Robbed - of More Than Things Have you ever been robbed? If so, you know the feeling. Our colleague and storyteller, Don 'Buck' Creacy of Aslan Productions was robbed last week:
"Robbed again, sound stage studio destroyed, radio station broadcast booth destroyed, all monitors stolen, haven't inventoried microphones, other tools... Robbed!!!! They went through my house! My studio! My bedroom. They may have destroyed my business."
This is sad on so many levels. Buck is the creator and producer of A World of Storytelling Radio, an Internet Radio Station for storytellers and story listeners. Buck has been working diligently to make this station #1, and heard around the world. You can hear many different tellers and a variety of stories, every day, 24/7. Before the robbery, the station was #13 in its category. After the robbery, Buck has been playing a "loop", so the station is now at #20. They robbed more than "things". The station is Buck's lifeblood.
The storytelling community has rallied around Buck and sent both prayers and money. The good news is that the authorities have arrested two individuals. Some of the equipment has been recovered, but a lot is still missing.
You can help by listening to the station! AND – if you want to join in as a teller. It may take some time for Buck to process new tellers due to the lack of equipment, but you can certainly check it out.
Whiteboards Are Fun
Did you miss the whiteboard videos I have been posting?
Whiteboard Videos have been around for a while. I recently discovered some software a few weeks ago and started making my own. They are a great way to get your message across, and have some fun at the same time. Here's an axample at the right, a "Sing-A-Long" review of the 2013 NSN Conference.
Would you like a whiteboard of your own? Perhaps a story you have? Contact me and we can talk about your ideas for a video. If I can, I will create it and charge you a minimal fee for my time. Let's talk!
AZ Republic Live Storytelling Tonight! Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life
Celebrate rock and roll from the white-hot glare of the stage, to the sweaty frenzy of the mosh pit, to the fan-filled, oh-so-distance nosebleed seats. We'll hear stories from the bands and the fans, from the music makers to the concert promoters and album sellers and everyone in between.
Confirmed tellers include:
Roger Clyne, promoter Danny Zelisko, Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World, Emma Pew of Black Carl, Nicole Laurenne of the Love Me Nots, Ree Boado of Dearspeak, Kristilyn Woods of Dry River Yacht Club and Republic music editor Ed Masley.
Details: Stories begin at 7 p.m., Monday, Aug. 19, Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. 2nd Ave., Phoenix. $10. $5 for students. Buy tickets at brownpapertickets.com. A portion of the proceeds benefits Republic Charities.
Workshops with Sean Buvala There are two Executive Speaking Trainings, one is THIS WEEK - starting tomorrow,and one in September. These intensive two-day workshops are geared for anyone who has to speak to other people in any situation. Sean has trained lawyers, CEO’s, CFO’s, teachers, administrators, theater majors, sales people, pastors and ministers, college and high-school students, health-care professionals, call-center workers, miners, government workers, HR pros, marketing specialists, construction workers, “techies” and storytellers in both private coaching and public workshops.
If you know an executive, or someone who fits the profile above and could use Sean's training, pass along the information!
The Lit Lounge - Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art Friday - August 23
Lit Lounge - There will be writers and performers from Arizona and across the nation, sharing funny and compelling TRUE stories, fused together with live music.
This Friday will feature writer/performer Kelly Carlin (yep, daughter of George Carlin), author and Huffington Post contributor Dani Modisett and more!
This week's Lit Lounge is SOLD OUT --- But wait, there's more...
You can view a live broadcast of the show in Stage 2 at the Center.
Don't Wait for a Story to Find You Storytellers are repeatedly asked, “Where do you find your stories?” This question is asked by students, just starting out in the community, and also by listeners who seem to be amazed at discovering there is more to telling than reading aloud from a children’s book.
All too often, I have heard the response, “I don’t find stories, they find me!” This is quite an “artsy” response, and one that I have come to abhor! It does the student absolutely no good, and it only persists to mystify the art form.
Tellers have to work hard to find stories that are a good fit. It takes long hours of searching through titles, topics and motifs. And then more time to read through many stories and many versions of the same tale before finding “just the right fit”. So, where does one start?
As always, you start with you. Who are you? What makes you tick? What do you love? What do you hate? What’s your background, ethnicity, heritage? What are your tenets and beliefs? Etc., etc.
Knowing yourself is the first step to finding stories that are a fit. Do you revel in your heritage? Then stories that deal with that is where you start to look. Do you hate injustice? Then tales of justice is a stepping off place. Are you a romantic? Romance is one of the oldest themes in storytelling and there are hundreds of tales to find.
On the practical side, you then have to use resources that can assist you in finding those kinds of stories. The first place most of us go is Google. Not a bad place to start, and it often leads you right where you need to be.
In addition to Google, there are many sites that deal solely with stories and storytelling. Some very good ones are listed in the Resources section of this website.
Lastly, other tellers are a great reserve of knowledge. Even seasoned tellers ask each other, “Does anyone know a story about…?” So, newbies, don’t feel shy about asking a colleague where to look for what you need.
I will admit, that occasionally, I hear something or remember a piece from my past that triggers a response and I think, “That story was just waiting to be told.” But for the most part, don’t sit back and wait for a story to “find” you. Get out there and start looking for yourself!
Stories Connect Us All Mark your calendars! This year's great online storytelling festival will be at StoriesConnectUsAll Facebook page on October 9, 10 and 11. Three days of video stories about diversity and dealing with prejudice worldwide! Live chat with professional storytellers and people from all over the world! Want to be involved? Start by clicking on "LIKE" on the Facebook page and they will keep you informed.
Formerly "Just Stories" the Stories Connect Us All project is an initiative that brings together diverse professional storytellers to develop, write and perform stories that deal with ethnic identity, race relations and dealing with differences. This project seeks to use storytelling as a tool to bring together the races, bridge differences and increase understanding and cooperation.
This Online Storytelling Festival is a free Facebook event. Every hour from 8 am to midnight (CDT) a new video will post on the Facebook Page StoriesConnectUsAll - stories that can help heal our racial and ethnic divides. Over 70 humorous, heartwarming and thought provoking stories by more than 40 professional story artists! You can comment, ask questions and share your stories, too. Storytelling + Facebook = a worldwide FUN and RESPECTFUL conversation that celebrates our differences and all that connects us.
- National Storytelling Network? You should be.
Tonight!
There are two Executive Speaking Trainings, one is THIS WEEK - starting tomorrow, and one in September. These intensive two-day workshops are geared for anyone who has to speak to other people in any situation. Sean has trained lawyers, CEO’s, CFO’s, teachers, administrators, theater majors, sales people, pastors and ministers, college and high-school students, health-care professionals, call-center workers, miners, government workers, HR pros, marketing specialists, construction workers, “techies” and storytellers in both private coaching and public workshops.
Friday - August 23
Storytellers are repeatedly asked, “Where do you find your stories?” This question is asked by students, just starting out in the community, and also by listeners who seem to be amazed at discovering there is more to telling than reading aloud from a children’s book.
Mark your calendars! This year's great online storytelling festival will be at 
