The story biz handbook [electronic resource] : how to manage your storytelling career from the desk to the stage

Beginning with wonderful tips and advice about the art and presentation of storytelling, this is a complete resource about how to build a storytelling career. Storytellers come to their careers centered on the stories they love and soon realize that in order to make a living at what they love, they must build a business. This in-depth book tells them just how and what to do in every detail from choosing a sound system to building a Web site to using podcasts and setting up an office. There is even a chapter on how to plan for retirement. Each chapter is a story in itself, beginning and ending with different traditional folktale openings and closings. This dynamite book merges the yin and yang of storytelling and business. Beginning with wonderful tips and advice about the art and presentation of storytelling, it is a complete resource about how to build a storytelling career. Storytellers come to their careers centered on the stories they love and soon realize that in order to make a living at what they love, they must build a business. This in-depth book tells them just how and what to do in every detail from choosing a sound system to building a Web site to using podcasts and setting up an office. There is even a chapter on how to plan for retirement. Each chapter is a story in itself, beginning and ending with different traditional folktale openings and closings. Resource lists and tried and true ideas abound as the author shares her marketing and business success story throughout. 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

beginning With Wonderful Tips And Advice About The Art And Presentation Of Storytelling, This Is A Complete Resource About How To Build A Storytelling Career. Storytellers Come To Their Careers Centered On The Stories They Love And Soon Realize That In Order To Make A Living At What They Love, They Must Build A Business. This In-depth Book Tells Them Just How And What To Do In Every Detail From Choosing A Sound System To Building A Web Site To Using Podcasts And Setting Up An Office. There Is Even A Chapter On How To Plan For Retirement. Each Chapter Is A Story In Itself, Beginning And Ending With Different Traditional Folktale Openings And Closings.

this Dynamite Book Merges The Yin And Yang Of Storytelling And Business. Beginning With Wonderful Tips And Advice About The Art And Presentation Of Storytelling, It Is A Complete Resource About How To Build A Storytelling Career. Storytellers Come To Their Careers Centered On The Stories They Love And Soon Realize That In Order To Make A Living At What They Love, They Must Build A Business. This In-depth Book Tells Them Just How And What To Do In Every Detail From Choosing A Sound System To Building A Web Site To Using Podcasts And Setting Up An Office. There Is Even A Chapter On How To Plan For Retirement. Each Chapter Is A Story In Itself, Beginning And Ending With Different Traditional Folktale Openings And Closings. Resource Lists And Tried And True Ideas Abound As The Author Shares Her Marketing And Business Success Story Throughout.

Beginning With Wonderful Tips And Advice About The Art And Presentation Of Storytelling, This Is A Complete Resource About How To Build A Storytelling Career. Storytellers Come To Their Careers Centered On The Stories They Love And Soon Realize That In Order To Make A Living At What They Love, They Must Build A Business. This In-depth Book Tells Them Just How And What To Do In Every Detail, From Choosing A Sound System To Building A Website To Using Podcasts And Setting Up An Office. Resource Lists And Tried And True Ideas Abound As The Author Shares Her Marketing And Business Success Story Throughout. Each Chapter Is A Story In Itself, Beginning And Ending With Different Traditional Folktale Openings And Closings. There Is Even A Chapter On How To Plan For Retirement.