Bill Harley in the Area. . .and Advertising Opportunity

One week away to the Family Famine: Hunger for Love premiere. . .and Bill Harley came to Utah to celebrate the countdown.

Okay.

So he was coming to Utah anyway.



And he could not stay for the premiere due to winning a second Grammy and flying to accept it on Saturday, February 7th.

He was one of the Keynote speakers/storytellers at the Timpanogos Storytelling Conference this upcoming weekend. He arrived early to perform for neighboring venues.

One of the grand places was Wheeler Farm.

This was hosted in partnership between the Salt Lake County Library System and the Timpanogos Storytelling Conference.

I called the library and asked permission to have a booth.

A clipboard was passed around with two email lists--the Utah Storytelling events and the Bill Harley newsletter--to the entire audience during the concert.

I was able to send the other events--including my premiere--that night to the people on the list.

So thank you, Bill Harley, for letting me reach out to other people to connect to the storytelling happenings in Utah. . .including my own event!

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

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

My "way" south adventures started with the Utah Arts Council in Salt Lake City as I wanted to give Family Famine: Hunger for Love postcards.

The UAC was so important to me that I gave a postcard to every single staff member. Being a state-wide organization, that meant twenty-three people.
Yes, I signed and wrote a note for each one of them.

Then I traveled south and delivered posters and postcards (which also served as fliers) to the Pleasant Grove, Provo, and Orem libraries.

I was thrilled when the Pleasant Grove and Provo libraries offered to give a postcard to each staff member.

The Provo Library alone had over 100 people.

Since the Covey Center for the Arts is located in Provo, this was perfect!

To add to the travel adventures, I headed way north to attend the Ogden School District Storytelling Festival. Not only was I one of the judges for the youth tellers, but I was also allowed to advertise for the premiere. I also could not resist in having my Cub Scouts attend as a field trip. It is always wonderful for youth to see other youth tell stories.

In case you were wondering, "way north" from Provo translates to about 80 miles distance.

Good thing I can practice stories while driving!

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

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

Little by little the Family Famine: Hunger for Love posters were being dropped off at the libraries.

I still had the Salt Lake City Library (5 branches) and the Salt Lake County Library (18 branches) to go.

Whether for the City or for the County, once the main branch approves the posters, then they are forwarded to the other branches.

That meant I had to make a good impression.

However, when I arrived to each of the two main branches for the City and for the County, no one was around.

I prefer to give posters to the person who makes the decision. So now I was the one who had to make a decision.

Do I drop off the posters and hope that they are approved and hung?

Even with the "Sponsored in part by the Utah Storytelling Guild" stickers, I wondered how strict these places were on hanging posters.

I felt pretty confident the posters would circulate for the Salt Lake County Libraries since I had performed for various branches. I still do perform for many of them.

As for the City, I had no idea what to expect.

The receptionist lady at the City Library said that if the posters were not approved, then the person simply chucked the posters into the trashcan.

I did not want that, especially as I spent so much money to have the lovely posters in the first place.

Dare I put faith in a note accompanying the posters to explain the connection of this premiere to my Storytelling Masters as well as the support from the nonprofit Utah Storytelling Guild?

In case it would help, I wrote on the note that if, by chance, the posters were not approved, then I would like a chance to pick up the posters and find other homes for them.

For both the City and the County Libraries, I dropped off the posters and walked away.

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

Poster Pick-up: Surprises that made me Smile

Thanks to Jennifer Sherman and Dean Hillan from the Bell Printing and Design for phenomenal service as well as granting permission to post their picture.

I received the call.

I could drive to the Bell Printing and Design to double check that the light blue background for the posters will really be light blue versus a blue-purple that happened to the postcards through PrintsMadeEasy.com.

Jennifer Sherman, the Customer Service lady, greeted me and showed how Dean Hillan, the Press Room Manager, converted my digital file to their machines.

Now Dean has a trademark of creating a smiley face on the artwork. When it comes time to printing, the smiley face is no longer on the file. Yet, the image usually finds itself on the box in which the posters are packaged.

Who could resist a smile with a tradition like that?

It was apparent that Dean loved his job and it made it a pleasure to work with him.

After confirming that the light blue was the shade desired, Dean asked, "When do you want your posters?"

I was unsure how to answer as I knew that print jobs usually took a few business days to complete.

"I would like them by Monday at the latest."

Then Dean surprised me and said, "How about in one hour?"

How else could I respond but with a beaming smile and a big "Uh, yes! That would be great! Really?"

During the short hour wait, my schedule was rearranged so posters could be placed at the Weber County Library and Davis County Library systems as soon as I had them.

When the posters were handed to me, Dean said that he printed 10 extra posters free of charge.

With the quick and quality service from Bell Printing and Design (in particular Jennifer Sherman and Dean Hillan), I knew I would work with them in the future.

They won a friend.

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

Oh Where, Oh Where is that Opening Story?

My center and final stories for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" came in such miraculous ways that I expected another miracle to shine light on a story and say "Here is your opening story!"

So far no light.

I dedicated today to the libraries to find that opening story. There is a certain mood that an opening story needs that, at times, can make it so difficult.

Humor is powerful. Yet, I had always imagined one of my stories to address child abuse, at least in an indirect way. My center story is on abandonment while the final story is on adoption.

I have tossed around the idea of a version of "Hansel and Gretel", but nothing so far has struck me as "I must tell this one!"

In "emergencies" such as finding the opening story with the premiere a little over two months away, I settled on the floor at the Central Branch of the Davis County Library system. It seems more inspiration has come from sitting on the floor rather than sitting in a chair.

At times I worried if I blocked the way for other library patrons, so I was quick to move my feet aside to allow people through. Some people could tell I was on a serious mission and so avoided my area.

Normally I would check out about 20-30 books and take them home to peruse. This time I sat for hours reading. I scanned titles and the first paragraphs as most likely the focus would be revealed through those means. If the story did not connect with some level of family relationship or even with food or famine, then I skipped to the next story.

Finally, I ignored the collections of folktales and moved on to the picture books. Sometimes these books reveal the ethnic background and bibliographies to further research. I did not want to do a literary piece. I wanted to create the story based on the folktale's structure and culture.

When a few hours passed and still I seemed no closer than when I first arrived at the library, the story "Iron John" jumped out at me. Many years ago I considered telling this story. To this day, I do not know many storytellers who tell it despite it being part of the Brothers Grimm collection.

In all the versions I have read for "Iron John", not once have I read that the boy-prince's father was abusive. Yet, the boy feels a need to have a second father in the form of a wild man. My imagination fills in the blanks by thinking perhaps the king was not all that he seemed.

The story may be too heavy for an opening piece.

So the search continues for that elusive opening story.

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

Road Trip for a Book: The Storyteller's Sourcebook

I explore several libraries with my most regular stops with the Salt Lake County Libraries and the Davis County Libraries.

Living in Layton, the Central Branch of Davis County is the closest one to me at about 10 minutes from my home whereas I tend to find the best selection at the Whitmore Branch of the Salt Lake County Library system after a 45-minute drive.

I assumed that the Central Branch would have a copy of the coveted book "The Storyteller's Sourcebook: A Subject, Title, and Motif Index to Folklore Collections for Children 1983-1999" edited by Margaret Read MacDonald and Brian W. Sturm.

There were some pages I needed to continue my research on possible opening stories for my premiere. I aimed for the Reference Juvenile Literature section as that was where I found it at the Weber County Library on November 19th. It was not there. I checked the computer to be sure. There was not a copy at any of the seven branches of the Davis County Library system!

I glanced at my watch. It was 5:35pm. The Weber County Library closed at 6:00pm on Saturdays.

I ran to my car and drove as fast as I could knowing it would take from 20-25 minutes to drive depending on traffic.

I forgot about the Christmas parade.

The road that headed east and usually taken to the library was closed due to the parade.

I headed more north, looking to east at every intersection to see if this part of the street was open. No luck. I wondered aloud, "How long is this parade?!"

By this time it was 5:53pm.

Finally, I saw where the parade ended and zoomed until I saw the blessed building: Weber County Library.

I did not care that I parked crooked. I was here. I bolted for the doors. I knew exactly where this book was and grabbed it from the shelf.

Then the copier had to be. . .temperamental (to put it nicely).

After a few battles and asking for a librarian's help, I made the copies of the pages in the book that listed all the motif codes in connection to family and folklore.

If you read a previous post, you may wonder I did not make copies of these pages as the book was in my hands on November 19th. My response would be "Why do we do or not do things?" Sometimes there is not a clear answer.

Yet I had the copies now and felt more prepared to find the opening story for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" 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

Orphans in Folklore--A Comparative Study

At some point we have all felt isolated or alone. For some of us, this thought is fleeting while for others it is a fact of life. . .at least until we discover our families.

It is not surprising that folklore has reflected these feelings.

MyLinda Butterworth, dear friend from East Tennessee State University Storytelling Master's Program, emailed me a link to the article "From Folktales to Fiction: Orphan Characters in Children's Literature" published by Melanie A. Kimball through Library Trends of the Winter 1999 edition. The bibliography alone is worth the read, though this comparative study also shares the patterns found among orphan tales.

Kimball stated that the orphan is the "quintessential outcast, operates in isolation, and thus makes the perfect hero figure."

The orphan is many times the victim of hostile actions from verbal abuse, physical abuse, emotional trauma, and even treat of death. Fortunately, any mistreatment usually is answered by punishment for the offender.

In the meantime of having justice, the orphan is forced to face obstacles alone without having a family member to say, "Come with me." or "Things will be all right." Although, the spirit of the dead mother, which embodies the essence of love, provides some form of supernatural help.

Kimball observed that instead of the orphan leaving home to become independent, the orphan is "finding a home after coming from nothing."

Much more was shared by Kimball's article and I encourage you to read it. As for me, I will review the bibliography and see what books can help in research for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production.

Thank you, MyLinda, for the lead!

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance

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

Silly & Provoking Family Quotes to Boost Memory

My eyes found "Wit and Wisdom from the Peanut Butter Gang, a collection of wise words from young hearts" by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. at one of the display areas that librarians create.

Simply flipping though the pages and reading some of the quotes had my mind journey to the past.

Here are some that provoked images or ideas for me--

• "If love isn't taught in the home, it is almost impossible to learn it anywhere else."--from 75-year-old great-grandmother, on p. 7
• "If your mom picks your clothes and you dislike them, tell her they don't fit."--Christie, age 12, on p. 15
• "My grandmother can say more in a sentence than a college professor can say in an hour and a half.", Angela, age 14, on p. 16
• "No matter how much I love something, mom will throw it away without a second's thought.", Brian, age 12, on p. 16
• "When you complain about doing the dishes, you usually get stuck doing them more often.", Nichole, age 14, on. p. 17
• "It's no fun to stay up all night if your parents don't care.", Carrie, age 15, on p. 19
• "If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. Parents always catch the second person.", Michael, age 10, on p. 21
• "When you mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair.", Morgan, age 11, on p. 23
• "One of the greatest feelings in the world is the feeling you get when your little sister shows that she admires you.", Dawn, age 14, on p. 24
• "Despite all the loving and caring relationships in the world, there is nothing more loving than the feel of my mother's hand on my forehead when I am sick.", Rosemary, age 17, on p. 27
• "It's not always easy being a kid, but I bet it's even harder being an adult.", Julie, age 11, on p. 28
  

As I develop "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production, I want to merge personal reflection with the multicultural tales that I choose to tell that either reflect on the light or dark side of family relationships.

Perhaps a single quote could launch me into a library of ideas.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance

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

Making a Reusable Countdown for Premiere

Whenever there is a major movie or book to be released, there is usually a countdown connected with a huge poster or cardboard figure. I may not be going for a cardboard figure for "Family Famine: Hunger for Love", but I am looking to create a reusable countdown that can apply to the premiere date as well as to when I tour.

I have used countdowns on my blogs, "Voice--A Storyteller's Lifestyle" and "Family Famine: Hunger for Love", through Clocklink.com. Plus I have a countdown application on my profile page on Facebook through, which can be found under my "Boxes" tab. Unfortunately, this application is not allowed to be moved to my wall or main area for Facebook since the switch to the new Facebook. At least I still have the feature.

Frequent visits to the library and seeing their displays or the rare trips to the movie theatres allows me to apply techniques to my own projects.

As I find sponsors, hopefully some of them have moderate to heavy traffic from the general public. Perhaps they could display the countdowns for me.

I imagine most of these countdowns to be either 8 1/2 X 11 size or even 11 X 14 if I have a willing enough sponsor to work the descending numbers. The items I need to create a reusable countdown could be found from office supply to craft to school supply stores. In a later post I will share pictures of what I develop. In the meantime, I picked up some possibilities today (see pictures).

Feel free to share what types of supplies could make a reusable countdown. I would want something durable with a professional look. Most likely I am aiming for plastic. The lower right side would have a literature holder so I could place fliers of the event and/or have my business cards.

Until we tell again,

Rachel Hedman

Professional Storyteller

Co-Chair of Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance

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