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

Guitarist Joshua Payne traveled 27.67 miles to my house and then we carpooled 29.78 miles to Snowcrest Junior High School.

And we woke up really early so we could kick-off the practices at 7:45am.

Between the Wahlquist and Snowcrest Junior Highs, I have chalked up a couple hold-your-eyes-open-with-toothpick days.

It was worth it because today would be our chance to tell seven different times, three of which would be with Joshua Payne for the Forsaken Brother story. Then I would continue with the two sessions with The Gardener's Wife story and two sessions with The Changeling story.

Tia Shaw and Marci Chapman, the two teachers who arranged the gathering with the students, showed us a classroom with a raised up stage.

Perfect!

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.

Results from:

• Period 1--Forsaken Brother
  
• Period 2--Forsaken Brother
  
• Period 3--Forsaken Brother
  
• Period 4--The Gardener's Wife
  
• Period 5--The Gardener's Wife
  
• Period 6--The Changeling
  
• Period 7--The Changeling

I was thrilled to have so many practices in one day. All the premiere stories were tested.

I admit that I was surprised in the amount given for the donations.

It seems there must have been a misunderstanding. I had asked Denae Palm to communicate with the schools that each session would be $50 since it was a practice rather than $200 for my normal rate.

Snowcrest Junior High must have heard "$50" and did not think about the multiple times I was telling.

That meant I was expecting $350 in donations.

Instead, I got $50. . .for the whole day.

Again, I was happy to be able to practice, but I was counting on that money to help with the other expenses related to the premiere.

I knew that I was polished and did just as well as if it was labeled as an "official performance".

I let the reduced amount pass, though I did tell the school what I normally would be paid.

The $50 was justified as the same price for be a substitute teacher for the day.

I thought I put many more hours than what a substitute would in preparation alone!

Oh well. I will chalk it up for "misunderstanding".

Did I mention I was happy to have the chance to practice and get the feedback?

Crazy enough, it was during one of the Forsaken Brother sessions that Joshua broke a string on his guitar.

Rather than replacing the string, he discovered that the sounds had a more eerie sound, which worked for the Ojibwa tale.

He promised to not replace the string for the premiere, too.

Seems like it was meant to be for that string to break!

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

Utah First Friday: Sing through Noise in 60 Seconds

Whenever possible, I like to attend the Utah First Fridays, which are monthly gathering of business owners and entrepreneurs.

Usually I am the only storyteller so it catches people off guard when they ask me what I do.

Twice a year there are exhibits. As my posters and postcards were not done yet for the premiere, reserving a table seemed a waste. However, I did provide a prize for the drawing.

Any prizes needed to have at least $25+ in value. Though the Covey Center for the Arts is the only place allowed to sell tickets, I do have authority to give a few away as long as I give them the details. I decided to have four tickets ($40 value) plus a fruit basket. Since it is called "Family Famine: Hunger for Love", thought the fruit added a nice touch plus then they could enjoy the food while anxiously awaiting the premiere.

Part of the benefit of giving a prize is the 60 seconds given to the sponsor.

In my imagination, I pictured at least 100 or more business people all at rapt attention as the drawings were called out. The number was right but not the silence!

Due to the booths, people were chatting even during the drawings and the 60-seconds that people shared about their companies, products, or events.

Luckily, I had already decided that 30 of my 60 seconds would go towards singing the lullaby in "The Gardener's Wife" story. I thought about telling a snippet of a tale, but that may still seem similar to the regular talk shared by other people. I doubted anyone else would sing.

I was right.

Though there was quite a bit of chatter for other people's time announcing, it did quiet the most with me. I did not even give an introduction. I took the microphone and sang. I figured to get their attention first and then talk.

As a storyteller, I know that a list of facts will not get me anywhere. Stories bring emotions and songs are a level of storytelling.

I gave some of the details of the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere and then gave the prize away. Afterward, I was pleased that people came up to me and complimented me on my singing. One lady became interested in joining the Utah Storytelling Guild. That alone made it worth it.

Though I did not have any posters or postcards yet, I did create make-shift business cards only on the event. I am confident that some people will attend the premiere from these cards.

***As a side note, I met a man named Clayton Rand from United Bank Card who showed me a credit and debit card processing system as small as a cellphone with a printer for the receipt about the same size. The picture above is when this small device on the right while the regular size is on the left.

Clayton can be reached at (801) 897-8911 or at claytonrand@gmail.com. "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" will tour and it will be nice to have a portable device to sell DVD copies of the premiere as well as any other storytelling merchandise. It is too late to add to the Christmas list, but eventually I will have something like that device. As of now, it costs $225. If you contact Clayton, please mention my name and say "hi" for 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

Adventures for my Student: Denae Palm

I had a request for Denae Palm, undergraduate student from Weber State University, who will dedicate her 30-hour+ senior project to the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere.

I told her I would like a list of her strengths and interests. Today I received her list.

This guided me in the types of projects/adventures in connection with her senior project and the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere.

These were the adventures and details I gave her:

1. Gather information of family associations on local, national, and international levels and compose in Excel spreadsheet

• Create column for each of the following: Name of Organization, Contact Name(s), Title/Position of Contact, Address, City, State, Zip Code, Telephone, Website, Email, One-Sentence Description of Focus
• Family Associations relating to Education are preferred though groups could connect with child abuse, abandonment, adoption, parenting, etc.
• Goal: At least 100 groups discovered by December 17th

2. Schedule practice performances for each of the three stories in the premiere

• Opening Story TBA--Either "Iron John", German tale also shared by Brother Grimm, or version of "Hansel and Gretel"

-- Approximate time of story: 25 minutes
-- Requires no coordination with other guest artists
-- Aim one for 4th and/or 5th grade, one for junior high, and one for high school
-- Focus: Child Abuse and Gaining a 2nd Father--"Iron John"
-- Focus: Child Abuse and Sibling Strength--"Hansel and Gretel"

• Middle Story "Forsaken Brother", Ojibwa tale

-- Approximate time of story: 25 minutes
-- Requires coordination with Joshua Payne, accompanist/guitarist
-- Aim one for 4th and/or 5th grade, one for junior high, and one for high school
-- Focus: Child Abandonment and Broken Promises
-- Due to sad mood to story, a 5-6 minute story is needed at beginning and end

• Final Story "The Gardener's Wife", Colombian tale

-- Approximate time of story: 40 minutes
-- Requires coordination with Holly Robison, singer
-- Aim one for 4th and/or 5th grade, one for junior high, and one for high school
-- Focus: Desire for Children and Adoption

• Donations of $50 or more suggested though lack of funds will not dissuade performing at the school (they need to be aware that normally Rachel Hedman is paid $200/hour)
• Three practices for each of the stories for a total of nine times

-- Stories will be as polished as possible
-- Rachel desires 10-15 minutes for feedback from students and teachers
-- Classroom size as well as Assembly size is acceptable
-- Encourage pdf file of "Save the Date" postcard to be emailed to teachers
-- Request 3 dates/times to see if will work with Rachel's schedule

• Goal: At least 9 practice performances scheduled from the 2nd week of January to the end of January to be completed by December 23rd

3. Determine which Utah curriculum standards for 4th grade on through high school relate to storytelling in general as well as specifically to the themes and stories from "Family Famine: Hunger for Love"

• Consider social, political, geographical, religious, or economic details highlighted through the cultural tales
• Delve into the language arts and how to structure a story
• Explore emphasis on oral, verbal, and nonverbal communication skills
• Goal: List the standards with a paragraph under each using terminology known and respected by educators on how storytelling and/or "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" fulfills them by January 3rd

4. Create lesson plans that could be applied for residencies for 4th grade on through high school

• Brainstorm discussion questions
• Test activities with children in neighborhood or nearby schools and receive feedback
• With permission from the parents, take pictures of the activities in action with the kids so that they can be shared through publications, websites, or other items
• Goal: Develop at least three activities each for an elementary grade, at least three activities for a junior high grade, and at least three activities for a high school grade that connect with themes and/or stories found in "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" by January 3rd
  

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

Fundraising vs. Ticketed Event: What is feasible?

Depending on the venue found for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production, I may be able to turn it into a fundraising event in connection with the National Storytelling Network.

Some places have set rules in regards to ticketed events or whether donations could be collected or even if the presence of money is allowed. The cost to have the venue in the first place could also determine what is feasible for the presenter to give to another cause after covering expenses.

While at the 2008 National Storytelling Conference, the "Heroes Campaign" was introduced where at least 100 storytelling concerts or workshops across the nation will raise at least $250 each to support the National Storytelling Network and thus furthering visibility and respectability for the art. This would become an annual tradition much like Tellabration!, another NSN trademarked program.

As is the benefit for registering an event for free to be part of Tellabration! and being allowed to use the logo and materials that connects with the program, so there will be a logo created for the Heroes Campaign and a sense of national advocacy. The "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production could be part of the movement.

The Heroes Campaign would have a specific domain name for its website linked to anywhere NSN has an Internet presence. A Facebook account will be pursued for NSN as well as for the Heroes Campaign. This way the organization will reach beyond the isolated storytelling community and follow the trends that our cousin arts such as theatre, music, and visual arts have already done to spread the word and reach larger audiences.

I may need to set aside the first $250 towards the campaign and then have anything extra to defray my own costs for producing and developing this event. Otherwise, I could announce within my advertising and to any attendees that 50% would go to the National Storytelling Network and 50% would go to me so there is nothing hidden about where the money is going.

This only reminds me how important it is to solidify the venue on the Brigham Young University campus to see what my options would be for fundraising.

Feel free to donate--whether in time or in money--to "Family Famine: Hunger for Love". Specify if a certain amount is going to the National Storytelling Network versus the production costs. Please contact me at info@rachelhedman.com.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman
Professional Storyteller
Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance
(801) 870-5799
info@rachelhedman.com
http://rachelhedman.com
How-To Blog: http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com
Performance Blog: http://familyfamine.blogspot.com

***I will share more details on the Heroes Campaign as more information becomes available.