Have you ever wondered who hires storytellers? Yes, schools are a given, but there are tellers who only tell to adults. Who is calling them to set up gigs? What do storytellers even do? Could a storyteller benefit you?
First, you must know that storytelling is NOT just standing in front of an audience and telling stories. That is a HUGE part of the job, but tellers are also educators, community builders, and advocates. Every storyteller approaches their career differently, and their approach informs the venues they play.
Here are some places that employ storytellers.
-Schools and Daycares
This is the venue most people imagine storytellers thriving in. Tellers frequent schools. Sometimes, they tell to an entire auditorium of children at once. Sometimes they tell to individual classrooms. Sometimes, they lead workshops to help students with their writing and storytelling skills. Sometimes, they'll even work with teachers without students present helping those teachers develop storytelling skills or updating those teachers on the most recent research in oral literacy.
In all cases, a storyteller in the school is an important supplement to curriculum. Teachers, administration, and librarians collaborate with their teller to select stories that match recent or upcoming lessons.
For example, I once told to a first-grade class that had just learned the different story types. I told one example of each type that the students had learned and let them identify which type I had used. I found out later that several children went home and told their parents the same stories bragging about being able to identify each. It warmed my heart to be a part of the community helping these children learn.
Teens also benefit from school tellers. Middle graders and secondary students need a LOT of social emotional learning time, but they often resist reading about emotions. Storytellers break down teen's barriers and give them a chance to solve complex interpersonal problems in the safety of their imagination.
-Bars and Pubs
While many bars prefer to book music acts or stand-up comedy as their entertainment, others find Storytellers are a much better fit for their clientele. Storytellers are the perfect entertainers for the quieter crowds that filter in on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturday afternoons. Because tellers are so personable, they tend to develop a loyal fanbase quickly, and those fans are happy to linger several hours refreshing their drinks and tipping well. Bars that book storytellers cultivate a customer base that is both respectful and profitable. They also find that storytelling is a more cost-effective form of entertainment as bars with tellers only need a simple sound system and enough light for the audience to see the teller's face.
-Private Events
Birthday parties, weddings, bachelor/ette parties, bonfires, lock-ins: these are all events just begging for a storyteller. Event planners do not often suggest tellers, but, when they do, events stand out for guests as one of the most memorable nights of their lives. Even small businesses pull storytellers in for their grand opening and anniversary parties. Tellers can tailor stories to make anyone or anything the hero. They can hype any crowd. They can offend or impress. They are the most versatile form of entertainment.
-Fundraising Events
Anyone who has ever planned a gala knows that there is an award lull during the silent auction and milling about phase of the evening. Many gala planners hire atmosphere artists for this time-slot such as harp players or aerial artists. While these are great choices, they do little to promote higher bidding. Introducing a skilled storyteller mid-way through the silent auction can drive bids higher. The teller can tell stories about the items and help the bidders imagine their lives with the donated packages.
-Large Corporations
Many large corporations and non-profits actually hire on storytellers as full-time employees. Corporate storytellers can train management on effective communication strategies, advise public relations teams, contextualize data, and entertain donors. Corporate storytellers also provide entertainment for company parties and networking events. In times of intense stress, corporations may enlist a storyteller to serve as an in-office clown, blowing bubbles at, telling stories to, and offering encouragement to suffering workers.
-Museums, Historical Sites, and Libraries
Museums and libraries integrate tellers into their regular programming. Tellers at libraries and museums often select stories related to current exhibits or plan educational sets that teach a skill or craft. Informational tellers are also frequently employed by historical sites to serve as character actors or tour guides. They are able to take the facts the venue hopes attendees learn into memorable stories that make visits positive experiences for all involved. Tellers in historical sites of tragedy also help people put to words their complicated feelings and offer support to descendants of both victims and survivors.
-Theatres and Festivals
Theatres and performance festivals love bringing in storytelling. Tellers are entertaining, have low technical needs, and offer entertainment that is inclusive of those with photo sensitivity and those who might experience sensory overload. There are even festivals JUST FOR STORYTELLING.
Other types of festivals love to book tellers too. Craft fairs, ren fairs, and literary festivals use tellers to set the tone for the event and draw more attendees in.
-Hospitals and Retirement Homes
People staying in hospitals and retirement homes often feel isolation and boredom that can be detrimental to their health. Some facilities hire storytellers or work with local storytelling guilds to get tellers in patients' rooms and raise patients' spirits. Because storytelling can be a solo act, the risk of exposing patients to viruses and bacteria is lower than other forms of entertainment.
So, why should you hire a storyteller?
Odds are, you will have to plan an event at some point in your life. Be it a gala, a wedding, or a birthday party, you will want entertainment that is engaging, affordable, inclusive, and on-theme. Why not pick something unique and memorable like storytelling?
Resources
These links are coming soon:
How to find the right teller for your event.
How to book a storyteller.
Why adults need storytelling.
About the Author
Ursa Miles is a professional storyteller in Chicago, Il, USA available for events around the world. Email her at milesursa@gmail.com to discuss events. If she isn't the right fit for you, she'll be happy to recommend another teller who might meet your needs.
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