Dear Northerner, I recommend you join the Society for Storytelling. They provide a good directory of venues, contact with like minded souls, and a good message board/forum.

I live in a part of the world with no story circle or club. I average a storytelling performace every week, but usually to a non folk-arts audience.

Folk music clubs have different characters and different reactions to storytelling. My own experience is that they are less tolerant of inexperienced tellers than of inexperienced singers or instrumentalists. Also I have met club members that would not tolerate telling on principle and are quite rude. You usually have to stick to short and unsubtle tales, which doesn't really help expand the repertoire or technique.

The reason Storytelling Festivals such as FATE and Beyond the Border flourish is because of the slow and limited acceptance of storytelling at folk festivals and clubs. Don't expect logic. Storytelling at Sidmouth has made money in recent years and the net result has been a steady erosion of that element of the festival.

Taffy is a fine person to learn from. But he is one of many good tellers around now. Try Hugh Lupton, Ben Haggerty, Daniel Morden, Nick Hennessey, Jamie Crawford, even yours truly. We are all different, so are you.

Best Wishes

Crowdercref