Deadline to submit: Sunday, April 20th. Submit here: https://sosayweallonline.submittable.com/submit

Peddling nonsense is a profession as old as time because someone will always buy it. Listen to the lessons learned from those who were scammed, conned, convinced of something absurd, or sold protein shakes to high school friends on social media.

May SD VAMP: Snake Oil
Thursday, May 29th
8pm -10pm
Whistle Stop
2236 Fern St, San Diego, CA 92104
$10
21+

Join us at ArtPower at UCSD for their inaugural VAMP Storytelling Showcase, “The Unexpected Ally.” Revel in true tales about receiving salvation from surprising sources, being gobsmacked by enemies becoming heroes, discovering redemption in the darkest crevices, and however else our brave storytellers interpret the theme. All stories are 100% true and boldly told, so come discover some unexpected allies in your own community as they bare their soul for your titillation.

UCSD VAMP Storytelling Showcase: The Unexpected Ally
Thursday, May 15th
7pm - 9pm
ArtPower at UC San Diego
3151 Matthews Ln, La Jolla, CA, 92093
Free

In the sixteen years So Say We All has been around, every single writer who’s graced our stage has been provided with performance coaching, because we believe that anyone can and should tell their stories without any previous experience. We’ve learned a lot over those years, and we’re thrilled to be able to share it with you in this crash course, taught by one of our most talented and lauded performance coaches, Carlee Lewis. We’ll break down how you can break down your story into a script, the tricks and methods to making the reader’s voice audible in your own, and get you ready for the stage. It might probably help your writing too.

Writers Workshop: Performing Your Story
Sunday, May 11th
4pm - 6pm
Thorn Brewing
3176 Thorn St, San Diego, CA 92104
$40 / Free to supporting members giving at the $25+ tiers
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We're so back. And this time, we're rocking the stories on a SATURDAY. See you on May 3rd at Inzane Brewing in downtown Vista. Bring all your all-ages friends out to see the best of what happens when people air their dirty laundry.

Featuring:

• Eryn Roberts

• Jordan Coburn

• Tory Perkins

• James Biggs

• Eber Lambert

Re-VAMP: Vista
Saturday, May 3rd
7pm - 9pm
Inzane Brewing
236 Main St, Vista, CA 92084
$10

Let's get to the heart of the matter -- we want to hear about the hardware that holds together your lives, marriages, ambitious carpentry projects, or what you did with the pieces left over from an IKEA end table.

Long Story Short: Nuts & Bolts
Thursday, May 1st
7pm - 9pm
Thorn Brewing
3176 Thorn Street, San Diego, CA 92104
$10

We are excited to invite YOU to our super fun 2025 Member Appreciation Dinner! This will be a night of food, drinks, and entertainment to show our gratitude for your consistent support. Come join us at 6:30 pm on Saturday, April 26th, for fun and surprises and...a member talent show?!?! Whaaaaaaaaat???

Our super secret location will be disclosed once you RSVP.

Thank you for continuing to support this dog park for cats, and we do hope you come play with us.

SSWA Member Appreciation Dinner
Saturday, April 26th 2025
6:30pm - 10pm
Location announced upon RSVP
Supporting Members Only!

Deadline to submit: Sunday, March 16th. Submit here: https://sosayweallonline.submittable.com/submit

Sometimes you can smell the rot a mile away, other times what's lurking under the shell is a harder case to crack. We've all encountered the bad eggs, the ones who just wouldn't go away, or maybe even were a total Veruca Salt ourselves.

April SD VAMP: Bad Egg
Thursday, April 24th
8pm -10pm
Whistle Stop
2236 Fern St, San Diego, CA 92104
$10
21+

Submission deadline: Friday, February 28th at Midnight.

Calling all San Diego City College Students who have a great story and the bravery to share it: we are celebrating our allies, escape routes, and every other possible interpretation on the theme of Lifelines our writers take at this Spring’s San Diego City College VAMP Storytelling Showcase! It’s all 100% true and unfiltered, and guaranteed to inspire our community when we need it the most. Send us a story by the deadline and don’t miss this show.

San Diego City College VAMP: Lifeline
Date TBA
7pm - 9pm
LOCATION TBA
Free

• Submission deadline: Sunday, March 2nd @ midnight.

• Submit here.

So Say We All is honored to partner with the Hausmann Quartet presenting Seven Last Words, a performance of Joseph Haydn’s epic masterpiece alongside spoken word presentations of original works by the authors themselves. The texts will be inspired by the same scripture upon which Haydn based each of the movements of his monumental work, The Seven Last Words of Christ. Originally commissioned for a Good Friday service in 1783, it was adapted for string quartet by the composer and has since become a treasured Easter-time tradition around the world.

This concert will feature a name-your-own ticket price, with proceeds going to your choice of four nonprofits doing important work:

• San Diego Rapid Response Network

• International Rescue Comittee

• Border Butterflies Project

• ACLU of SD & Imperial Counties

7 Last Words
Live at Verbatim Books in North Park
3793 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
Fri, Apr 18th, 2025
Doors open at 7:45 pm, show starts promptly at 8pm
Tickets: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/hq-09/HQ-SSWA-Verbatim
Learn more about The Hausmann Quartet
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The worst day of your life doesn’t have to be painful when you sit down to write about it, or for people to hear about it. There’s a lot of intention and technique we can bring to the darkest experiences to make them into art that accomplishes the most important thing our work can do: help people know they aren’t alone in the world. So join us on Sunday, February 9th at Thorn Brewing for honest conversation and deep cuts into the craft and the process.

Led by Justin Hudnall.

Writers Workshop: Writing Trauma
Sunday, April 13th 2025
4pm - 6pm
Thorn Brewing
3176 Thorn St, San Diego, CA 92104
All ages
$40 / Free for supporting members at the $25 tier and higher

The Peace Corps has sent American volunteers to serve in a humanitarian capacity in 60 countries since its founding in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. As part of their mission—The 3rd Goal—is to ”to increase Americans' understanding of other peoples and cultures.” So Say We All is proud to partner with the San Diego Peace Corps Association to advance that goal, and bring the stories of their returned volunteers to the stage in a fully produced VAMP Storytelling Showcase. We hope you join us to learn more about our world, and the true stories of the people who have dedicated a fundamental part of their lives to improving the quality of life for others.

Featuring:

• Jessica Pentrencsik

• Matthew Christanscher

• Ron Fishman

• Linda Vene

• Marni Von Wilpert

• Kathleen Macleod

VAMP: Peace Corps - Not Like The Others
Saturday, April 12th
7pm - 9pm
Inzane Brewing Co.
236 Main St, Vista, CA 92084
All ages
$20
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The VAMP Nonfiction Showcase blends populist accessibility with an intense literary bootcamp to produce polished multimedia performances of wild, absurd, poignant, and hilarious true tales told live on stage. On Friday, April 11th, a selection of LA VAMP storytellers will take the stage to raise funds for Out Of The Fire LA to help support the ongoing relief efforts in Los Angeles County.

Featuring:

• Richard Velazquez

• Laura Beck

• Nikki Bailey

• Sam DiSalvo

• Julia Lechner

• Rati Gupta

• Jeff Strauss

LA VAMP Fire Benefit
Friday, April 11th, 2025
Doors @ 7:00 p.m. | Show @ 7:30 p.m.
Junior High Los Angeles
603 South Brand Boulevard
Glendale, California 92104
$20 per person which can be purchased here
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We all get taken at some point. When did you believe the unbelievable, put your lips around something nasty, or tricked the masses into thinking you were someone (or something) you weren't?

Long Story Short: Suckers
Thursday, April 3rd
7pm - 9pm
Thorn Brewing
3176 Thorn Street, San Diego, CA 92104
$10

Deadline to submit: Sunday, February 16th. Submit here: https://sosayweallonline.submittable.com/submit

When you've got to go, you've simply got to go. Experience stories about times people ghosted, tuned out, escaped unseen, or just couln't take it anymore. Find out who sent our storytellers into Flight Mode, and where they landed.

March SD VAMP: Irish Exit
Thursday, March 27th
8pm -10pm
Whistle Stop
2236 Fern St, San Diego, CA 92104
$10
21+

Delivery, word choice, and myriad other elements can make your audience laugh — but perhaps the most important factor is authenticity. Even if you’ve never thought of yourself as a comedian, you’ll come away from this class knowing how to land jokes on stage while still being totally yourself.

Led by Sam DiSalvo.

March Writers Workshop: Humor in Storytelling - How to be Effortlessly Funny Onstage
March 9th, 2025
4pm - 6pm
Thorn Brewing
3176 Thorn St, San Diego, CA 92104
All ages
$40 / Free to members at the $25 tier and above

So Say We All’s Veteran Writers Division returns to the stage in March with a host of new voices and stories on the theme of “Stateside.” Tales of returning home and navigating reintegration, being the fish out of water freshly out of uniform, telling the hilarious story that horrifies civilian party goers at the party, and more surprising interpretations will surprise and delight ye whether you’re familiar with armed forces culture already or a stranger.

Validating parking is available in the underground lot, entrance in the Bayfront Court loop. Hold on to your ticket for validation at the Brewery.

Featuring:

• Kurt Kalbfleish

• Pamela Wardrip

• Joe Hudak

• Juan Jimenez

• Ian Bush

Veteran Writers Division Storytelling Showcase: “Stateside”
Saturday, March 8th
7pm - 9pm
Protector Brewery - Hide Site
901 Bayfront Ct, suite 102, San Diego, CA 92101
$10
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Made possible by the generous support of Creative Forces / NEA / Mid-Western Arts Alliance

Did that green, green grass on the other side of the fence turn out to be full of pocket gophers and dog poo? What did you ultimately find in pursuit of your fat, shiny pot of gold? Teach us how to temper our expectations so we don't make the same mistakes you did.

Long Story Short: All That Glitters
Thursday, March 6th
7pm - 9pm
Thorn Brewing
3176 Thorn Street, San Diego, CA 92104
$10

Deadline to submit: Sunday, January 19th. Submit here: https://sosayweallonline.submittable.com/submit

Where would you rather be -- flying solo or in the middle of a group effort? We want your stories where no one gets left behind. Or maybe it was just the thought that counted? Either way, February is VAMP's annual Dirty Talk show, so you know what to do.

February SD VAMP: Come One, Come All
Thursday, February 27th
8pm -10pm
Whistle Stop
2236 Fern St, San Diego, CA 92104
$10
21+
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More people would rather be in the casket than giving the speech, but public speaking is one of the most important life skills that artificial intelligence isn’t going to threaten any time soon. Come learn how to make a story out of what you need to tell on the mic at weddings, funerals, anniversaries, and other public events, and how to make it stand out.

Led by Jake Arky.

February Writers Workshop: Making the Most of Your Toast
Sunday, February 16th
4pm - 6pm
Thorn Brewing
3176 Thorn St, San Diego, CA 92104
All Ages
$40 / Free for Members giving at the $25 tier and higher
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So Say We All and Thorn St. Brewing are teaming up for a very special Valentine’s Day dating show. Ten talented storytellers will take the stage along with a kick-ass pitch deck to convince audience members why they should date their special single friends (with the friend's consent, of course)!

Maybe one of those friends, on either side of the stage, will be you: we’re accepting submissions until January 12th, and chosen participants get the full coaching and support our VAMP storytellers famously receive every month, helping to craft their pitch deck. A full-on party mingle follows the show, where all the seeds that were planted can take root, and we’ll see what happens. It’s going to be a riot without the prix fixe prices, so join us for a Valentine’s Day you won’t forget!

Hitch Deck: A Special Valentine’s Dating Show
Thorn St. Brewery
3176 Thorn St, San Diego, CA 92104
Friday, February 14th
7pm - 9pm
All-ages but adult content
$20 single / $35 for couples / Free for members at the $25 monthly tier and higher; become a member at www.patreon.com/sosayweallonline
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Calling on all UCSD students, faculty, and staff to join us on on February 13th at The Loft for a celebration of true storytelling, performances, and a generative workshop that’s guaranteed to have everyone in attendance leaving with the beginnings of a story they can tell at the upcoming UCSD VAMP Storytelling Showcase.

If you’ve ever listened or been to a live storytelling show, you know that everyone has a story to tell, and some of the best come from the most unexpected voices. No prior experience is required, because if you’ve ever had a bad day and someone to listen to you, you’re already a storyteller. Welcome to the club. Let’s get started.

Itinerary:

• Dinner served from 5:30pm -6:30pm.

• Workshop and show from 6:30pm - 8:00pm.

UCSD Non-Fiction Writing Workshop and Storytelling Open Mic: How to Start Your Story
Thursday, February 13th
5:30pm - 8:00pm
The Loft
3151 Matthews Ln, La Jolla, CA 92093
Free to UCSD staff, faculty, and students. ID required.

VAMP returns to North County this February with a lineup of stellar performers to bring some light to the dark months. Come make some friends and hear some stellar storytelling with us, it’ll do you good to get out!

Featuring:

• Cat Tucciarone

• Heidi Handelsman

• Jay Vu

• Justin Hudnall

• Johnathan Grinstein

Vista VAMP
Monday, February 10th
7pm - 10pm
Inzane Brewing
236 Main St, Vista, CA 92084
$10
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Some of us just can't be the second pea in a pod. Are you and yours idealogically divergent? Do you thrive being the yin to someone's yang? Or maybe there's something that makes you tick that just doesn't fit the rest of your vibe. Tell us your stories about unusual pairings, romantic, pedantic, or otherwise.

Long Story Short: Strange Bedfellows
Thursday, February 6th
7pm - 9pm
Thorn Brewing
3176 Thorn Street, San Diego, CA 92104
$10

In our second year of partnering with The San Diego Peace Corps Association, we are offering a free generative writers workshop to all past and present members in advance of their upcoming storytelling showcase. Join us for a reunion of service and storytelling in service of the Third Goal: Bring the World Back Home.

Writers Workshop: San Diego Peace Corps Association
Sunday, February 2nd
3pm - 5pm
Thorn St. Brewery
3176 Thorn St, San Diego, CA 92104
Free to all members of the San Diego Peace Corps Association
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Starting the year off right often comes with putting an end to things that belong in the past. Join us at January’s VAMP Storytelling Showcase for stories about quitting with gusto, not letting the door hit your ass on the way out, and starting over better with less.

Submission deadline: Midnight, Sunday, December 15th 2024 - https://sosayweallonline.submittable.com/submit/5108/the-vamp-storytelling-showcase-san-diego

January San Diego VAMP: Cold Turkey
Thursday, January 30th 2025
8pm
Whistle Stop
2236 Fern St, San Diego, CA 92104
$10
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Supporting members at the $25 tier and higher attend for free. Become a supporting member at www.patreon.com/sosayweallonline.

If you’ve been sitting around with the burning urge to write, maybe even with a few ideas for stories cooking in the bag, but are struggling with trying to figure out how to write the damn thing then we have a class for you. We’re starting off the year’s writing workshop series with a generative crash course on how to tick the boxes to start your story from a well-planned place. We’ll share some hard-earned tips and tricks of the trade and break open the pages together. You’ll leave with the start of something and the path to finish it, we guarantee it.

Writers Workshop: Getting Started!
Sunday, January 12th
4pm - 6pm
Thorn St. Brewery
3176 Thorn St, San Diego, CA 92104
All ages
$40 / Members Free
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Swing by San Diego’s wild-west storytelling open mic to tell and hear tales of duplicity, multitudes, and the inconceivable interpretations no one knows are coming until they’re happening live!

Long Story Short: Two-Face
Thursday, January 2nd
7pm
Thorn Brewing
3176 Thorn Street, San Diego, CA 92104
$10
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Deadline to submit: Sunday, April 20th. Submit here: https://sosayweallonline.submittable.com/submit

Peddling nonsense is a profession as old as time because someone will always buy it. Listen to the lessons learned from those who were scammed, conned, convinced of something absurd, or sold protein shakes to high school friends on social media.

May SD VAMP: Snake Oil
Thursday, May 29th
8pm -10pm
Whistle Stop
2236 Fern St, San Diego, CA 92104
$10
21+

Who needs seven swans when you have seven storytellers stepping up this Holiday season to get you in the mood for the most traumatic time of year. See you at the last VAMP Storytelling Showcase of the year, "Sleigh, Queen."

Featuring:

• Holly Andy Diamond

• Emily Gullord

• Manasvi Sridhar

• Jaime Barker

• Jay Vu

• James Doe

• Special guest: Quin Herron

The VAMP Storytelling Showcase: Sleigh, Queen
Thursday, December 26th
8pm
Whistle Stop
2236 Fern St, San Diego, CA 92104
$10
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