Storytelling Swaps and Open Mics to Pratice Stories

In order to get better at telling stories, you’ll need somewhere to practice stories. Workshops and classes are great places to start learning the craft, but where does one go for something they are working on at the moment? One of the options is to go to a story swap (story circle) or an open mic. (See my post about the difference HERE). These places can afford you the chance to try out a story you are working on to see what works and what doesn’t.

Below is a collection of places that have either a story swap or open mic that allows for working on a story that still needs more work. Most of these are online for now due to the pandemic. You’ll have to check their site to see if that continues.

Story Swaps and Story Circles

• Blue Ridge Storytellers (in-person in Floyd, VA)
  • https://www.facebook.com/blueridgestoryspace

• Durham Storytellers – Monthly Storytelling Gathering
  • https://www.durhamstorytellers.com/events

• Voices in the Glenn
  • https://voicesintheglen.org/events/list/

• San Antonio Storytellers
  • https://www.sanantoniostorytellers.com/calendar-test

• Dallas Storytelling Guild
  • https://dallasstorytelling.org/

• FEAST (Federation of Asian Storytellers)
  • https://www.feast-story.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=640851&module_id=514095

• Bridgeport Art Trail Storytelling Exchange with Nina Lesiga
  • https://bridgeport-art-trail.org/ninas-story-exchange/

• Storytelling Association of California (SAC) Story Swap Genre Storytelling Series (online)
  • https://www.eventbrite.com/o/storytelling-association-of-california-1970818833

• Let Me Tell Ya Storytelling Guild
  • https://www.storytellingconnections.com/event-details/let-me-tell-ya-storytelling-guild-2022-11-10-19-00

• Chincoteague Storytelling Guild (in-person, Chincoteague, VA)
  • https://www.chincoteagueca.org/chincoteague-storytelling-guild.html

Open Mics

• The Story Space open mic for all ages
  • http://storyspace.org/Home.asp

• SocietyX: What’s Your Story Evening Jam Sessions
  • https://www.eventbrite.com/e/societyx-whats-your-story-evening-jam-sessions-tickets-152692327863?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-source=up&utm-term=user-profile

• Natural Born Storytellers: Once Upon a Tuesday
  • https://www.naturalbornstorytellers.com/upcoming-events

• Story Arts of Minnesota Open Mic
  • https://www.storyartsmn.org/events?view=calendar&month=02-2022

• The Story Show (Open Mic)
  • https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-story-show-open-mic-tickets-262034390917?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-source=up&utm-term=user-profile

• GRIT (True Stories That Matter) by Sean Wellington
  • https://www.facebook.com/groups/gritthegroup

• Traditions and Truth: A Virtual Open Mic
  • https://www.storytelling.org/events/traditions-and-truth/

• The Cocoon produced by Story Jam
  • https://www.storyjamshow.com/

• Story Luck
  • https://storyluck.org/

• Do Not Submit
  • https://www.donotsubmitchicago.com/

• Six Feet Apart Productions
  •  http://sfapshows.com/

• DP Story Slam (in-person, Manassas, VA)
  • https://www.eventbrite.com/o/dp-46355914753

Have a storytelling place or organization you want to be added to the list? Email me at storytellingonpurpose365@gmail.com to get it added to the list!