How did you get started as a professional storyteller?

[Dianne de Las Casas, Author, Award-Winning Storyteller]

My journey into professional storytelling began in 1996. I was volunteering at my local library doing Saturday story times. The children's librarian there told me "You have a natural-born talent, Dianne. You should do this professionally." It never occurred to me that storytelling could be a career. She planted the seed and it continued to grow. When I told my husband that I wanted to be a "professional storyteller," he was leery but supportive. Here I am twelve years later with three award-winning CDs, three books, four more books on the way, and an international touring career. I went from working in a downtown highrise at a job I detested to working "here there and everywhere" with a job I truly love. I believe my passion permeates my work. Now my job is my joy and my joy is my job.

[Brother Wolf]

I have been telling stories since 1993 for compensation – but my first public performance was at the age of 8 when my sister told her teacher that I was a good storyteller. The kindergarten teacher proceeded to nod knowingly and invited me to tell a story to her class. Little did she know – 20 minutes later, with the lights turned low, I finished telling, “The Old Man in the Shack.” Then the fifteen parents lined up out side were finally able to pick up their children.

[Lisa Hicks]

My Start in Storytelling
By: Lisa Hicks

I spent a lot of time at the library. I could read a book for fun and put it down to deal with the kids, picking it back up again when I could. Books have always been a huge recreation for me.
Mostly it seemed like "me" time never really was available. Finally my kids got to the age where they were in school for part of each day. That meant it was time for me to find something I wanted to do!
One day at the library I noticed a sign up that advertised a job storytelling eight to twelve hours a week. That sounded like something I could do and would like to do. I immediately inquired about the position and found out what the process to apply was.

I went through several interviews, an essay test (!), a drug test and an audition. I thought that was a lot for one job with such short hours but being stubborn, I continued through the whole list. I began to have doubts about my ability to be a storyteller though. Even so I pushed on. I updated my resume and started to think about what to do for the audition.

I was only told to prepare three songs and two stories for it and given no other criteria. At this time I had only seen story telling done once while on a field trip with my son. I was pretty worried about what to do. I found two stories that I really loved, that love of story is always the key, I think. These stories were "The Terrible Eek" by Patricia A. Compton and "The Blind Wise Men and the Elephant." I couldn’t find a source for it at the time, but since then I have found several picture books and story collections that contain that story.

I was also substituting at a pre-school that that time so one day I tried my stories and songs out on the older two year old class I was subbing for. I was pleased when they listened and sat enthralled! If you have spent much time with that age group, you know that such a reaction is practically a miracle.

I made the "Wise Blind Men" story into one that instead had young baby birds whose eyes had not yet opened. Their parents took each of them somewhere separately to try to figure out what something was. They said it was the "Whatzit Game." Lots of flapping and tweeting was included in this version of the story. Finally at the end of the story, the parents revealed that the baby birds had all been to the same object and the siblings had a huge fight arguing about what it was. The parents calmed the kids down and explained that someday their eyes would open and they would be able to see. Still they would not really see unless they listened to other’s ideas and saw ALL of something. Then they explained how the "drum", "ball", "rope", "snake", "waterfall", "fans" and so on were really all just parts of an elephant. After that the baby birds argued less knowing that each of them was wise in their own way.

If you’ve never read "The Terrible Eek," why not look it up? It is a great, funny story.

On the audition date, the director of the Children’s Department who I had interviewed with was not there. That threw me a bit but then three young ladies sat down to watch and rate my performance. It was a little surprising to me that they were all at least ten years younger than I. I forged on. They seemed to like it. The question was how well did they like it compared to anyone else’s audition. I had no way of knowing how many other candidates they might be seeing.

Just when I was ready to assume that I hadn’t gotten the position and that story telling must not be for me, I got a call. Yes, I was hired! I was to start the very next week!

I spent a week in "training" which meant I actually got to see the storyteller I was replacing do one program and was also trained on all sorts of library procedures. The next week I started doing two thirty-minute story times a week.

That was about quite a few years ago. These have been wonderful, mostly joyful years of making people happy with songs, stories and activities. Now I work in my own story telling business and I love story telling for all ages and groups!

[Buck P Creacy]

what a great way to start and how innovative of you to adapt and press on to achieve you goal. I am so glad you are here as part of the PS family and the storytelling family. Buck

[Lisa Hicks]

Thanks Buck!

[Gwyn Calvetti]

I think like others here, I probably was telling stories to any "audience" that would listen, but my first paid gig was a toughie; I was hired to tell stories as the "entertainment" at an appreciation dinner for area Boy Scout leaders. If you think the Blue and Gold gigs are tough, try telling to the Scoutmasters! Keep in mind, this is the stoic midwest, but c'mon people, it''s okay to laugh!

I figured I was done for, but afterward, many of them came up individually and shared their favorite parts of my stories and the rest, as they say, is history. That's my story, anyway.

Since then, I've been lucky to be listed with the Wisconsin Humanities Council, which has brought me to fun small town venues. Currently, I seem to have found a cool little niche market that gets me a few fun jobs. I'm an avid birder and have developed a program of bird stories, some original folktales based on my own sightings and the rest traditional tales. The stories have one common facet; though the birds can talk, they must still behave like real birds. In educational settings, it's a great way to introduce different aspects of birds to children. I do a pretty mean Red-Winged Blackbird, no mean feat for a sentient being not possessed of a syrinx!

I'm so lucky to work as a special education teacher in a school that sees the value of storytelling, and has placed me in a position where I *have* to tell stories in our first grade literacy initiative. I look forward to taking advantage of early retirement in one more year, when I can tell stories anywhere I'm invited.

[Tim Lowry]

I got my first paying gig when I was 13 years old. I did a puppet show for a 4 yr old friend's birthday party. From there I started my own business "Timmy and Friends Marionettes." In high school I graduated from puppeteering to storytelling via high school speech and drama class. I entered the state speech tournament my junior year and won third place. In college I majored in theater and met several professional storytellers at the local Stone Soup Festival in Woodruff, SC. After college I was a tour guide for a while in Charleston, SC and then I taught school for five years. Both of these opportunities were great practical training grounds for professional telling. In 2000, with the enthusiastic support of my wife, I launched out on my own and have never looked back! My wife "retired" from teaching elementary music three years ago and now travels with me. On occasion we perform together. She provides vocals and violin music in some of my shows. We love our job! The passion that Dianne spoke of is definately there. We wake up every day and say, "Lord, we want to be willing to go anywhere and do anything, but please note that we really love what we are doing right now!"

[Buck P Creacy]

Hey Tim


Who was your Speech and Drama Teacher?

[Tim Lowry]

Pam Holcomb

[Buck P Creacy]

I was thinking that was right. She is going into the studio during the second week of May to record her first CD. Why dont' you drop her an encouraging note... She is a little stressed.

Buck

[Rivka Willick]

I started using stories in my work as a Doula (a childbirth coach) about 20 years ago. When a woman got "stuck" in the process -- she was pass due, or labor slowed or stopped, or she got into an emotional loop around nursing or pregnancy-- when she got stuck , I'd bring out stories. These "birth stories" often accomplished what pitocin, advice and will power could not. When the brain, the body and the heart refuses to let the world come in, a story can enter and make all the difference. I've collected over 100 birth stories, some historic, some I've witnessed., others were given to me.

After I discovered the amazing power of story , I pushed myself and using my college journalism/English background I began fusing traditional story with individual's personal stories to create transformative tales.

I've been a professional teller for about 5 years telling original programs mostly to older children and adult audiences. No matter if I'm telling an original program at a historic site, stories of transformation at a women's program, haunted tales, Jewish stories, birth stories or leading a workshop, I never stop marveling at the power of story. I learned my lesson at the bedside of women in labor. When all else fails, tell a story.

[Patricia Kjolhede]

I was a young teacher working as a member of a local reading association. One spring we were putting on a carnival and could not locate a storyteller and I volunteered to "give it a go". It was March (reading month) and I dressed my 5 year old son as a leprechaun and I brushed off my Irish brogue for some old fashioned tales o' the emerald isle, and I must say , it went over quite well and I did a few more storytelling "gigs" over the years in church and other various functions.
I always received great comments and I always loved doing it.
When my "little leprechaun" graduated from high school, I pulled out a photo from that fateful day and the thought went through my mind that storytelling was what I was supposed to be doing....now. Now that I was no longer a basketball, soccer, or bible school mom. Now it was time to spread my wings and .... tell. My son has now been out of high school for six years and I have "taken my show on the road" so to speak. I have never been happier. I travel to schools, daycare centers, nursing homes, libraries, and many family functions. I bring puppets, props, and my guitar and have a grand time. I will retire from teaching in 2-4 years and I expect to be very busy on the road. Life just keeps getting better.

[Tom Taylor]

Dianne,

You are clearly one of the "lucky ones" - someone who actually loves her job. As a teacher, over the years I have seen far too many "teachers" who are in the classroom only for the paycheck, which, of course, is a great injustice to those students unfortunate enough to have such a one.

But, YOU created your own luck, by listening to what that children's librarian told you - btw, have you thanked her lately?

Life is too short to waste your working days doing something you hate....regardless of the paycheck.

I recall making my 'stage debut' as the south end of a north-bound horse, at a children's dance recital at Pershing Jr. High School, Houston, TX, just over one million years ago. I was encouraged by my grandfather's comment some time after the recital, "I always KNEW you were a horse's ____." (Can you believe he said that to me!? He was kidding, of course . . . wasn't he?)

Lots of theatre work over the following years. Almost 10 years touring w/ one-man show on Woody Guthrie, the "father of American Folk Music," and a gifted storyteller, led me into storytelling on my own (NOT as another personage, or character) - for which I am truly grateful.

There's more, of course, but, life is short; it's a beautiful day, it's Saturday, it's Spring Break, I've got a date with my wife, Miss Ella was born Thursday - healthy/happy, delivered by our son! - let's get on with it....

Blessings to you and yours,

Tom T