Need live storytelling tips? Meet Unheard LA story coach Bryan Kett

KPCC’s Unheard LA is a live, community-driven storytelling series that takes place at theaters around the greater Los Angeles area. Each show features a curated lineup of real people, sharing true stories of their lives in Southern California. Now in its third season, the live show has included Angelenos with absolutely no experience as well as those who are regular performers.

Performing onstage can be daunting, whether you’ve aced a TED talk or are a novice. That’s why Unheard LA producers Jon Cohn and Ashley Alvarado brought in a coach to help put people at ease. They found their coach in Bryan Kett, a participant of Unheard LA’s second season and graduate of the Second City Training Center’s writing program in Chicago.

We interviewed Bryan and asked him to share some of his storytelling tips.

Tell me a little bit about who you are as a storyteller.

I started telling stories when I was a science teacher. What resonated the most to my students is if I could somehow wrap curriculum in story. When I moved to L.A. in 2014, it really came down to me looking for platforms to share my writing, and storytelling was one of those avenues.

A well-crafted story does two things that I love: It shares a part of someone — a life experience I’ve never had before — and it shows how related we all are at the same time. It’s something I may not have experienced personally, but I’m excited to hear about. Or it may be something that I can relate to all too well one way or another — usually, emotionally.

What drew you to Unheard LA?

I initially applied when I heard about people in the storytelling community applying and being a part of the show. [The producers were] on the same page and had the same values and wanted the same thing out of the experience. It reinforced my firm belief in what I like so much about storytelling, essentially that it is so unique and, in this case, everyone has their unique stance about what it is to be an Angeleno.

My experience has been so lovely and communal, and it’s thrilling to be afforded that opportunity. Unheard LA is unique because your story doesn’t have to be some big, crazy thing that happened to you.

You don’t have to have encountered a celebrity or lived through some sort of horrific disaster — the small meaningful moments resonate the most because they’re so very accessible. So, don’t ever think you don’t have something to tell.

When it comes to Unheard LA, do you need experience to participate?

A storyteller is anyone who has an experience that is decidedly their own. I talk to a lot of people who say they don’t have any stories, and I think that is so patently untrue. Because people live with these stories, they think they’re not interesting, but I’m so drawn to the small pedestrian moments. Those are the ones that really resonate with me onstage.

So, yes, everyone has something to say — whether you’ve done this many times before or have never stood in front of a microphone before.

What are you most looking forward to in your role as a story coach?

I think it’s just kinda like a problem to solve; to me everything is something to crack. Story coaching is about figuring out how to deliver the story with as much empathy, clarity, and personality as possible. Sometimes those things are formed on the page, and sometimes they’re not. But it’s through those discussions we always get to where we need to go.

This position reminds me how important emotion and gratitude are. It’s a constant reminder of what always works, what always matters. A personal story is one clarified moment and not necessarily one large sweeping narrative arc over years. Sometimes people who are still grieving or still processing can’t see the story for what it means to them. There’s that old adage: “Talk about your scars and not your wounds.”

Any advice you want to share with potential participants?

We receive so many submissions from hopeful tellers. Help your submission stand out by keeping the following in mind:

1. Specificity! Pick one moment to talk about. Just one! You’ve lived an exciting life, but you have five minutes to tell your story. Tell that one story really well instead of trying to trying to share a larger arc of your life.
2. Brevity! Mark Twain said it best. “I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a lone one instead.” It’s true, though! Brevity is so difficult. And if you’re going to be sharing your story in five minutes, we recommend targeting around 800 words in your written pitch. It’s tough, but it’s doable! So take some time to really think about what particular moment you want to tell.
3. Gratitude! Whether the moment is funny or heartbreaking or poignant, clarity comes in hindsight, and we want that clarity to have an element of gratitude. We don’t want you to get preachy, but we need to know that you’re better for your story having happened.
4. Transformation! Who were you before this story happened? Who were you after? We need to see that shift in you. That’s what makes stories resonate.
5. And perhaps most importantly… emotion! How did you feel? Show us! Because while other Angelenos may not have experienced your specific story, they’ve certainly felt scared, or lonely, or overjoyed. Emotion is what connects all of us, and it’s what makes our live shows so special — for both the tellers and the audience.