of the Air National Guard, shared a story about his first experience in Iraq. With a firm grip on his coffee mug, Perry comically detailed the events of driving a bus through a minefield without depth perception and with little success.
“Finally someone else who knew how to drive a standard volunteered to drive,” he said.
At the end of his tale, Seitz gestured to the table of refreshments. “You deserve a cookie for that,” she said. “You deserve two cookies.”
StorySmash was co-sponsored by the Communication and Journalism Graduate Student Association and Langellier’s graduate seminar in Aesthetic Communication.
The association was created last year to encourage community among graduate students in and out of the department. They advocate for graduate students and teaching assistants. The group is recognized and funded by the UMaine Graduate Student Government and holds professional and academic development events and social events.
As the event concluded, people complimented each other’s stories and discussed other tales they considered sharing with the group.
While clearing the snack table at the end of the night, Seitz, Field and Langellier talked about putting on another StorySmash. They discussed advertising it across campus, or how it may grow by word-of-mouth. They were very pleased with the turnout of their first attempt, and hope to hold another StorySmash later in the semester.
