I've always enjoyed the way experienced storytellers set the scene and mood for the forthcoming story-- how they hook me into believing the story will be targeted just for me. Then they tell whatever they were going to tell. Maybe your favorite stories have themes that you can highlight in that way to help educate your new audience as to what is about to unfold, without giving away the finish.

Some tellers do that with humor, some with dramatic presence, some with pointing out some human characteristic we all seem to have to deal with in one way or another, despite whatever makes us different. Perhaps someone who has some experience with the genre has observed your storytelling and can tell you what you are already doing well in that regard, which might lend you a tad more confidence that the people will listen and go with you where your story goes.

I don't think it's about what people LIKE-- as if they can know in advance what they will or will not respond to, before they have heard the tale and felt all the emotions the tale will evoke. I think it's about getting them over the age-old hurdle of the need for audiences to suspend their sense of disbelief.

~Susan