This is a question from a real live NSN member...


How do I promote storytelling in an area where it is not being done much? Also, how do I promote storytelling instead of story reading in libraries?

My favorite way to promote is to teach others how to do something.

Imagine offering a session at the library for older kids to learn how to tell a story! Kids love to tell stories, and if you mentor a few of them at a time and suggest to the library that one or two kids each week be allowed to TELL a story before the reading begins, then pretty soon you've got a little corps of hardcore storytellers started in your town.

Offer to do special storytellings once a month or whatever fits your schedule.

(I'd work with older kids, obviously, teaching them to tell stories to younger kids.)

The same sort of tactic can be used with religious groups and other social groups.

Ah -- but what if you're not a teacher? If you have some small technical ability and several hours weekly to set this up, you might look into doing a podcast with just 2-3 stories per week (I'd say to do 4 or so, but things happen and podcasts can be hard to keep up with.) Advertise them on your brochures and webpage and business cards. After awhile you can rotate in older stories that you've told. Mention your name and email at the beginning and end of each podcast, though. Folks may download them and you want them remembering who you are and how to find you. I like to listen to lectures on my MP3 player (I-pod like thing, for those of you who don't know the term) and this can be a way to build an audience.

I found that elder care facilities are always open to programs -- we had an acting troupe that did an "old time radio show" for local area senior citizens centers. They loved to have us come visit and perform for them. Since they like a program that's about an hour long, this is a good opportunity to team with other performers such as a folksinger to bring a kind of "variety hour."

Not knowing more about your situation, I can't comment further. Hope this gives you some hot ideas to try out!

Great Comments!!! I hope the person who originally asked this will pop in and see that their question is being answered

I'm looking at expanding my client base this year. Since I am having to work at it, I decided to focus on what I prefer to do. I prefer to do, schools and libraries. So those are the areas I am working on.

I've got some ideas of my own but any suggestions will be appreciated!

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