Storyteller Mark Goldman

Report from Timpanogos

Once again, I traveled to Provo, Utah for the Timpanogos Storyworks Conference. I wanted to attend as there were several sessions focusing on storytelling in the classroom. Anthony Burcher's session on Wordplay Games that Teach Storytelling Skills was a lot of fun. Games and exercises from his new book provoked laughter and new insights for teaching storytelling to both kids and adults. Jane Stenson's session was a real asset in shedding light on linking storytelling with the Common Core standards in use in many school districts. Charlotte Blake Alston's workshop provided a powerful example of the use of rhythm in telling a story. In this, she is a master!

The Friday night concert with Charlotte Blake Alston, Bill Harley and two Youth Storytellers was awe-inspiring. Bill harley's rubber face accompanied his stories and story-songs and Charlotte's regal voice and rhythms rocked the house, especially with her rendition of John Henry.

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This Week

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SO MUCH GOING ON THIS WEEK!

Connie Regan-Blake

Concerts & Workshops with Connie Regan-Blake All Week
Connie has been telling stories and teaching for over 40 years. She has a "smooth" style and delivery that hold your attention with great intensity. In a small room or a tent with thousands of listeners, Connie always seems to be telling just to you. There are concerts with Q & A all week, a special concert on Wednesday evening where Connie will also tell of her journey to Uganda, and a workshop Thursday evening.

Check the calendar section for details

AZ Republic Live Storytelling

Tuesday
It's lady's night at the AZ Republic's Live Storytelling - and it's all about love. Seven women will tell true, personal stories based on the theme, Kill me, Cupid: Stories of True Love and Heartbreak. This month’s event will be at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale. This promises to be a fun-filled romp, don’t miss it!

Check the calendar section for details

Yarnball Storytelling

Wednesday
Lawn Gnome Publishing invites storytellers to prepare a 5 to 8 minute, first-person story on the theme, addressing it literally or metaphorically in the tradition of The Moth or stories that could be heard on NPR's This American Life. This week's theme: Crush / Heart of Darkness

Check the calendar section for details

Return to the African Village & Oya's Market

Friday
The third annual production of Return to the African Village. Get ready for a joyful extravaganza of dance, drumming, and story in celebration of African Culture. New this year is Oya's Market, featuring jewelry by Bead for Life and other vendors starting at 6:00 p.m. The performance starts at 7:00 p.m. Come early to get a good seat! Free and open to the public.
Check the calendar section for details

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Coming Up

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Lit Lounge
NEXT FRIDAY
Featuring Maxine Lapiduss, Emmy-nominated producer of Ellen and Rosanne. PLUS our own Penelope Starr, Artistic Director of Tucson's Odyssey Storytelling and more!

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Tips

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Find Your Home

Here's a tip from Bill Harley that came out of his Timpanogos workshop on Finding Your Authentic Self.

When you get on stage, or in front of your audience, first - find that place that is neutral for you, your home spot. Be aware of who you are as the storyteller/narrator. As the storyteller, you are NOT a character, unless you are telling the story AS a character, if so, then you must find the HOME of that character.

Relax, breathe, take a moment to find your home. This is what you will always come back to. Start at home. Fix a different stance, voice, facial expression for a character and go there...then come home. Go to another character, with another place...then come home. If two characters engage in a dialog, do NOT go home between each. Rather, make sure each is fixed in a different place, and go back and forth between each...then come home.

Home is your safe place. The place you alweays come back to. It's also the place where you can pause or take time to read your audience, or decide to make adjustments in your story.

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Tidbits

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Twenty Skills A Storyteller Needs
Anthony Burcher, Storyteller and Co-Author of 101 Games That Teach Storytelling Skills, has devised two great lists that capture the essence of the skills a storyteller needs both BEFORE and WHILE telling. I like this list. I think it boils things down to some good primamry skills. Here they are (reprinted whith his permissioin):

Skills You Need BEFORE You Tell

Imagination
Discovering Personal Stories
Discovering Stories to Make Your Own
Sensory Addition
Word Selection
Powers of Observation
Creation & Creativity
Dedication to Practice
An Above Average Understanding of the
English Language
An Above Average Understanding of
What Constitutes a "STORY"

Skills You Need WHILE Telling

Facial Expressions
Gestures
Eye Contact
Reading & Negotiating with the Audience
Descriptive Ability
Tempo
Voice Inflection
Diction
Projection
Enthusiasm

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Ongoing
Events

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Storytellers' Open Mic at Terra Java
First Sunday of each month - PHOENIX
http://www.storytellermark.com/openmic/

Yarnball Storytellers Mic
Every Wednesday at 8 pm - PHOENIX
https://www.facebook.com/lawngnomepublishing/events

Odyssey Storytelling
First Thursday of each month - TUCSON
http://www.storyartsgroup.org/odyssey/Odyssey/Welcome.html

East Valley Tellers of Tales -Storytellers Guild
Second Saturday of each month - SCOTTSDALE
http://www.evtot.com

West Side Story Tellers -Storytellers Guild
Second Saturday of each month - GLENDALE
Westsidestorytellers@yahoo.com

Lit Lounge - Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMOCA)
Fourth Friday of each month - SCOTTSDALE
http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/smoca-events.php

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FULL MONTHLY CALANDAR

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All Newsletter content ©Mark Goldman
Got some news or information you would like to get out to the storytelling community?
Contact Mark Goldman -x602-390-3858x - Mark@Storytellermark.com