Traded Time for What is Most Important

I volunteered to coach youth tellers from the Ogden City School District for the Weber State University Storytelling Festival, and this meant a time switch of the usual practice time with my story buddy, Joanna Huffaker, for The Changeling story.

Later in the evening, I attended the Clearfield Storytelling Festival. Several people asked, when I arrived, if I was performing. I said, "No, but I love being story listener, too!"

I received permission to have a booth on storytelling, which included a poster and some postcards of my premiere.

Marilyn Lawrence, substitute teacher through the Davis School District, was there and said she planned to go to the premiere.

She missed me at the 2009 Farmington Storytelling Festival. I was invited to tell there but it conflicted with the Adoption Education Seminar that my husband and I attended to learn about the adoption process.

I am glad we went to the seminar though.

Time is sometimes needed to trade for that which is most important.

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

Liability: Aim for the Board and not the Fingers

I purchased my first staple gun. Then, I used one for the first time.

Sound like a liability problem?

Not really. I have an insurance license with Aflac and have the accident plan. I'm covered.

Though, I should be as careful as possible before the premiere day. After all, it will be filmed.

I was told about the various booths up and down the same street at the Covey Center for the Arts, the same place as my premiere. I knew a poster needed to be stapled to each one.

The booths were three sided with a fourth glass side. The glass side was reserved for the government. Depending on the space, I put up either a poster or two postcards.

Why two postcards? Then one side had the image of the soup, hands, and steam while the other side shared the information.

Along the way, I entered certain stores that displayed other posters that would occur in the Covey Center for the Arts.

I knew the people inside these stores would probably give permission to tape my poster alongside the other posters.

Then a group of ladies walked by.

I called out, "Hey, do you know how far these booths go?" They said that there were booths for a couple more blocks. Then it was best for me to turn around.

Eventually, they asked about my event.

I was only too glad to share.

I had their attention when I mentioned how the Family Famine: Hunger for Love program celebrated storytelling as the main stage art with the merge of an electric guitarist, an upright bass player, and a singer.

The ladies, who worked in the same building, said they would love to attend. It was the cue to give each of them their own Family Famine: Hunger for Love postcard.

Finally, I reached the last booth outside the Covey Center for the Arts. A man waiting for the bus was kind enough to take the picture you see with this post.

The same day that my fingers were in possible danger from a staple gun was also the same day that I bought liability insurance for the Family Famine: Hunger for Love premiere.

Part of receiving the insurance included asking questions like, "Will you have pyrotechnics for the show?"

Um. No. But what a great idea!

Then I crossed off the fireworks on my "to do" list as I had not budgeted for these items. Alas!

With the paperwork done, I handed over my debit card and was charged $125.00 based on the number of performers, the level of risk, and the estimate of people to attend.

Whew! Now I was covered there!

I tucked away my debit card and my staple gun and headed home.

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

The Practice that was More Chat than Practice

I did a little more talking than storytelling today.

It seemed my story buddy, Joanna Huffaker, was in the same mood.

We usually split our time so Joanna has the first hour for her storytelling projects and then I have the second hour for my storytelling projects.

There are times when having the chance to be listened to is more important than practicing.

My eyebrows were a little furrowed when I discovered that the same night as my Family Famine: Hunger for Love premiere was another storytelling concert in the neighboring town.

I had made a huge effort to communicate my dates and times in the storytelling community so such a schedule conflict would not occur.

But it happened anyway.

I already knew that people would be split as to which concert to attend.

The other storytelling concert did start earlier than mine, but I wondered if it would end at a decent time so people could attend both if they chose.

My posters and postcards had been printed and mostly distributed so I could not make my own concert later in the evening.

When about 15 minutes was left of my 1-hour time, then I rushed to at least tell The Changeling story once.

Being rushed has a way to affect the storytelling quality, and this time was no different.

My telling of The Changeling was not as good as last week, but it was understandable given my worries.

But alas, the show must go on.

And on with the show must be hope.

Things will work out how they need to in the end.

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

Posters: Not So Easy to Hang Up These Days

It can be hard to hang up a poster.

Oh, the actual lifting of the poster and taping it to a wall is not the issue.

It is if the location allows the poster to be hung in the first part.

Some places said "no" to me even though the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" Premiere was connected to my Storytelling Masters project. I thought the education part would be on my side.

Then, I pondered how I was a member of the Utah Storytelling Guild. That is a nonprofit group and places tended to be more open about hanging items from a nonprofit.

I called Wendy Gourley, the president of the guild, and described my situation. She said that she would be happy for the event to be sponsored in part by the guild. I took the USG logo and printed it on gold stickers.

The funny part is that I may receive more attention to the posters with the sticker than if the "Sponsored in part by the Utah Storytelling Guild" was printed directly on the posters.

I drove to the Covey Center for the Arts to hang some of these posters. I also traveled to several libraries in the Utah County, especially since I had my official guild stickers in tow.

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

Posters: Finding the Print Shop with Pizazz

Though my "Save the Date" postcards were printed, there were still posters for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere to produce.

I had to find a company other than PrintsMadeEasy.com to print the posters. That online company specialized in postcards and business cards.

This time I wanted to choose a local print shop so I could easily drive to the place and authorize the coloring before the mass printing. My posters needed to have the light blue background and not the blue-purple as what happened with the postcards.

If the print shop had a listing online but no website, then I automatically crossed them off my list.

Finally, I discovered Bell Printing and Design.

As I scoured the website, I looked for hints that Bell Printing was a print shop and not a copy center. Higher quality would most likely be at a print shop where heavier and more expensive equipment filled the building.

My trip to Belling Printing and Design happened to be on a slippery and snow-filled day. The drive was a little dangerous, but I made it into the driveway without a scratch.

I brought a poster I liked from a different storytelling event to show what I wanted for the premiere posters. As I was unaware of print shop lingo, then the workers could "translate".

While waving the poster I said, "I like thick and heavy paper with a glossy front".

Bell Printing and Design interpreted this to mean "I like 11 X 17 posters with Blue White Carolina C1S Cover Ultra Light 94 12pt, Digital Press on 1 side".

I asked for a quote on 100 posters. It would be $72.50.

I had budgeted one hundred dollars for the posters so I happy to have an extra $27.50 to apply to another area for the premiere.

I insisted on a color check before all 100 posters would be printed. Fortunately, there was no extra charge for this service.

I knew the printing would take a few business days, but I was excited to see the results.

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

Postcard Delivery: An Early Christmas Gift

I got an early Christmas present as the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" postcards arrived today!

I expected the postcards to arrive December 31st so I could take care of labels and have things sent out January 2nd. PrintsMadeEasy.com is closed on Saturdays and Sundays plus the U.S. Postal Service is off a couple days during the holiday season. I must have barely placed the order online to make the December 24th date.

When the doorbell rang and the box was placed on the doorstep, I was so taken aback that I wondered what could be inside the box.

That was only for a moment.

Then I could not open the box fast enough. I squealed like a little girl, a now 29-year-old girl.

When I pulled out the cards, I was impressed. . .except that the light blue background coloring was more purple than light blue. This made some headings harder to read. I made a note to check the printing color for the posters to have the light blue. Since most people would look close at the postcard anyway, then the readability was good enough.

With PrintsMadeEasy.com, I could have opted (for a fee) to have a hard-copy sent to me so I could authorize the coloring. I was more interested in speed. With that choice came consequences.

My friends and family assured me that the postcards did look great.

Nevertheless, the next time I print postcards, or anything else that involves color, I will check the printing.

The trick will be to order them early enough to speed is not as important as the overall quality.

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 Perfect: Working with Designer who Listens

When Dawn Bloxham sent the first draft of the poster, I was impressed.

She focused on my requests, and she did not let 24 hours pass before addressing any questions or comments from me.

My response to her was the following--

What I Love:

• The font and positioning is perfect for "Family Famine: Hunger for Love". I think you purposely lined up the "F" "U" "L" in a vertical way, which has a fun meaning for those who are observant.
• The title, in and of itself, is a work of art.
• The hands with the bowl of soup/heart really does work!
• The red, white, and blue colors reflect Americana and traditional family values.
• Your sense of balance and the power of threes in your artwork. For example, you are smart that the hands make a triangle shape pointing to the information. You are also conscientious of having some red on top, red in the middle, and red in the soup.
• You understand the "less is more" concept.
• Dark brown works as an outline color rather than a black.
• Lining up of all the wording in a pleasing manner.

Things to Explore/Play:

• Let's have bolder and richer colors of the red, white, and blue colors. What would happen if we had the same/similar bright blue as on my business card for the background? Blood-red or similar shade of red as on my business card? At the same time, I like how the skin color of the hand blends into the background--very artistic. Yet, the color is muted and not engaging enough to make someone stop while walking past the poster. The trick is what to do about the font color with such a background? Please save the original version as well as this "play with color" one.
• Let's have "action" to the image by having big swirls of steam from the soup. Perhaps reflect the style as the heart in the soup.
• Could my picture be enlarged without distracting from the title or bowl? I know white space is important.
• Could the hands have a texture to look more 2D or 3D rather than flat?
• Add possible contrast to the hands and bowl. For example, the tree on my business card has the white with the dark brown so it has almost a "shock" value. Same with the white pixie against the dark background. This may make the hands, in particular, less flat-looking.

Wording/Item to Change:

• A couple people did not know what I meant by "recorded live" in connection with "World premiere narrative production recorded live". Do you think it will be more clear if it was "World premiere narrative production to be recorded live"?
• The white font of "Monday, February 9th at 8:00pm" is hard to read against the tan background.

When Dawn changed the background color for the poster, darkened the blues and reds, and added the steam from the bowl of soup with the heart in it, I knew we had it. The contrast or the request to make the hands look more 2D or 3D became unnecessary.

Yet, not to be hasty, I again sent this file to my story buddies. They had helped catch things in the past that I would not have seen until it was too late.

After feedback from my story buddies, I knew that the poster was finalized.

Dawn certainly has artistic flair and listens to me at the same time.
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

Marketing Buddies: Many Eyes & Many Brains

I never like to make a decision alone. Not when it comes to advertising.

I sent the file of possible poster and postcard images for "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" to several storytelling friends including my story buddies for "The Gardener's Wife" and for "Forsaken Brother".

I also sent the file to Elizabeth Ellis.

Then I waited for reactions.

Dawn Bloxham, the artist, had sent a page of six different images. She let me know that any of the images could be changed and altered such as in the colors, shapes, and additions.

Two pictures were of two hands with palms up with a heart in it. Another picture was of a heart-shaped apple with a bite and light streaming from it. The fourth image was of a modern white soup bowl filled with tomato soup with a white cream heart and a spoon from an aerial view. The last picture was of a thick horizontal limb of a tree with a couple apples hanging from it with a little blue bird.

I had considered the tree because my business card has a tree with a single apple hanging from it. Perhaps this would be a way to connect my logo with the program's logo.

Yet, it was the bowl of soup that grabbed my attention. I knew the white bowl was too modern, but if it was a modern bowl, then that might be perfect. Most of my story buddies commented on how the bowl of soup grabbed them.

Joanna Huffaker, a storytelling friend, mentioned that the hands did give a human touch so I asked Dawn to add hands around the wooden bowl.

Besides the image, Dawn asked what information needed to be on the posters. I sent her the following lists--

Required Information for Poster:

• Title--Family Famine: Hunger for Love
• World premiere narrative production recorded live
• Starring Rachel Hedman
• Monday, February 9th at 8:00pm
• Covey Center for the Arts, Grand Theater
• 425 W. Center Street, Provo, UT
• Tickets: $10.00 general admission, $5.00 student/senior*, $5.00 for groups of 15 or more*, *Discount prices available only by phone or in person*
• Reserve your seats by calling (801) 852-7007 or go to www.coveycenter.org
• Light refreshments to follow

Debating on How or If to Share the Following Information for Poster/Postcard Due to Space:

• Guest emcee/national storyteller Elizabeth Ellis
• Singer Holly Robison
• Accompanist/Guitarist Joshua Payne
• How much of this standard description--Family life can starve when fed abuse and abandonment with stories that gnaw at the stomach. Then Rachel shares the feast of patience, humor and unconditional love through multicultural tales mixed with song and personal reflection. You are welcome to the table.
• More info at http://familyfamine.blogspot.com or email info@rachelhedman.com
• Merchandise available for purchase

Information for the "Save the Date" Postcard (besides required info for Poster):

• Extend your stay while at the Timpanogos Storytelling Conference (www.timpfest.org) from February 5-7 and take part in this event
• Please RSVP at info@rachelhedman.com
• Remember you could:
  

* Attend and celebrate
* Pre-order DVD at special price $15.00 (Normal $20.00)
* Invite Rachel to you
* Or all of the above!

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