True Storytelling Events in Oakland

NEXT SHOW Sept. 18

"Mistakes Were Made"

About the Show:

StorySlam Oakland is Oakland’s longest-running true storytelling show, where people tell short and true stories from their lives. Or just listen and laugh. The theme changes every month.

Get on the email list to be advised of new shows and themes as soon as they are announced.

Where: The Sound Room, 3022 Broadway, Oakland

Time: Doors open at 6:30PM, show begins at 7:30.

Tickets are available online at the link above, or at the door for $20.

There is excellent food and drink available from the Sound Room cafe.

The venue is wheelchair accessible. There will be one intermission.

Although the venue is all ages, some stories may not be appropriate for young children and adults with sensitivities. Viewer discretion advised.

Featured Storyteller:

Tom Darci

Tom is a regular at StorySlam Oakland and other Bay Area storytelling shows. He’s won a Moth StorySLAM, and will be competing in a Moth GRANDSlam soon.
A Massachusetts native, he moved to the Bay Area when he was 23. He and his wife Beth have raised 3 kids in Oakland.
Writing and performing stories has become a kind of obsession with Tom. He is grateful for the communities that form around storytelling. People have amazing experiences, both internal and external. Tom is here for it, looking for the truth as revealed in the most specific of moments.

How The Show Works

Anybody can put their name in the hat for a chance to tell their true, personal story on the theme.

We present one pre-booked Featured Storyteller from our wonderful storytelling community. These are people who have won awards at various shows, or just are known to us for their great storytelling style and charisma. The Featured Storytellers tell true, personal stories, but a little longer than the open-mic stories. They normally close out the show.

Sometimes people show up in the audience who we know are really fun storytellers. And we may pull one of them up as a “special guest” and bypass the hat.
All the other storytellers are pulled at random from the names in the hat. We usually have time for 8 to 10 storytellers at each show.

StorySlam Oakland rules for storytelling:

Put your name in the hat for a chance to tell
Stories must be about YOU
Stories must be TRUE
Keep it short! Length should be about 5 to 6 minutes, but no longer
Stories must be told aloud, not read and NO notes! Tell it just like you’re telling friends around a dinner table.

No pressure! Just have fun. There is no voting and no judging.