The Story Biz Handbook: How to Manage Your Storytelling Career from the Desk to the Stage

TABLE OF CONTENTS......Page 6
FOREWORD......Page 22
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR......Page 24
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 26
ICON KEY......Page 28
CHAPTER 1 - IN THE BEGINNING......Page 30
A Storyteller’s Self-Assessment......Page 31
The Five-Year Plan......Page 32
Roadmapping......Page 33
Slicing the Pie into Bite Size Pieces......Page 34
Listmaking......Page 35
Enjoying the Pie......Page 36
Resources......Page 37
Working with Stories......Page 38
The Definition of Storytelling......Page 39
Where to Find Stories......Page 40
Literary Stories......Page 41
How to Shape Stories......Page 42
Learning Stories......Page 43
Vehicles to Encourage Audience Participation......Page 45
When to Include Audience Participation......Page 46
The Making of a Story with Eth-Noh-Tec......Page 47
Working with a Story Buddy or a Story Coach......Page 48
Time to Tell!......Page 49
Resources......Page 50
Storytelling Ethics......Page 54
The Storyteller’s Oath of Ethics......Page 55
Copyright and the Public Domain......Page 57
Copyright......Page 58
Public Domain......Page 59
Adapting Stories from the Public Domain......Page 60
“The Gift of the Magi” Adapted by William Wilder......Page 61
Sensitive Story Content......Page 62
Censorship......Page 64
Resources......Page 67
“So People Hire You to Read?”......Page 68
Creating Thematic Programs......Page 69
What to Wear......Page 70
Types of Fabric......Page 71
Technical Requirements......Page 72
The Importance of Rehearsals......Page 73
Temperature of the Room......Page 74
Physical Preparation......Page 75
Handling Stage Fright......Page 76
Before the Performance......Page 77
While You Are Performing......Page 78
Introduction Card......Page 79
Preparing for Performance......Page 80
Resources......Page 81
Group Dynamics......Page 82
Age Level Appropriateness......Page 83
Audience Management......Page 84
Select Age-Appropriate Stories......Page 85
Stay Focused......Page 86
Recovering from Mistakes......Page 87
Recovering from Embarrassment......Page 88
Confirm and Call for Directions......Page 89
Performing Stories......Page 90
Resources......Page 91
Why Use a Sound System?......Page 92
The Equalizer......Page 93
Microphones......Page 94
Using Your Sound System......Page 95
Handling the Microphone......Page 96
Performing a Sound Check......Page 97
Resources......Page 98
CHAPTER 7 - ESTABLISHING YOUR STORYTELLING BUSINESS......Page 100
Your Trade Name......Page 101
Sole Proprietorship......Page 102
Corporation......Page 103
Setting Up a Checking Account......Page 104
Executive Summary......Page 105
Support Documentation......Page 106
Tackling Taxes......Page 107
The Business of Storytelling......Page 108
Resources......Page 109
Office Equipment......Page 112
Printers......Page 113
E-mail......Page 114
MP3 Player......Page 115
The Power of the PDA......Page 116
Managing Paperwork......Page 117
Organizing Your Client Contacts and Business Cards......Page 118
The Storyteller’s Library......Page 119
Setting Up Your Office......Page 120
In Search of the Big “O”—Organization!......Page 121
Resources......Page 122
Sample Story Research Form......Page 123
CHAPTER 9 - MANAGING YOUR BOOKINGS......Page 124
Setting Fees......Page 125
Charging Your Worth......Page 126
Quoting and Negotiating Fees......Page 127
Quoting Fees......Page 128
Collecting Fees......Page 129
The Booking Checklist......Page 130
Scheduling and Confirming Shows......Page 131
Generating Income through Grants and Sponsorships......Page 132
Writing a Grant......Page 133
Booking Management Time-Savers......Page 134
Managing Your Bookings......Page 136
Resources......Page 137
Sample Booking Form......Page 138
Sample Confirmation Letter......Page 139
Sample Contract......Page 140
Your Marketing Philosophy......Page 142
Your Target Market......Page 143
Your USP......Page 144
Establishing Your Niche Market......Page 145
Where Do I Market Myself?......Page 146
Resources......Page 148
Creating a Logo......Page 150
Working with a Graphic Designer......Page 151
Beyond Business Cards Basics......Page 153
Basic Business Card Content Checklist......Page 155
Spicing Up Your Image......Page 156
Resources......Page 157
Sample Stationery and Business Card Layout......Page 158
CHAPTER 12 - PRINTED PROMO WITH PIZZAZZ......Page 160
Thom Bennett’s Guide to Fabulous Photos......Page 161
Working with a Photographer......Page 162
Marketing at Face Value......Page 163
Brochures with a Bang!......Page 164
Design Dos and Don’ts......Page 165
Choosing a Printing Company......Page 166
The Printing Process......Page 167
Money-Saving Tips for Printing......Page 168
The Promotional Kit......Page 169
The Press Kit......Page 170
Promo Materials that Grow with You......Page 171
Resources......Page 172
Sample Letter of Introduction......Page 174
Sample Brochures......Page 176
Sample Postcards......Page 178
Sample Step System Press Kit......Page 180
Signs......Page 182
Promotional Giveaways......Page 183
Creating Wearable Promo......Page 184
Over 25 Promotional Ideas......Page 185
Resources......Page 189
CHAPTER 14 - DEVELOPING AN INTERNET PRESENCE......Page 190
How Do I Begin?......Page 191
Working with a Web Designer......Page 192
RSS Feeds......Page 194
Social Networking on the Web......Page 195
Tracking the Results of Your Website......Page 196
Driving Traffic to Your Website......Page 197
Using Your Website to Win New Clients and Service Existing Clients......Page 198
Chris King’s Guide to Winning Websites......Page 199
Resources......Page 200
CHAPTER 15 - NETWORKING TO SUCCESS......Page 204
Exchange Business Cards......Page 205
Join Social Networking Sites on the Web......Page 206
Say “Thank You”......Page 207
An Attitude of Gratitude......Page 208
Resources......Page 209
Telemarketing......Page 210
E-mail Newsletter Marketing......Page 211
Building Your List......Page 212
Purging Your List......Page 213
Mailing Lists......Page 214
Ads and Where to Place Them......Page 215
The ABCs of Marketing Your Act......Page 216
Marketing with Results......Page 217
Resources......Page 218
Sample E-mail Newsletter......Page 220
CHAPTER 17 - MAKING THE HEADLINES......Page 228
Four Types of News Releases......Page 229
Develop a Targeted Slant......Page 230
Helpful Tips When Sending the Press Release......Page 231
Making Media Contacts......Page 232
Where to Obtain Media Lists......Page 233
The Impromptu Interview......Page 234
Common Questions Performers are Asked......Page 235
Making the Headlines......Page 236
Resources......Page 237
Sample Press Release......Page 239
CHAPTER 18 - SEEING IS HIRING......Page 240
Juried Showcases......Page 241
Hiring a Professional......Page 242
Exhibiting or Buying Booth Space......Page 243
Where Do You Find Showcase and Exhibit Venues?......Page 245
The Personal Invitation......Page 246
Resources......Page 247
State Artist Rosters and Touring Directories......Page 248
Internet Directory Listings......Page 249
Getting on the “A-List”......Page 250
Resources......Page 251
Working with an Established Agency......Page 254
Hiring Your Own Booking Agent/Manager......Page 255
College Interns and High School Students......Page 256
Small Business Development Center......Page 257
Word-of-Mouth......Page 258
Who’s Selling You?......Page 259
Resources......Page 260
Sample Evaluation Form......Page 261
Organizing a Tour......Page 262
Attending Booking Conferences for Block Booking Opportunities......Page 263
Hotel/Airline Rewards......Page 264
Visitor’s Information......Page 265
By Phone......Page 266
Pacing Yourself......Page 267
Confirming Travel Plans......Page 268
Traveling by Vehicle......Page 269
Auto Care......Page 270
Traveling by Air......Page 271
Travel Checklist......Page 273
Flying with Equipment......Page 274
On the Road Again......Page 275
Jeannine Pasini Beekman’s Top 10 Tricks for Touring Sanely......Page 276
Resources......Page 277
Sculpting Your Artistry......Page 278
Changing Direction......Page 279
Improving the Work......Page 280
Studying With Masters......Page 281
Master Classes......Page 282
Apprenticeship......Page 283
Decide Who is in Charge......Page 284
Work Out the Details......Page 285
The National Storytelling Conference......Page 286
Honing Your Craft......Page 287
Spice Up Your Storytelling Stew with a Second Language”......Page 288
Resources......Page 289
CHAPTER 23 - STORYTELLING IN EDUCATION......Page 290
The Benefits of Storytelling in Education......Page 291
Standards-Based Storytelling......Page 293
Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences......Page 295
Creative School Shows......Page 296
Standards/Benchmarks......Page 297
The Teaching Artist’s Creed......Page 298
Each Teacher is Important......Page 299
Evaluation......Page 300
Assessment and Evaluation......Page 301
Impacting Teachers......Page 304
Resources......Page 305
Sample Assembly Preparation Sheet......Page 310
Sample Audience Etiquette......Page 311
Sample “Jambalaya” Educator’s Guide......Page 312
Sample Curriculum Guide for Dianne de Las Casas’ Storytelling Programs......Page 314
The Storytelling-Reading Connection......Page 316
Summer Reading in the Public Libraries......Page 317
Creating Library Programs......Page 318
Resources......Page 319
CHAPTER 25 - RECORDING AND PROMOTING AN AUDIO......Page 322
Recording Live v. Studio......Page 323
Choosing the Recording Studio......Page 324
Recording the Audio......Page 325
CD Insert (a/k/a liner notes)......Page 326
CD Face......Page 327
Replication v. Duplication......Page 328
When the Shipment Arrives......Page 329
Sell Your CDs Online......Page 330
Put Your Recordings in Stores......Page 331
Have a CD Release Party......Page 332
Back of the Room Sales......Page 333
Send Out Postcards Advertising Your CD......Page 334
Submit Your CD for Reviews......Page 335
Offer Extras......Page 336
Resources......Page 337
Audio Recordings Awards and Review Chart......Page 338
Sample CD Layout......Page 341
Emceeing Storytelling Events......Page 342
During the Show......Page 343
Telling at an Outdoor Festival......Page 344
Attending Story Swaps......Page 345
Organizing Festivals and Other Storytelling Events......Page 346
Tellabration!......Page 347
Beginning a Storytelling Guild......Page 348
Nurturing Storytelling......Page 349
Resources......Page 350
Behind the Scenes......Page 352
Putting it All Together......Page 353
The Description......Page 354
The Handout......Page 355
The Checklist......Page 356
Preparing Yourself and the Space......Page 357
The Presentation......Page 358
Resources......Page 360
Hydration......Page 362
Drugs......Page 363
Good Vocal Practices......Page 364
Vocal Training......Page 365
Reach Out......Page 366
Learn to Let Go and Say No......Page 367
101 Stress Busters......Page 368
Resources......Page 371
Creating a Financial Plan......Page 372
Keogh Plans......Page 373
Making the Decision......Page 374
COBRA......Page 375
Healthcare Savings Programs......Page 376
Life Insurance......Page 377
Choose Carefully......Page 378
Starting Over......Page 379
Starting Over with Mary Hamilton......Page 380
Find Out About Showcasing Opportunities......Page 381
Market Yourself Silly......Page 382
Resources......Page 383
National Youth Storytelling Showcase......Page 384
Growing Youth Storytelling......Page 385
Storytelling as a Healing Instrument......Page 387
“The Legend of Scheherazade”......Page 388
Springboard Storytelling......Page 390
Storytelling in Higher Education......Page 391
Resources......Page 392
STORYTELLING RESOURCES FROM LIBRARIES UNLIMITED (2005 TO 2008)......Page 394
NOTABLE QUOTABLES AND COOL CONTRIBUTORS LISTING......Page 398
C......Page 400
F......Page 401
I......Page 402
M......Page 403
P......Page 404
S......Page 405
V......Page 406
Y......Page 407