Frequently asked questions that may guide you in hiring a storyteller.

What is storytelling?

"Storytelling is the live art of narrative performance, dynamically shaped by audience response.”
---Shared with permission of the Northlands Storytelling Network

Professional storytellers are performing all over the world. However, it takes a lot more than just the love of storytelling to become a professional storyteller. It takes talent, discipline, uniqueness, preparation, tenacity, creativity, and integrity. Even though a good storyteller is always welcomed, a professional storyteller must also approach storytelling as a business in order to make a living.

Do all storytellers tell the same kinds of stories?

Often but not always, you may find that storytellers have specialties such as telling historic tales, or adult audiences versus younger audiences. When hiring a storyteller you may want to inquire if the storyteller has a specialty that might fit with your venue.

Why do storytellers get paid to talk?

Many storytellers are often asked the well-intentioned question, "You get paid to talk?"  The answer of course is "Yes" but unearthing and fine-tuning a tale to tell well encompasses so much more than just talking.

Some professional storytellers may offer their services for free or at a reduced rate for specific non-profit organizations throughout the year as their way of “paying it forward” in their communities. However, we respectfully ask you to consider the following before requesting a gratis storytelling performance.

Storytellers need equipment to find, learn and tell their tales:

• Books • Computers • Equipment to record their stories
  

They attend the following to hone their skills:

• Workshops • Conferences • Retreats • Festivals • College (Yes, there are Master Degrees in Oral Tradition)
  

To run their business they need to pay for:

• Website Design, maintenance and hosting • Brochures • Business Cards • Posters • Cell phones/Answering machines • Office equipment • Stationary/stamps • Studio time to record a CD • Sound equipment • Reliable cars and gas to get to and from gigs
  

and more…

We are often asked “Why do you charge for a storytelling performance? My parents told me stories for free.”

We encourage everyone to tell stories to their friends and families. Storytelling is an art form anyone can share. Yet, some storytellers have exceptional talent and years of performing experience, which more than justifies their fees.

Consider these scenarios:

• Your little brother sings in the shower but you probably would not pay to hear him sing.
• Your older brother sings at coffee houses professionally and is well worth the $10.00 cover charge.
• You pay $40-$120 per ticket for nationally known musical groups and celebrity performers without giving it a moment’s thought.
• If you attend a concert given by a professional singer or musician, how might they react if you ask, “My little brother sings for free. Why do you charge?”

We encourage you to research the performer; you will find you do get what you pay for!

Do storytellers tell only to children?

No, they tell stories to all age groups: Pre-school, Elementary, Senior citizens, Families, Middle School, High School, College

Do storytellers read stories?

No. Storytellers tell (not read) a variety of stories:

• Parables • Traditional folk and fairy tales • Myths • Legends • Urban tales • Personal stories • Original stories • Humorous • Personal Tales • Environmental • Business stories • Healing stories

Where does a storyteller tell stories?

Everywhere! Storytelling is a perfect fit for:

• Schools • Museums • Literacy Celebrations • PTO Functions • Libraries • Church • Festivals • Weddings • Historic Venues • Christenings/Naming Ceremonies • Holidays • Eulogies • Keynote Speeches • Zoos • Concerts • Wildlife Sanctuaries • Camps • Concerts • Boys and Girls Clubs • Business...

and so much more!

What does a storyteller need from you?

Not too much, we are fairly self contained, but we are very grateful for the following:

• Someone to help them unload/load their equipment if necessary.
• A room or location with as few distractions as possible.
• A working sound system. (Although some tellers may have their own)
• Someone to introduce them to the audience.
• Someone to share ‘good audience manners” before the performance.  (see below)
• Someone to address any emergencies and major distractions that may arise during the performance.
• A glass of room temperature water (ice cold water constricts the vocal chords)

What are “good audience manners?”

• Cell phones, alarms, and pagers should be turned off.
• Adults, children and teachers should not be talking during the performances. unless they are interacting with the storytellers.
• No video games should be brought into the performance area.
• No food should be eaten during the performance. (It is amazing how loud the sound of a candy wrapper can be when the teller is sharing a tale!)
• Very young children, babies and toddlers, should be taken out of the room if they become too disruptive as it disturbs the teller and the other listeners.
• If you must leave the room, do not exit in front of the teller and exit quietly.
• Audience members are encouraged to applaud at the end of each story and at the end of the performance.

If this is not a private performance how can you help the show to succeed?

• Send out press releases to your local paper early, at least two weeks before the show.
• Ask a reporter to do a feature article.
• Hang up posters in your library or school.
• Email your clients.
• Share the information on your social networking sites.
• Place the information on free event sites such as http://www.whofish.org, which services the New England area, and http://www.zvents.com, which services the world.
• Your storyteller may also have a press kit on their website and storytellers are always happy to help you spread the word! Many hands make light work!

Thank you for taking the time to read the above information. It will help the Professional Storyteller you choose serve you better!