Family Famine: Hunger for Love

Inspiration: It Starts With One Story

2009-12-22T19:28:00.011-07:00

The Family Famine Series started with one story.

Then another story.

Then another story.

Finally, by 2014 I hope to have 120 new stories in the series.

But is that the end? Of course not.

Something as basic--and precious--as family relationships touch our souls with intensity.

Despite the new stories that will be part of this Family Famine Series, you could say that there is an "ancestral" story that has been the foundation even before I officially named this series.

As a sophomore in high school, I told my first official story entitled "Big Kihuo, Little Kihuo" from the Vakishamba people in Africa. At the time, I was fascinated by the not-so-happy-yet-satisfying ending. The father and son relationship also made me curious.

Since creating the Family Famine Series, I have returned to this story. As a student I connected with the adolescent Kihuo, the son. As a 30-year-old, I ponder more about the father--or at least about parents in general.

Yes, my husband and I do not have kids yet. We are in the middle of the adoption process. Though knowing that perhaps in the next six to twelve months we have have a little one in the home, I wonder what kind of relationship I will have with my children.

As they grow older, will I acknowledge their independence?

Will I provide room for their creativity to bloom?

Would they feel comfortable coming to me in need?

A story told shares more about the storyteller than the culture from which it came.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com/

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com/

Family Famine Series Site: http://www.familyfamine.com/
Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/rachelfans
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

The Surprise Call that Rang in Opportunity

2009-10-01T23:19:00.007-06:00

The phone rang.

Perhaps it was my Wolf Assistant Leader calling.

That seemed likely as I was dressed in my full Cub Scout leader uniform complete with green slacks, official blue and gold handkerchief, and even the green and red socks.

Maybe my Assistant Leader wanted to carpool to the Roundtable Training time for the leaders in the area.

Nope.

It was not her.

Then part of the name "Marjo. . ." showed and I knew.

When I saw who called me, I smiled.

It was Marjorie Shaefer in Tennessee.

I opened my phone and said, "Hello, Marjorie!"

That was when she told me the news that my name was drawn for one of twelve slots at the 2010 National Storytelling Conference in Los Angeles. There were 101 slips, and yet my name got pulled.

I heard this heart-thumping and exciting news while driving.

Perhaps not the safest thing in the world.

I was in my Scout uniform. I could have been a good Scout to pull over to the side of the road and continue the conversation. . .but I didn't.

That was when I lost grip of the phone and I accidentally hung up on Marjorie.

Yikes.

I called back, apologized, and then heard from Lethan Candlish and Loren Niemi as extra "witnesses" that my name was drawn. In fact, Loren held the slip "Rachel Hedman, UT".

Not that I needed witnesses. You could trust Marjorie with everything and then some.

My mind raced. Normally, I would want a chance to pace and jot ideas in a personal brainstorm session. But I had Roundtable Training.

I saluted the flag, sung the songs, but my mind was multitasking.

While eating a graham cracker spread with Cool Whip and sprinkled with blue berries, raspberries, and sliced bananas to represent the American flag, I made a mental list of who to call after the Roundtable Training.

It was already 8:30pm and time was limited to get in my calls.

I called:
1. Husband at work
2. Mom and Dad
3. Don Doyle--voice mail, but I hope he can be my emcee in L.A.
4. Holly Robison--who sang harmony with me during the first "Family Famine"
5. Stephen Gashler--who filmed the first "Family Famine" and who I encouraged to attend the 2010 National Storytelling Conference so he could do a 3-camera shoot of this next one
6. Nate--my brother, who is more of a night owl like me so I did not worry that it was after 10:00pm

I will need to call my sister, but she is one hour ahead of me. I had no choice but to stop.

Whew!

It was a lot of calls to make before 9:30pm or 10:00pm at night before most "normal" people go to sleep.

And there will be more calls to make tomorrow.

As for what I will do with the 55-minute Fringe time slot?

This will be part of my "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" series with different stories than my premiere one.

I plan to get a sponsor to help fly in Holly Robison (singer/teller), Joshua Payne (guitarist), and Geoffrey Rayback (upright bass player) so we can merge the arts with storytelling as the main stage art.

This will be a 3-camera shoot so anyone attending will give permission to be part of volume two of the next 2-DVD set. And yes, this one will also have audio commentary, ASL interpretation, photo gallery, etc.

This will be even bigger than the first one.

And I have about 10 months to plan.

That is about double the time I had for the first one.

Lovely.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com/

How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com/

Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com/
Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/rachelfans
Other places to find me: Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Professional Storyteller

Life After the Premiere: More Adventures to Come

2009-02-11T22:00:00.009-07:00

As you have read one or more posts on this blog--or perhaps this is your first one--then be assured that this blog will continue with posts for years.

I have about a month to catch up of things that happened before the premiere. There will also be reflections on the premiere.

A premiere is intended to be the beginning.

You are invited to continue in this journey with me.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Former Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance (2005-2008)

Tel: (801) 870-5799
Email: info@rachelhedman.com

Family Famine: Hunger for Love

Inspiration: It Starts With One Story

The Surprise Call that Rang in Opportunity

Life After the Premiere: More Adventures to Come

Club Vision: "Do I Sound All Right to You?"

Jr High Results are In (Period 7 of 7): The Changeling

Jr High Results are In (Period 6 of 7): The Changeling

Jr High Results are In (Period 5 of 7): The Gardener's Wife

Jr High Results are In (Period 4 of 7): The Gardener's Wife

Jr High Results are In (Period 3 of 7): Forsaken Brother

Jr High Results are In (Period 2 of 7): Forsaken Brother

Jr High Results are In (Period 1 of 7): Forsaken Brother

Another Jr High School: "I'll be here all day!"

Bill Harley in the Area. . .and Advertising Opportunity

Traded Time for What is Most Important

Elementary School Practice: Surprise Results & Check

Jr High School Practice: Early Rise for Feedback

1st Day of Official School Practices: Jr. High to Elementary

Magnetism: From Random Contacts to Car Signs

Perfection: The Practice I was Anxious For

Nanabozho & The Unofficial Elementary School Practice

Adding to the Board's Agenda: "Support Me!"

Adoption Class: The Room Surrounded by Kleenex & The Search for Our Queen

Unable to Hear: Time Still Chimes Forth

Liability: Aim for the Board and not the Fingers

Forsaken Brother Practices: Ideal vs. Reality

Postcards & Letters: Temptation to Give to Everyone

The Practice that was More Chat than Practice

Telephone Practice: Not Same as Live. . .But Doable

Storytelling Delivery: "Way" South to "Way" North

Forsaken Brother: The Best Practice Ever

Nail Biter: Poster Drop-Offs are not Book Drop-Offs

"Technical Difficulties" with Online Orders. . .and Some Help

Rescued: Overcoming the Pain of Press Releases

Forsaken Brother: Little Prep equals Bad Practice

Posters: Not So Easy to Hang Up These Days

"Lights, Camera, Action": Finding the Right Film Company

"The Changeling": Practicing Starts Somewhere

Song Recording: The Stress of It All

Utah First Friday: Passing out Postcards to People

"The Gardener's Wife": Heart-Rhythms Put to Song

"The Gardener's Wife": Completed French Scenes

Wisconsin Parents Fly for Utah Premiere

Poster Pick-up: Surprises that made me Smile

"Forsaken Brother": When a Practice goes Right

Posters: Finding the Print Shop with Pizazz

"The Changeling": French Scenes technique

Self-Censorship: When it is Dangerous to the Art

Behind the Wheel: When Imagination is Most Active

An Irish Story's Transformation: Multicultural to Universal

Soundscapes: How a Guitar can Howl like a Wolf

Bulk Mailings: When a Sore Wrist is Worth It

"Forsaken Brother": Drawing Story Characters to Life

Premiere Pins: Sticking out in the Crowd

Something Slipped into the Christmas Letters

Postcard Delivery: An Early Christmas Gift

School Schedules: Practices with "Real" Audiences

Geoff Rayback: Upright Bass Player for the Teller