Annette Simmons turned me on to The Moth.

The Moth produces 12 storytelling events each season and has its home at The Players Club on Gramercy Park in New York City. As the Moth site states: "Each event sells out in 48 hours or less, yet we continue to hold the shows in this relatively small venue with a capacity of 250 because we cherish the intimate atmosphere. A few times each year, The Moth travels to other venues in New York City and beyond. The shows are organized around a theme such as 'American Myths,' 'Scary Wedding Stories,' or 'Call of the Wild,' and feature five or six storytellers who each tell a ten-minute story. "

I love the idea of The Moth Slam, like a poetry slam.

Annette suggested I order their CD, Audience Favorites, and I did. Got it today and listened to two stories so far (as a PhD student, I think I have to get some work done and use these stories as rewards). I was also so excited to see there are two CDs in the jewelcase! Eleven stories in all.

The announcer made the point that these stories are not scripted, and they are not standup comedy. Matthew McGough, teller of the first story, My First Day with the Yankees sounded like a regular guy, but you could tell his story was meant to convey a lot of humor by the way the audience was laughing. It centers around what I gather is a traditional prank played on new batboys -- asking them to find a "bat-stretcher." But the thing about stories -- and I'm sure this is why Annette recommended this CD -- is that they teach something. So instead of ending with a punchline, these stories end with a bit of a lesson. McGough's hit me viscerally, emotionally. A lump in the throat, and something else kind of grabbing at my innards.

The other story, Breaking Up in the Age of Google, was definitely humorous, and its teller, Jessi Klein, actually is a standup comedian. Hers was also a bit vulgar and expletive-ridden. It didn't offend me; I just thought some of it was unnecessary. On the other hand, the colorful language made it story that a group of girlfriends might tell each other. Klein almost didn't get to tell her whole tale; at the 12-minute mark, violinist Katy Cox strokes her bow across the strings to signal that the storyteller must wrap up. I'm glad Klein went to the full 17.5 minutes, though, because even her humorously smutty story has a good lesson.

I also found it interesting because I am currently conducting focus groups that deal with, in part, people's "Googlability" helping them in the job search.

Annette Simmons has written that stories touch the emotions, and these sure do. I will be extra-motivated to do my PhD work for the next several days so I reward myself with Moth stories. Thank you, Annette, for turning me onto them and to The Moth.