Storytelling Night at People's Republic of Brooklyn

"This ain't your grandmother's Moth!" a patron at shouted last Monday night as the story at hand moved into seriously raunchy territory. 

He was right. The Storytelling Series that takes place every Monday night at People's Republic of Brooklyn is more like everybody's Moth. There's no pretention, no pressure, and the staff, the space and the patrons are so warm and welcoming, even the most soft-spoken might find themselves moved to tell a story. 

"We're like a family here," explained bartender Shavonia Jones, who lives in Bushwick but spends most evenings at People's. She was referring not just to the staff, but the patrons, too. 

Melinda Hinckley, a People's bartender who was off-the-clock last Monday but there for Storytellers, agreed.

"I know everyone in here," she said. Born and raised in the neighborhood, Hinckley has frequented most of the watering holes in the area, but found People's Republic to feel most like home. 

Homey is definitely the vibe during Storytelling. While the sign in the window advertises calling beforehand about your tale, once the series gets started all are encouraged to step up to the mic. The only guidelines are that you can't read your story, it should be mostly non-fiction and you should keep it under ten minutes in length. 

Regular PRB-goer, Adam Roth, admitted he'd been a little nervous to tell a story in public. But with the help of a supportive audience, he told an amusing one about his experience as a camp counselor faced with a bonfire celebration gone very wrong.

Zev Wexler, who plays live blues on piano at People's Republic regularly, told a racy tale about Neil Diamond's affinity for groupies from his days serving as Diamond's keyboard player.

There were bad date stories, stories about adventures abroad, tales related to too-big genitalia, biking accidents and more.

The "anything goes, all are welcome" type environment during Storytelling is due in large part to the charisma of owner, Mike Cheatham of Jamaica, Queens. A lawyer by day, Cheatham opened People's Republic of Brooklyn a year and two months ago.

"I used to listen to WBAI a lot, and listeners would call in and say they were from the People's Republic of Brooklyn. I always thought that was a great name for a bar," he explained.

About the four-week-old Storytelling Series, Cheatham said "it's my favorite night of all the nights here." (And yes, he admits to stealing the idea from The Moth.) He recently decided to change the frequency of the series from bi-weekly to weekly because it was so enjoyable and popular.

The series, which was slated to begin at 8 p.m. but got started closer to 9, wrapped up at about 10:30, at which point Zev Wexler got on the piano and belted out an extra set of blues for the bar-goers.

That's kind of how it goes, at People's Republic of Brooklyn. Everything flows naturally -- drinks included -- and patrons are treated to more than what they may expect.

Storytelling at People's Republic of Brooklyn is every Monday night at 8PM. Live music begins at 7:30.