Paavli Kultuurivabrik is a welcome newcomer to Tallinn’s nightlife (and daylife) scene, an event campus that morphs from expansive to intimate depending on the occasion. For this event, intimate it was, with Feministeerium presenting Smut Slam, an adult community storytelling event centered on sex, gender, and all the messy fun surrounding the two hosted by the delightful comedian and ringleader Cameryn Moore.
For those unfamiliar with the term, “smut” comes from the German word for “dirt”, but has been adopted into English and mostly used to refer to “low-brow” art centered on sex — smutty stories, smutty pictures, smutty films. The term can be used as a pejorative, but it is more celebratory amongst those who enjoy the titillation. Indeed, a “smut peddler” occupies a joyful place in both comics and punk music these days. And it is that sense of playful joy that Moore brings to Tallinn each visit, for a show built on oversharing with strangers in a way that will never make it to the internet.
With that in mind, no specifics will be provided here — after all, each show is different, though the rules of the game remain the same. There are two strains of audience participation: storytelling and the Fuckbucket, a place for those too shy to take the microphone to drop questions or confessions anonymously. The storytellers can use aliases if preferred, and they are chosen randomly from the list of signups on the day. The audience is given a list of fairly clear instructions: enjoy the show, and if you don’t, keep your mouth shut. What happens at Smut Slam stays at Smut Slam.
Moore presents us with a very friendly show, in that it welcomes all ages, genders, sexualities, body types, and other ways personhood is expressed individually and socially. It’s not a comedy event, though the stories can be funny, and it’s not a kink competition, though kink can play a role. Storytellers have five minutes and a code of conduct to adhere to, and Moore happily takes the opportunity to check in when necessary to keep things clear and consensual. “It can’t be anything goes,” she tells me after the show, so her goal is to “create a space where everyone feels a little bit comfortable.”
As a follow-up to Feministeerium’s collaboration with President Kaljulaid Foundation at the Tallinn Consent Forum, the theme of the night was “The best yes is a FUCK YEAH!” The audience was a blend of solo travelers and groups, dates, and friends, an appreciative mix of ages and genders that was reflected in the intrepid storytellers. The stories themselves embraced the full range of human emotion and experience, including first meetings, mishaps, and misadventures, with a healthy dose of self-discovery. A panel of judges selected the top three winners from the storytellers, and one random Fuckbucket participant was also selected to receive prizes from event sponsor Ulakas Kaunitar. The judges also plugged an upcoming “villainness drag show” at HUNGR and the Rakvere Festheart LGBT+ film fest running 4-6 October.
Smut Slam will be in Tartu on Friday 4 October, and has shows around the world throughout the year. Moore tries to make it to Tallinn quarterly, so even if you missed this show, you haven’t missed your chance to share the experience.
Author: Laurie
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