What exactly has Florida Man been up to lately? There are just some things that only happen in Miami, and The Moth wants to hear all about them. Between one-way express lanes and the Miami River flowing backwards, the city’s quirks offer locals an iconic slate of wild icebreakers unique to the area.
The Moth’s “Only in Miami” StorySlam allows Miamians to bust out those Miami-based experiences during an open-mic series hosted by the nonprofit, an NPR offshoot that has since expanded to over 30 cities.
Encouraging Locals to Find Their Voices
For anyone nervous about speaking, there’s no need to step up to the mic. However, if the creativity bug hits, anyone can submit their name for the chance at a five-minute slot to tell their on-theme story, as long as it’s real, comes from the heart, and is of-the-moment. The judges are plucked straight from the audience before the show. Then, winners are offered the opportunity to compete in an annual GrandSlam, which sometimes leads to a slot on the NPR podcast.
Host Gaby Fernandez said of the event, “There are a lot of open mic opportunities in Miami. The Moth has a greater goal: to connect with each other. We’re here to create community.” She added, “The hope is that through sharing our stories, we see that we have much in common.”
Staying Real When You Take the Mic
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newbie, the event is welcoming to speakers at all levels. Producer Virginia Lora explained, “The audience is always so receptive and supportive. They come to see a community storytelling show, and the tone from the beginning is that we’re all human beings sharing together.”
Fernandez noted that they love when people are vulnerable enough to make mistakes and feel comfortable showcasing insecurities. She said, “We love stuttering,” and just “want to hear you.”
To Fernandez, hearing people’s stories is a privilege, whether it’s a doctor saving lives or a simple family dispute. Of course, plenty of other cities have their “Only in X” events. Yet, Miami offers a vibrant slate of experiences that you just can’t find anywhere else.
Miami Has a Wealth of Unique Stories
Lora said, “This is such an international city with so many perspectives. Whether you were born and raised here or moved from somewhere else, if you live here, you know this city in a particular way.” She added, “It’s somehow also very siloed, so it’s great to be able to hear about and discover parts of the city you never even knew existed.”
While the Olympia Theatre used to host the StorySlam, Liberty City’s Sandrell Rivers Theatre is the main location for the showcase this year. The Moth is also looking to offer access to South Florida areas, so Miramar has also hosted events.
StorySlam has faced some difficulties in the past few years finding venues that can check all of the boxes the event needs to run seamlessly, both for in-person attendees and online streaming.
On that particular struggle, Fernandez said, “It unfortunately says a lot about our city’s commitment to theatre and community partnerships that we’ve had a difficult time finding spaces that are able to host us.”
The Evolution of StorySlam
Lora explained that NPR is a significant motivator for people to check out the event. She cited that word of mouth has been a large contributor to StorySlam’s growth. Lora said, “All these interactions are happening both on stage and off. We need more of that in Miami.”
It’s safe to say that “Only in Miami” is a creative outlet locals are happy to take advantage of. Not only is it bringing the community together, but it’s expanding theatre in the area.
