Authentic Clowns

Green seemed to be getting at authenticity early in our interview – preferring stories that seem “natural” and unrehearsed. Not only does he enjoy these kinds of stories, but he has also observed audiences listening “differently.” They seem more engaged, even in a trance. 

 

Green said that “to be an entertainer is to be a clown and to be a clown is to expose one’s failures.” I find this interesting in thinking about the relationship between the performer and audience. If the performer is a clown then they owe the audience a lot. Maybe they are telling an edgy story (not keeping the audience “safe” from hearing vulgar things) but they owe the audience entertainment through vulnerability. The vulnerability makes the stories “beautiful.” 

Photo of Sarah Beth Nelson, taken by Denise Mount 1991

 

Audiences trust the tellers when they are vulnerable. Why is this necessary? Should we trust strangers? But now we feel that we know them because of their vulnerable story.  

 

The audience being forced to lean in because the teller is speaking quietly. The speaker could “pull us into him rather than push himself out.” 

 

Disconnect between teller and audience when teller holds back.  

 

The difference between telling a story at a party and on stage. At The Moth, people actually listen. These are different social settings and we do expect a person on stage to get a longer turn at speaking. At parties, people may expect a more balanced conversation – although I have been to parties at which friends with good stories would be allowed to talk at length.  

 

Green loves the engaged audiences, but kind of likes how poetry slam audiences could be rude and shout out at a performer they were tired of. He doesn’t necessarily want to coach the audience to be kind. Heckling is a kind of participation. Perhaps a vocal audience is also engaged.  

 

Judging as honest and encouraging audience participation. Judging is a joke but also not a joke. Interesting alongside the idea of the teller as a clown. Who is joking? Everyone? 

 

True personal stories were not a requirement from the beginning. Green claims The Moth evolved in that direction because tellers could tell that those were the stories audiences preferred.  

 

Other things/people on stage used to moderate the performer. Violin or saxophone to play when time is up. Host getting on stage to show someone off.