Space

Not only is Manuel’s better and more beloved than other possible venues, it has become the place where Carapace happens. The venue has become part of what makes Carapace, Carapace. “We have sort of been trained to come to the event at Manuel’s.”

A space has a feel and the feel is important to how it works for the show. “There was a very strong difference in the feel at Venkman’s.”

As much as Randy tries not to create the space, one very important element at Manuel’s was the use of a room separate from the rest of the bar. Only those interested in the event were in the room, and others at the bar could be in a different space. Venkman’s only had one room and it was a problem that other bar patrons were mixed in with people who wanted to be at the show.

They worked to create a space for storytelling, attended only by intentional audience members by setting expectations and crowding out non-audience members.

And gradually we did deal with that

putting more signs up about

storytelling tonight.

And

frankly

a big part was

trying to talk more of our people into coming

so they took up all the tables

and there wouldn't be any tables left

for the people who were there for a non storytelling/listening purpose.

Randy suggests that food stories come up often because

I think because it's such an intimate event

and like we were talking about earlier

food is a very intimate thing.

Perhaps the food at Manuel’s, eating together, also helps make the event more intimate and allows for sharing of intimate stories.

The bar may also suggest stories. When Randy and I were talking about drug stories, he said people also tell stories of “I got drunk and crazy shit happened.” He said, “it makes sense, an event held right in a bar.”