Unlike other talk shows where you might play a song from your latest album or show us your latest, greatest artistic creation while the audience cheers, our Slash Wednesday audience wants to hear you tell a 5-7 minute personal story. We already know you're great at what you do, but we're not asking you to do that - ​we want you to be a storyteller. With this in mind, Slash Wednesday stories are always told, not read. We want you as a storyteller to connect with our audience - with no PAGE between you and them!  This means no notes, paper, or cheat sheets. Here are some important tips to keep in mind:



NO memorized stories. We'd rather not watch you panic while you think of your next memorized line.​​

 

​NO standup routines. Be a funny artist telling a funny story, not a comedian.​​

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NO rants:  Save your political diatribe for your therapist and your drinking pals.​​​

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NO essays: Save them for your blog or your next graduate thesis. ​​





​YES to struggle. We want to glimpse into a personal failure or success related to theme of the show. 

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YES to raising the stakes. What do you stand to gain or lose?  A story without stakes is an essay and is best experienced on the page, not the stage.



YES to starting in the action. “The mountain loomed before me. I had my hunting knife, some trail mix and snow boots. I had to make it to the little cabin and start a fire before sundown or freeze to death for sure.”

YES to a great first line.
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YES to a great last line. Know the final destination. Your last line should be clear in your head before you start. Meandering endings kill a story!