by Jack Uslabar

My second StorySlam was April 9th’s AfterDark: For the Culture, hosted in partnership with HYFIN at Radio Milwaukee. While I provided minimal assistance with the setup at my first slam (March 12th’s Growing Pains), I was able to get my hands dirty at this one.

There’s a special magic in setting up an event and watching it come to fruition, from hearing the preliminary mic checks to the murmuring conversations, to the roaring applause as the emcees took the stage. The setup was also a great opportunity to talk to other volunteers, especially those at HYFIN, an organization I was previously unfamiliar with. I got the chance to chat with one of their volunteers and swap details about our orgs, as he was just as unfamiliar with Ex Fabula’s mission as I was with his. Getting to connect like this before the event even started was a great way to feel more connected with Milwaukee and the great work being done, and it underscores the community-building of events such as this.

As the night started, I volunteered as the story wrangler, figuring it was the part I was most dressed for (see the photo above). For those looking to get the most out of an Ex Fabula slam, this is the position for you. It’s a privilege to interact with everyone volunteering to take the mic, and this slam’s tellers were varied: there were a few newcomers, a storytelling coach at Ex Fabula, and a few long-time performers. Talking to them and seeing their energy, whether giddy and nervous or confident, was a wonderful appetizer for the performances themselves.

The best part about story wrangling was that it in no way hindered my ability to watch the performance. The other part of the role, handing out surveys to performers once they returned to their seats, was an equally awesome opportunity to immediately compliment them on their story and see the change in their demeanor after storytelling.

Volunteering at an Ex Fabula StorySlam was a great way to get the most out of the night. Getting there early and watching everything come together made it all the more rewarding, as did the community building that took place between myself, a HYFIN volunteer, and the wonderfully talented folks who took the mic. For anyone looking to get more connected with Ex Fabula, volunteering is a great way to do so! Not only do you get free admission to StorySlams, you get the chance to talk to a whole bunch of great people within the community and forge lasting connections.

Interested in volunteering with Ex Fabula? Sign up here!