Look for "online" below to find swaps that are meeting virtually. Each listing gives a contact to obtain their link and passcode if needed.
Local Storytelling "Swaps", Groups, and Open Mics
Drop by your local gathering of storytellers where they swap stories. Everyone is welcome to these free informal open mics, whether you want to tell a story or just listen. Join SAC to receive regular emails of our meetings.
It's a good idea to contact ahead to confirm that the group is meeting, and if you want to tell, it's good etiquette to ask about the standard time limit.
You can also sign up at Meetup.com to be notified about upcoming swaps: http://www.meetup.com/storyswaps/ But while Meetup may provide a link, it does not provide the needed meeting passcode. You will need to return here to request the passcode from the swap leader.
It's a good idea to contact ahead to confirm that the group is meeting, and if you want to tell, it's good etiquette to ask about the standard time limit.
You can also sign up at Meetup.com to be notified about upcoming swaps: http://www.meetup.com/storyswaps/ But while Meetup may provide a link, it does not provide the needed meeting passcode. You will need to return here to request the passcode from the swap leader.
BAY AREA - SAN FRANCISCO
* ONLINE: San Francisco – San Francisco Story League, 2nd Thursday of the month. 10:00 a.m. Wonderful seasoned storytellers would welcome you to join them. Looking forward to your personal, historical and folktales that need to be told. Contact Doris at [email protected] for the meeting link and more information.
Asian Art Museum Storytellers are volunteers who tell Pan-Asian folktales to school groups visiting this museum. We also tell stories to the public on special celebrations and Free Family Fun days, first Sunday of every month @ 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Address: 200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA. Website is www.asianart.org. Check out our stories on YouTube: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEABD33EF498C7389
Contact: Harriet Rafter, [email protected]
BAY AREA - EAST
* IN PERSON: Berkeley – What's Your Story
This fun story swap happens on the last Sunday afternoon every other month at 2:00 pm. Join us in Berkeley at the intimate theater, The Monkey House, at 1638 University Avenue (free neighborhood parking). Featured speakers tell tales with a theme (such as “Mama Mia,” “Families Are Complicated,” “Game On,” etc.). Open Mic tellers welcome each time, any topic/ 5 minute limit. If interested in being a featured teller, please contact: Claire Castell at [email protected]. To be added to our mailing list, please contact: Bill Zarchy at [email protected]
* ONLINE: Hayward – Hayward Storytellers meet 2nd Thursday of the month, 7:30-9:00 p.m. For meeting link, contact Gina Rose, (510) 205-8606, [email protected].
* ONLINE: Mixed Bag at Belmont is Zooming on 3rd Mondays at 7:00pm. Contact Linda Walls or call her at 510-229-2742 for the meeting link. Drop ins welcome!
* ONLINE: Oakland - Sing Say or Play. Sing, Say or Play - SAC ZOOM ONLINE 2nd Saturdays at 7:00 pm PT Invite link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87084715822 We are a story swap, a singers’ circle, a poetry reading, an instrumental recital, a jam session and more, all in one! Our rule is that everyone participates, having about four minutes per turn. Join us for an event of old-fashioned round-robin homemade entertainment. Contact Claire Sherman, 510-847-0359, [email protected]
* ONLINE: Orinda - Contra Costa Tale Spinners. SAC ZOOM ONLINE 4th Thursday of the month. A great group with a featured teller followed by shorter tales. Contact: Co-hosts Liz Nichols and Dana Sherry, at [email protected] for the meeting link. November and December vary due to Thanksgiving and Christmas—please contact organizers for dates and details.
* ONLINE: AASIA...Asian American Storytellers in Action, a collective whose mission is to promote and celebrate Asian and Asian American culture and heritage through the art of storytelling. Our vision is for the world to embrace and celebrate diversity where all peoples are respected and treated equally. We meet once a week on Zoom. Please visit our YouTube Channel for many episodes with Pan-Asian stories for kids and families.
https://youtube.com/@AsianAmericanStorytopia
Contact: Roopa Mohan, [email protected]
BAY AREA - NORTH
*Fairfax - First Tuesday Tales With Tea - CURRENTLY ON HIATUS. When reconvene will meet on 1st Tuesday monthly, 7:00 – 8:30 pm. Curated, traditional storytelling for adults by a different professional teller each month in a house-concert atmosphere. Contact: Nancy Binzen 415-488-9512 or [email protected].
*Petaluma – West Side Stories, a Story Slam! is back in the theater on 1st Wed. monthly 7:30p.m. 5-minute personal stories. Contact info: Dave Pokorny (707) 477-4416. Tickets required and sell out early. Get on board to tell or enjoy with a roomful of listeners.
*ONLINE: Sonoma County – Do Tell Story Swap. Now on Zoom on the 2nd Tuesday monthly, from 7:00 to 9:00pm for a swap that is a non-competitive, friendly venue for adults and teens. Contact: Meg Brown (707-887-7996) or Katy Mangan.
*ONLINE: Six Feet Apart Productions presents WorkShop StorySwap. Free monthly story swap on Zoom at 6pm PST. A safe, friendly space to tell 5-6 min stories on any genre and receive positive feedback. Registration required for Zoom link. Check the website (sfapshows.com) for our next swap or subscribe to our newsletter. Contact Claire at [email protected] for more details.
*ONLINE: Six Feet Apart Productions presents Open Mic StorySwap. Held on the 2nd Wednesday (mostly) of the month, an online open mic for 5 min true, personal stories. We only have 10 storyteller spots, so each teller is guaranteed to tell, we just pick the order of telling on the night. Winner of each Slam goes through to our StellarSlam in February. Held on Zoom and live streamed to YouTube. Check the website (sfapshows.com) for dates and tickets. Contact Claire at [email protected] for more details.
BAY AREA - PENINSULA
Nothing yet -- Anyone want to start one?
BAY AREA - SOUTH
*ONLINE: Los Altos - Southbay Storytellers & Listeners Zooming on 3rd Sunday 7:00-8:30 pm A variety of stories from many tellers. Youth and adult tellers are welcome. Get link and special info at [email protected].
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
*Sacramento HYBRID gathering in person again, plus a Zoom connection!- Sacramento Storytellers Guild, 3rd Saturday of the month, 2:00-3:30 p.m. Curated under a theme, contact for coming topics & to sign up to tell. Listeners always welcome. Venue: Sacramento Poetry Center, located at 1719 25th Street in Sacramento (Near 25th and R Streets) Six storytellers and two poets from either audience may present for up to 10 minutes with their own topic or the suggested monthly theme. To request the theme or a storytelling/poet spot, please contact Karen Daly at [email protected] or Joyce Ormond at [email protected]
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
*Morro Bay - The Reboot, Storytelling Reimagined. Our Fall 2021 series now over, we rest for the winter. In time we will scheduled our curated mix of storytelling, spoken word, sketch, and improv. Will post. Contact Rocky at [email protected] or facebook.com/the.reboot4u.
SIERRA NEVADA
*Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties – The Mother Lode Storytellers Guild
There is no Swap talk in Tuolumne County at this time. We are working hard to find a home! In Calaveras we have an OPEN TELLING gathering on the first Sunday of every month at the Jon Tricki Art Gallery, 53 Saint Charles St (Hwy 49), in San Andreas, 3:00-4:30 pm. Light refreshments will be served. For more information contact Kathy at [email protected]
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
REDDING - The Traveling Bohemians, Spoken Word Night is on CURRENTLY ON HIATUS 2nd Wednesdays 7:00–9:00 pm. Contact 530-229-7818 or [email protected].
ARCATA & EUREKA
North Coast Storytellers swap is on hiatus, but our tellers continue to do events individually. We are a program of the Ink People Center for the Arts in Eureka.
For information please contact Ali Freedlund
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
*ONLINE: StoryMasters - Los Angeles. This diverse group of professional speakers and Toastmasters meets monthly via Zoom to share new stories and receive peer evaluations. Second Sundays from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. We love guests! To get the meeting ID and password, please register at https://forms.gle/oYUUiBFeLna5uZL38. For more info contact Tina Tomiyama.
*ONLINE: Claremont - Inland Valley Storytellers, Holding Zoom on 2nd Tuesdays 7 pm. Come with an 8 minute or less story or just listen. FREE. Visit website at http://inlandstorytellers.org or contact [email protected] for more information.
*ONLINE: Costa Mesa - South Coast Storytellers Guild is online monthly on 3rd Thursdays. Join Zoom meeting with your story on any subject to this open mic session. Contact [email protected] or https://www.meetup.com/South-Coast-Storytellers-Guild/
*ONLINE: Culver City, West Los Angeles - Community Storytellers - now Zooming online on 4th Sundays at 3pm (occasionally on a 3rd Sunday). The Zoom link will be shared on our website http://www.communitystorytellers.org Contact info at [email protected] or [email protected] if more information is needed.
*ONLINE: San Diego Story Swap and Storytellers of San Diego are holding monthly Zoom meetings on 4th Wednesdays 3 pm for story swapping, 1st Thursdays for a prerecorded curated show at 7pm and a 3rd Thursday 7pm live-streaming curated Zoom storytelling event. Messages and contact is Marilyn at 858-337-0990 for meeting links.
ORANGE COUNTY – TUSTIN
South Coast Storytellers Guild is now in person only, monthly on 3rd Thursdays from 7:00–9:00 pm PT with stories, then business meeting. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1221 Wass St, Tustin, CA 92780. Contact Betsy Mosier at [email protected]
* ONLINE: San Francisco – San Francisco Story League, 2nd Thursday of the month. 10:00 a.m. Wonderful seasoned storytellers would welcome you to join them. Looking forward to your personal, historical and folktales that need to be told. Contact Doris at [email protected] for the meeting link and more information.
Asian Art Museum Storytellers are volunteers who tell Pan-Asian folktales to school groups visiting this museum. We also tell stories to the public on special celebrations and Free Family Fun days, first Sunday of every month @ 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. Address: 200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA. Website is www.asianart.org. Check out our stories on YouTube: www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEABD33EF498C7389
Contact: Harriet Rafter, [email protected]
BAY AREA - EAST
* IN PERSON: Berkeley – What's Your Story
This fun story swap happens on the last Sunday afternoon every other month at 2:00 pm. Join us in Berkeley at the intimate theater, The Monkey House, at 1638 University Avenue (free neighborhood parking). Featured speakers tell tales with a theme (such as “Mama Mia,” “Families Are Complicated,” “Game On,” etc.). Open Mic tellers welcome each time, any topic/ 5 minute limit. If interested in being a featured teller, please contact: Claire Castell at [email protected]. To be added to our mailing list, please contact: Bill Zarchy at [email protected]
* ONLINE: Hayward – Hayward Storytellers meet 2nd Thursday of the month, 7:30-9:00 p.m. For meeting link, contact Gina Rose, (510) 205-8606, [email protected].
* ONLINE: Mixed Bag at Belmont is Zooming on 3rd Mondays at 7:00pm. Contact Linda Walls or call her at 510-229-2742 for the meeting link. Drop ins welcome!
* ONLINE: Oakland - Sing Say or Play. Sing, Say or Play - SAC ZOOM ONLINE 2nd Saturdays at 7:00 pm PT Invite link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87084715822 We are a story swap, a singers’ circle, a poetry reading, an instrumental recital, a jam session and more, all in one! Our rule is that everyone participates, having about four minutes per turn. Join us for an event of old-fashioned round-robin homemade entertainment. Contact Claire Sherman, 510-847-0359, [email protected]
* ONLINE: Orinda - Contra Costa Tale Spinners. SAC ZOOM ONLINE 4th Thursday of the month. A great group with a featured teller followed by shorter tales. Contact: Co-hosts Liz Nichols and Dana Sherry, at [email protected] for the meeting link. November and December vary due to Thanksgiving and Christmas—please contact organizers for dates and details.
* ONLINE: AASIA...Asian American Storytellers in Action, a collective whose mission is to promote and celebrate Asian and Asian American culture and heritage through the art of storytelling. Our vision is for the world to embrace and celebrate diversity where all peoples are respected and treated equally. We meet once a week on Zoom. Please visit our YouTube Channel for many episodes with Pan-Asian stories for kids and families.
https://youtube.com/@AsianAmericanStorytopia
Contact: Roopa Mohan, [email protected]
BAY AREA - NORTH
*Fairfax - First Tuesday Tales With Tea - CURRENTLY ON HIATUS. When reconvene will meet on 1st Tuesday monthly, 7:00 – 8:30 pm. Curated, traditional storytelling for adults by a different professional teller each month in a house-concert atmosphere. Contact: Nancy Binzen 415-488-9512 or [email protected].
*Petaluma – West Side Stories, a Story Slam! is back in the theater on 1st Wed. monthly 7:30p.m. 5-minute personal stories. Contact info: Dave Pokorny (707) 477-4416. Tickets required and sell out early. Get on board to tell or enjoy with a roomful of listeners.
*ONLINE: Sonoma County – Do Tell Story Swap. Now on Zoom on the 2nd Tuesday monthly, from 7:00 to 9:00pm for a swap that is a non-competitive, friendly venue for adults and teens. Contact: Meg Brown (707-887-7996) or Katy Mangan.
*ONLINE: Six Feet Apart Productions presents WorkShop StorySwap. Free monthly story swap on Zoom at 6pm PST. A safe, friendly space to tell 5-6 min stories on any genre and receive positive feedback. Registration required for Zoom link. Check the website (sfapshows.com) for our next swap or subscribe to our newsletter. Contact Claire at [email protected] for more details.
*ONLINE: Six Feet Apart Productions presents Open Mic StorySwap. Held on the 2nd Wednesday (mostly) of the month, an online open mic for 5 min true, personal stories. We only have 10 storyteller spots, so each teller is guaranteed to tell, we just pick the order of telling on the night. Winner of each Slam goes through to our StellarSlam in February. Held on Zoom and live streamed to YouTube. Check the website (sfapshows.com) for dates and tickets. Contact Claire at [email protected] for more details.
BAY AREA - PENINSULA
Nothing yet -- Anyone want to start one?
BAY AREA - SOUTH
*ONLINE: Los Altos - Southbay Storytellers & Listeners Zooming on 3rd Sunday 7:00-8:30 pm A variety of stories from many tellers. Youth and adult tellers are welcome. Get link and special info at [email protected].
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
*Sacramento HYBRID gathering in person again, plus a Zoom connection!- Sacramento Storytellers Guild, 3rd Saturday of the month, 2:00-3:30 p.m. Curated under a theme, contact for coming topics & to sign up to tell. Listeners always welcome. Venue: Sacramento Poetry Center, located at 1719 25th Street in Sacramento (Near 25th and R Streets) Six storytellers and two poets from either audience may present for up to 10 minutes with their own topic or the suggested monthly theme. To request the theme or a storytelling/poet spot, please contact Karen Daly at [email protected] or Joyce Ormond at [email protected]
CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
*Morro Bay - The Reboot, Storytelling Reimagined. Our Fall 2021 series now over, we rest for the winter. In time we will scheduled our curated mix of storytelling, spoken word, sketch, and improv. Will post. Contact Rocky at [email protected] or facebook.com/the.reboot4u.
SIERRA NEVADA
*Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties – The Mother Lode Storytellers Guild
There is no Swap talk in Tuolumne County at this time. We are working hard to find a home! In Calaveras we have an OPEN TELLING gathering on the first Sunday of every month at the Jon Tricki Art Gallery, 53 Saint Charles St (Hwy 49), in San Andreas, 3:00-4:30 pm. Light refreshments will be served. For more information contact Kathy at [email protected]
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
REDDING - The Traveling Bohemians, Spoken Word Night is on CURRENTLY ON HIATUS 2nd Wednesdays 7:00–9:00 pm. Contact 530-229-7818 or [email protected].
ARCATA & EUREKA
North Coast Storytellers swap is on hiatus, but our tellers continue to do events individually. We are a program of the Ink People Center for the Arts in Eureka.
For information please contact Ali Freedlund
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
*ONLINE: StoryMasters - Los Angeles. This diverse group of professional speakers and Toastmasters meets monthly via Zoom to share new stories and receive peer evaluations. Second Sundays from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. We love guests! To get the meeting ID and password, please register at https://forms.gle/oYUUiBFeLna5uZL38. For more info contact Tina Tomiyama.
*ONLINE: Claremont - Inland Valley Storytellers, Holding Zoom on 2nd Tuesdays 7 pm. Come with an 8 minute or less story or just listen. FREE. Visit website at http://inlandstorytellers.org or contact [email protected] for more information.
*ONLINE: Costa Mesa - South Coast Storytellers Guild is online monthly on 3rd Thursdays. Join Zoom meeting with your story on any subject to this open mic session. Contact [email protected] or https://www.meetup.com/South-Coast-Storytellers-Guild/
*ONLINE: Culver City, West Los Angeles - Community Storytellers - now Zooming online on 4th Sundays at 3pm (occasionally on a 3rd Sunday). The Zoom link will be shared on our website http://www.communitystorytellers.org Contact info at [email protected] or [email protected] if more information is needed.
*ONLINE: San Diego Story Swap and Storytellers of San Diego are holding monthly Zoom meetings on 4th Wednesdays 3 pm for story swapping, 1st Thursdays for a prerecorded curated show at 7pm and a 3rd Thursday 7pm live-streaming curated Zoom storytelling event. Messages and contact is Marilyn at 858-337-0990 for meeting links.
ORANGE COUNTY – TUSTIN
South Coast Storytellers Guild is now in person only, monthly on 3rd Thursdays from 7:00–9:00 pm PT with stories, then business meeting. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1221 Wass St, Tustin, CA 92780. Contact Betsy Mosier at [email protected]
The Storytelling Association of California
P.O. Box 553 * El Cerrito, CA 94530
P.O. Box 553 * El Cerrito, CA 94530
