The Moth invented the format that every storytelling podcast copied, and the StorySLAM is where the raw version still happens — a hat full of names, ten strangers, five minutes each, no notes and no second takes. The Serendipity theme reliably produces one wrecking-ball story and at least two disasters, which is exactly the point. If you have ever thought about telling, this is the night to put your own name in the hat rather than watch someone else do it.
What to expect
A packed Bell House main room with a bar at the back and the audience seated and standing close to the stage. A host runs the draw between stories, and three judging teams selected from the crowd score each teller out loud. Expect roughly two hours across ten stories, plus scoring banter that is half the entertainment.
Good to know
- The Bell House is at 149 7th Street in Gowanus; the F/G to Smith–9th Sts or R to 9th St are closest
- Put your name in the hat when you arrive if you want a shot at telling — ten names get drawn
- Stories must be true, first-person and told without notes, capped at five minutes
- These sell out, so buy ahead rather than counting on the door
- 21+ with valid ID; the venue is a bar
- The main room is standing-and-seated general admission, so arrive early for a seat
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Common questions
Can anyone tell a story?
Yes. Put your name in the hat when you arrive; ten names are drawn at random over the course of the night.
What are the rules for a StorySLAM story?
It must be true, told in the first person, fit the night's theme, and run five minutes or less with no notes.
What is the theme?
The Moth announces a theme for each slam; this Bell House edition is programmed around Serendipity, so stories should turn on chance or accidental discovery.
More this weekend
