10 Helpful Hints for New or Professional
Storytellers
Copyright 2000 by Mike Miller
1353 words
This storytelling thing we do is a powerful
medium in our world of images and sound bites.
And what better way to transport people into
different worlds is through storytelling.
Our modern world is built around how many
choices we have and how many flavors we can
get. Through this medium of storytelling,
you can invite those around you to see what
you have to offer. Hopefully, some of the
following tips will help you on your journey
up the Storytelling Mountain.
1. Be Funny - Lighten up! I've seen to many
storytellers with a bad attitude. You must
be fun to be around! Who would want to hire
you if you aren't lively! That's your job,
first and foremost. Storytelling comes second.
You don't want to distract the audience from
your program by having a bad attitude. Make
a determined effort to stay as sharp as possible.
2. Write it down - One way to stay sharp
as a storyteller is to record every funny
or interesting thought that comes into your
head or out of your mouth. You may want to
use a pocket tape recorder, or a notepad,
or whatever. Just get it down somewhere.
You'll have time later on to go over this
raw stuff and possibly create something incredible.
All kinds of stuff comes from you and your
life and places you've been so do yourself
a favor and keep track of it! There is a
story waiting to be told from all that information!
3. Get a web site - Get a web site. (like
www.greatstoryteller.com) It's just the thing
to do. Until something better than the internet
comes along for getting information out,
get a web page. I know, sometimes they can
be expensive, and you may be a complete cyber-idiot.
Solution: Ask around your circle of friends,
your church, and the guy in front of you
in the grocery line. I guarantee you know
someone who knows how to develop web pages,
and would probably do one for you at little
or no charge. Bottom line, it's worth any
time or money investment to be on the web.
4. The 10-10-10 rule - Here's a great tip
for someone just starting out or a seasoned
professional storyteller, who wants to market
themselves. After you do a show that goes
well, give the event coordinator of that
show 10 bio sheets and 10 stamps. Ask them
to send them out to 10 people they know that
might have a use for what you do. I've never
had someone reject a request to do this.
Put that in your contract. (You are working
with a contract aren't you?) You will be
amazed at how effective this will be to get
the ball rolling in your area. Even better
is to have them attach a personal note or
letter to the bio. Scientists have recently
discovered that the most powerful force in
the universe is the personal reference. So
don't just sit there, go make a bio sheet
and get the word out about you! Be Shameless!
5. Get accountability - As iron sharpens
iron, you need accountability. Whether it
is a group or just a friend, you must maintain
a tie with someone who isn't afraid to critique
your work. I know an accountability person
or group may cramp your style as you climb
the ladder of personal fortune and worldwide
fame, but this world has a way of turning
us into idiots if we're not careful. I belong
to the Storytelling Troupe of Charleston
and they have been great in helping me become
the teller I am. Once again, Get with someone
and who can watch over you!
6. All the world has stages - Not quite the
Shakespeare line, but all the world does
have them. And you need to find them, and
perform on them - wherever, whenever, and
for whomever you can. Don't ever be afraid
of experience. Experience is sometimes bitter,
sometimes sweet, but always nutritious. I
think stage time is sometimes more valuable
than the money you make. So look at every
opportunity as another step closer to reaching
your goals as a storyteller. (You do have
goals don't you?) Be creative as to where
you will perform. Find new venues. I once
was asked to tell stories at a biker rally.
I must say it was a tough crowd, but it was
fun!
7. Find your own voice - We all have our
influences. And don't kid yourself into thinking
these influences won't spill over and provide
some of the essence of your performance.
Still, it's important for you to find out
where your strengths lie, and find your own
voice. That means, if you are a great folk
teller, you'll probably want to spend more
of your performance time doing folk tales.
If you're a master of the silly story song,
do mostly silly story songs. If you're good
with bold face lies, you might want to run
for a public office. Remember find your own
voice, don't borrow one. It is already being
used!
8. Product - After an audience has just been
floored by an hour of the best storytelling
they've ever experienced by...well...you,
why not give them the chance to take something
home from it? CD's, cassettes, t-shirts,
etc. will bring your gig to the next level
financially, and give you some extra creditability.
(You may be a year or two away from recording
a quality CD, but now is a great time to
start preparing for when that time comes.)
I started out with special bookmarks for
a $1.00 that had my promo info on one side
and a short silly story on the other. People
will buy anything from you if you are worth
it!
9. Be proactive -Once you've decided to do
this crazy thing called storytelling, it's
now time to take massive action. Make efforts
to get to know several event producers in
your area. You know churches, festivals,
hospitals, schools, etc. Call them, email
them, go meet them in person. Let em' know
who you are and what you do. Take them a
bio sheet, or some cookies, or take them
out to dinner. Get a list of upcoming events
in your area. Contact these places and ask
if they'll let you MC the event, or warm
up the crowd for 5-10 minutes. Go for it.
Awaken the storyteller within. I met with
one event producer and asked them if I could
warm up the crowd before the main performance.
They thought I was nuts but thought it was
a good idea, so I put together some of my
funniest short stories and went for it. It
went well and I was scared to death! But
it worked and I received other work from
that. Oh the name of the event? When John
McCain came to town when he was running for
president, he had an opening act! PS. I didn't
vote for him but I did use his event as a
springboard.
10. Enjoy yourself -I know you hear a lot
about how tough professional storytelling
is, and how hard it is to get started, and
all that stuff about paying dues. Listen,
performing is worth it. So enjoy the process.
The audience will have more fun watching
you if they can sense that you're having
fun. If anything, you should realize that
you do something that over 99% of the population
doesn't have the guts or the talent to do-stand
up in front of a crowd and make them laugh,
sing, cry and have a good time. To many times
folks want stories told at an event, rather
than hiring a storyteller to tell stories.
There is a big difference. Anyone can tell
a few stories to anyone, but only a storyteller
can make the performance a special memory.
So enjoy what you do, do it well, continue
to be an asset to any event you're at and
most of all be proud to be a STORYTELLER!
Mike Miller is a Speaker and Storyteller.
His FREE newsletter "The Storyteller"
is available from
http://www.greatstoryteller.com/newsletter.htm