Tale of The Tell: Storytelling event enjoys robust success in downtown Fargo

The Tell is a juried story slam, open to storytellers (we’re pretty casual, so we just call ’em, “Tellers”) of all ages and ability. A theme for each night is identified ahead of time, and anyone wishing to have a chance to “tell” fills out a media release and puts their name in the hat. We draw 10 names, and those people get five minutes to share their true, unpublished stories relating to the theme. Our tag line is, “A community storytelling series: no props, no notes, no kiddin’.”

It’s true, The Moth inspired me to start The Tell. I liken it to wanting a child: we all know of several different ways to acquire one, but many of us choose to make our own and raise it using our own rules. The Tell is my baby, and I wanted to be able to come at it from the vantage point of just knowing what I wanted it to look and sound like, making up the “how”as I went along.

Fargo has a great arts scene. I wanted to add to it in another way, giving the “non-artistic” among us a place to feel they could express themselves, and recognize the common thread that makes us human.

The feeling of community this has fostered for me has been phenomenal. I have a core group of volunteers who donate their time, their talents and in two instances, their technology for every single event. It’s humbling, and incredibly connecting,which gave me personally a great insight into how community works. I wanted to create it for other people, but wound up including myself. There’s a metaphor in there somewhere.

Yes. From the inception of the idea of creating The Tell, I knew I wanted it to start in Studio 222 on Broadway. The space is funky, fun, and very intimate. I just couldn’t imagine doing it away from downtown as we started.

Are you kidding? I was terrified of that very thing. Shoot, I married a Swedish-Norwegian: I have intimate knowledge of what stoic looks like.

I had fretted, worried and wrung my hands in the weeks and days leading up to the first Tell, but there was this magical moment when the first Teller took the stage. You could see him reaching out to the audience, and you could feel the audience’s anticipation and acceptance rising to greet him. That moment still makes me teary. I remember thinking, “Oh my God, they get it. They totally get it!” The other thing I remember is that I smiled so wide that whole night, I really thought I was going to break my face.

As for the “look at me” aspect of it, sure, it exists. But not like I thought it might. I would estimate that 75 to 80 percent of our Tellers get on stage to tell a story, not to show off. Which is good. Showing off is just uncomfortable unless you’re 3, then it’s cute.

Ooh, good question.

I believe so many of us consume social media and reality television shows ad nauseam and en masse as a way of seeking connection, a similarity to bond over. We want something to identify with, something that marks us as belonging to a tribe. Storytelling does that. When someone gets on stage in front of 70 strangers and reveals themselves in an authentic manner, that person we had moments before judged as being nothing like us suddenly could be one of our family; our tribe.

Absolutely not. I really do believe that everyone has a story. I’m serious when I say everybody has a story.

I’ve been really pleased with the age-spread we’re seeing in audience and Tellers alike: we’ve had a 14-year-old throw his name in the hat, and a 67-year-old get up and Tell. It’s the spectrum we’re looking for, because life is not limited to a demographic.

That said, even if someone isn’t prone to getting up and Telling, every Teller needs an audience who is just listening.

A finalist from each Tell goes on to The Tell Off in April. It’s the capstone of our season, and thanks to the kindness of this season’s sponsors, the winner of the night will walk away with a check! I wasn’t sure we’d be able to do that the first season, but Fargo has really come through. Pout Baby Boutique, Fargo Rocks!, Summit Chiropractic, Eco Chic Boutique, ServiceMaster (in Fargo) and Kris Kerzmann for the Arts Partnership will forever hold a special place in my heart. (We’re still looking for a sponsor for The Tell Off in April.)

I feel like we’re well on our way to living up to our mission. That said, The Tell has far exceeded my expectations. Halfway through our first season, I feel like I can finally admit this: I didn’t realize it would be this much fun. Leading up to the launch and throughout the first few Tells, I really had my head in the planning, the work end of things, and didn’t stop to think about what the overall experience may be. I have to say,when the garbage is taken out, the lights are up and I’m locking the door, I’m always struck by how much stinkin’ fun we had. Even if The Tell weren’t my baby, I would make a point to attend every time, and it’s not a secret that I really dislike “going out.”

Several stick in my mind as being extraordinary. Fargo’s very own self-proclaimed (and entirely accidental) “Polish terrorist” Stanley Kwiechen stands out (see Stanley’s Tell here), as well as Megan Orcholski (see Megan’s Tell here) talking about the birth of her first (honorary) grandson. Stanley’s not just because it was hilarious, but because it’s one of those stories that so easily could have happened to me, to any of us, really, and Megan’s because hers was the first one that I felt was done to perfection. She walked us through a very personal, very touching moment in her life with humor, emotion, and most importantly, vulnerability. It was extraordinary.

Oh, can of worms, where have you been? Okay, let’s talk about that: the idea of The Tell is not to come do your schtick, act, rant, diatribe, monologue, or preachy speech. The idea is to be real: 100-percent authentic. These are real people, telling real stories. If it’s polished, or if you’re obviously over-rehearsed, you’re not going to win, and a spot for someone who would have been real will have been wasted. It’s only happened once, and I’m pretty sure that Teller froze under the pressure, reverting to high school speech team mode. Hers were the worst scores that night, and before you ask,”no, I never serve as a judge.

Since we’re looking at this piece of it, I do want to say I’ve heard a lot of people say, “but I don’t have a funny story!” Let me tell you something: Life is not exclusively sunshine, puppy kisses and unicorns. Life is gritty, sometimes horrific, and like as not, often sad. It’s that balance between good and bad that makes it beautiful, and it’s the moments of opportunity to compassionately recognize our own fears and struggles in someone else that makes storytelling so powerful. Not to mention the reason The Tell (Fargo) exists.

World domination! No, I kid… sort of.

Ideally, this is what I would do all the time, all over the place. But that’s the big dream.

Interestingly enough, this is the first thing in my life I was willing to do that didn’t have a firm future. I’m OK with seeing how this season goes without making too many corrections or changes. I’d love to stay where we are space-wise, the room is so conducive to the feeling of safety and intimacy I think is necessary for this sort of thing, but I also wonder if we’re limiting exposure because of the size.

As much thought as I give to it, though, I know that given how easily everything else about The Tell came to be, the space resolution will present itself. I’m not worried. And I know it will be a good story.