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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: Janie Date: 28 Sep 09 - 09:07 PM I tain't a storyteller, but I am a relatively seasoned Getaway attendee. The hallmark of the Getaway is both the opportunity and the expectation of the opportunity to participate. I won't be surprised,however, if there are not a number of people who attend the storytelling workshop as audience. While festive, this is not a festival. It is a three day participatory retreat into folk music and folk lore, chock-full with time-limited workshops in limited space so that running over the time established for a workshop is not an option, as another workshop will be using the space in the next time slot. I'd suggest that if someone wants to try their hand at a story that they know will run over the 5 minute limit, consider signing up for the Saturday or Sunday night concert/open mic. |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: David Ingerson Date: 28 Sep 09 - 08:06 PM Bobert's got a good point--for those stories that need to be long. I have a number of long songs, too, but I won't sing them at the Getaway unless asked. (Even in Ireland I'd be careful about when to sing a long song.) When there are many participants there need to be limits. However, both at Rainy Camp (Seattle's singing weekend) and at Singtime Frolics (Portland's), we have occasionally had a Long Song workshop, with, obviously, self-selected attendees. A long story workshop might be another answer to this problem. Cheers (and see you soon!), David |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: Bobert Date: 28 Sep 09 - 07:45 PM I disagree about the brevity thing... Hey, stories ain't like unit pricin'... Ain't about getting the best bang for yer 5 minute buck... Somethings just take longer than 5 minutes... Ask any woman... They'll straighten you out (no pun intended)... I mean I was fishin' once and caught me a 300 pound mudtom... Ornery critter... But that ain't the story... The story takes about 10 minutes to tell and if you leave out the innards then the ending don't make no sense... Okay, I'll prove it... The story ends with my Cousin Rufus askin' "How will we find that fishin' hole next time"... Mean anything to any of ya'lls... Well, heck no it don't... No innards... Good story is like good wine... You drenk enough and.... No, that's another story... What was I gonna say???... Nevermind... |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: kendall Date: 28 Sep 09 - 07:15 PM Ayah |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: Amos Date: 28 Sep 09 - 02:09 PM I don't know everything, but I suspect a lot. See, that's the brevity of wit displayed in all its glory. Most folks would take forty words to say that! A |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: kendall Date: 28 Sep 09 - 02:01 PM Good suggestion. It hadn't crossed my mind that there might be too many.There are many people who love to listen to storytellers, but there are some who have an attention span like that of a goldfish.It's probably the second oldest form of entertainment in our history. |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: dick greenhaus Date: 28 Sep 09 - 11:28 AM Bettynh- "Anyway, if you've got too many storytellers, or they're planning something long, maybe a few haybales off to the side would ease the problem. If they're successful, the audience will collect itself." The solution! |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: Bettynh Date: 28 Sep 09 - 11:09 AM Kendall, there'll be many timekeepers at the National Festival, and as long as everyone knows who's keeping the time it's generally respected. There'll be a venue for amateur and beginning storytellers, too, known as "The Swapping Ground" which consists of a circle of hay bales, a signup sheet, and someone keeping the stories under 5 minutes each. One of my twins spent a solid day there, eventually working up enough nerve to tell a story himself (he was about 10, I think). These days, I'd probably be prosecuted for my mothering style. I'd let my twins join the roving gang of local kids during the festival, only asking them to check in whenever a train went through (several times a day, that). They'd join me in a tent when they were following a particular teller, and of course, whenever they got hungry. Anyway, if you've got too many storytellers, or they're planning something long, maybe a few haybales off to the side would ease the problem. If they're successful, the audience will collect itself. |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: kendall Date: 28 Sep 09 - 09:51 AM If anyone has reason to disagree please explain. I dont know everything but I suspect a lot. |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: gnu Date: 27 Sep 09 - 04:00 PM Perfectly logical and reasonable request, ESPECIALLY at a workshop! |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: kendall Date: 27 Sep 09 - 03:29 PM We in the humor business have a saying, "Brevity is the soul of wit." What I had in mind is a workshop ABOUT storytelling, not totally about performing. If it goes that way, ok as long as all hands get a turn on deck. |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: kendall Date: 27 Sep 09 - 03:24 PM Northerner, there is nothing wrong with a long story IF it's of interest to someone besides the teller. However, in a story telling workshop there are many participants that want to contribute, and if one egotist hogs the floor others get left out and that gets "up my nose". I can be rude but I prefer not to. So, before we begin I will ask that no one go over 5 minutes until all have had a chance to speak. I see nothing unreasonable about that. |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling - 2009 From: Jack Blandiver Date: 25 Sep 09 - 10:37 AM A good storytelling exercise is telling something in five minutes you might ordinarily take twenty over. Always worth having some short ones knocking around though - I'd say they're the mainstay of any storyteller's kit... |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling From: Charmion Date: 25 Sep 09 - 08:19 AM There's a staff school (army) tradition that could get a whole new life at the Getaway. Junior briefing officers are prone to drone on, losing the commander's interest and driving the rest of the staff crazy. Consequently, at staff school the candidates learn to brief under the stern eyes of their classmates, who start thumping their feet and shouting "Sum up! Sum up!" at two minutes to the end of the time allotted. If you're not ready to sum up when the chorus begins, you're toast. |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling From: Bobert Date: 25 Sep 09 - 07:52 AM Well, the child in me wants to hear that story some day, Kandall... Ain't got no kids gettin' cooked up in ovens does it??? B;~) |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling From: Northerner Date: 25 Sep 09 - 06:40 AM Do people book in advance for this event? If so, that is the time to tell them of the time limit. Most of my stories are ten minutes in length; I don't have many shorter ones. |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling From: kendall Date: 24 Sep 09 - 11:29 AM I only know one story that takes 5 minutes and I never tell it in a folk circle. It's a children's story. |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling From: Leadfingers Date: 24 Sep 09 - 08:19 AM Mudcatter Trayton did a rewrite of 'Let All Men Sing' as a complaint aginst people who took too long over a number at a singaround - the chorus is :- Let every man so PICK his song So that his neighbour may get on To each and all ONE song around Then ALL men sing ! |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling From: Bobert Date: 24 Sep 09 - 08:06 AM Now if this ain't somethin'.... Capt'n Long Story hisself now wants time limits??? Nuthin' like a reformed smoker, ahhhhhh, story teller... Awwwww, jus' funnin' wid ya' Capt'n... Yeah, I'll be more than happy to limit any of my short stories to less than 5 minutes... B~ |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling From: SINSULL Date: 24 Sep 09 - 07:56 AM I do remember a story teller at one Getaway whose story, although amusing, went on for at least 20 minutes. This was at a sing-a-round and people left to go sing. Though I would love to hear about Uriah's birthday streak complete with the Dunbar Sisters' milkman and cat, I agree that a five minute limit is fair. One of the joys of these workshops is to see someone who never sang or told a tale before jump in and "perform". And it is frustrating to prepare a piece and never have a chance to do it because someone else chose a 50 stanza ballad or a reading of the US Constitution. |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling From: kendall Date: 24 Sep 09 - 07:27 AM No, only the length of the stories is a concern. |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling From: Janie Date: 23 Sep 09 - 11:29 PM Whew...I thought at first Kendall gonna set limits of the stories and legends about the Getaway. And believe me folks, much of the silliness you read regarding the goings on at "Getaway" falls under the heading "Tall Tales," as one would expect from a bunch of lovers of folk lore. Or as my Dad says, "Never let the truth get in the way of a good story." |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling From: wysiwyg Date: 23 Sep 09 - 09:15 PM Squirt-gun-armed audience. ~S~ |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling From: kendall Date: 23 Sep 09 - 07:40 PM Right on Bill! I thought after wards that some storytellers may not see this thread, so before we begin I make the suggestion that I posted before. I hate to sound like a cop, but I feel that it should be somewhat controlled. other opinions are welcome. |
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Subject: RE: Getaway storytelling From: Bill D Date: 23 Sep 09 - 04:25 PM **READING**???? A decent story teller never *reads* it! (A match would be appropriate) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Getaway storytelling From: Barry Finn Date: 23 Sep 09 - 03:47 PM How bout just lighting a match to the page their reading from, as I hear it's been done in the past Barry |
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Subject: RE: BS: Getaway storytelling From: Maryrrf Date: 23 Sep 09 - 01:21 PM If you wanted to be really strict, you could use an actual timer that gave a "ding" and signal them when they had one more minute to go, although that might be a little bit intimidating. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Getaway storytelling From: jacqui.c Date: 23 Sep 09 - 12:29 PM I'll be there with a big sign saying CELLAR! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Getaway storytelling From: Bill D Date: 23 Sep 09 - 12:16 PM Holding up a hand with 5 fingers OUGHT to be E-nuf.... |
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Subject: BS: Getaway storytelling From: kendall Date: 23 Sep 09 - 12:12 PM Since all workshops have time limits I want to suggest that we all limit our stories to no more than 5 minutes in each round. Too often I've seen one or two tellers go on and on so that the ones at the end of the line are left out. This causes resentment and resentment has no place at the Getaway. Could someone provide a hook for those who lose track of time? |
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