Scribbling Songs from my Heart

I will create a few songs for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production, though I want one song to be a theme that shares different moods depending on how it is sung.

When this song is sung the first time, I would like a more upbeat and humorous feel. Upon the second time, I would like a more reflective mood from the audience.

Some of my inspiration comes from the musical "Oliver!", especially the "Food, Glorious Food" song as it has an endearing yet humorous quality when sharing the turmoils of being an orphan. Upon going beyond the tune and mood and into the lyrics, then the ironic twists are found.

Though no particular tunes have come to mind for my own program, I scribbled a bunch of phrases or words in several directions on a scrap piece of paper. Now I type some of my ideas here for you to explore. These ideas may or may not be transformed into a final product. I did not necessarily feel I had to rhyme yet sometimes it naturally came about. Most of the time, images and rhythm were more interesting.

One crumb.
Maybe two or three.
Perhaps four or five. . .just enough to stay alive.

You hear it?
The deep grumble below.
You feel it?
That tightening inside.
You see it?
The bones sticking out.

An empty table.
An empty chair.
An empty family that should be there.

Someplace--so far yet near.
A famine stalks the land.

There's a hunger in my soul. It yearns for more.

I will need to keep a notebook by my bed to capture any other phrases or thoughts that may inspire songs or stories.

As I read more multicultural tales, I may notice phrases or pieces that stand out and may merge well with the theme.

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

Requesting help from Communications Professor

After receiving a return telephone call yesterday from a Communications professor at Brigham Young University, I felt ready to submit my one-page request for the class.

Below is my email message as well as the request.

Dear Professor:

Thank you for being willing to read over my request. I have attached it in Word in regards to the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production to premiere February 9, 2009.

You may have already had a chance to view the blog on the project at http://familyfamine.blogspot.com.

I look forward to your reply.

Feel free to share with other professors, departments, or colleges as Iwould love to see it as a campus-involved event.

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

Reserve Rachel as your storyteller today!

Join the "Utah Storytelling Events" semi-monthly email list by sending request to Rachel at info@rachelhedman.com.

Ask about the narrative production "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" to premiere February 2009!

The following was attached--

Request to Communications 330, Advertising Concepting

Organization—Storytelling Adventures with Rachel Hedman, http://www.rachelhedman.com

Status—Sole proprietorship, small business with total of one owner/employee with shoestring budget (though attempting to receive grants) and open to traditional and guerrilla marketing techniques

Project—“Family Famine: Hunger for Love”, narrative production to premiere on Brigham Young University campus on February 9, 2009 with current blog following artistic and marketing journey at http://familyfamine.blogspot.com as well as support group on Facebook

Project 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.

Artist Statement—Storytelling is how I find the joy in everyday moments throughout all ages of time and cultures. With energy and passion, I connect to the story so that I may also connect to my listeners. The legacy I wish to achieve is to open eyes and minds to the wonder of storytelling and the vital role of the storyteller in society. For storytelling adventures to thrive for generations, I welcome youth to be leaders in the art.

I am a storyteller because I am first a story listener. I delight in expressing how each person’s life is something to celebrate. As story ideas emerge, I consider how best to transform seemingly insignificant moments into adventures. Sometimes I reveal the light and dark sides of human nature though, in the end, I celebrate the good found within all people.

I tell stories from my heart. I reflect upon how my listeners may respond to the stories and understand that everyone receives something different. Some of my favorite stories combine narrative with song, either from my own creations or hymns learned as a child. Through multicultural and modern tales, I undertake sensitive social concerns. I am exploring the strength of family relationships within the lives of historical, mythical, and personal heroes.

Storytelling adventures can be the tradition of joy for generations to come.

Problem Statement—When most people think about storytelling, they imagine a little old lady reading books to a group of children. As such, storytelling is often ignored or forgotten by the major arts such as theatre, music, dance, and visual arts. Only after giving enough voice to recognize storytelling do art councils, foundations, or corporations acknowledge the distinctiveness of the art in being interactive and co-creative with the audience involving the senses with emphasis on its oral natures. “Family Famine: Hunger for Love” is a 1 ½ hour program geared toward teenagers and adults that mixes the other arts with storytelling at center stage. Advertising must break through the current assumptions on the art.

Expectations—Advise on the most effective mediums to deliver the message in relation to guerrilla marketing as well as traditional formats that work within a tight budget. Design of a logo specific to the “Family Famine: Hunger for Love” that communicates the mood of the program. Develop support materials or scripts that would be most efficient in the marketing. Assist in any online marketing techniques. Assess possibilities of advertising on national/global scale for touring beyond premiere.

Timeline—Most likely November or December so there is enough time to put out press releases and announcements to media as the premiere is February 9, 2009

Contact Information—Rachel Hedman, Professional Storyteller
(801) 870-5799 • info@rachelhedman.com • 1095 N. 2925 W. Layton, UT 84041

Extra Facts—Rachel Hedman is founder of the BYU Storytelling Club, which jumpstarted in 1997 and still in existence. She graduated from the BYU Communications Marketing program with the intention of being a professional storyteller as connecting with a target audience and marketing principles are applied daily in her career. The strongest advertising and marketing campaigns are in the form of a story.

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

Beyond the Premiere: Touring

Today I learned that I did not receive the $1000 grant to attend the Arts Northwest Booking Conference for performing artists given through the Utah Arts Council.

Despite the disappointment, I was unaware of the event before the UAC offered a workshop about the event last week. If nothing else, this opportunity reminded me to think beyond the premiere and the touring that will follow.

In part of the notification email from the UAC it said, "a letter will be forthcoming with more information. We have entered your information in our database so that you may be notified of upcoming professional development and funding opportunities provided by the Utah Arts Council."

I am anxious for the letter.

Writing a grant proposal is often successful after more than one attempt at it. Some people give up when given a rejection, though for me it only makes me more determined. I may not be able to attend the Arts Northwest Booking Conference this year, yet there is always 2009.

Besides, even if I had gone to the conference, I was too late to be part of the showcases that features dancers, musicians, theatre groups, as well as the occasional professional storyteller.

I asked Karen Hanan, the Executive Director of Arts Northwest, how often storytelling is featured at the conference. She mentioned that Diane Ferlatte had performed for them before. No other names were given. It seems that out of 30 possible showcases maybe one spot would go to a storyteller.

Karen continued that well over 400 people and growing attend the conference with about a 2 to 1 ratio of performing artist to sponsor. This gives the sponsors chances to connect with many different people who could possibly be invited to their venues.

To apply for the 2009 Arts Northwest Booking Conference showcases, the call goes out in January and due by March. I intend to submit portions of "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" as only 20 minutes are given to each artist.

Perhaps I will get that one storyteller slot. Or maybe the Arts Northwest will give more chances for storytellers as our art becomes more visible.

Until we tell again,

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

Exploring Day & Night Opposites in Family Life

As I read multicultural tales and reflect on my own life, certain images or actions of characters could guide me to think of positive or negative attributes in family life. It is like finding the differences between the sun and the moon.

I will begin and end with the positive ones and address some of the negative ones in the center of the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production.

Here are two lists to consider--

Positive Attributes in Family Life

• Love unfeigned--charity, caring for others' welfare despite any wrongdoing
• Acceptance--seeing others in eternal perspective, judging with compassion
• Integrity--being honest, a personal commitment to doing right
• Persuasion--teaching with compassion, kindly pointing out advantages and disadvantages of situations
• Gentleness--soft, not treating others harshly
• Trust--lovingly allowing others to exercise their agency to choose right or wrong and to accept the consequence
• Responsibility--acknowledging and assuming your role in any situation including repenting for past wrongdoing
• Meekness--humility, uncomplaining, and teachable

Negative Attributes in Family Life

• Physical force--being hostile and unfairly using physical strength
• Blame--condemning others' faults without compassion
• Accusation--provoking guilt, reminding people of their mistakes to punish them and justify oneself
• Intimidation--ruling by fear because others are afraid of one's power
• Threat--expressing an intent to physically or emotionally harm someone
• Pride--self-righteously preaching moral truths and condemning others
• Self-centeredness--refusing to accept responsibility for your actions
• Haughtiness--being unteachable, proud, and pessimistic
  

After reading stories, I may categorize which attribute(s) surface. Though above all, the stories must resonate with me so that I feel motivated to share them in the first place.

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

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.

Brainstorming and a List I Forgot I Had

The easiest way for me to be motivated about a program or even an individual story is to create the title. After finding a title that resonates with me, then I create a 30-60-word description.

Strangely, having a title and a 30-word description was the same requirement to be part of a lottery for the Fringe in connection with the 2006 National Storytelling Conference. I took this opportunity to figure out the now-called "Family Famine: Hunger for Love." When my name was not drawn for the Fringe, I put the project on hold. (You may notice a couple references to the Fringe or to deadlines throughout this blog entry.)

I have since decided that I can create my own event.

What to call this event? Though titles or descriptions may change as stories are chosen or another theme direction taken, the process seems to say "I am committed". With the commitment, I am ready for the storytelling adventure.

I forgot that back in 2005 I created a binder to throw in my ideas for the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" narrative production. I found it today. More lists than expected were created so I will share one of them with you now.

Title/Concept Ideas (brainstorming):
Families: Eternally Ever After or The End
Family Fairytale: Ever After or The End
Family Fantasy: Ever After or The End
Do Families Exist?
Family Focus
Shaken Families
Family Physics: Every Action has an Equal or Opposite Reaction
Family Foul Play: Timeout!
Family Feuds
Parenting Nightmares
Abuse in the Home
Families of the Ages
Forever Families
Eternal Bonds
Beyond the Relationship
Family Fork in the Road: Ever After or The Dead End?
Eternally Ever After or Family Feuds
Eternally Ever After: Reality?
Eternally Ever After or Happy til Death
Eternally Ever After or The End--Families in Question
The End?--Families in Question
The End of Families. . .Or The Beginning
Family Weather Channel--Storm or Sunshine
Family Weather Report--Cloudy or Sunny
Family Forecast--Cloudy or Sunny
Happy Homes in all Shapes and Sizes
Homes Divided and Homes United
Scarred or Healed for Eternity
Eternal Courtship
No Place Like Home. . .Unless
Heaven Could Be Boring Without Families
Families Under Construction
Family Breakers and Creators
Family Famine: Hunger for Love

From the list above, I narrowed down to the titles I loved the best. I was at such a loss as to which one to choose. Appropriately enough, I turned to my family. I emailed or shared in-person the following request to my family, some storytelling friends, and a couple people in the position to hire me.

Basic Script when Requested People to Vote on Title:
I need your vote on your favorite title below. I am putting together an hour program focused on strong family relationships as well as the poor ones. Please respond quickly as the deadline to submit the title and 30-word description is Wednesday, November 30th. In fact, perhaps you can print a copy and show to others.

Family Physics: Every Action has an Equal or Opposite Reaction
Family life can be a fusion bomb upon the actions of abuse and abandonment. Rachel Hedman shares the nuclear energy of patience, humor, and unconditional love through multicultural tales.

Family Foul Play: Timeout!
Famly life can strike out when pitched abuse and abandonment. Rachel Hedman shares the victory of patience, humor, and unconditional love through multicultural tales.
Reasoning--Most families experience sports or Little League.
Possible Image--Umpire showing timeout signal

Family Fork in the Road: Ever After or The Dead End?
Family life can halt at the dead end of abandonment and abuse. Rachel Hedman shares the U-turn to the other road of patience, humor, and unconditional love through multicultural tales.
Reasoning--Perhaps growing up with "The Muppet Movie" did something for me.
Possible Image--Giant metal fork in the road and also Dead End sign

Family Fairytale: Ever After or The End?
Family life can be a curse when there is abandonment and abuse. Rachel Hedman shares how to uplift the spell through patience, humor, and unconditional love through multicultural tales.

Family Famine: Hunger for Love
Family life can starve when fed abuse and abandonment. Rachel Hedman shares the feast of patience, humor, and unconditional love through multicultural tales.
Reasoning--I thought of the spiritual famine that is mentioned in the scriptures.
Possible Image--An almost wooden empty bowl with a tiny oatmeal heart on the bottom with a spoon to the side

Which one(s) of the above titles stand out in your mind more? Why or why not?
***After sending the request, I received over 40 votes.

Some Responses to Titles in November 2005:
Professional Storyteller in UT--
"I like them because they are unique, clever and I love wordplay. I'm not actually that keen on physics or baseball, but I like that you matched the title and the description. Well put! (Cold fusion OR homerun, depending on your choice!)"

"I like the others as well, especially the 'Fork In the Road', but for some reason, these two struck me brightest. Maybe it was because they were first on your list--who knows? But maybe the (dead) end gives me just a little pause--I always think of someone who has dealt successfully with abuse as a 'transcender' even more than a survivor, but there is some personal bias there. My mother grew up in an abusive home and managed to break the cycle. But then again, offering a 'U-turn' is a wonderful image. I love the visual images each of your titles/descriptions evoke--good work there, too."

"Anyway, I think you've got some good stuff here--real attention getters--so whether or not the National Storytelling Network picks it up, definitely DO develop this program. I think it has REAL merit and much value."

Commenting after hearing from Professional Storyteller in OH--
Thank you for responding to the different titles. I was quite divided on what title I felt mirrored my thoughts for this program. Although I would like to share this program at the Fringe (if drawn), most of the audience may be LDS or be from the community such as libraries and colleges.

In the end, I have decided on "Family Famine: Hunger for Love." The "Family Fairytale: Ever After or The End?" was a very close second. Part of my decision was based on the fact that I don't plan to share this with kids under 12 and I am afraid that "fairytale" might give the wrong impression to some people. Although fun and humorous stories will be used, I have two serious stories on child abuse and abandonment. Nothing graphic but it's not meant to hold attention of kids in elementary.

I will have to keep "Family Fairytale: Ever After or The End" for a program open to any age or for a younger group. Storytellers can appreciate the title but I don't want to worry about changing the title for the same program.

Commenting after hearing from Librarian in CA
I am in process of developing a program that could be a circuit program for libraries as well as other places. It's called "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" and it's geared for 12-year-olds and up. Utah has a teen program through the library, too, so I plan to share this program with them when it's completed.

So now you understand a little more of the history of the title.

Until we tell again,

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

Outreach: Transform Solo Piece to Community Art

A storyteller does not have to be alone. With all the wondrous art forms out in the world, the merging of them brings about something that more than one person can enjoy.

When I attended a workshop by the Utah Arts Council, I already had the idea of asking for who would like to join me in this "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" premiere set for February 9, 2009. With so many months for preparation, what was was ideal? What was realistic? Could ideal and realistic be the same thing?

Visual Art
I may like to draw with colored pencils every so often, but I do not have anything good enough to display in a gallery. Yet, the title "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" would conjure images that a group of artists could share.

Since there are still a few months before the premiere, I wondered if I could connect with Brigham Young University's Department of Visual Arts and have some or one professor challenge their students to create according to the theme. Then, during opening night, the images could be displayed as if a gallery before people take their seats.

Since I saw some staff from the Utah Arts Council, I explained my dream of a call-out to all visual artists in the state and beyond to join in the challenge. Though an official call may not be possible, it seemed that at least an email through the Utah Arts Council could be sent. At least some people may respond or at least have other ideas on how to merge many arts to make something a community effort.

Then one lady who used to work with the Council suggested that I also connect with high school art teachers, especially with Muray High School and its annual artist show of students. She also mentioned the Bountiful/Davis Art Center. Other individual names were shared who lived from Orem to American Fork.

Perhaps the artwork imagined could help when eventually there is a book on "Family Famine: Hunger for Love". Maybe that would give more motivation to the artists to participate.

Music
I already planned to sing some songs of my creation in the program. I continue to debate the use of hymns and church songs such as "Love at Home" (click to hear sung by Morman Tabernacle Choir) or "Families can be Together Forever" (click to hear sung by a one-year-old). It may be best to use songs outside of my LDS culture just as I expect to use multicultural stories outside of my own.

Strangely, the classic primary song "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" (click to hear a little brother and sister sing it with actions) keeps coming to mind.

I will need to keep in mind permissions as this event will be recorded.

Regardless of the songs chosen or created, I could see a couple moments where I would be accompanied. Some storytellers have the talent with one or more instruments. Though I used to play the piano, I could not see it good enough for something like this project. There is a certain mood that occurs during a cappella--what I normally do with song--and when accompanied.

Clive Romney, one of my friends and Executive Director of the Utah Pioneer Heritage Arts, is an accomplished musician and song composer. When I saw him at the Council event, I asked if he had a moment to hear my plans. He agreed that I had a wonderful concept and asked to hear the story "Forsaken Brother", an Ojibwa tale, to understand what inspired this journey in the first place. The other attendees had gone for lunch. With a little hesitation, I did an impromptu performance. Before I started, Sally Johnson from Green Light, a booking and talent management company, walked into the room, noticed I was about to share something, and asked if she could take join us. I nodded.

After the telling, Clive gave a couple names on someone who I might tandem compose so to avoid the pitfalls for amateur songwriters as myself. One person was a guitarists. Clive thought since I was striving for quality good enough for the PBS station, that having more polished pieces were in order.

Dance
I have not explored this area too much, though I have thought to what Buck P Creacy did with his "Soup" production in which he told stories and music and dance merged with his telling. Only he often went to the side when the pieces were done. You can find some clips of "Soup" on his link.

I do have a talented sister-in-law who danced for the BYU Modern Dance Team since a freshmen, a feat in and of itself. The style of modern dance would make the most sense for my narrative production anyway. Now to give her a call.

Theatre
Perhaps because I am taking a theatrical approach and even using the term "narrative production" qualifies for this area of art. Though there may be a structure to the performance, I do not picture it scripted. I do want to interact with the audience so that the piece would change if someone were missing or added to the group.

The development of this piece, however, may be of interest to Drama clubs or the Department of Theatre and Media Arts. I may want to put a sort of residency. Maybe teachers or professors would encourage questions to be asked or to give comments to this blog. There are the possiblities of discussion on the "Family Famine: Hunger for Love" Facebook account.

I will continue to see how this solo piece of mine can become something more. Something that could be toured from campus to campus across the world so that the visual art, music, dance, and theatre aspects could change each time and therefore have an ever-evolving production. Though center stage of all of this would be the storytelling.

This is what I dream.

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