Storyteller Spotlight Q&A: Bonus Points If Your Fail Requires First Responders
Tom Darci on EPIC Fails
Welcome to Nutshell’s Storyteller Spotlight, where we give you a chance to get to know this month’s storytellers a little more. We asked our four storytellers to answer a few questions about stories and storytelling. August 28’s theme is “EPIC Fails.” It’s true, it’s personal, it’s LIVE, and it’s gonna be a lot of fun.
Meet Tom Darci
What kind of storyteller are you? What is your storytelling “style”? What kind do you tell?
I would love for someone to tell me what my storytelling style is. My guess is that I’m somewhat funny, kind of irreverent, and on a hunt for truth in the specific details of experiences. I love the alchemy that happens when a story is shared with an audience, raising the intensity and emotion. Also, I am an obsessive preparer. I write and rewrite my stories, using audio and video recordings to shape and reshape the writing. By the time I go to tell a story, I have spoken it enough times that I hope I can be free to be in the moment and go where it needs to go, without being concerned about being completely faithful to the written version.
How long have you been telling?
I went to a Moth StorySlam in Berkeley in March 2020 and thought, “This is great. This is how I will get back on the stage.” Two days later, the world shut down. But I started writing, using Moth prompts as inspiration. In April 2021, I told my first first-person story at a virtual Moth. I’ve been telling stories ever since. Before storytelling, I had a past life that involved some amount of acting in plays.
What do you do when you’re not storytelling?
I ice my knee. Walk our dog. Get into the woods. Make dinner for friends and family. Play pickleball. Program computers. Swim. Read novels.
Does the story you’re telling have a name?
The name I use for it is too revealing of what happens, so I will say let’s call this Almost Home.
Tell us a little bit about this story. Why did you choose it for “Epic Fails”?
I chose this story because it features something quite dramatic happening (epic, perhaps), something we didn’t want to happen, yet there it was, unfolding right in front of me. And I was unable to stop it. Equally important is another thread in the story, one more significant than the dramatic event that drives it. I wanted to see if I could keep these two threads alive at once and convey the excitement of the drama alongside the undercurrent of the deeper story.
Any thoughts on failure?
We try so hard to do the right thing, to be who we need to be, and to provide for the people we love and are responsible to/for. And yet, despite our preparations, we sometimes do not succeed and have to regroup.
What makes a fail “Epic”?
A fail is epic when it is very public, out there for the world to see. Bonus if it requires first responders. A fail is also epic when your identity rests somewhat on your established success in a certain domain, and you come to realize that maybe that success is in question.
Who is your storytelling idol and why?
David Rodriguez. There are many great storytellers, and I so appreciate what they bring to an audience. I am truly in awe of many of the folks who join us on stage at Pretty Good Stories. And for me, I am so often just astounded at what David is able to accomplish. There is something about the way he speaks to us, like he’s working out the meaning of what he’s telling us right in the moment. It’s often hilarious. And moving. And insightful. And very true.
What’s your best piece of advice for someone who is a beginner and wants to learn how to tell a story?
Some of the best stories are told by beginners. And you already know how to tell a story. Focus on the specific details as you remember them, and just tell us one event, in present tense. Before getting into that event, let us know what we need to know so we can feel the stakes of your story. Breathe.
Why should people come see “Epic Fails” on August 28?
Failing sucks. Instead of crawling in a hole when they failed, these storytellers are daring to share their screwups with you. Come out and feel better about yourself. Commiserate with the storytellers and the people around you.
Thanks, Tom! If you want to see Tom tell his EPIC Fail story, he’ll be at our show on August 28!
Tom Darci
is the cofounder and cohost of Pretty Good Stories, a long-form storytelling showcase in Oakland. He’s also been featured at Simply Said, Conundrum Chronicles, StorySlam Oakland, Alameda StorySlam, and more. Tom thinks telling the same story over and over again in front of an audience just might be more therapeutic than actual therapy. When he’s not telling stories, you’ll find him on the pickleball court, knees permitting.
Tom rewrites his stories over and over before he ever gets onstage. That kind of care is what makes a Nutshell night worth showing up for, and paid subscriptions are how we make sure the tellers get paid for it, and how we keep The Nutshell True Story Hour podcast free for everybody. If these spotlights are your thing, consider joining us. It really does help. xoxo, Amy
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