We all have them – Tales from times when things didn’t look likely; when chances seemed slim at best and all hope was hanging by a thread. At last night’s StorySlam we heard from ten storytellers who carried that thread and shared personal stories in response to the theme “Against the Odds.”

Death defying Donald told about how he miraculously brought a zombie dog back from the other side. Erin refused to give up her hopes of recovering her long lost hat – even if getting it back meant she’d have to snatch it off a stranger’s head. And Joli braved the bowels of a pink Chinatown Bus to dig for an abandoned burrito and a prized journal.

Our winning and Audience Favorite story came from beloved First Person Arts storyteller, Bernardo. Perhaps the odds were in Bernardo’s favor last night. As a frequent First Person Arts storyteller and two-time Grand Slam competitor, Bernardo’s candid spirit and storytelling prowess quickly won over the audience judges. Travel to Bogota, Columbia with Bernardo and witness how he turns a terrifying experience into a touching tale in the video of his winning performance below. Click here to see what our friends at Philebrity had to say about Bernardo’s story.


Winning Storyteller and Audience Favorite, Bernardo – “Against the Odds” StorySlam

Congratulations Bernardo! Stay tuned for more videos coming soon to the First Person Arts YouTube channel. Special thanks to all of our “Against the Odds” storytellers and to everyone who came out.

Join us for the next Slam:

Theme: The Ex-Files
Date: Tuesday, February 14
Location: World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut Street)
Time: Doors open at 7:30PM, Slam starts at 8:30PM
Price: $10, $8 for First Person Arts members
All-ages, $3 Yuengling draft specials

If you want to guarantee a table at the Slam, make a reservation with World Cafe Live! Call 215-222-1400 after 10:00 AM up until the Monday of the Slam.

-Becca Jennings

When your boyfriend’s life becomes a reality TV show, and women from all around the world are applying for a chance to snatch him off your arm, a girl can sense she’s up against some serious competition. Unfortunately, that was the reality of last night’s winning storyteller, Diana. Discover the key to lasting romance with Diana in the video of her winning performance below.

Congratulations Diana! And congratulations to Audience Favorite, Martha! Journey with Martha as she navigates her early career path playing the “expert.” Whatever you do, don’t disappoint Oprah.

Thanks to all of our “Daily Grind” storytellers and to everyone who came out to last night’s Slam. Stay tuned for more stories from all of our storytellers coming soon to our YouTube channel.


First Person Arts StorySlam, Theme: “Daily Grind,” Winning Storyteller, Diana


First Person Arts StorySlam, Theme: “Daily Grind,” Audience Favorite Storyteller, Martha

Next First Person Arts StorySlam:
Date: Tuesday, January 24
Theme: Against the Odds
Location: L’Etage (6th and Bainbridge Streets)
Doors at 7:30pm, Slam starts at 8:30pm
21+, $4 well drink specials

Last night we kicked off the 2011-2012 Slam season with ten audience storytellers who got into the spirit of the holidays with real life stories all inspired by the theme “Naughty or Nice.” Our winning story came from Marjorie, a first time StorySlammer whose story begins and ends with an image of hope: a naked man feeding her pie.

(It was cherry pie. Yeah…we asked.)

Marjorie’s story reminds us that when you’ve just witnessed your husband being taken away in handcuffs that jingle jangle jingle and you’re too sad to sing the blues, a naked man with a warm heart and a warm pie just might be right around your corner.

Congratulations to Majorie and last night’s Audience Favoite, Mega Matt! Don’t miss their winning performances in the videos below.


“Naughty or Nice” StorySlam. Storyteller, Majorie



“Naughty or Nice” StorySlam. Storyteller, Mega Matt


-Becca Jennings

Border crossing is a subject that has been the focus of much heated political debate. No matter which side of the “fence” you’re on, Adriana’s winning story from Monday’s “Close Calls” Slam reemphasizes the dire need for border control reform between the U.S. and Mexico.

Why shouldn’t we extend the same rights to chickens and as well as pigs? To parrots as well as parakeets? Avocados as well as tomatoes? Don’t miss Adriana’s hilarious winning story starring four pounds of ham and a delicious smelling vehicle in the video below.

Congratulations to Adriana and to “Close Calls” Audience Favorite, Kate who’s story tells how mother-daughter relationships get complicated when your dating members of the same family. (Video below.) Stay tuned for videos from all of our “Close Calls” storytellers coming soon to our YouTube channel.

Next First Person StorySlam:
Date: Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Location: L’Etage (6th and Bainbridge Streets)
Time: Doors open at 7:30pm, Slam starts at 8:30pm
Price: $10, $8 for First Person Arts members


Adriana, Winning “Close Calls” Storyteller


Kate, “Close Calls” Audience Favorite

-Becca Jennings

This past Tuesday night, First Person storytellers slammed the best of their “Bad Idea” stories based on real life at L’Etage. From drunken haircuts, to horseback riding in shorts, to bringing a psychotic miniature horse to a mental hospital, ten storytellers had only five minutes each to share about their most brilliant blunders.

The story that rose to the top at Tuesday night’s Slam was another moving and artful piece by popular First Person storyteller, Ben. His heartfelt story puts the audience in the crowd of a street boxing competition in North Philadelphia and asks viewers to reflect on what it means to be a hero.

Audience Favorite, Andrew’s story tells about the days before there were flash-mobs and how he racked up the $500 ambulance bill he will never pay back.

Congratulations to Ben and Andrew. Check out their winning and Audience Favorite performances in the videos below. Stay tuned for more videos from all our our “Bad Idea” storytellers coming soon to the First Person Arts YouTube Channel.

Next First Person StorySlam:
Date: October 10
Theme: Close Calls
Location: World Cafe Live (3025 Walnut St.)
Time: Doors at 7:30pm, Slam starts at 8:30pm
Price: $10, $8 for First Person members


“Bad Ideas” Winning Storyteller, Ben


“Bad Ideas” Audience Favorite, Andrew

-Becca Jennings

At the “Weird Trips” StorySlam last Monday our stories took us from a family vaca with sitcom parents, to witnessing stabbings in the Amazon rain-forest, to discovering manhood in the motherland.

Our winning and Audience Favorite story from first time StorySlammer, Martha, showed us what happens when you overstay your welcome and leave your immigration status up to the luck of the Irish. Pack your bags and try to get around the system with Martha and check out the video of her winning performance below!

Congratulations Martha! Special thanks to all of our “Weird Trips” storytellers and everyone who came out last Monday.


Winning Storyteller and Audience Favorite, Martha

Congrats to “Janet Von Trapp” (yes, our storytellers are going incognito these days) for winning last night’s Slam by a mere ONE point and claiming the title of Audience Favorite.



Check out Philly Broadcaster for a recap of last week’s Slam. They’ll be covering our Slams regularly from here on out.

Things have been quiet on the First Person blog as we wind down from the AMAZING 2010 Festival (THANK YOU again to all attendees, artists, volunteers, friends, fans and folks who spread the word and helped make it happen) and think about what we want the blog to look like in the coming months.

One thing I definitely want to see are more videos. Videos of our savvy and amazing storytellers, Salon artists, and audience members. So let’s get the resolution started off right with video of last night’s Slam winner, Caitlyn. Her story of a French defecation won over the judges and the audience. She walked away the overall winner and audience favorite. But it was a close Slam. Janelle came in second place by just half a point for her story of a serious car crash that recalled a missed moment between herself and her dying mother. The audience was so enthralled by Janelle’s story, that you could hear a pin drop in World Cafe Live last night. Overall, it was a great group of stories, and our host Michael McCarry kept things going at a funny (and often flirty, ahem) pace. Though I bet his mother would make an even better host.

Visit our YouTube channel where we’ll be posting more videos from last night’s Slam over the next few days. And if you want to catch our next Slam, it’s December 28th at L’Etage. The theme is “Holiday Spirit” and in the spirit of the season, tickets are just $5!

What do you want to see us blog about? Interviews with artists? Goings-on around Philly? Tell me in the comments!

- Karina

We had a two-way tie between Amanda Feifer and Chris Oberlin at the end of last night’s Slam (the theme: It’s in the Mail). While Amanda walked away the overall winner after a lightening round tie breaker challenge, Chris charmed the audience with his tale of adolescent revenge, taking home Audience Favorite.

And a special congrats to Amanda and all of the other students from Katonya Mosley’s Tell It! storytelling class. They took the stage last night and showed off their newly acquired storytelling skills. Ms. Mosley must be so proud!

Watch Amanda’s tale of postal seduction.

Enjoy Chris’ mail-inspired vendetta.

Andrew Thompson may have lost his keys (and some dignity) when he was robbed on March 9th, but at least he didn’t lose that Red Bull. And thanks to his mugger, henceforth known as “Bartholomew,” Andrew also won both Overall Winner and Audience Favorite at Tuesday’s StorySlam at L’Etage.

See Andrew compete in our Fall Grand Slam on November 10th.