close · Team Building, Communication, Energizer · 60–120 min · 15-200 people · high energy
Story Slam
An evening of true, personal stories told live on a set theme. Would-be tellers put their names in a hat; names are drawn one by one and each teller has five minutes, with no notes. Teams of judges drawn from the audience score each story, and a winner is crowned at the end.
When to use Story Slam
Use for an offsite or conference evening when you want the group to hear each other as people, with energy and laughter rather than a formal programme.
What it solves
Offsite evenings are either a quiet dinner or a party, and neither gives people a way to share something real with the whole group.
How to run Story Slam, step by step
- Announce the theme in advance so people can prepare a story (before the event).
- As people arrive, would-be tellers put their names in the hat. Pick three small judging teams from the audience (10 min).
- The host explains the rules: true, your own, on theme, five minutes, no notes (5 min).
- Draw a name. The teller tells their story; judges score it (6-7 min per teller).
- Continue for about ten stories, with a short break halfway (60-80 min).
- Announce the winner and thank every teller (5 min).
Materials needed
- A hat or bowl
- Microphone and a small stage area
- Scorecards for judges
- Timer visible to the teller
Facilitator tips
- Run a short storytelling session earlier in the day so tellers know what a good story has: a change, a stake, an ending.
- Keep the judging light-hearted. The score is an excuse for structure, not a verdict.
- Leaders telling a story with a real stake in it set the tone for everyone else.
Common pitfalls
- Stories turn into stand-up routines or speeches about the company.
- The time limit is not enforced and the evening runs an hour over.
Variations
- No competition: drop the judges and keep the hat and the five minutes.
Running it online or hybrid
Tellers can perform on camera, but the room energy is hard to recreate; use applause reactions and a visible timer.
What it produces
Ten or so stories the group has heard together, and often a recording if tellers agree.
Origin
Based on The Moth's StorySLAM, the open-mic true-story competition run by the New York storytelling organisation founded in 1997. — source
Build a session around Story Slam
METODIC places Story Slam inside a complete, timed session plan — agenda, worksheets, facilitator guide and slides — matched to your group and goal.