Podcast of People Reading Diary Entries From When They Were Young

Almost & FAQ

Since 2007, brave adults across Canada have shared their ain weird and wonderful babyhood and teenage writing at Grownups Read Things They Wrote equally Kids, a live, onstage storytelling effect.

The evidence's primary goal is to entertain. But beyond that, the aim is to invite anybody — readers, live audience members, and radio/podcast listeners — to reflect on their own lives, to connect with who they used to be, and to depict a line that connects the past and the present.

Embarrassing, moving, and hilarious, these readings are powerful reminders of who we used to be. They're compelling stories, at once deeply personal, yet surprisingly universal.

Oft Asked Questions

• About the live events
  • Where did the thought come from?
  • When is your next event in [insert metropolis hither]?
  • What's the deal with other, similar events?
  • Can I organize my own GRTTWaK-style upshot?
  • Is GRTTWaK kid-friendly?
• Nigh the podcast
  • What'due south the story with the podcast?
  • How do yous cull which readings end up in the podcast?
  • When volition the podcast episode you taped in City 10 be available?
• Reading at the show
  • How practice I sign up to participate?
  • What can I read?
  • Tin can I read someone else's writing? They gave me permission!
  • What does "child" mean?
• Attending a live show
  • Where practice I get tickets?
  • Can I bring something to read?
  • Your alive events sell out really chop-chop. What'south the deal?
  • Have you considered a larger venue in [insert city here]?
  • Is GRTTWaK a really great first appointment?
  • It says you lot're sold out. Are yous really sold out?
  • How does the reader waiting list work?
  • Tin I get a refund?

Where did the thought for Grownups Read Things They Wrote equally Kids come up from?

Dan here. Allow me tell you a story.

It was Christmas 2006, and my girlfriend Jenna (now my wife) and I were visiting her parents in Kingsville, Ontario. Jenna's parents asked her to clear out some of the boxes she still had stored in the basement.

Going through those boxes, we discovered Jenna's early on teenage diary, written in those awkward years when she was merely on the edge of puberty. With drinks in hand, we spent the better office of the afternoon reading diary entries out loud to ane another. Some were funny. Some were bittersweet. Simply the thing that struck me nigh was how Jenna's diary gave me a glimpse into a past I'd never seen before.

Nosotros figured that lots of other people probably had their childhood and teenage writing kick around somewhere — in their parents' basements, in boxes in the cupboard, in storage lockers…

And then I asked my mom to ship me some of my childhood schoolwork. Then we booked a night upstairs at the Victory Cafe in Toronto, invited some friends, and crossed our fingers. People showed up. We had some drinks. Nosotros laughed. And we've been doing live shows e'er since.

When is your next upshot in [insert city here]?

Great question. If information technology isn't listed on our Live Events page, we haven't announced one notwithstanding. The first identify nosotros announce new live shows is our email newsletter, which you're welcome to join.

What's the story with the podcast and radio testify?

From the very start, Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids has been a hobby. The live events are a side project, done after-hours, outside our day jobs.

In 2008, we started releasing individual stories as a podcast, which lasted for 18 episodes before running out of steam.

And then, in 2009, I pitched a 10-part summertime radio serial to CBC. I fabricated a pilot that year, only the series never happened, and the thought was shelved.

So in late 2013, I dusted off that pilot and re-pitched Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids to CBC. This time, they chip. During the summer of 2014, I travelled across the country, putting on live shows and turning them into radio with my CBC colleague Alison Broverman. We made x episodes for CBC. Then the summer ended.

Nosotros wanted to keep making episodes, so in December 2014, Jenna and I announced we were going to make the second season of the podcast independently.

How exercise I sign upward to participate?

Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids is a live open-mic event. Reader spots are beginning-come up, first-served. We require all readers to sign up online, in advance. Beginning, check the events page to encounter if in that location's a alive upshot coming soon to your surface area.

If there isn't an upcoming live event listed in your area, sign up for the electronic mail newsletter. We ever send signup and ticket information to the email list start. Then, lookout man your inbox closely for show announcements. While you're waiting, you tin can check out some handy tips for readers, and get practicing!

Tin I read someone else's writing? They gave me permission!

Grownups Read Things They Wrote equally Kids is all nigh original source fabric, read out loud by the person who originally wrote it. We don't allow people to read others' writing on stage. Fifty-fifty if it's well-intentioned, reading other people's material can come across equally "laughing at someone who's non in the room," which a tone we're nifty to avoid.

Are the live events kid-friendly?

Some GRTTWaK events are all-ages. Some aren't (usually considering of liqour licenses). If a specific event isn't listed as all-ages or xix+, you tin can always check with Dan.

Content-wise, Grownups Read Things They Wrote equally Kid is intended for an adult audition. The show is an open-mic, and at past events, we've had readers share material that includes cuss words, sexuality, and some difficult subject area matter (including racism, self-harm, eating disorders, suicide). If you lot're familiar with the podcast, you probably already have a good sense of the range of material that'southward presented on stage.

Due to the subject matter, nosotros tend not to get a lot of kids. Only, when the venue is licensed for all-ages shows, kids are most certainly welcome, at the discretion of their parents or guardians.

Where do I go tickets?

Advanced tickets for GRTTWaK go on sale exclusively through Tito. The first identify we announce live event is through our email newsletter.

Warning: Advance tickets sell out rapidly. Frequently within hours of going on auction. Act chop-chop.

A link to buy tickets is e'er sent ahead of time to members of the mailing listing.

Can I bring something to read?

Yes, please. GRTTWaK is an open up-mic event, and it simply works when people really bring things to read. Too many spectators makes for a brusque and ho-hum dark. If yous read at GRTTWaK, your access is free.

Spots are on a get-go-come, first-served basis, and if you want to read, you lot should sign up in advance online. A link to the sign-up sheet will be sent alee of time to members of the mailing list, and you tin find signup links at the event list.

Please annotation that only those who sign upwards in advance volition go free admission, and nosotros can't guarantee a reading spot unless you sign upwards. That said, information technology never hurts to bring some childhood writing along, but in case.

What can I read?

Basically whatever yous want, so long as it's yours and information technology's short. Your reading needn't be funny. Information technology could be bloodshot, or sorry, or touching. Hither are the three rules that govern what you can read at a GRTTWaK effect:

1. You have to be the one who wrote information technology, as a child
2. You have to be the one who reads it, as an developed
3. It has to exist short (less than 5 minutes)

Fourth dimension yourself. If you take more than than v minutes worth of cloth, choice your favourite piece or two, and read that.

What does "kid" mean?

Child = whatsoever you consider child to mean. 1 of the best things virtually GRTTWaK is the broad variety of things people bring to read. We've had stuff from early elementary schoolhouse all the way upward to college age writing. Bring whatever you want.

How do you cull which readings end up in the podcast?

Good question. Dan wrote a whole thing about that.

When volition the podcast episode you taped in City X be available?

Short answer: we commonly don't know.

Depending on the schedule and flavour, tin have several weeks (or months) between recording a live result, and releasing a podcast episode. Nosotros usually don't have a business firm podcast release date until very shortly earlier the episode is released. If we characteristic your reading in the podcast, we will requite you a heads-up before the episode drops.

What's the deal with other, like events? Are they ripping y'all off? Are you ripping them off?

At that place are lots of juvenilia-based events out there, each with their own particular format and execution.

Chronologically, Sarah Bynoe'south Teen Malaise Nighttime (Calgary, then Vancouver) was the first event similar this nosotros've heard of. Mortified is another. Blench (NYC and London) and Salon of Shame (Seattle) and Dear Diary (Toronto) are others. Obviously, at that place are similarities between these events, but each is unique in its format and execution.

Grownups Read Things They Wrote equally Kids has been around as a live event since 2007, and as a podcast since 2008. There are older shows, and newer shows, and if you ask me, there'south room for more than.

Tin I organize my ain GRTTWaK-mode event?

Of grade, so long as you call it something other than Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids, to avoid confusion. It'due south of import to choose a meaningfully different proper noun (e.g. "Adults Read Stuff They Wrote When They Were Immature" isn't meangfully different).

GRTTWaK isn't a franchise. Information technology'southward a tiny passion project run by a married couple, part-time, evenings and weekends. We've been organizing GRTTWaK shows for almost a decade and in that time, we've developed enough esoteric ways of doing things that franchising just isn't feasible right now.

Of course, that shouldn't cease you from putting your own unique spin on a juvenilia-reading result. Nobody owns the idea of sharing beautiful/funny/embarassing juvenilia on stage, and there are lots of other events where people read babyhood/teenage diaries, poetry, short stories, etc.

Chronologically, Sarah Bynoe's Teen Angst Nighttime (Calgary, and then Vancouver) was the showtime event like this we've heard of. Mortified is another. Cringe (NYC and London) and Salon of Shame (Seattle) and Honey Diary (Toronto) are others. Obviously, there are similarities betwixt these events, but each is unique in its format and execution.

Ariel from Salon of Shame wrote a cracking how-to guide chosen Beginning a diary reading outcome in your boondocks! Also, Mortified's FAQ has some adept advice most making your consequence unique (curlicue down to "Tin can I exercise a Mortified-inspired show in my city if I call it something else?").

Finally, if you start your ain GRTTWaK-inspired reading upshot, let united states of america know. We're always keen to hear from kindred spirits, and we're happy to help wherever nosotros tin.

Your live events sell out really quickly. What'southward the bargain?

Often, our shows sell out quickly. We know this can exist frustrating.

The first identify we announce alive shows is through our email newsletter. Oftentimes, live events make full upward hours (or minutes) after they're announced.

Our ticketing company, Tito, has a "waitlist" characteristic. If a evidence is sold out or the reader listing is total, you can bring together the wait list. If a registered reader cancels, or more general admission tickets become available, we make them available to members of the wait list. Joining the await list does not guarantee you lot a ticket, not does information technology requite you any special privledges for the next available show.

Reader signup and general admission tickets are first-come, first-served. It'due south non platonic for everyone, but it's the fairest way we know how to do it. Nosotros appreciate your patience. And remember — kid writing doesn't expire, and nosotros're planning to continue doing shows well into the futurity.

Accept you lot considered a larger venue in [insert city here]?

Yes, we take. Our goal is to book venues that can seat as many people as possible, without compromising the intimacy required to put on a good testify. That'due south the tradeoff: capacity vs. intimacy.

Many of our readers are not performers, and they're not used to existence on stage. Reading at Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids takes a lot of courage. Nosotros're trying to create the conditions for people to be open up, honest, and authentic on phase, and the intimacy of the environment is key.

That said, if you have a corking venue recommendation, we're all ears. Typically, we book spots that take:

1. Chairs and sightlines for ~150 people (nosotros're a "sit and heed" bear witness)
2. A decent sound system (and someone who knows how to piece of work information technology)
3. Booze that you lot're immune to bring to your seat

Venue suggestions e'er welcome: [email protected]

It says you lot're sold out. Are you really sold out?

If yous can't buy a ticket, we're probably sold out. We know this tin be frustrating.

The start place we denote live shows is through our e-mail newsletter. Often, live events make full hours (or minutes) after they're appear.

Our ticketing company, Tito, has a "waiting listing" feature. If a evidence is sold out, you can join the waiting listing. If more general admission tickets go available, we make them bachelor to members of the waiting listing. Joining the waiting list does not guarantee y'all a ticket, nor does it give you any special privileges for the adjacent available testify.

Reader signup and full general admission tickets are kickoff-come, first-served. It's non ideal for everyone, but it'south the fairest manner nosotros know how to do information technology. Nosotros appreciate your patience.

How does the reader waiting list work?

If you lot want to read at Grownups Read Things They Wrote as Kids, yous must sign upward in advance.

For each alive effect, there are a limited number of reader spots, available on a first-come, kickoff-served basis.

If all the reader spots are taken, our website will show you lot a push button that says "Join the Waiting Listing."

If you add your name and e-mail accost to the waiting list, and a reader spot opens up in the days or weeks leading up to an event, we'll be in touch by email. Information technology might be very short find. A spot on the waiting listing does not guarantee you a reading spot.

If you don't go a reader spot, there will probably exist another event in the future you lot can read at. Remember — kid writing doesn't expire.

Tin I get a refund?

For most GRTTWaK events, General Admission tickets are fully transferrable to another person. Simply follow the links in the email confirmation from Tito. As a general rule, nosotros can process refunds simply but up until ane week before a live event. Nosotros cannot accommodate last-minute refunds.

A small handful of GRTTWaK events are part of festivals. In cases like these where we don't direct control ticketing, refund and exchangepolicies may vary.

Is GRTTWaK a really cracking offset date?

Yes.

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Source: https://grownupsreadthingstheywroteaskids.com/faq/

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