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

Perfection: The Practice I was Anxious For

At last the day came when guitarist Joshua Payne, upright bass player Geoffrey Rayback, and I could practice on the same night. . .in the same room.

I was familiar with the way Joshua played his guitar to merge in the telling of the Forsaken Brother story. I was anxious to hear how Geoffrey would add to the already-awesome combination of music and story.

After reviewing with Geoffrey and Joshua the basic storyline and where certain sounds were key, it was time for the first telling as a trio to begin.

Joshua blew a couple times on his guitar for soundscapes to summon the winds, and then I followed it with "It was summer. About an hour before sunset."

Part of mind thought and told the story while another part of my brain was listening to how the guitar and upright bass were working together.

Luckily, Julie Barnson, my story buddy, as well as her daughter were there as the audience.

The first time through the music was heavier in sound so that Julie and her daughter had some tough moments to hear the story.

We started the story a second time.

Again, Joshua blew a couple times on his guitar for soundscapes to summon the winds, and then I followed it with "It was summer. About an hour before sunset."

This time it felt the perfect volume between teller and musicians.

In fact, the whole performance seemed perfect.

Towards the climax, when the brother sees the boy on the shore, the extra bass brought a steadiness to the scene while the guitar symbolized chaos. The speed and intensity heightened as the boy became more and more like a wolf.

My own telling strengthened.

We were building on each others' energy.

When we were done, Julie and her daughter applauded loudly.

I celebrated.

We had it.

We only had to wait. . .oh. . .13 days to share this merging of arts at the premiere.

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

Forsaken Brother Practices: Ideal vs. Reality

As always on Tuesday morning, I headed to Julie Barnson's house to practice Forsaken Brother.

I got to practice with guitarist Joshua Payne again.

I felt chills every time he made the guitar howl like a wolf for the story.

Although upright bass player Geoffrey Rayback could not make any of these Tuesday morning practices, I knew that Joshua recorded every session (as did I) and that Geoffrey would mostly follow Joshua when it came to the premiere.

Of course, I would have loved to practice more often with Joshua and Geoffrey, but sometimes the ideal must be substituted with reality.

Rather than dwelling on the "I wish", there is always something to celebrate.

However, the next Tuesday we would practice in the evening and Geoffrey could make that one.

Yes, we would be able to practice as a trio before the premiere.

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

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

Thanks to Stephen and Teresa Gashler, owners of Gashler Media, in granting permission to post their picture and logo.

I searched online for the right company to film "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" and eventually I came upon Gashler Media.

Google was my search engine of choice and I used phrases such as "Utah videography" or "Utah filming company" and other similar words.

The listings usually changed my original search to "Utah wedding videography".

I laughed at the results, as what was I to expect from a state that had the most weddings anywhere in the nation. . .perhaps even in the world? Add to this that my premiere would be in Provo, the capital of marriages due to the closeness of Brigham Young University. There were many choices of filming companies.

Then, one by one, I googled specific companies that came from the online search. If I did not like their website (or if no website could be found), then I crossed them off my list.

I was suprised how many of the filming companies had a simple directory listing on wedding sites but nothing else to explain their services.

Finally, I found Gashler Media.

I liked the website, especially as there were samples of their work. I was intrigued when their site stated that "We will only produce family-friendly content (G or PG-rated) and nothing of a sensual, pornographic, violent, hateful, rude, irreverant, profane, obscene, deceitful or manipulative nature."

That made me wonder the rating for my premiere. Was it PG? I did place the minimum audience age to eight, though the stories were geared for twelve-year-olds and older. What did that mean?

It was helpful that Stephen and Teresa, the owners of Gashler Media, had pricing.

I noticed that for three cameras--as I wanted different angles--it would be $1000.

That would fit within my budget.

I called Stephen and scheduled a time today to meet the two of them to see if we might work together.

They requested that I bring a list of desired shots for the premiere.

Here are the Desired Shots--

"Before I Come on Stage" Shots

• Some set-up, putting up the booth in the hallway, or other ambiance footage like the empty theatre, wooden paneling, stage, etc.
• People taking their seats and chatting with each other
• Close up of Elizabeth Ellis, emcee
• Shots of my husband, Mom, Dad, and brother in the front row as Elizabeth acknowledges their presence
• My sister could not make it from Wisconsin so directing the auidence to look at one of the cameras and say, "We love you, Care!"
• Shots of some storytellers wearing blue ribbons
• Close up of Elizabeth Ellis and then pan out to see the whole stage when I come out

"The Changeling"--First Story Shots

• Audience reactions mixed with panned out and close-ups to include full-body shots and some close-ups of the face
• Close-ups of the three neighbors/characters--Mrs. O'Malley, Mrs. Flanagan, and Mrs. Lynch

"Forsaken Brother"--Second Story Shots

• Begin with close-ups of the upright bass and the guitar, as there will be a bit of "soundscapes" before I begin
• Audience reactions mixed with panned out and close-ups to include full-body shots and some close-ups of the face
• Mix of solo storytelling shots (me), duo shots (Geoff Rayback on bass and Joshua Payne on guitar), and trio shots (all three of us)
• Reference to eyes--how father's eyes are like the boy's eyes--so shots can reflect this reference
• In editing--quick shots between me and the instruments during climax (when brother spots boy on shore and tries to reach him before the boy transforms into a wolf)

Transition between Second and Third Stories

• Close-up of me to close-up of brother as I surprise him by having the audience sing "Happy Birthday" a day early

"The Gardener's Wife"--Third Story Shots

• Audience reactions mixed with panned out and close-ups to include full body shots and some close-ups of the face
• Mix of solo storytelling shots (me) and solo singing shots (when I sing alone and when Holly Robison sings alone), and duo shots when Holly and I harmonize
• Shots of audience when I welcome them to sing the lullaby, especially the first time
• Close-ups and full-body shots during singing of lullaby and of the grieving/pleading song

Recognition after the Program on Stage Shots

• When all performing artists and the emcee come on stage to applause

Celebration/Mingling Shots

• General buzz shots as people get up from their seats
• People eating cookies and treats
• With the buzz and talk, to have family reactions, Elizabeth Ellis and any volunteers who want to share what they thought (interview style)

What would also be Nice

• If I transcribe the performance, could closed captioning be chosen to be on or off?
• Audio commentary after it is done? To include story buddies and guest artists?
• Add American Sign Language interpreter on the corner while actual film is running of the live show?

I knew I had found the right company in Gashler Media when Stephen and Teresa told me that the closed captioning, audio commentary, and the ASL could be added without changing the $1000 fee.

So now on premiere day could be called out, "Lights, Camera, Action!"

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

School Schedules: Practices with "Real" Audiences

Anytime someone listens to one of my stories, I have an audience.

Sometimes that audience is the grand total of one person such as when I meet with my story buddies every week for each story in the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere.

However, a "real" audience is usually when my performance is expected to be polished to some degree. I also tend to think of a "real" audience as being at least 10 people so I have more reactions to absorb while telling the tale.

Denae Palm, the Weber State University senior undergraduate student who is dedicating 30+hours to my program, has one of her core responsibilities to schedule practices with schools from upper elementary to high school.

At the same time, this will spread the word about the event whether or not practices are schedules.

The schools are being told upfront that these are practices, and thus a $50.00 donation is requested rather than my regular fee. There is the understanding that I will ask for feedback from the audience, students and teachers.

The 1st schools to respond have 1st choice of story:

• The Changeling, an Irish story bookended with a personal tale that indirectly addresses verbal and physical abuse (20 minutes plus 10 minutes for feedback)
  
• Forsaken Brother, an Ojibwa tale with soundscapes with guitarist Joshua Payne and upright bass player Geoffrey Rayback that focuses on abandonment (20 minutes plus 5-minute opening story, 5-minute closing story--as Ojibwa tale ends sadly--, and 10 minutes for feedback)
  
• The Gardener's Wife, a Colombian tale with two original songs to be sung as duet with Holly Robison and focuses on adoption (40 minutes plus 10 minutes for feedback)
  

When Denae made calls, the first principal to schedule a date and time was from Bates Elementary School. He chose the Colombian story on adoption. Of the 4th, 5th, or 6th grades, the best behaved grade would hear the story on January 30th at 1:00pm.

Luckily, that date and time worked for Holly Robison since she sings duet with me for the story.

Later in the day, Denae received a call back from a high school special education teacher to discover if I would be interested to telling for her students. I let Denae know that I was open to such requests because then the story could be tested to see if it would reach all kinds of students.

We shall see what other practices will be scheduled before the premiere day on February 9th.

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

Geoff Rayback: Upright Bass Player for the Teller

Joshua Payne thought that Geoff Rayback (see picture) may be interested in the "Forsaken Brother" story and add to the accompaniment.

He was right.

I received the call from Joshua today. Geoff was officially our upright bass player.

I have yet to meet him in person. I do know Joshua and I trust him enough to extend that trust to Geoff.



What I know so far--
Geoffrey Rayback is a bassist and producer based in Salt Lake City. He has played with musicians such as Ernie Watts, Cronelius Bumpus, and Ward Swingle. He has engineered and produced more than twenty albums in styles ranging from straight ahead jazz to heavy metal and runs the independent record label Hibiscus Zombie Records.

This would add something more to the whole "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" program.

When I realized that Geoff could join guitarist Joshua Payne and singer/storyteller Holly Robison in this venture, I thought about one of my dreams as a teller.

One year I went with my husband to the Annual Christmas Concert put on by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Besides the world famous choir, there was the Orchestra on Temple Square, the Bells on Temple Square, dancers, and a storyteller.

The storyteller was always a big name--a celebrity name. Someone who did not label themselves as a storyteller on a daily basis.

I knew I would not reach celebrity status, but I played with the idea and asked my family, "Couldn't there be tandem telling with a celebrity?"

The emotions mixed with story and music and song and dance would lift me to the heavens. . .if not for a moment.

When looking at the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" program, Joshua and Geoff will provide "soundscapes" rather than tunes. This makes me wonder how close I may be to what I envisioned a few years before.

At this time, I welcome Geoff as well as Joshua and Holly to share their dreams for what could be the very near future.

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