Wish Me Luck - and Warm Clothes! I am off to the Northlands this Thursday! Not just north, but the Northlands Storytelling Conference in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I am very excited as my proposal for a workshop was accepted! I will be presenting along with many other respected colleagues such as: Laura Packer; Loren Niemi; Tim Tingle, Judy Sima; Robin Bady; Janice Del Negro; Wendy Gourly; Yvonne Healy and Katie Knutson, to name just a few! I am quite honored.
My workshop is on Crafting Outside the Story: Action Concepts for Story Exploration. This workshop gets people “out of their heads” and on their feet using “action-oriented” techniques to assist them in crafting stories with greater clarity. Action helps stimulate creativity, spontaneity; and elevates levels of exploration and discovery.
And wish me luck, so that I remember to bring warm clothes too!
Institute Graduation & Storytelling Concert Friday - April 29th - SMCC Library Community Room
Please join us in the Community Room of the South Mountain Community Library for a celebration of our seven Storytelling Certificate Graduates! Rosanna Fierros, Marian Giannatti, Maya Jones, Wendy Miller, Joan Misek, Eva Valdez, and Dixie Walljasper have all completed their 30-credit academic certificate in storytelling! Join us to celebrate and honor their achievements and to hear a story from each of them.
Out Of The Box Storytelling Out of the Box Storytelling - Women Storytellers. Saturday, April 30th - 10am - Noon (doors open at 9:30 am)
A place for Christian women to get together to hear and tell of the wonders that God has done in their lives or (with permission) in the lives of others. This is a fun, exciting new way to hear six 8-10 minute personal, uplifting, faith-promoting stories about the wonders of God, and enjoy a delicious brunch! They offer fun, laughter, and a chance to win door prizes!
It's at Dobson’s Restaurant at Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa from 10am - 12 Noon.
Tucson Storytellling Concert - May 1st Monday - May 1st - 4pm
Tucson Garden Home - 222 E. 14th Street, Tucson, AZ
It's All Relative: Tales of Mothers, Fathers, and Others
A storytelling concert for grown ups with
Glenda Bonin, Jordan Hill, and Debra Olson-Tolar
Join these three professional storytellers for an entertaining afternoon of traditional and personal tales in a lovely garden setting (but we'll move inside if the weather dictates).
Odyssey Storytelling in Tucson Thursday, May 5th The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress Street , Tucson
This curated Storytelling event in Tucson is in its 13th year! Six people are invited to tell ten minute, personal stories on a theme in front of an audience. The stories are not read or memorized, they are told from the life experiences and creativity of the teller
Theme: Again
Once again, an encore or déjà vu… Is that really you? Romance a second time, a trip, a hike, a meal or rhyme. Sometimes it’s intentional, other times coincidence or fluke. Either way, to return can be intriguing, simply annoying or slightly strange. If you replay…will things really change?
$8 Adults, $6 Students
Have you visited The Screening Room's fabulous concession stand? There's beer, wine, and excellent snacks. They'll even place an order for you with Empire Pizza and have it delivered to your seat. Who knew?!
A workshop on creating personal stories. Sean Buvala heads the event. He will teach about the "three refractions" you need to take your personal tale from "I don't get it" to an audience-engaging "That story could change my life." Doors open at 9 am - workshop starts promptly at 930 am. No charge for the workshop but a variety of books and resources will be available for sale.
In the art and tradition of Oral Storytelling (and in the creation of any story), we have our own sea glass: the “World Tale.” That is, the collection of folktales, myths, legends and fairytales passed down through generations. These tales have been tumbled about, polished and spread throughout the earth. Just as with sea glass, what may have started as a simple on-the-spot tales have become shining flashes in our psyche. World tales have stood the test of time because they contain very specific “refractions” that touch the minds and hearts of the listeners even to this day.
Learn to craft your personal tales to have more impact and a lasting memory in the hearts and minds of your listeners. The "Sea Glass Storytelling Workshop" includes workshop, materials and is FREE!
Observation - The Key to Creating and Recreating One of the ways to "show, don't tell" in story is to recreate the world around us. What do people and things look like? Sound like? Smell like? How do people move? Speak? Show how they are feeling? For this - observation is the key!
Antonio Rocha has said, "Authenticity comes from research and observation. Real monkeys don’t scratch their armpits. One must observe without judgment." (see the related Tidbits below)
As storytellers and performers, we are constantly recreating the environments, people and actions of our stories. In order to do this with "authenticity", before we can recreate it, we must be good observers. How does a monkey act? How does a baby crawl? How does and eight year old act when they are nervous or worried? A 20 year old? a 50 year old? What is the sound of one's breath when they are fearful? Happy? In love?
We must be good observers not only of behaviors, but of the human condition. What is happening around us; in our family; in our neighborhood; in the world? These things all have a bearing on how we act and react. Elizabeth Ellis has said that "story is all about context." A good observer understands the context in which everything occurs. A good storyteller can then recreate what they have observed and understand, in order to convey the story to the audience.
So be a good observer. You may also need to be a good "eavesdropper", remember, listening is always the first skill, even if it might be surreptitiously!
Antonio said to "observe without judgment." I think this means be careful of the filter that you may already have regarding the context that you are trying to observe. Can you rid yourself of the assumptions and predispositions you may have? Think about being a detective. Be careful about that magnifying glass you are looking through. Is is colored in a certain way? Be cautious, and read the Tidbit below!
How Old is Old? Here's a video that relates to the "tip" above. In addition to observation, our "filters" or "perceptions" can throw us off. This video is of several Millennials. They were asked about their perceptions of what "old" is. Some striking statements and then changes in the way they perceived "old" when they actually met some folks who were "older".
------------------------------------THERE'S A LOT GOING ON EACH MONTH -------------------CHECK EACH WEBSITE OR CALENDAR TO CONFIRM DATES AND TIMES ---------------------------------CALL TO MAKE SURE THE EVENT IS STILL ON
FStorytellers - Female Story Tellers - Tucson
Usually sometime during the first week of the month - but check their website) at 7 pm - TUCSON http://www.fstorytellers.com/index.html
West Side Story Tellers - Storytellers Guild First Saturday of each month - GLENDALE *NO meetings in July & August http://westsidestorytellers.weebly.com
East Valley Tellers of Tales -Storytellers Guild Second Saturday of each month - SCOTTSDALE http://www.evtot.com
Storyfind Fourth Saturday of each month (usually - check calendar) - SMCC Storytelling Institute
A monthly workshop designed to help storytellers build community and deepen repertoire. See the Calendar
- National Storytelling Network? You should be.
I am off to the Northlands this Thursday! Not just north, but the Northlands Storytelling Conference in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I am very excited as my proposal for a workshop was accepted! I will be presenting along with many other respected colleagues such as: Laura Packer; Loren Niemi; Tim Tingle, Judy Sima; Robin Bady; Janice Del Negro; Wendy Gourly; Yvonne Healy and Katie Knutson, to name just a few! I am quite honored.
Friday - April 29th - SMCC Library Community Room
One of the ways to "show, don't tell" in story is to recreate the world around us. What do people and things look like? Sound like? Smell like? How do people move? Speak? Show how they are feeling? For this - observation is the key!
