I believe that Guest A.W. and Mr. Ted have pretty well wrapped it up.

StoryTelling is a much finer "art" than being a singer/musician. The singer/musician is bounded by restraints (tune,lyrics, traditions, instrument or accompanyment.)

The "Story Teller" has a much more than a recitation-type-repoirtore-recorded-Cosby-1965-vinyl.

Switch change find a common core....TellyTubbys are OUT (of the closet) with today's eight year olds

You listen, you feel, and you sometimes even make figurative love with the live audience....you can even stop - explain "this ain't goin nowhere for you...and it ain't goin nowhere for me....so let us backtrack a little...you don't know....and its me fault for not telling you....remember Little-Sally-Nicey at the beginning....well she wern't so little,(smaller elephants have been seen in the circus) and she sure weren't nice....(once twenty pairs of cats (for those who can't count that's 40 were rescued tied tale to tale over the powerlines - like you throw wornout sneakers on the last day of school and her given name was Solomon....but after he/her butts was wipped 400 times, and lipstick whiped off her cheeks a thousand times....folks just began referring to Nicey as Sally. Now....hold onto that picture in your minds a few minutes we will return....and see what happens when she meets Pecos Bill's girlfriend."

Look just tell stories - any audience you can find - steps of the courthouse, don't file taxes and ask for a audience with the IRS......there are even practice threads in the MUDCAT.

It is not the audience's fault there is an aerialist overhead, a juggler with fire a six yards away, and the line to the privy is moving slow.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Worst case scenario - small venue - ask the managment to eject the offenders and take their cover out of your fee.