Personal narrative has exploded over the last decade, with showcases, slams, and podcasts surfacing daily. People from all walks of life are taking the stage to share their own stories in front of packed houses across the country.
In business, solid storytelling is a crucial component in communicating with colleagues, clients, interviewers, and potential donors. It's far from a "soft skill." It's essential.
And who doesn't want to be able to share memorable stories over dinner or drinks with friends and family?
This course will run for four consecutive Tuesdays from 6:15-9:15pm.
TUESDAY, January 7th
TUESDAY, January 14th
TUESDAY, January 21st
TUESDAY, January 28th
LOCATION: The class is held in a cozy private residence in the North Center neighborhood (Wolcott/Cuyler). I will be running a high-powered medical grade HEPA purifier in the room, cycling the air 10-12 times per hour. This is a pet and smoke free environment. There are a few steps up to the third floor.
Easy, free street parking right out front. The Irving Park Brown Line stop is a two-minute walk, and the Damen and Irving Park buses are a block away.
This class is open to all experience levels, and everyone from the beginner to the seasoned storyteller will benefit from the work-on-your-feet approach to discovering and developing your own unique voice and stories. No prior experience necessary! This course is know for its radically inclusive and supportive environment, in which failure is impossible, and everyone present has your back.
Class size will be kept to 7 to insure that participants receive maximum individual attention.
We will cover everything from story generation and structure to the fine details of delivery. Each class session will also feature a lab component where participants can workshop stories, try out tools and techniques, and receive supportive, detailed feedback (but only if you want it!) Participants do not need to bring in previously constructed stories in order to get the full experience. Writers are welcome, but you don't have to put a single word on the page in order to tell an excellent story.
Knowing something is one thing. Knowing how to teach it is another. I have developed sound pedagogy, technique, and structure over the course of the last decade, and have put in thousands of hours teaching thousands of people, including: 10+ years of sold out monthly classes, over 850 new and first time storytellers at Story Lab, and coaching sessions for countless non-profits, corporations and individuals nationwide. Those I have worked with include several multiple Moth Grand Slam winners, a Fortune 500 CEO, a potential candidate for US Surgeon General, and also grandparents, construction workers, and high school students.
I don't strive to “fix” your stories. My goal is never to get you to tell a story the way I, or anyone else, would tell it. Instead, I work to give you techniques, ideas, tools, and feedback to try on for size so that you can further develop your voice and stories. Feedback is always a “could,” and never a “should.” The classroom gives you a protected place to experiment, but my hope is that you will continue to use what you have learned to grow long after our time together is done. Ideally, I want to make myself unnecessary, and watch you outgrow me.
INSTRUCTOR INFO: Scott Whitehair is the producer of THIS MUCH IS TRUE, the city's longest running monthly personal narrative series, creator of STORY LAB CHICAGO, featured in Forbes and Newsweek, and founder of DO NOT SUBMIT, a citywide network of pressure free open mics. He has told stories anywhere somebody will listen, including The Steppenwolf, Second City, The Green Mill, The Woodstock Opera House, and for NPR, The Risk Podcast, Sirius XM, and more. Scott is a 2x Moth Slam winner and has been featured at The Printer's Row Lit Festival, Fillet of Solo Festival, Chicago Improv Festival, The Fox Valley Folk Music & Storytelling Festival, The Evanston Public Library Storytelling Festival, and The Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference. He has taught sold-out monthly classes since 2012, and has done training for such organizations as Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Price Waterhouse Cooper, RW Baird, Chicago Cares, Loews Hotels, Lurie Children's Hospital, Crate & Barrel, Dyson, United Way, and many others. Scott has been a guest instructor at DePaul, Northwestern, Loyola, University of Chicago's Booth School of Business, IO Chicago, and The Latin School. His private coaching clients have included a Fortune 500 CEO and top speakers nationwide. Scott formerly served on the Board of Directors for the National Storytelling Network, taught a week long course at All Hallows College in Dublin, Ireland, and was the featured instructor at Hong Kong Story Worthy Week, which was headlined by David Sedaris. Scott performed at The National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough in 2017. He is a 2024 Meier Achievement Award winner.
All sales are final. Registration may be transferred to another party if the need arises.
