Re-inventing the storyteller
Dec. 17th, 2007 01:20 pmOn the weekend, we had a company Christmas party for the employees and their children. The lobby of the office had a buffet, an inflated castle, an arts and crafts table, a magician, a storyteller, and of course, Santa Claus himself (with gifts for all the kids).
So yes, the storyteller was me. I had a couple of shows planned, but with all the activities planned that day, I only got to do one show. I had about a dozen people (kids and their parents) and I sold one book. Satisfied.
But it got me thinking about the wheres and whens of storytelling. I love the thought of filling a Place des Arts conference hall with people rapt with storytelling (and I've seen it done, although it was for Stuart Maclean). But the more practical part of me realizes that this will probably not happen. But truth be told, whenever I go see Stuart Maclean, I always keep a story tucked away just in case he asks for a local storyteller to fill some dead time in his show. Optimist to the end, I know.
I get my best shows when performing in libraries, concerts, festivals, and schools. These are people who are dedicated to listening, who are there to see the show specifically. I've performed at birthday parties (children hopped up on cake and ice cream are buzzy) and I've performed in bazaars or at larger functions (the audience tends to appear only out of curiousity rather than genuine interest). While my audiences seem satisfied, I tend to be more critical and less comfortable with my surroundings.
The problem with a storytelling show is attention span. It can be difficult for an audience to sit and concentrate on a single voice for 1 to 2 hours with little or no other stimulation. We can do it in movies and concerts, but with storytelling, there seems to be something lacking to keep the audience engaged. The other problem is that, for most Anglo listeners, storytelling is a children's activity, a family activity, and it offers no real value to an adult audience (aside from the young at heart).
I think of some of the current greats in storytelling and their shows always include other forms of entertainment. Stuart Maclean always has at least one band or singer with him, and often invites a local comedian on stage at some point. Garrison Keillor has a whole troop of performers in his traveling show The Prairie Home Companion.
I came up with an idea last week that would emphasize the role of myth to enhance understanding of concepts, so I'll be trying to develop that into a show that I could see to both families and adults. And I've always wanted to include music in the program, but paying musicians adds an expense that I'm not convinced I can cover yet (without grants or sponsorship).
Just thinking... retooling... inventing... re-inventing....
So yes, the storyteller was me. I had a couple of shows planned, but with all the activities planned that day, I only got to do one show. I had about a dozen people (kids and their parents) and I sold one book. Satisfied.
But it got me thinking about the wheres and whens of storytelling. I love the thought of filling a Place des Arts conference hall with people rapt with storytelling (and I've seen it done, although it was for Stuart Maclean). But the more practical part of me realizes that this will probably not happen. But truth be told, whenever I go see Stuart Maclean, I always keep a story tucked away just in case he asks for a local storyteller to fill some dead time in his show. Optimist to the end, I know.
I get my best shows when performing in libraries, concerts, festivals, and schools. These are people who are dedicated to listening, who are there to see the show specifically. I've performed at birthday parties (children hopped up on cake and ice cream are buzzy) and I've performed in bazaars or at larger functions (the audience tends to appear only out of curiousity rather than genuine interest). While my audiences seem satisfied, I tend to be more critical and less comfortable with my surroundings.
The problem with a storytelling show is attention span. It can be difficult for an audience to sit and concentrate on a single voice for 1 to 2 hours with little or no other stimulation. We can do it in movies and concerts, but with storytelling, there seems to be something lacking to keep the audience engaged. The other problem is that, for most Anglo listeners, storytelling is a children's activity, a family activity, and it offers no real value to an adult audience (aside from the young at heart).
I think of some of the current greats in storytelling and their shows always include other forms of entertainment. Stuart Maclean always has at least one band or singer with him, and often invites a local comedian on stage at some point. Garrison Keillor has a whole troop of performers in his traveling show The Prairie Home Companion.
I came up with an idea last week that would emphasize the role of myth to enhance understanding of concepts, so I'll be trying to develop that into a show that I could see to both families and adults. And I've always wanted to include music in the program, but paying musicians adds an expense that I'm not convinced I can cover yet (without grants or sponsorship).
Just thinking... retooling... inventing... re-inventing....