Our "It's My Job" Story Slam is Sold out!

Thank you to all who purchased tickets for our April 10th Story Slam, which is themed "It's My Job." We have no more tickets available.

We're looking forward to hearing your work related stories! While we start telling stories at 8pm, please remember most people with seats start arriving around 7pm for drinks and dinner. If you want to tell a story, sign up with Jim once you arrive and we'll put your name in the bucket!

Tickets for our May 8th Story Slam, which is themed "Good Vibrations," will go on sale on Wednesday, April 11th.

Steve Clark wins our "Chaos" Slam!

Winning Storyteller Steve Clark and emcee Mikey Gleason

Steve Clark edged out the competition to win our March Story Slam, which was themed "Chaos!" Steve told a story of what he learned from his days as a kid maximizing his return on investment with free refills as McDonalds. Steve won the prized pint glass and has earned a slot in the 2018 Grand Slam.

We heard several excellent "Chaos" stories on the night, including a tale of watching kids getting rabies shots, being injured jumping off a bridge, car troubles during vacation, a safari in Africa, an Easter egg hunt in the sand, visiting a college apartment twenty-five years later, and housing the famous Berigan Brothers during a trial. Thanks to all our storytellers, our judges, and the audience who came out and cheered on the stories.

Our next Story Slam will be April 10th at 8pm, and the theme is "It's My Job!" Grab your tickets by clicking HERE.

Check out Steve's winning story below. To watch all the stories told on the night, click on over to the West Chester Story Slam YouTube Channel.

Our March 13th Story Slam is "Chaos!"

We're celebrating "Chaos" at our March 13th Story Slam! Pick up your tickets and come on out Side Bar and Restaurant to hear stories - and maybe even tell your own. Our Story Slams start at 8pm, but most people arrive around 7pm for dinner and drinks. A few seats remain and we also have Standing Room Only tickets for the bar area. To order, click HERE.

What is a Chaos story?

Chaos is described as "complete disorder and confusion." We want to hear about that time you were caught up in a riot, or that time a brawl broke out in a bar. Tell us about that office job where nobody knew what the hell they were doing and the project turned out to be a mess. Describe being a lunch mom for your child's kindergarten class. Tell us about the challenges of organizing your wedding or that disastrous vacation where your flight was canceled. We want to hear about Chaos! Seats for this event will sell out, so order yours soon! See you in March!

STORYTELLING WORKSHOP!

Our once a year Storytelling Workshop returns to West Chester on Wednesday night, March 21. This two hour workshop was developed for those who want to take the stage but are looking to learn the basics of storytelling. It's important to pre-register so we can send you videos to watch before the class. Learn more by clicking HERE.

David Smith Wins the "Breathless" Story Slam!

Winning Storyteller David Smith with emcee Luanne Sims

David Smith won our "Breathless" Story Slam with his tale of being a distraction in the classroom and the delivery room. David took home the prized pint glass and has earned a slot in the 2018 Grand Slam!

Tonight's audience was rowdy from the get-go! From the introduction by our emcee Luanne Sims through to the final story, the storytelling fans cheered, laughed and at some points, were even left breathless. Thanks so much to our storytellers tonight. We heard stories of love and loss, cats and cows, torches and television celebrities.

Our next Story Slam will be Tuesday, March 13th and the theme is "Chaos." Order your tickets by clicking HERE.

You can watch David's winning story below. To watch the other stories told at our Breathless Story Slam, click on over to the West Chester Story Slam YouTube Channel!

Our February Story Slam is Breathless!

Luanne Sims is our emcee for February

Make your Valentine's Date a night early this year! Join us on Tuesday, February 13th for our Story Slam with the theme "Breathless!" Tickets can be ordered HERE.

"Breathless" can take many forms, including love at first sight! we're looking for stories about being breathless in all forms. Did the first sight of your love take your breath away? Of course, breathless could be about gasping for air, perhaps because of high altitude, or being choked, or being submerged underwater. Tell us your love story or tell us your adventure story. Have you saved someone from choking? Have you hiked at high altitudes or seen a sight that took your breath away? What's left you Breathless?

Our "Breathless" Story Slam starts at 8pm on February 13th at Side Bar and Restaurant. Most people arrive around 7pm to order drinks and dinner. Tickets can be ordered HERE.

Diane Yannick wins our January Story Slam!

Diane Yannick told about the embarrassing moments she's had recently and how it's led her to reflect on her life. Her touching story won the Embarrassing Moments Story Slam, earning her the chance to compete in the 2018 Grand Slam.

Our "Embarrassing Moments" theme brought out several red-faced moments from our storytellers. We heard about embarrassing parents in a few stories, and we learned about why to always proofread your best man's wedding speech. We heard about embarrassing moments following a date and being in a rough spot with a restaurant. Thanks to all our storytellers and the judges tonight!

Our next Story Slam will be Tuesday, February 13th and the theme is "Breathless!" Being the night before Valentine's Day, this theme could be about love at first sight, when one is left breathless - or it could be about gasping for air, perhaps because of high altitude, or being choked or being submerged underwater. Have you hiked at high altitudes or seen a sight that took your breath away? What's left you Breathless? Tickets can be ordered HERE.

You can watch Diane's winning story below! To watch other stories told at our Embarrassing Moments Story Slam, click on over to the West Chester Story Slam YouTube Channel.

Dates and Themes for 2018 Announced! Tickets for January On Sale Now!

What story will you tell? What story will your friends tell?

The 2018 West Chester Story Slam season (our 9th season!) will kick off on Tuesday, January 9th with the theme "Embarrassing Moments!" For tickets, click HERE.

Our Story Slams take place on the second Tuesday of the month at Side Bar & Restaurant in West Chester, PA. All events begin at 8pm. Most people arrive around 7pm to order food and drinks before the show. Story Slam tickets are $10 each and available now for the January 9th event. Tickets for each month's Slam go on sale the day after the previous month’s event.

Here are the dates and themes for the 2018 season.

January 9th - Embarrassing Moments

February 13th - Breathless

March 13th - Chaos

April 10th - It's My Job!

May 8th - Good Vibrations

June 12th - Road Trip

July 10th - Family Feud

August 14th - Sick

September 11th - Panic Switch

October 9th - Fright Night

November 13th - Grand Slam - Theme: TBD

We hope to see you at a Story Slam in 2018!

Paul Heck Wins the 2017 "Pressure" Grand Slam!

The theme for our 8th Annual West Chester Story Slam GRAND SLAM was "Pressure!" Paul Heck delivered a breathtaking story of dealing with a man who was on the brink of committing a workplace shooting. Paul's story drew tens across the board, making him the 2017 GRAND SLAM Champion. Congratulations Paul!

We had a wide variety of stories on the theme tonight. We heard about the pressure of giving a tour at college, and the panic that sets in when one realizes they are showering in the wrong boat cabin. We heard about shooting video of a tense police stop and trying to survive in Mexico when your luggage was shipped to Paris. Other stories included trying to pacify an infant in a men's restroom, and seeing the toll of a father after he watched his son's dog for an afternoon. We also heard about the pressure that builds in a neighborhood when one family turns out to be dealing drugs, and a tale of how being laid off at the holidays

Thanks and congratulations to all our storytellers, our judges for the night, and everyone who braved this rainy and cold night to support live storytelling! We will post the 2018 season dates and themes by December 1st. Thanks for another great season!

Check out Paul's winning story below. To watch all the stories from the night, click on over to the West Chester Story Slam YouTube Channel.

The 2017 GRAND SLAM is Nov. 7th! Tickets Available Now!

2016 Grand Slam winner Aaron Mills returns to the big stage in 2017!

The 2017 West Chester Story Slam GRAND SLAM will be held on Tuesday, November 7th, 8pm,  and the theme is "Pressure!" Once again, we are thrilled that the event will be held at the Chester County Historical Society in downtown West Chester.

All the winners of West Chester Story Slam from the 2017 season have been invited to attend. Our expected lineup of storytellers for the GRAND SLAM are: Diane Yannick, Patrick Carmody, Robin Renn, Cindy Heffron, Aaron Mills, Cynthia Angst, Jack Kennedy, Peter Cunniffe, Paul Heck, Kennan Flanagan, and David Smith.

While there is no food or drink in the Historical Society, many people often grab dinner and drinks in town before the event. Everyone is also invited to stop in for drinks after the GRAND SLAM at Side Bar and Restaurant.

We do expect tickets for this event to sell out and we will NOT have tickets available at the door. Please order your tickets by clicking HERE.

David Smith Wins Our "Close Calls" Story Slam!

David Smith took home the prized pint glass with his near-death experience. David earned the final slot in our 2017 West Chester Story Slam GRAND SLAM, which will be held on Tuesday, November 7th at 8pm at the Chester County Historical Society. Click HERE for tickets.

David's story edged out some excellent "Close Calls" stories. We heard about fathers on death beds, getting lost on a Septa bus, watching a newborn nearly get sliced, doing dangerous electrical work, trying to build a relationship with a celebrity, finding the love of one's life, and more. Thanks to all our storytellers for sharing their tales.

At the end of the night, we announced the theme for the 2017 West Chester Story Slam GRAND SLAM is "Pressure!"

Our winning storytellers from the 2017 season will take the big stage to tell their story about pressure - working under pressure, living under pressure, cooking under pressure, surviving the pressure of high school or college or dating. What's your pressure point? What do you do when you have to perform under pressure? Pressure is the theme for November 7th! Order your tickets now!

 Dave's winning story is posted below. To watch all the stories told on the night, check out the West Chester Story Slam YouTube Channel.

Our "Close Calls" Story Slam is October 10th!

Our October 10th Story Slam is themed "Close Calls!" Join us at Side Bar and Restaurant for the last regular Story Slam of the season and see who will win our final slot for November's Grand Slam! We start telling stories at 8pm, but most people arrive around 7pm for drinks and dinner. We expect this event to sell out so please order your tickets now by clicking HERE. 

What do we mean by Close Calls? 

We are looking for stories about crashes with calamity and brushes with death. Did you find yourself in precarious position only to find luck was on your side? Did you break off an engagement? Leave someone at the altar? Perhaps you narrowly escaped a natural disaster. Did you miss a trip that turned into a colossal mess? Did you turn down a job for a company that folded weeks later? Or maybe you escaped a company just before it collapsed. Maybe you were almost caught on mischief night as a teen or escaped the police at that high school kegger. Let's hear about your Close Calls! 

If you want to tell a story, see Jim once you arrive to sign the release and put your name in the bucket. A reminder - we do expect this event to sell out so pick up tickets soon. 

Also - mark your calendars for the 2017 GRAND SLAM, which will take place on Tuesday, November 7th. Tickets for the GRAND SLAM go on sale on October 11th. 

Kennan Flanagan wins our "School Days" Story Slam!

Emcee Luanne Sims with winning storyteller Kennan Flanagan

Kennan Flanagan decided to put his name in the hat at intermission, and as the final storyteller of the night, he won our "School Days" Story Slam with his tale of making quite a profitable trade with a classmate in school. Kennan won the prized pint glass and has earned a slot in our November 7th Grand Slam.

The competition was tight tonight. We heard about drawing obscenities in the school lawn, and naming your class project with an obscene name. We listened to a tale about mistakenly ending up in an Alcoholics Anonymous class as a teen, and creating an ugly art project that took first place. We heard about misunderstanding the school principal, and trying to explain the job of a prosecutor to a grade school class. Our stories were about students, teachers, and parents all trying their best with various degrees of success.

Thanks to all our storytellers, our judges, and the enthusiastic audience for cheering them on.

Our next Story Slam is October 10th and the theme is Close Calls. Order your tickets by clicking HERE.

You can watch Kennan's winning story below. To watch the other awesome stories told on the night, click on over to the West Chester Story Slam YouTube channel.

Our "School Days" Story Slam is September 12th!

Join us for our "School Days" Story Slam on Tuesday, September 12th. Our Story Slam starts at 8pm at Side Bar and Restaurant. Click HERE for tickets.

What stories fit into our "School Days" theme?

Tell us your classic story from grade school, middle school, high school or college! Maybe you dropped out of school and received a real education. Perhaps you had to go to summer school, or maybe you went to Catholic school. Were you bullied or perhaps you were the bully? Did you go to school dances or the prom? Have a crush on a teacher? Pull the greatest senior prank? Tell us your school story!

A few tickets remain for the September Story Slam. After that, we only have our October Story Slam and then the Grand Slam, which this year will be November 7th. Save the Date!

Meanwhile, grab your tickets for September 12th while they remain!

Paul Heck Wins our "Identity Crisis" Story Slam!

Emcee Mikey Gleason poses with winner Paul Heck

After the judges were asked to declare the winner out of a rare three-way tie, first-time storyteller Paul Heck emerged as the winner of our "Identity Crisis" Story Slam with his tale of growing up as the tallest kid in his class. In the first round of voting, Paul had tied with Arianna Scavetti and Steve Clark. Arianna told a story about being awkwardly mistaken for a judge. Steve told a tale of meeting a naked religious guru while in a gym sauna.

We heard so many interesting stories on the night. We heard a touching story about learning to hug as an adult, and we heard another tale of the slow progress in overcoming depression. There was a story of trying to get a brother the medical help he desperately needed, and the surprising hero who delivered the goods. We heard about getting respect as a senior, and a story of trying to decide whether to live a right brain/left brain life. We also heard about a make believe girlfriend and an imaginary goat! Thanks to all our storytellers, our judges, and the rowdy audience for cheering!

Our next Story Slam is themed "School Days" and will be held on Tuesday, September 12th. Tickets are available by clicking HERE.

Check out Paul's winning story below. To see all the stories told on the night, click on over to the West Chester Story Slam YouTube Channel.

Our "Identity Crisis" Story Slam is August 8th!

Our August 8th Story Slam is "IDENTITY CRISIS!" Grab your standing room only tickets by clicking HERE and join us at Side Bar and Restaurant. We start telling stories at 8pm, but most people arrive early for dinner and drinks. SRO tickets does include a few seats at the bar.

What stories fit "Identity Crisis?"

We want to hear stories about identity or lack of identity! Did you re-invent yourself at some point in your life? Have you suffered from amnesia? Did you rehabilitate yourself? Were you adopted? Did you change your look when you went to college or started a new job?

Seats for this event have sold out but we do have a few SRO tickets! If you want to tell a story, sign up when you check in. Click HERE to reserve your tickets!

Here is a story we love from our Lancaster Story Slam that could have fit into "Identity Crisis." Mitch Jureckson travels to meet his real father!

Peter Cunniffe wins our "Nature" Story Slam!

Winner Pete Cunniffe with emcee Mikey Gleason

Peter Cunniffe edged out the competition with his story about taking photographs of nature to win our July Story Slam. Pete took home the prized pint glass and earned a spot in our November Grand Slam. Special note: Patrick Carmody, who has already earned a spot in the Grand Slam, told a spectacular story also. We heard so many stories about people's dislike of nature, Mikey Gleason suggested Thoreau would not have been comfortable at tonight's event.
Thanks to everyone who told their nature story, thanks to the judges, and the packed crowd that cheered everyone on.

Our next Story Slam is themed "Identity Crisis" and will be held on Tuesday, August 8th. Secure your tickets by clicking HERE.

You can watch Peter's winning story below and/or click on over to the West Chester Story Slam YouTube Channel to view all the stories told on the night.

Our "Nature" Story Slam is July 11th!

Nature is often beautiful and serene, but it can also be dangerous and horrifying. We want to hear your "Nature" story on Tuesday, July 11th at our July Story Slam! We start telling stories at 8pm, but most people arrive at Side Bar and Restaurant around 7pm for drinks and food. As of the time of this post, we have a few seats left. Click here for tickets!

Looking for ideas on what makes a "Nature" Story?

Have you ever hiked the Appalachian Trail or been lost at sea? Have you been stung by bees or chased by a bear? Tell us why you love nature, or why nature terrifies you. We want stories about hiking, gardening, bird watching, skiing, mountain biking, trail running. We hope to hear stories about the woods, the ocean, the lakes, the rivers, the desert, the mountains, and more.

If you want to tell a story, check out our rules and then sign up when you arrive! Join us on July 11th for "Nature!" Grab your tickets while they last.

Jack Kennedy Wins our "Foreign Soil" Story Slam!

Winner Jack Kennedy and emcee Mikey Gleason

First-time storyteller Jack Kennedy won our "Foreign Soil" Story Slam with his tale of a trip to Quebec where he and his sister vowed not to be the loud Americans. Jack won the prized pint glass and a slot in our November Grand Slam.

We took trips to several countries with tonight's stories - China, Finland, Australia, the UK, France, and even Tennessee. Thanks to all our storytellers, our judges, and all who came out tonight to cheer our storytellers on.

Our next Story Slam is themed "Nature," and will be held on Tuesday, July 11th at Side Bar and Restaurant. You can pick up your tickets by clicking HERE.

You can watch Jack's winning story below. To watch all the stories tonight, click on over to the West Chester Story Slam YouTube channel.

Our June 13th Story Slam is "Foreign Soil!"

Our June 13th Story Slam is themed "Foreign Soil." We're looking for stories about traveling to exotic lands AND we also hope to hear stories about immigrants discovering the strange land and cultures of the USA. Seats for this Story Slam have sold out (Thank you!) but a few SRO's may remain. Click on the tickets page to learn more.

Tickets for our July Story Slam, which is themed "Nature," will go on sale on Wednesday, June 14th.

Cynthia Angst wins our "Luck" Story Slam!

Our May Story Slam winner Cynthia Angst and emcee Mikey Gleason

Cynthia Angst edged out the competition with her story about the good and bad luck of renting apartments on the Main Line and eventually moving to West Chester. Cynthia will be returning the Grand Slam in November.

The theme of "Luck" brought out stories that expressed the different ways we view both good luck and bad luck in our lives. We heard about how at a low point in her life, Shari had the good luck to find a job that gave meaning to her life. We heard from Nick about his reaction to hearing about the death of his mother. Sara told us about her good luck camping in Iceland. Vicki told about her dating life and how she must have been "good luck" for her ex-boyfriends. Kyle told about the good luck of meeting his future wife. Mikey expressed his longing for a ham sandwich.

Thanks to all our storytellers, the judges, and the audience who cheered everyone on.

Our next Story Slam, on Tuesday, June 13th, is themed "Foreign Soil," so think about your best travel story - whether you traveled to another country or maybe you immigrated to the USA. Tickets can be ordered by clicking HERE.

Video of Cynthia's winning story is posted below and all the stories are posted on the West Chester Story Slam YouTube channel!