Happy 2022! There is some good change on the horizon for Lancaster Story Slam. I’ll be passing the torch and I wanted to take this opportunity to provide more detail.
In January 2015, I published a blog post titled, “Why I'm Excited to Produce Lancaster Story Slam,” explaining my journey from watching Jim Breslin’s West Chester Story Slam each month, to convincing him that we should produce the same event in Lancaster. And on January 28th of that year, launched the first Lancaster Story Slam on stage at Tellus360 with the theme “Embarrassing Moments!”
A photo from our 2016 Grand Slam. Pictured from left to right are Jim Breslin, Carla Wilson, Beth Horenkamp, Aaron Lewis, Bryan R. Caine, Audrey Lopez (winner), Aaron Spangler, Tony Crocamo, Matthew Kabik, Rebecca Thatcher Murcia, Liz Yocom, Jamie Beth Cohen and David Smith.
When we moved to Lancaster, I ran a business helping small businesses with their internet marketing. Treating Lancaster Story Slam as one of my clients by producing the event, its newsletter, its videos, and its podcast was an easy thing to fit into my schedule. But over the course of the last seven years, my work evolved. I began working exclusively for my favorite client, and in 2021 decided that I would no longer be a business owner, and become his employee. It became increasingly difficult for me to find time to manage my day job and the necessary tasks of producing a monthly event.
I need to acknowledge that COVID-19 has been no friend to event producers as well. In 2020 we suddenly had to figure out how to “pivot” and “flatten the curve” by making our events virtual to bring everyone together. I am so proud that the Lancaster Story Slam team and JJ Sheffer, producer of York Story Slam, partnered up each month to produce both York’s and Lancaster’s Story Slams. I am grateful for this partnership, because without it I probably would have just thrown in the towel. Together we not only produced monthly events, but figured out how to produce kick-ass Grand Slams, even with COVID protocols.
In mid-2021 I realized that I needed to make a change for my well-being, and I began the task of figuring out how I was going to manage this transition away from event producer of Lancaster Story Slam. Not wanting to overshadow our winning storytellers competing in our 2021 Grand Slam, I decided to hold on this announcement until now.
JJ Sheffer, producer of York Story Slam, is pictured here with emcee Jamie Beth Cohen at the February 2020 event in the Before Times.
That brings us to January 2022. I am happy to announce that the Lancaster Story Slam will continue with JJ Sheffer and Tony Crocamo at the helm! I will continue as the Lancaster Story Slam #1 cheerleader, just not its producer. I’m very proud of the community we have created. Thank you for accepting our event with open arms and allowing it to grow over the past 7 years. Without you, our listeners and storytellers, the event would not have happened.
Our love and gratitude to Zoetropolis for providing an intimate and safe space to host our events when we’re able to host in person.
Tony Crocamo competing at our 2019 Grand Slam. Photo credit: Julie Miller Photography
And a special shout-out to LancLiving Realty, whose continued sponsorship is so greatly appreciated.
I look forward to seeing you all, and sitting among you as a storytelling fan in 2022!
With love,
Carla