Interview by Gupreet Atwal.
This year, on the 5th of November, join us for a virtual presentation with award-winning storyteller Nestor ‘the Boss’ Gomez, taking place as part of the 2023 Yorkshire Festival of Story. Nestor is a seventy-four times winner of the Moth StorySLAM and founder of the ‘80 Minutes Around the World’ immigration storytelling show.
Nestor was born in Guatemala and describes himself as a former undocumented, poet, published writer, and storyteller. Recently, we asked Nestor some questions to learn about his life as a storyteller and how as a story creator and curator he uses his voice and that of others to speak for social change.
Could you provide a short summary of what your virtual presentation for the Yorkshire Festival of Story will be about?
I will be sharing stories about being an immigrant and the struggle of learning a new language while facing intolerance and racism.
The theme of this year’s event is about speaking truth to power. As a storyteller, how have you sought to speak truth to power through the works that you have performed and produced?
I aim to build bridges instead of walls. When I share my stories, I want people to see that my experiences are just a natural as their own and that although we might not share a common background we all have a right to freedom, life and the pursuit of happiness.
What do you enjoy most about being a storyteller?
As a small child growing up in Guatemala I used to stutter. I didn’t have a voice and then when my family move to the United States undocumented and with no knowledge of the English language, I found myself truly without a voice. Now, as a storyteller, I use my voice to give a platform to the stories and struggles of my immigrant community.
What inspired you to become a storyteller?
From an early age I used writing as a way to express myself due to my stutter. But it wasn’t until late in life as an adult that I found an outlet for my writing through storytelling, after I saw a local storyteller Archy Jamjun at a storytelling event.
As a seventy-four times Moth Slam winner, could you provide an insight into how you prepare for a spoken word performance and do you have any advice for aspiring performers out there?
When I started telling stories, I used to rehearse my stories non-stop for weeks. Nowadays there are times when I don’t even write my stories, nor do I rehearse them prior to an event. But I always try to be true to the story, since I share personal narratives. Even those times when I am not the hero, but perhaps the villain of the story.
How would you describe your performance style and has it changed over time?
The first time I stepped on a stage I was scared and trembling as I told my story. Now, I have
gained more confidence, although the nerves are still there. But I always try to be myself —where I kind of pretend to be in the middle of my living room telling a story to a group of friends.
You have curated a show called ‘80 Minutes Around the World’, which aims to showcase
the stories of immigrants, refugees, their descendants and allies. How did you come up
with the idea to put together such a piece and is there one particular thing you would like
audiences to take away from the show?
I live in the United States of America and after the 2016 election, there were many groups of people worried about how the election results were going to affect the marginalised communities. One of these said organisations was organising a fundraising event to help marginalised communities and reached out to me and others for ideas of what kind of event needed to be organised. I suggested a storytelling event, with stories from LGTB, refugee and other communities at risk. After that event, I realised that we needed to share our stories not just once but on a regular basis.
As someone who grew up with a speech impediment, what advice would you give to other
aspiring spoken word artists out there in a similar situation?
Don’t let fear hold you back. As a young person who stuttered I often refrained myself from speaking for fear that people were going to make fun of my stutter. Then later in life as a young Latino immigrant I added the fear that people were going to make fun or not understand my accent. It wasn’t until I overcame (stopped worrying about other people’s opinions or reactions) that I found the power of my voice.
In your opinion, what has been your most powerful project so far, or that which you have
felt the proudest of?
I have been blessed with many satisfactory moments in my storytelling career: winning competitions, performing in front of large crowds, and selling out solo shows. But what I am the proudest of is that I have been given the opportunity to give a platform to the stories of my communities and managed to make my family and my wife proud.
Finally, is there any advice that someone else has given you during your journey as a storyteller which has stayed with you to this day?
‘The writing never ends’
You can see Nestor ‘The Boss’ Gomaz on …….. during this year’s YFOS – Book your tickets here
