Inspiration: It Starts With One Story

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

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

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

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

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

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

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

Every so often I receive a call from Club Vision, a group of people who are blind and meet three times a week for lunch and entertainment at the Elks Lodge.

I hoped that I would receive a call and be able to schedule a time with them to practice one of my premiere stories.

My wish was granted.

I asked, "You know how normally I tell stories for an hour and then I'm done? I wondered if I could tell one big story and receive feedback instead."

"Sure."

The "big story" was the Colombian tale The Gardener's Wife. I hoped Holly Robison's schedule would be free so the harmony and songs could be shared in the way it would at the premiere.

She was.

Then I thought about my gestures and movements. I still wanted to tell it with these elements though most of my audience would not be able to see them.

I needed the story to be physically remembered as well as to the images and plot within it.

When the focus was on the Gardener's Wife, then I sat down. When it was in the palace with the King and Queen, then I stood up.

Yet, for today, the test was on the sound.

Could the story be strong enough without the visuals?

Though, my own hearing was crazy.

You may remember the post when my left ear seemed clogged. I had to rely on sound from my right ear.

Well, when we got to a part in The Gardener's Wife where the Girl "ooooo"s while on the Quest, I could not hear Holly.

I thought she missed it so I asked afterward, "Why didn't you "ooooo" at that one part?"

"I did!" she laughingly stressed.

Hmmm. And with the premiere in a few days, I did not see any moment to schedule a doctor's appointment.

Despite my lack of hearing, my audience heard well.

Most of their compliments was on the songs. They loved the harmony.

One person mentioned that the story seemed repetitive.

That comment made me smile because stories usually have things repeat at least three times. It is part of story structure.

The person did not elaborate whether "repetition" was a good thing or a bad thing.

I took it as a good sign when a lady asked more about the premiere. Though she heard one of the three stories, she seemed interested to attend the whole event.

I gladly shared the information.

Wow. The premiere is only five days away.

My internal countdown clock must have its "ticks" and "tocks" connected to my heart.

Maybe the people at Club Vision heard that, too!

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

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

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

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

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

These are the results of period seven (out of seven periods) at Snowcrest Junior High School.

It was through the help of Denae Palm, an intern from Weber State University, that we had these school sessions scheduled in the first place.

The "deal" was that after I told the story, then each student would receive an index card to answer the following questions--
1. What images or pictures were in your head as you heard the stories?
2. What emotions/moods were felt in the story?
3. What theme or "moral of the story" would you create after hearing the story?
4. What story scene did you like the best?

The Changeling Feedback Results from Period 7:

Images/Pictures

• Baby ||||
  
• Mother/Mrs. Sullivan |||
  
• Changeling/Ugly Baby |||||||
  
• Market |
  
• Grey Ellen's House ||
  
• Church |||
  
• Fireplace and Fire |||
  
• Bridge ||
• Rocky Path ||
  
• Mrs. Lynch's Boy ||
• Clinging to Skirt ||
  
• Fairies |
  
• Poker |||
  

Emotions/Moods

• Happy ||||||||||
• Sad |||||||||||
• Excited |
• Confused |
• Anger ||
• Mystery ||
  

Theme/Moral of the Story

• Don't think too highly of something.
• Trust people.
• Don't have too much pride.
• Don't brag. |||||
• Don't think too highly of your baby.
• Listen to people.
• Be grateful for what you have.
• Don't trade your baby for a fairy.
• Be humble.
• Don't praise out loud.
  

Favorite Scene

• Mrs. Sullivan showing off her Baby |
  
• Mrs. Sullivan with Mrs. Flanagan and her Flailing Arms ||
  
• Neighbor Responses ||
  
• Mrs. Sullivan talking with Grey Ellen for wisdom |
  
• Cracking Eggs on Floor/Brewing Eggshells |
  
• Cackling from the Changeling and revealing of Age ||
  
• Mrs. Sullivan trips with Poker to put down Changeling's throat ||||
  
• Changeling switched back for Baby |||||
  

Other Comments:

• "I did not like the mother of the child. She made me grumpy."
• "I pictures stories/books very easily. So this was easy to picture. You are a great storyteller!"
• "Thank you!" (with smiley face)
• "I thought that I must have been like that."
  

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

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

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

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

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

These are the results of period six (out of seven periods) at Snowcrest Junior High School.

It was through the help of Denae Palm, an intern from Weber State University, that we had these school sessions scheduled in the first place.

The "deal" was that after I told the story, then each student would receive an index card to answer the following questions--
1. What images or pictures were in your head as you heard the stories?
2. What emotions/moods were felt in the story?
3. What theme or "moral of the story" would you create after hearing the story?
4. What story scene did you like the best?

The Changeling Feedback Results from Period 6:

Images/Pictures

• Baby ||||||||||||||||||||||
  
• Mother/Mrs. Sullivan ||||||||
  
• Changeling/Ugly Baby ||||||||
  
• Mrs. Flanagan
  
• Neighbors
  
• Market ||
  
• Old Lady/Grey Ellen ||
• Grey Ellen's House ||||
  
• Church |
  
• Thatched-roof House ||||||||
• Hen House |
  
• Fireplace and Fire ||
  
• Bridge |
  
• Village
  
• Mrs. Lynch's Boy
  
• Fairies |
  
• Eggs and Eggshells |||||||||||
• Blue Eyes |
• Flailing Arms ||
• Pot |||
• Wonderful Thoughts |
• Clouds |
  

Emotions/Moods

• Scared |||||||
• Happy ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Mad, Anger ||||
• Annoyed ||||
• Sad |||||||||||||||||||||
• Confused ||
• Worried ||
• Proud ||
• Anxious |
• Preoccupied |
• Interested, Entertained ||||
• Tired |
  
• Loving ||
• Boastful |
• Relaxed |
• Creepy |
• Funny |
• Surprised |
• Weird ||||
• Cool |
• Desperation |
• Guilt |
• Denial |
• Exasperated |
• Depressed |
  

Theme/Moral of the Story

• Don't brag./Don't be too proud. |||||||||||||||||||||||
• What comes around goes around.
• Don't always go looking for good things when it might be bad.
• Listen to others that want to help.
  
• Don't brag too much or people might start thinking bad things.
• Don't take pride in your things.
• Listen to others. ||
• Loving out loud serves no purpose.
• Never show off your baby./Don't brag about your baby. |||
  
• You don't need to show off your stuff. ||
  
• Don't ask everyone what they think when you can do it yourself.
• If you talk about your babies, fairies will come and get it.
• Don't take pride in everything./Don't brag about everything. ||
• If your baby gets kidnapped, do whatever it takes to get it back.
• Don't be an arrogate and seek out others' compliments.
  

Favorite Scene

• Birth of Mrs. Sullivan's Baby |
  
• Mrs. Sullivan showing off her Baby |
  
• Mrs. Sullivan with Mrs. O'Malley in Church |
• Mrs. Sullivan with Mrs. Flanagan and her Flailing Arms |||
  
• Baby was switched for Changeling |||||
  
• Attempts for Mrs. Sullivan to get her Baby back ||
  
• Mrs. Sullivan talking with Grey Ellen for wisdom ||
  
• Cracking Eggs on Floor/Brewing Eggshells |||||||||
  
• Cackling from the Changeling and revealing of Age ||||
  
• Mrs. Sullivan trips with Poker to put down Changeling's throat ||||||
  
• Changeling switched back for Baby |||||||||||||||
  

Other Comments:

• "Rocks!!!!!!!!!! How long have you been storytelling?"
• "I like your hat."
• "I liked in the church with Mrs. O'Malley. She reminds me of my grandma."
• "U R so good!"
• "You have a cool hat."
  

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

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

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

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

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

These are the results of period five (out of seven periods) at Snowcrest Junior High School.

It was through the help of Denae Palm, an intern from Weber State University, that we had these school sessions scheduled in the first place.

The "deal" was that after I told the story, then each student would receive an index card to answer the following questions--
1. What images or pictures were in your head as you heard the stories?
2. What emotions/moods were felt in the story?
3. What theme or "moral of the story" would you create after hearing the story?
4. What story scene did you like the best?

The Gardener's Wife Feedback Results from Period 5:

Images/Pictures

• Baby coming down Winding River |||||||||
  
• Hermit |||
  
• Dancing Tree |||
  
• Talking Bird ||||
  
• Water ||
  
• River |||||||||||||
  
• Village ||
  
• Pearls from the Squash |
  
• Boys as Crystal Balls |||
  
• Gardener's Wife |||
  
• Husband |
  
• Garden |||||
  
• Mountain |||
  
• 3 Sisters |
  
• 2 Boys ||||||
  
• Girl ||||||
  
• King |
  
• Kingdom ||||||
  
• Gossip Lady |
  
• Dog |
  
• Cat |
  
• Stick |
  
• House |||
• Clearing ||
• Jungle ||
  

Emotions/Moods

• Happy |||||||||||||||||||||
  
• Curious |
• Sad ||||||||||||||||||||||||
• Touching |||
• Loving ||||
• Shocked |
• Surprised ||||
• Excited ||
• Puzzled |
• Anger, Mad ||||||||
• Anxious |
• Disappointment |
• Scared |
• Joy |
• Amused |
• Tired |
• Interested |
• Hopeful |
• Emptiness |
• Envy |
• Curious |
• Humorous |
  

Theme/Moral of the Story

• Everyone has someone who loves you.
• Don't let your sisters deliver your baby if they're jealous of you.
• Everyone has somebody who loves them.
• At least one person loves you. No one can take that away.
• If you put your mind to something and listen to others, you can accomplish or get anything.
• Be happy with what you have and good things will come. ||||
• Sadness can turn into happiness.
• Don't be selfish.
• Be happy and try to make things better.
• Don't feel jealous.
• Accept what you're given, even in disappointment, in life.
• Don't switch babies.
• Good things come to those who wait.
• Everyone can help each other. ||
• Don't get mean or you'll get in trouble.
• Don't stop dreaming. Never give up.
• Whether you have a child or not, you can still be happy.
• Do not listen to the voices in a harsh way.
• Everyone's a family.
• Be happy with what you are given because someday you will get much more.
• Be careful what you ask for.
• Always have faith in everything and that good things will come.
  

Favorite Scene

• Beginning--Gardener's Wife looking out |
  
• Gossip Lady shares the news to Gardener's Wife |
  
• Baby was switched for Dog, Cat, or Stick |||
  
• King and Queen reactions to switch ||
  
• Baby coming down Winding River and loved by Gardener & Wife |||
  
• Gardener's Wife sings to Baby and/or Grandchildren ||
  
• Toddler got into the Garden |
  
• Quest for the 3 items |||||||
  
• Boys transformed into Crystal Balls ||
  
• Girl saved the two Boys ||||||||
  
• Pearls spilling from the Squash |
  
• The End--when everyone is happy and reunited ||
  

Other Comments:

• "I loved all of the story. All great."
• "Favorite scene? All of it."
• "What happened to the dog, cat, and stick?"
• "Those are eerie sisters."
• "Beautiful."
• "There are actually evil sisters."
• "P.S. I loved the story!!"
• "What happened to the stick, dog, and cat?"
• "I felt happy for the women."
  

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

URL: http://www.rachelhedman.com

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

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