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Spin a Yarn: SpeakeasyDC's Stroytelling Workshop

Written for Express by contributor Katie Knorovsky; Photo by Kristoffer Tripplaar for Express - July 14, 2009

PLENTY OF LOUDMOUTHS might think they spin a nice yarn — a long-winded uncle springs to mind — but the genuinely good storytellers are rare. And no matter how fascinating the fodder, a story is only as engaging as its teller. This inconvenient truth is to blame for many a glassy stare at family reunions and in boardroom meetings.

Enter SpeakeasyDC, a storytelling organization that offers coaching and training for wannabe raconteurs. Regular options include four-week sessions and one-day, six-hour boot camps for commitment-phobes. Classes support SpeakeasyDC’s monthly open mic series and other special events.

But don’t come expecting folktales, says Amy Saidman, director of SpeakeasyDC. The troop focuses on true personal narratives, from goofy coming-of-age anecdotes to painfully emotional experiences. “People love the window into the worlds of others,” Saidman explains. “People can be exposed, but not in a raw, AA kind of way.”

» The Basics
“Storytelling Boot Camp” is a crash-course introductory offering open to a maximum of 18 participants. Students needn’t stress about story ideas beforehand. Experienced storytelling coaches (one per every six students) get the class’ creative juices flowing with a series of brainstorming exercises. “We try to help people tap into their memories and see what’s there,” Saidman says. “Often, they’ll be surprised at what has come to surface and what they’re excited to tell.” Students then pick one “story feed” to develop, which they shape and start to polish into seven-minute vignettes with the help of feedback from other participants and coaches. The workshop culminates in a final small-group performance.

» What You’ll Learn
Students learn basic story structure and performance techniques, such as devising distinct character voices and debating how far the truth can be fudged. “People lose the thread of their story and their point, so a lot of my coaching is peeling away some of the stuff that’s not necessary,” Saidman says.

» What’s the Deal?
SpeakeasyDC’s next “Storytelling Boot Camp” will be held Aug. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church (1525 Newton St. NW). The workshop costs $85, or $110 with a half-hour private coaching session. Register at speakeasydc.org.

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