Happy Hanukkah - Chanukah - Hannukah!
Any way you spell it!
Storytelling Tour of England - It Costs Less Than You Think! IT'S HAPPENING!
If you are even slightly interested - let me know!
Space is LIMITED. I can only take 12 people And I already have 4 students signed up!
The cost is about $2480 including airfare!
After having bicycled England for four summers, I am finally organizing this Storytelling Workshop Tour for the summer of 2016. If you love to tell stories, talk about stories, craft stories, have fun and see the sights with friends, then this tour is for you. The plan is to spend eight days touring these iconic sites, but don't panic, this tour is on trains and busses, not bikes, so anyone can come and enjoy. Listeners, spouses, partners and friends are welcome too!
The tour and workshops will be lead by me and my friend and colleague, Colorado Storyteller Pam Faro.
Yarnball Everyone has a story to tell — a yarn to spin. Yarnball Storytelling is an open mic event in downtown Phoenix that invites anyone to share their personal narratives. This storytelling event has been running every Wednesday night for over four years now. It was originally started by local storyteller and stand-up comedian Dan Hull.
Yarnball is hosted by Dan, and Valley storyteller Rachel Egboro who has also told many times at the AZ Republic events. Last July saw Rachel claiming second place at The Moth Los Angeles story slam!
This Wednesday, December 9th, the theme is Siblings. Check out the Facebook page to see the current lineup of themes, and then throw your name into the hat!
East Valley Tellers of Tales Saturday, December 12th ~ 10am - Noon Join us to celebrate storytelling successes.
East Valley Tellers of Tales is a Phoenix area guild of Storytellers and Storylisteners. A truly safe place to share your story! We are an affiliate of the National Storytelling Network. Come and find out what this means, and how it benefits you!
This Saturday is also when we will elect officers for the coming year.
East Valley Tellers of Tales is looking at ways to create outreach, new ideas for the group, plans for the future and more. Join us and lend your talent and energy to help us grow.
Out Of The Box Storytelling Women Storytellers
Saturday, December 19th - 10am - Noon (doors open at 9:30 am)
Anne McDowell has organized another event: Out of the Box Storytelling - Women Storytellers.
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.
Mark Your Calendars
for These Two Great Holiday Storytelling Events
Winter's Light - In Its 18th Year! Winter's Light at Community Christian Church
Sunday - December 20th - 7:00 pm
For the last eighteen years, storytellers from diverse faith traditions gather together each December to tell stories and light candles in a show of unity and hope. "Winter's Light" is a joyous, multi-cultural, inter-faith storytelling event for the holidays.
Stay tuned for more details.
Arizona Storytellers: Holiday Spectacular! Monday - December 21st
Join azcentral.com, The Arizona Republic and Alliance Bank of Arizona in the McArthur Ballroom at the Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf Astoria resort, for a night of stories about Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's Eve, and all the wintertime adventures we carry in our hearts.
Co-host:
Liz Warren, director of the South Mountain Community College Storytelling Institute
Featured Storytellers:
Fox Restaurant Concepts Beverage Director Mat Snapp
Rabbi Jason Bonder, assistant Rabbi/Educator at Temple Emanuel of Tempe
Tempe Christian Community Church pastor Doug Bland
Writer and Moth Storyslam winner Molly McCloy
Professional storyteller and Army Ranger Kyle Mitchell
Writer Joe Finnerty (No relation to Megan!)
Important notes about this event:
This venue is to the far West of the property, in the convention area, not in the main resort building.
Self-park is adjacent to the Ballroom.
This night is best for children who understand the complexities of the holidays.
Hot chocolate and fabulous holiday cookies will be served as our Christmas present to you. Full cash bar. (No dinner.)
Post-show cocktail party in the Mystery Room (a secret speakeasy) with an Arizona Biltmore Instagram photo challenge. The winner gets a free night's stay at the Arizona Biltmore!
Details:
Registration begins at 6 p.m., stories begin promptly at 7 p.m. Arizona Biltmore, a Waldorf Astoria Resort. 2400 E Missouri Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85016. 602-444-8770. Ticket purchase mandatory at tickets.azcentral.com.
Get It In Writing! I know that we would all rather just work on a handshake and trust, but some things need to be in writing. One of them is a written contract or agreement between the YOU, the Teller and the Client. If only to assure a smooth program, it is a necessity.
There are all sorts of “standard” agreements out there. You can find some on the WEB, or ask your colleagues what they use. Personally, I like the term agreement vs. contract as it sounds gentler, but many actually use the word contract as it sounds more legal.
Having a binding agreement carries some weight, should you have to resort to legal action. Having this type of agreement can also forestall any legal action on the client's part, as it tells them you are a serious business person.
A written contract or agreement shows the client you are a PROFESSIONAL!
By the way, colleague, friend and long-time storyteller and storytelling business guru Sean Buvala is quite knowledgeable in this area. For those wishing more info/counseling on contracts and agreements, I suggest a session with Sean.
In the mean time, here is an example of a simple agreement (and by no means comprehensive, but should help you get started): My comments are in red and are not part of the document
Agreement for Service
Agreement Date: 12/1/2015 Service Date: 12/30/2015 Client: City Wellness Foundation Contact: Willy Hireyu Make sure the dates are correct!
This document shall serve as a binding contract between Anita Job (Performer) and City Wellness Foundation (Client).Legalize - also, this verbiage allows you to make up a template and not have to insert their name in each paragraph.
Performer agrees to provide “oral storytelling” to the Client and their group based on the following criteria. Make sure they know what they are getting - not reading from a book!
Date of service: 12/30/2015 Starting time: 6:00 PM Length of Program: Approximately 40-45 minutes Venue/Location: City Wellness Foundation Offices, 20103 N. Anystreet, Phoenix, AZ 85062 Program Theme: End of Year Stories Group Makeup: 30-50 Adults Pretty standard, but make sure it's all there.
Client agrees to provide Performer with adequate and appropriate space as to facilitate the performance of storytelling. Client agrees that there shall be no (or very minimal) sound or activity distractions during the time of performance, including, but not limited to:
Noise or sound from any other speaker system or performers
Service staff activity
Other distractions that may impede the Performer or the listeners
How many times have you been drowned out by dishes clanging, service staff or other distractions?
Client agrees to compensate Performer in the amount of $100 (U.S.) in the form of a check. Check shall be presented to Performer at the event and made out to: Mark Goldman Crucial! Get the price in writing! - You may want to add a deposit (non-refundable), or other monetary parameters.
Performer will arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the program, and agrees to provide storytelling and stories appropriate to the group as discussed with the contact. This helps the client, and you may want to specify more so you are not blind-sided when you arrive with a request that is out of the parameters you discussed.
Should the Client have cause to cancel this event, Client will compensate the Performer in the amount of $25. A cancelation clause is always a good idea. You may want to specify "days out" parameters too.
In the extreme case of illness or other circumstances that might prevent the Performer from fulfilling these duties, Performer agrees to provide Client adequate notice, and provide an adequate replacement performer, of equal or greater experience, for the event, at the same compensation rate stated above. This assures the client you are committed to their needs, and protects YOU too.
Should any of the above come into dispute, Client and Performer agree to enter into Mediation, with a local mediator of mutual agreement, to assist in the resolution of the dispute. This is MY need. Mediation is a much better process than going to court, especially if the client wants to take action against you for any reason. Again, this is clearly stated and both parties agree to it.
___________________________ Date: 12/5/15 ___________________________ Date: ________
Anita Job, Performer For Client The person signing the contract may not be your contact person.
By the way... MAKE SURE they sign it and return it to you WELL BEFORE the service date! Otherwise, you could be left out in the cold.
You Gotta Have Heart!
A funny thing happened on the way to work last Friday... I had a heart attack… and didn’t even know it!
Here’s the story:
On Wednesday and Thursday of last week, I had some pain in my upper back on the right side. So I slept on the heating pad. On Friday morning, I woke up with a different kind of pain. I usually see myself as the Frog Prince, but that morning I felt like Iron Henry, the Prince’s loyal servant who had three iron bands affixed around his heart to prevent it from breaking, in his sadness over his master's curse. I felt as if those iron bands were getting tighter and tighter. I was able to move, and navigate, but the pain was quite intense.
I knew SOMETHIING was wrong, so I called my doctor, got an appointment and drove to his office. I was coherent and other than the pain, showed no other physical problems. I had no dizziness, no shortness of breath. After some tests, he directed me to go to an emergency room for a special blood test and possible CT scan.
For those who live in Phoenix, there is ONLY ONE ER to go to, the Arizona Heart Hospital. There is NEVER a wait, even if it isn’t heart related, and they are fantastic! I also figured this was the best place to go, if I needed anything else.
I waited about three minutes (literally, I didn’t even have time to see what was on the TV in the waiting room). They drew blood, poked and prodded and did an EKG. After a while, the doctor came in and said I had had a heart attack. Really? I didn’t even know it!
You Gotta Have Heart, from Damn Yankees
In addition to Heart and Hope,
You gotta have some Humor too!
He said they needed to do an angioplasty to clear the blockage and possibly put in a stent, to help prevent further blockage. Really? OK.
An angioplasty is where the doctor threads a thin tube through a blood vessel in the groin up to the involved site in the artery. The tube has a tiny balloon on the end. When the tube is in place, the doctor inflates the balloon to push the plaque outward against the wall of the artery. This widens the artery and restores blood flow.
The next thing I know there are 4 more nurses and tech’s that enter the room with all sorts of equipment. They shave part of my chest and part of my groin (a wonderful experience). An admit nurse puts three consent forms in front of me to sign. I don’t take time to read them; obviously, I literally “sign my life away.” Immediately, they wheel me into an operating room and start to administer a sedative, just enough to deal with any pain, but I am still half-conscious. I can hear muffled voices, and can feel some pressure on different parts of my body as they perform the procedure. Within 40 minutes, they are done.
I wake up in the hospital room… with NO pain. The cardiologist comes in and says they cleared the blockage and did put in a stent. He said I had a 90% blockage in my heart. Really, 90%? Yes.
WOW. Ten o’clock in the doctor’s office; 11:45 at the ER; 12:30 in the operating room; and 1:30 in the hospital room.
The staff at the hospital were ALL wonderful; caring and knowledgeable. The doctors were available, and told me what happened and what to expect. The food was quite good (baked salmon with rice). And I was discharged on Saturday at 2 pm. What a ride!
So, that’s my story. I am home now, resting comfortably and taking the next week off. I feel fine and have no pain, and don’t feel much different than before the pain started. But I know that things ARE different now. I must significantly change much of my lifestyle, specifically diet and exercise. Oh well, that seems to be better than the alternative!
And in the end, I guess I am BOTH the Frog Prince AND Iron Henry. The curse has been lifted, and the bands have been removed. And, hopefully, I will live happily ever after!
P.S. If you experience this type of chest pain, where it feels like an elephant is sitting on your chest, DO NOT DRIVE yourself to the ER. Call 911 immediately! (I should have.)
P.P.S. My primary doctor called me this morning to check on me. I am so blessed!
------------------------------------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.
Everyone has a story to tell — a yarn to spin. Yarnball Storytelling is an open mic event in downtown Phoenix that invites anyone to share their personal narratives. This storytelling event has been running every Wednesday night for over four years now. It was originally started by local storyteller and stand-up comedian Dan Hull.
Saturday, December 12th ~ 10am - Noon
Women Storytellers
Winter's Light at Community Christian Church
Monday - December 21st
I know that we would all rather just work on a handshake and trust, but some things need to be in writing. One of them is a written contract or agreement between the YOU, the Teller and the Client. If only to assure a smooth program, it is a necessity.
