Community
Posted June 25th, 2012 by Meredith
by Mike Kane
I did two shows in two nights this past weekend. I did Vijai Nathan’s birthday show at Fan-Freaking-Tastic on Saturday, and, to my knowledge, Arlington, Virginia’s first storytelling event: Story League’s show at Bus Boys and Poets in Shirlington. As expected, both shows were so much fun, all of the performers were awesome, and the world is beautiful and filled with flowers and puppies.
However, there is something greater than that I want to talk about today.
Before Fan-Freaking, I was sitting outside Chief Ike’s, having a drink with my wife. As we’re talking, Jessica Piscitelli Robinson, the woman who heads up Better Said Than Done arrived with her husband. They joined us at the table, when SM Shrake, the Leader of Story League walked up. Inside, Amy Saidman, the Creative Director of SpeakeasyDC was standing with Adam Ruben, who’s been on every stage from Mortified to his own one-man show. Reggie Cabico was there and was telling me about a show he’s putting on.
And all of this is happening at Vijai’s show, yet another venue.
On Sunday, at the Story League show, it was more of that. A bunch of people affiliated with different storytelling groups, all enjoying each other’s company.
This all probably sounds like a bunch of name-dropping and seems meaningless. But, being a part of two shows in two nights, with two different storytelling outfits, in two different states (or district, or whatever you snobs call that city of yours…) made me realize something:
We have a community here.
We have a deep group of talented people, all interested and vested in each other’s storytelling endeavors. Vijai was tirelessly plugging other shows in the areas – shows that, sink or swim, don’t affect her either way; she’s just plugging them because she cares about the people and the craft itself. I saw people on Sunday truly invested in Jason Pittman’s venture to get a show going in Arlington, filling the vast Busboys’ spot. Storytellers from all over coming all the way out to Virginia because they believe in this thing.
You hear about different movements that happen, whether it be an art movement of like-minded painters, a stand-up comedy movement with similar comics coming out of a city at the same time, or musicians rising up to create the newest sound in music. You hear the tales of them hanging out at the same galleries, clubs, and theaters. Random people that you never, in a million years, would have ever imagined knowing one another, opening for each other or jamming together at the same show. Those are coolest stories to hear.
I’m not comparing storytelling to some great art movement. Me doing a show with Stephanie Girabaldi is hardly Clapton and Hendrix sharing the stage one crazy night on the strip in Hollywood. But I am saying that I feel a community growing out of this art form…
And I’m so stoked to be a part of it.
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8 Responses to "Community"
This is a great entry! I came down to DC (from Philly) to host the Story League show at 14th & V’s Busboys on Wednesday and one of the best take-aways from that awesome night was how interconnected and universally supportive the DC storytelling community seems. It’s interesting how markedly different each city’s scene is. I spent some time trying to figure out whether I thought DC’s scene was better than Philadelphia’s scene (which sometimes can feel like the misunderstood stepchild of the city’s explosive theater scene and its scrappy comedy community). I even chatted with Shrake, Diane Ivey and that evening’s incredible winner, Erin Myers, about it after the show. I guess there isn’t really a point to pondering which is better. A community is a world in and of itself and I’ve had some amazing, weird, wonderful nights over the last five years of storytelling in Philly. Like you write, I’m stoked to be a part of it. I had an amazing time in DC and immediately felt the love. I’m just grateful to be welcomed on stages anywhere where people are plugged into the electric energy that comes from telling the truth in a compelling way.
This is a great entry! I came down to DC (from Philly) to host the Story League show at 14th & V’s Busboys on Wednesday and one of the best take-aways from that awesome night was how interconnected and universally supportive the DC storytelling community seems. It’s interesting how markedly different each city’s scene is. I spent some time trying to figure out whether I thought DC’s scene was better than Philadelphia’s scene (which sometimes can feel like the misunderstood stepchild of the city’s explosive theater scene and its scrappy comedy community). I even chatted with Shrake, Diane Ivey and that evening’s incredible winner, Erin Myers, about it after the show. I guess there isn’t really a point to pondering which is better. A community is a world in and of itself and I’ve had some amazing, weird, wonderful nights over the last five years of storytelling in Philly. Like you write, I’m stoked to be a part of it. I had an amazing time in DC and immediately felt the love. I’m just grateful to be welcomed on stages anywhere where people are plugged into the electric energy that comes from telling the truth in a compelling way.
Thanks, man. I went to school in Philly and get up there a few times a year. Would love to hear more about these scene if you get a chance.
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I completely disagree. If you and Stephanie were in the same show it would totally be like Hendrix and Clapton sharing a concert!
I love this post. Mike. It’s true and it’s a wonderful thing. I am lucky to know all these talented and loveable people. I know it sounds corny, but sometimes it really does feel like family, in the way that family is always there, through the years, and gives you a sense of place and continuity. In the way that you get to be a witness to people’s lives over time. It’s a a real gift b/c you can’t assume that a community will be stable and long-lasting. So many people do something on a whim then disappear. But not this group. People show up and stick around and I’m enormously grateful. I especially love when Mike Kane reveals what a total softy he really is
@Jessica – Oh, we did share a stage. It was epic.
@ Amy – Me, soft? You better check yourself before you wreck yourself, girl. But otherwise, I echo your sentiments.
I absolutely love this post! I have only recently been exposed to the storytelling scene, but have been so impressed with the people and the energy. You guys are the inner-circle, but that same energy spreads out to the entire community, and is *in the air* at all the events. People sincerely want each other to succeed, and are so warm and encouraging. It is a remarkable scene, and a party I would like to crash. Nicely put!
Crash on, Katy!