Converting potential hindrance into help

Last Tuesday evening I had a library show.  There were a few kids in the library when I arrived, including a 16-year-old boy who had a lot to say. He was clearly a nice boy, but needed extra attention and could, if inclined, be disruptive in my show.

I was proactive. "Sean, I wonder if you would do me a big favor. Would you be my photographer during the performance?" I handed him my digital camera (and tried not to flinch as he put his fingers on the lens). I showed him how to use it. He immediately put the strap around his neck. He loved having an official role and was, for the most part, well-behaved.

Thank goodness for digital cameras. I hit the delete button on most of the pictures, but a few weren't bad. Better even than the pictures was the fact that Sean rose to the occasion and became a help, not a hindrance.  I may try this again.

The view from the driver's seat

I drive a lot, on my way to performances and workshops around the Midwest US. Here's the view from the driver's seat in my car:

This picture was taken while I was parked, of course. The Buddha is facing me. On particularly rough roads, he bounces all over the place and yet the smile on his little plastic face still seems serene.

School inappropriate stories

I offer many different storytelling programs on themes perfect for schools and libraries, such as stories from books, world folktales, stories about wise choices, etc. While I know that kids rarely care about themes as long as I tell engaging stories, adults often prefer to have a specific program. When they don't, I offer Storyteller's Choice, in which I look at the audience and decide what stories would be the best for them in that moment.

I have a lot of stories in my repertoire that are not appropriate for schools and libraries. Many of these stories are about bodily functions. If I told those tales in schools, not only would I probably not be invited back, I'd lose control of the audience and never be able to regain it.

Still, these stories, such as Abu Hassan's Fart, are fun to tell and to listen to. At long last, I've decided to offer a program including them. Here's the blurb from my newly-revamped program list:

School Inappropriate Stories
(all ages) No, these aren’t x-rated stories, just tales of poo, farts, devils and other mild taboo subjects. You’ve been warned!

I'll be curious to see if I get hired to perform this program. 

Back to work

Right. I do have a blog, don't I? Sorry for the extended break. I had only a few performances in December and took the month as fallow time, necessary for my well-being. I spent Christmas and surrounding days in Massachusetts and Maine, New Year's at home.

Now I'm back at my desk, ready to work. The first order of business today was sending out the school postcard to be printed. Huge thanks to my sister Mary for putting it into the right format to be printed. Here's what one side looks like:

Cris Ceschi took these pictures at Red Brick Preschool in Sao Paulo on a lovely spring day in October. I love the way she caught the motion of the story.

I send postcards twice a year usually, once at the start of the school year and once in January. The card serves as a reminder to schools that I'm available for in-school field trips, assemblies, residencies, family literacy nights, end-of-testing celebrations and other events. The other side of the card gives all the salient details. Next week, when the card comes back from 4Over4.com, I'll spend time labeling and stamping them, most likely while watching a DVD. My sweetie and I are on a binge of the 90s TV show Homicide: Life on the Street, all seven years of it, perfect for this kind of busy work.

It's also time to get back to my storytelling one-sheet, the alternative to a brochure I've been working on in a desultory manner for months. More on that in another post.