A few months ago, I attended a live performance of The Moth. Prior to this event, I had never heard of The Moth and had no idea what to expect for the show. The person who gave me the ticket had said that it simply consisted of people telling stories.
The show was just that: people telling stories. However, it did not feel “simple” at all. Although the event took place back in February, I still think about it quite often.
During the performance, five storytellers took the mic to tell their 10-minute stories. Each one was personal and unique. Some were humorous, others emotional, and a couple even a mixture of both. Most importantly, they were all extremely engaging.
There are a few aspects that make an engaging story and storyteller. For the storyteller, their telling is a performance. Not only do they need to speak clearly and slowly, but they should also be telling their story with animation and emotion. Their body language should be open and relaxed. The last thing they want to do is bore people.
As for the story, it needs to follow a specific theme and be well structured, with a clear beginning, middle and end. All the stories I heard that night followed this structure, and they all had strong storytellers. That’s why, even months later, I still remember each story.
The performance was proof to me that well-told stories stand out and make a lasting impact. I was even inspired to put more work into my own story, as were I’m sure most of the audience there. To hear some of the great stories The Moth has to offer, visit their website (https://themoth.org/)
