Others recorded the Keynotes and the Master storytellers concert. I don’t know what happened to these files. I’m sure the NSN got a copy of them somewhere. The master storytellers performance – Doc McConnell’s last performance – was almost not recorded! I saw the volunteer putting his equipment away before the performance, and when I asked why, I was told by NSN volunteers that the storytellers would never agreed to their work being recorded.

So I walked up to each storyteller and asked them for permission to record their performance “for NSN” with any other uses to be worked out later. They all said yes with a great deal of passion and Doc McConnell said we could do anything NSN wanted with his recording. I’m sure I was too pushy for bystanders

The reality is that storytelling has an advantage over other art forms, because new work is always being created. We all have material that we have not performed in years. We all have stories that were once primary to our performance, but now no longer capture our attention. What if all of that material was still available? Mostly I try to downplay storytellers’ fears by asking this one question: Reframing the whole debate… Do you want to be a part of the historical record?

That is how I would frame this debate over recording conference sessions.

Five years from now if this material is available will it still matter to you? Won’t you be on to other things? Wouldn’t it be nice to have this historical moment recorded? The question is not “Do we record our conference sessions?” The question really is ”When do we release our conference sessions? One year? Two years? Five years from now?”

The storytelling skill set is timeless – the skills and abilities we have today will not, unlike computers, internet or blogging, become old fashioned – they are ageless. I personally know that the storytelling movement has a lot to offer the world and think it’s time we stepped up to the plate to offer our skills. NSN or any other national organization could be the vehicle for that delivery. Who ever builds a content delivery system around the art of storytelling first will win that race and be the source for the international storytelling movement for the next twenty years. My website www.artofstorytellingshow.com is well on the way to being the source for all things relating to storytelling with children, but what about storytelling with seniors, in business, marketing, or any of a dozen different topics that I have not had time or resources to cover in the depth that should be covered?

NSN could be so much more then a network, using it’s conference it could bring the separate candles of the storytelling community into a bright light that would shine forth across the world.

Eric Wolf

I will not share or give away your email address.

And don’t forget to subscribe by iTunes or your browser to The Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf so you can get bi-weekly inspirations from Bother Wolf direct to your desktop. Read the info on the right to find out how. It’s free and it’s super simple.

I rarely write articles for this bog – but I started thinking about it and I thought as way of thanks I would write a short article giving thanks to all those bloggers who have been so supportive of my podcast over the years. Keeping in mind that many of these people have become my friends, I apologize to any worthy storytelling blogger who feels excluded form this list.

1. http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com

If you reading this post – I’m sure you are reading this post on my blog so I’m sure I don’t need to convince you of the value of this blog on the web. I have tried to bring to this podcast every storyteller of every merit in the international storytelling movement. I only have a few hundred to go – so please spread the word as to the value of this resource.

2. http://storytelling.blogspot.com/

Tim Ernetta has a fabulous blog called “Breaking the Eggs: Performance storytelling in the 21st Century”. Tim planned years in advance for this blog by reserving the word storytelling in the blogspot universe – thank goodness he had the foresight. Instead of another dry examination of movies, theater or television, we get this entertaining look at American storytelling. He has one of the most refreshing views of what it means to be a modern storyteller. His examination of the boundaries of storytelling and his willingness to leave no stone unturned in his examination of what it means to be a storyteller, professional or other wise, makes this blog required reading for anyone who is serious about storytelling in the United States.

3. http://professionalstoryteller.ning.com/profiles/blog/list

A Ning is a new word like Google, Ebay or Facebook – Nings are dedicated online communities with a common philosophical focus. The professional storytelling Ning founded by Dianne de Las Casus includes not just one blog, but hundreds of storytellers blogs all combined into one overwhelming RSS feed. Give yourself the gift of examining what it means to take your storytelling to the next professional level.

4. http://2008pics.blogspot.com/

K. Sean Buvala has a courageous picture blog of his own professional storytelling career recorded over the period of a year with hundreds of pictures. Honest and raw, it is a must read for any inspiring performer who wishes or dreams of making a living from their art form. He has several other online storytelling projects and each is worthy of its own place of honor – so be sure to explore the links on this blog page to find out more about what he has created online.

5. http://lisb.wordpress.com/

Limor’s Storytelling Agora is a valuable addition to the international view of storytelling in the 21sot century. Sometimes Limor just speaks about her basic experience as a storyteller – like many other storytelling blogs. Then suddenly she will launch into an examination of storytelling itself, why we do it, how we do it or just what it means to be a storyteller in the 21st century.

6. http://storytellingnotes.blogspot.com/

This is Priscilla Howe’s professional storytelling blog. She is one of the busiest storytellers that I know and you can pick up a lot of tricks of the trade if you pay attention to the space between the words in her blog. She is a professional and her blog demonstrates it with over a thousand professional gigs on her resume. This is a blog to follow for other professional storytellers.

7. http://www.storytellingadventures.blogspot.com/

Rachel Hedman’s blog, Storytelling Adventures, has been a long term project for her. She posts on a regular basis on the storytelling art form, issues relating to performing in various venues and the development of various gigs. Rachel currently has been developing a new project online, so be sure to check that out through the links. I am sure it will be just as in depth, interesting, detailed and good for the soul as this blog.

8. http://storyconnection.net/blog/

Dianne de Las Casus has a professional blogging presence – she writes books and a regular lengthy newsletter, maintains a healthy performance schedule and answers all emails. I don’t know how she does it all. Actually I do – because she talks about it at length on her blog.

9. http://www.dyslexicstoryteller.blogspot.com/

My personal blog – where I reach out to parents of dyslexic children – not really a storytelling blog – but a great example of how to create content for a specific audience to whom you wish to tell stories. If you are a regular follower of this blog, you will understand my passionate interest in the way Americans view school and learning disabilities.

10. http://www.uncalledfortour.blogspot.com/

Although this does not appear to be a permanent addition to the storytelling blogsphere, it looks to be of such originality and vision that I had to slip it into this lineup of storytelling blogs. These three tellers are reaching for the sky while mere mortals seek the old places of last resort.

If you’re a storyteller with a webcam, you can record your stories and post them on-line. It’s remarkably easy. Since July I have been busily recording stories and songs, making up for years of talking myself out of it because of the expense, the time commitment and my nervousness in front of the camera. Now the videographer is me, the venue is my own home, and telling to the webcam is as natural telling in front of a mirror.

Videos are a way to reach a far, far wider audience than you ever dreamed. Through my presence on storyteller.net, ProfessionalStoryteller.ning, Facebook and, most of all, YouTube, I have told to people in unexpected places such as Qatar, Croatia, Argentina and Indonesia. I have also forged new friendships with other storytellers. I absolutely love it.

My camera is the iSight, built into my iMac. I can’t speak knowledgeably about other webcams, but I’ve been told they work in a similar manner. The iSight is used in a program called “Photo Booth,” which takes pictures and videos with the click of a mouse. Don’t like the result? Delete!

On YouTube, where I post all my work, I’ve been seeking out videos from other storytellers. I’m a member of the YouTube group “The Ancient Art of Storytelling” at http://www.youtube.com/group/oralstorytelling. Most storytelling videos are shot with a videocamera during a live performance. Some are shot by professionals in a studio or at a live performance. Hardly any tellers use a webcam (although a lot of non-storytelling YouTube videos are made that way). Paradoxically, webcam videos come across more like a live performance than a video of an actual live performance does, probably because the teller actually seems as though he or she is making direct contact with you, the audience. Also, there are no distracting coughs, chair squeaks or heads in the way.

Here’s what I have learned about filming videos on my computer:

1. Choose a short story. YouTube limits videos to 10 minutes. Shorter is better, because some people are too impatient to wait for a longer video to load. You can split a long story into two parts, but there’s no guarantee viewers will watch both parts.

2. Use a tale you have told many times before, or rehearse your new one well. This is not the time to wing it.

3. Conjure up an audience in your mind. If you’ve ever told on the radio, you know how to do this. It’s one of the reasons I suggest using tales you’ve told often, because you’re not so dependent on the audible audience reaction to get in the zone.

4. Make eye contact with the camera.

5. Lighting: Because all my telling is in front of my computer, my lighting options are limited. I experiment and pick what feels best. I achieved a campfire effect for “Bloody Finger” with two candles under my face just out of camera range. I suggest using more light than you think you need, because my videos appear darker on PCs.

6. Sound: My computer has a built-in microphone but I’ve been told that my quieter stories are too faint on a PC (they’re fine on a Mac). I boosted the input volume and I’ve set up some sound equipment of camera range. I’m looking for a good microphone with a USB plug.

7. As soon as I have it in the can, I watch it all the way through, and if I like it I upload it to YouTube. It takes several minutes to upload, so go make yourself a cup of tea.

8. Include your name in the title of your video so when people are Googling you, they’ll find your work. Example: “Leslie Slape, storyteller – The Tale-Teller.”

9. Tag your video with words that will make it come up as “related videos” to other storytelling videos (whenever you finish watching a video on YouTube, you’ll see a list of related videos). Suggestions: oral tradition folktale spoken word storyteller storytelling.

10. Add your video to “The Ancient Art of Storytelling” (you’ll have to join the group first).

11. If you have a Web site, Blog or any other Internet presence, embed your videos there (YouTube gives you the embed code). E-mail the link to everyone in your storytelling database. And put your YouTube site on your business cards.

Happy videotelling!

Leslie Slape’s videos are at www.YouTube.com/LeslieSlape

Very few storytellers make it easy for potential clients to listen to their material online. Many storytellers choose to hide the treasure of their professional work behind a wall of profit and self-interest. Unluckily for them profit and self-interest can be better served by bringing down the wall. How do you expect potential clients to be sold on your ability as a storyteller if they have never heard you tell a story? How many potential presenters or school administrators are not hiring storytellers just because they had one bad experience and need more evidence to overcome their prejudice? How do you expect people to buy your online CD’s without being able to test the waters?

As a movement we are offering what the world wants to hear. Currently America is filled with cynical, disconnected and apathetic people who are dying for authentic relationships. What is good storytelling? – authentic, real and emotional. We as storytellers can do a better job of making our material available to the average American audience. We could do a better job of selling the value of our movement to the average American and we can do a better job of helping Americans to find themselves. In a culture that is filled with pop icons. We have authentic storytellers with ability and quality that matches any of the Hollywood studio.

Every storyteller in the country could have a list of audio files of their stories available for easy download. A list of files is called an rss feed; if all the files are audio or video they are called a podcast. You might be asking what is a podcast? Podcasting is a way to receive audio files over the Internet via what is called an RSS feed. Many content providers offer podcast feeds at no cost. These feeds deliver audio broadcasts to your desktop. You can listen to these files on your computer or load them on your MP3 player and take them with you. The term podcast, like broadcast, can refer either to the series content itself or to the method by which it is syndicated; the latter is also called podcasting. The host or author of a podcast is often called a podcaster. We live in an on demand society where people want what they want when they want it – NOW, not at the next storytelling festival, conference or workshop. You have a responsibility to the storytelling movement to record as much of your material as possible and to make that material available to as wide an audience as possible.

If you are a presenter or an organizer of storytelling events – after the show is over hand your storyteller an audio CD of their performance to take home. They have a personal computer that they can use to copy that disk and sell at their next venue or just trade with other tellers. You can use your website or a blog to drive listeners to your very own storytelling extravaganza. All you need is a list of recorded stories (your storytelling CD’s or performance tapes) and an rss feed. Both Switchpod and Lypsen hosting sites include an rss feed as a part of their service. You could be podcasting for $5 a month in about five minutes if you have about twenty minutes of material already recorded. (Don’t forget to ask the artists – always ask.)

If I have you’re interested in creating a complex podcasting project signup for my free e-course – Podcasting and New Media for Artist or Arts Centered Organization’s media at… http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com/podcast

Eric James Wolf is known around the world to children as Brother Wolf. He is the host if the “Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf” podcast, a hour long show recorded in a conference call environment once a week. He also writes weekly in a blog (The Dyslexic Storyteller). All of this can be viewed at http://www.ericwolf.org

Press Play to hear this interview that was recorded as a conference panel presentation at the National Storytelling Conference on Friday, August 8th, 2008 at 11 am ET – 2008. The Future of Storytelling Online from left to right Brother Wolf as moderator, Panel members Rachel Hedman, Robert Kikuchi-yngojo, Mary Margaret O’Connor and Fred Crowe off picture to the right.

Here is a brief bio on each participant.

Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo was the co-founder, along with his wife Nancy Wang of Eth-Noh-Tec. For the past 26 years they’ve created, performed, and re-synthesized ancient Asian mythologies and folk tales. As a storyteller Robert also performs solo, traveling nationwide working with national chapters of Young Audiences and other agencies. Lesser known, are his accolades in the Asian American music scene. He has recently launched Eth-Noh-Tec’s new podcast: “Once A Pod A Time”.

Karen Chace is a storyteller, web researcher and director of a student storytelling troupe. She is the author of Story By Story – Building A Student Storytelling Club, contributed to the NSN publications, A Beginner’s Guide to Storytelling, Telling Stories to Children and writes the Stor-e Telling column for Storytelling Magazine. She maintains a amazing website of resources at http://www.storybug.net

Rachel Hedman (http://www.rachelhedman.com) is a fusion of energy who takes everyday events, discovers the adventure behind them, and shares the stories with everyone. From sophomore high school youth teller to BYU Storytelling Club founder, she now serves as Co-Chair for the Youth, Educators, and Storytellers Alliance. She spearheads approval of the Boy Scouts of America storytelling merit badge. She posts semi-monthly on her blog “Voice—A Storyteller’s Lifestyle” at http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com.

Mary Margaret O’Connor is the founder of iTales.com. Mary Margaret lives in Irvine, California and runs a pharmaceutical marketing consulting company. She is married with two kids. Despite this being her first visit to the beautiful Great Smokey Mountains, she couldn’t quite get inspired enough for yesterday’s 5am Pacific Time hike!

Eric Wolf is a children’s storyteller and host of the Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf. Eric Wolf has a M.S. from Lesley University, apprenticed with Storyteller David Elhya in 1993. He writes on his experience as a dyslexic storyteller on his personal blog www.dyslexicstoryteller.blogspot.com/.

Bio’s Above ———–

————- Offers Below

Eth-Noh-Tec will be leading several cultural delegations to Asia: India 2008, China 2009, Singapore and Korea in subsequent years. This Fall, from Oct 31 through Nov 16, 2008, join them as they explore the storytelling in the oral and musical traditions of Chennai, India. There is room for their fall tour. Contact them: at there website www.ethnohtec.org or call: 415-282-8705.

Karen Chace has a four page handout available for you today. However, you may also receive it via email attachment. All of the URL’s will be hyperlinked for your convenience so you just have to point and click! Simply email Karen at storybug@aol.com with the subject heading “NSN Panel Offer.”

Be one of the first five people to post a comment to one of Rachel Hedman’s blog entries (http://storytellingadventures.blogspot.com), share feedback on the entry, and request for a one-hour free consultation call with her about your blog. All other people who respond are welcome to get quick tips by email – info@rachelhedman.com.

iTales would like to offer storytellers to go to www.iTales.com and sign up to sell your story. In return, we will host and assist in the global marketing of your story.

Eric Wolf invites you to listen to his podcasts at http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com where you will be able to hear the complete recording of this panel in about month or www.fairytalesforever.com where there are 20+ stories online for easy listening. If you are interested in podcasting as possible venture please signup to his free e-course on Art Centered Podcasting at: http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com/podcast/

Eric Wolf Speaking during the podcast….

Thanks again to Fred Cowe for dropping in on such short notice….
http://www.artofstorytellingshow.com

Tired of the tin sound? Purchase a HQ Mp3 File of Interview #051 Jeff Gere for $2.23 How you can Think Big with radio and TV.

A BLUEPRINT: I offer a blueprint based on my evolution here in Hawaii mapping a progression from a teller to a story producer of a Festival, a radio, and TV series. I believe it is vital for us to moving storytelling into the blood stream of the mainstream.

MY OPINION: Storytelling is like folk music before Peter Paul & Mary. Its self-image loves small and intimate, is largely adverse and suspicious of media and documentation while the REST of the Web Entertainment World explodes bland content in an ever-growing variety of methods and technologies. Content is King, storytelling is a DEEP WELL of PROFOUND CONTENT, but it/we are NOT reaching the fast-food masses. Our self-image does not serve us. I believe there’s a need for Storytelling. We have an opportunity: We who drink in this well ARE the ones to bridge this gap, get OVER our techno-phobia, and feed this rich story mana to the Masses. OK, you say, but HOW?

“The First impediment is self-imposed” Helen Keller.

A FLOOD BEGINS WITH A DROP: (you): Start with YOURSELF. Do your homework, find your Voice & polish coal into a jewel with your tongue. Tell tell tell tell and tell: THEN get biz card, resume, and website. Start small and build up.
HOW? Look around, step out the door, and make new friends.

RIPPLES: SWAPS & GUILDS are the story community core, the cells of our body, the nexus points for giving, friendly, low risk, social tells with others who share the story calling and mission. Guilds find & nourish talent. Folks try things out and make friends and allies. I encourage groups to dare to arrange for feedback (for those who wish to grow faster) to stimulate growth.

GUILD ‘Shows’ introduce the mechanics of production (overcoming fear, ‘small’ self-concept, email lists, get a venue and publicity, making a program and talent line-ups; staging, money in and out, organizing volunteers).
Why is RECORDING these wonderful events so often ignored?

WAVES: RECORDING (CD/ DVD): ‘You’re a storyteller- gimme your CD?’ You need to have one to give. Period. If you believe in your talent, know you can hold a room, and have developed a program, why NOT catch lightning on a disc? It‘s NOT technically difficult, yes you can, and you must. The CD is a seed that can speak for you far away, open doors, and move people. It’s an experiential business card. Recording pushes you to learn about mics, levels, editing, packaging, and distributing. Recording reveals your bad and good habits too, stimulating evolution. Add it to your list for big performances. Look at them as diary entries- make one each year for a century.

OK, you say, but HOW? Hiring a studio is costly, but EVERY computer can record sound now. Learn how. Step in a door at the Public or College Radio Station, or go to the local high school or college technology lab. Look for a Techie, find help, make friends. Learn! Start and get better.

NEW FORMS YouTube and the Web are open to us ALL NOW: the audience is The WORLD! How do you get attention? Join NSN, storyteller.net, CD Baby, YouTube. Tell people. Feed the email list. Put your stuff up for downloadings on www.itales.com, Make a podcast!

You say HOW, I say, ‘go find new friends to help you. The truth: technology is frustrating at first, but you get better and build the capacity to infect more people with the virus of story.

SWELLS: FESTIVALS: I want the BEST talent in the BEST listening environment possible. I want to GO BIG with a BIG SPLASH and HUGE CROWD! I want it recorded. Festivals imply higher risks and thrills than Guild Shows, but involve the same issues (publicity, line-up, recording, sponsors, budget & fundraising.) EMPOWER ING TRUTHS: Businesses want to reach the public. You attract a unique population and can help them. MEDIA: Approach with positive pleasant persistence. Make friends, call back again, write the article ideas out for them. Your attitude: ‘This event is the THIS WEEK’s most HAPPENING, ELECTRIC, UNIQUE event! I’m here to help you!’ Know your talent (I gotta see/hear ‘em . I live in Hawaii, so media (web, CD, DVD) is essential.

TALK STORY FESTIVAL is a three night FREE public celebration held in an auditorium in a seaside park in Honolulu each October since 1989. Sponsored by Oahu’s Parks Department (I’m the Drama Specialist), It features 8 of Hawaii’s best tellers each night (20 minutes each) with a few mainland talents willing to come for the adventure (not the paycheck). I have a core of GREAT talent. I take a few risks (rappers and slam poets, cultural oddities of some kind). I use the theater lighting and add some with a light tech who colors the stage with the tale. I light independently the sign interpreter. I have four cameras feeding into a portable video van and project the editing onto the wall by the stage. The last few years I have an improvisation wizard on piano playing with some of the tellers. I’m the MC too. Press is usually quite good (radio, TV, newspaper coverage and announcements). The Festival forced me to learn to do these things. There’s elation and frustration each year, I seem to have a target on my shirt. It’s hard and demanding- that’s why I love it. It forces me to improve and evolve. Many many people hear great tells out of my efforts. I am grateful.

SWELLS: TOURS: Solo & group tours are a unique way to take a vacation. Getting gigs has lots to do with emails, photos, links to websites. Library and private schools fund it, with public tells for fun and recording. Tour with talented friends and the quality will remain high. Avoid needy talents. Fatigue is a factor, the clock defines eating, resting and sleeping. It’s not for everyone.

OCEANS: RADIO is the intimate theater of the mind, a one-on-one conversation with a million listeners, PERFECT for storytelling, and technically easier than TV … but HOW? When I realized I could take the audio off a decade of good Talk Story video recordings, I began organizing cuts into themes. I asked people I respected to share material (CDs) and aired what I loved. With a small budget (first from Parks Department, then with a grant to pay an audio engineer) I started experimenting. It took 18 months to find a form, and we aired Talk Story Radio shows on three stations to 13,000 listeners a week for two years . So, start locally, RECORD tells, grow better. Approach your college, low-band, Public, and/or commercial stations (sponsor) for time on the air. Talk to your Guild. Once you start to air, expand the audience with publicity, publicity, publicity (email newletters). Go hear our podcasts at www.talkstory radio.com … after many frustrations, a friend set me up for podcasting. And after several mistakes, I can do it now. Go hear- IT’s FREE & AVAILABLE!

VIDEO is picture rooted to audio. Technically, its more challenging, Storytelling: best Live vs. controlled environment of the Studio (synthesis!). I have long contemplated what TV can add to the energy of a live performance (and visa-versa). We can use this media.

Story TV (from Talk Story Festival) uses College interns, pro directors (paid), I edit & air on Public Access TV (funded by law from cable franchise)(Big Media Threat). Soon I’ll GIVE stories to the Dept. of Education TV to air between their shows.
Commercial TV HAD requirements to do some non-commercial shows. Now? To air on Commercial TV, you can sell a show to the station OR buy time with your own sponsors.

NATIONAL About time we had a National Story Radio (Festivals with quality recordings, tellers invited/involved, sponsors (NSN, Int Storytell Center, Stllg University Programs, Kid Tellings, regional tellers. HUGE!)
Hawaii Spookies Special & Hawaii TV Series , sponsors (DVD)
New CDs (record, 2 track editing, Photoshop) Yakkity Yak, Twisted Luvinz
Live stream of Talk Story #20, Spread Blueprint, build for National TV show.

More on Jeff on his website: http://www.jeffgere.com

Baba and I speak about the podcasting revolution. Comments or feed back welcome here on the blog post. Do you think I should have Baba back? Is podcasting to narrow a subject? Are we off topic fro the Art of Storytelling with Brother Wolf? Will we ever stop talking off topic of podcasting during this episode? All this and so much more on two tellers talking – the podcasting special.

If your interested in the free e-course offered in the podcast you can sign up right here. Just fill out all the fields below.