My stories are mainly for adults: how do I explain?

[Reisa Stone]

Nearly every time I reveal I'm a storyteller, people immediately react with, "It must be lovely to work with children!"

My stories are meant for adults. They are often edgy and include humor, political and social commentary that goes over kids' heads. I told at a library Halloween festival last year. The audience WAS all adult, but the librarians seemed uncomfortable that my story was about healing from a loved one's AIDS death with the magical help of a flock of crows. I thought it was primo Halloween material.

Does anyone have suggestions for a concise explanation of adult storytelling that neither suggests it is pornographic, nor puts down telling for children? I'm about to put myself forward for a large cultural event, but have gotten so uncomfortable with this reaction, I'm tempted to tick the box for "performance" or "multidisciplinary" artist.

[Rivka Willick]

Reisa,

Thank you for bringing this topic to the forum. I think a great many tellers struggle with this issue, and I'm one of them.

When I tell people I'm a storyteller, I get all sorts or reactions, and until recently most were discriptions of something other then storytelling. "Oh you read to kids in the libriary", or "you read books like that fellow who does Harry Potter", some might mention scary stories. I use these interactions as an opportunity to promote storytelling. I've gotten it down to a minute. I speak about the wide variety of styles, audiences and uses of storytelling. In the last few months things have started to change. Folks hear my name and say "Oh, I've heard about you, you're a storyteller, aren't you?" and then they start asking questions. I was just asked to help someone find "his story" and once he has developed 'his story' he is going to use it as a proposal for marriage. ----now that's a grown up use for storytelling!!!!

As far as how to explain adult storytelling for an event...I still struggle with it. Maybe we could borrow from the Movie Industry (they borrow from us) and use the PG-13 rating. The Folk Project-a New Jersey group which promotes and produces many folk arts events, uses the phrase "for adults, or teens who can listen like adults"

I look forward to reading more in this forum.

Rivka

[Reisa Stone]

Thanks, Rivka. It's good to hear I'm not alone. I even saw the stereotype on a sitcom (can't remember which). A radio station's "storytelling lady" wore a loudly patterned Laura Ashley dress, spoke in a tiny, high-pitched condescending voice and made corny gestures. I wanted to pinch her. And the show's writers.

<"for adults, or teens who can listen like adults"> I like that!

Yes, I suppose your birthing stories are PG 13 :-D Looking forward to hearing them.

BTW, my name is a Ukrainian affectionate derivative of Rika. It means "paradise." Raisa or Reisa (anglicized) is "small paradise." Is Rivka the Yiddish form of the same name?

Kind regards,
Reisa

[Rivka Willick]

In the Torah Rivka is the wife of Yitzchok. Later the names were given Latin translations, Rebecca and Issac. Rivka was an original, and like my name sake, so am I. :-)

I also create and tell transformational tales, these are the stories we need to tell but are often just too difficult to tell and to listen to. I listen to these stories and then allow the iconic images that swiral around us everyday to enter the stories and transform them into tales which can be heard. Many of these are very adult, although they can be told to a "general audience" but not young children. I like the idea of putting a minimum suggested age on the stories.
RW

[Daniel Bishop, the Storyteller]

The response I get most is "oh like the Three Little Pigs" (or children's story of your choice.)

While I have stories for children, I like to tell to folks who can sit still for a 20 minute story. I also tell ghost stories that would send some "kids" into weeks of nightmares. So (and this has worked most of the time) when I advertise, I include the target age group PROMINENTLY in the advertising: all ages, 8 and up, 13 and up, or no one under 17 not accompanied by and adult, or Storytelling for adult audiences. But never Adult Stories, for some reason, the order of the words means a lot. I also like to remind people that most fairy tales that they grow up with where not ment to be nice like Disney, but grim like the Grimm Brothers, intended to scare the children into being good. (read them and see, scary)

As far as the library goes, they stopped listening to the story when you said "AIDS." This seems to be a four letter word of great concern to public facilities and schools. Each area and city have their own set of these words but that one seems to be universal. I haven't figured out how to over come that one yet. Any Ideas?

Thank you and keep being a storyteller.
Daniel Bishop, the Storyteller

[Reisa Stone]

Hi Daniel,

For some reason, I can't copy and paste your words.

Re: not saying "adult stories."

Yes, this is definitely the case.

Re: "Brothers Grimm."

You're tellin' me. I grew up with Baba Yaga, intended to keep kids from venturing too far into the woods. My family used her well.

Re: "AIDS"

This shocks me. You'd think that literate people whose job is public education---particularly librarians!---would welcome someone who can speak about AIDS in a compassionate and direct manner. And as I said, it was an adult audience. Sigh.

Re: telling stories that give kids nightmares.

Me too. I was once asked to perform for an adult audience. Someone brought their kids along. I was thrown into the uncomfortable position of editing as I went, forced to choose between artistic freedom and protecting kids----when they shouldn't have been there in the first place.

Thanks for your advice Daniel.

Kind regards,
Reisa

[Daniel Bishop, the Storyteller]

Thank you! I have been trying to find "Baba Yaga" for a long time. I heard one story sited to her but didn't write it down at the time. Now to work.

I believe that the librarians and the teachers are ok with AIDS discussions and stories, but, I think, it’s the patrons and the parents that make trouble for them and they would rather not deal with that, if you know what I mean. It's just easier to avoid such things. (what ever)

Nightmares. That is why I like advertising the intended age group. This sound like you were invited to tell to adults, and were told just adults. I had that too. I was asked to tell ghost stories to a privet party for adults, and I could be as scary as I liked. On the party invitation, it just said storytelling and so the "oh it must be the Three Little Pigs" people brought there kids along. I started with a couple of "jump stories", then I told the group that "I was told I was telling to an adult audience so that is who I will tell to. I will be telling some scary stories now. I leave it to you parents to know when its to scary for your children. I'm not responsible for nightmares." Two squeamish ladies volunteered to take the children into the next room and play, removing the problem. It also set up the scary stories nicely.
I think each situation needs to be looked at, but if you have been scheduled to tell a certain story, then you should tell it. If you have been scheduled to tell to on a certain subject, then you should tell it. Maybe the parents wanted their children scared.

Keep telling
Daniel Bishop, the Storyteller

[Reisa Stone]

Hi Daniel,

For a detailed Baba Yaga tale, try Clarissa Pinkola Estes' Women Who Run With the Wolves.

Ms. Estes is an incredible teller, and her book is full of familiar tales restored to their original meanings---including Brothers Grimm. She has tales on tape, as well.

Kind regards,
Reisa

[Daniel Bishop, the Storyteller]

Thanks again.

[Jill Lamede, The Tintagel Storyteller]

Fascinating that the word AIDS should prove to be such hurdle for some people. It was AIDS that turned me into a Storyteller! After my husband died I volunteered to tell our 'story' to the bereavement counsellors at the hospice.
The room was packed and as I talked I felt them listening intently, melting into tears, smiles or laughter at my command. After talking non-stop for an hour I still felt in complete control of both myself and my audience - and knew that this was a joyous skill that would now grow to fill my newly empty life.

[Reisa Stone]

Hello Jill,

That is an incredible story. And incredibly brave of you. I am touched and encouraged.

It's the hardest thing in the world to watch someone you love waste away from this disease. I lost a dear friend and also my voice teacher.

I see you've even published your story. I bow before your bravery.

Kind regards,
Reisa

[Jill Lamede, The Tintagel Storyteller]

Hardly bravery - we each do what we must as best we can.

I had no choice over the book. I had promised to write it, and it seemed as if he was dictating it to me - no rewrites or alterations.

The whole experience has transformed my life, turning me into a Storyteller and a Writer, and I will be forever grateful for that.

Now I tell my tales to adult and family audiences. And it is all such fun!

[Reisa Stone]

Oh Jill, both my loved ones who died this way dictate stories to me. As do others from their side of the bridge. The Halloween story that so offended was about my friend Raven appearing as a dead crow at the same time he actually died in another city. I conducted a crow funeral, and have had these birds' protection and access to information through their eyes since.

IF you're interested, you can catch a little snip about one of these relationships at: www.singersyogafaqs.blogspot.com.

And yes, it is bravery. Many people turn and run when asked to convey these messages.

Warmly,
Reisa