Story selection - storytelling to adults

Subject: RE: Story selection - storytelling to adults
From: Bert
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 12:22 PM

And here's another one for ya.



Little Ol' Red Rose - Bert Hansell



It was dark and it was raining.

It was one of those days when you go to work in the dark and work all day, and when you come home it's dark again, and you wonder where the day went.

My wife was complaining, she was complaining about the rain, and complaining about the dark, and complaining about the young un keeping us awake half the night, and complaining that we were late for work.

I said "Well I'm gonna make us a bit later 'cos I've got to stop for gas".

She said "Why didn't you stop for gas last night, you know we never have time in the morning".
I said "Because I was tired and I didn't think of it. Why didn't YOU get gas last night?"

Well, I filled up with gas and went in to pay. I just got out my wallet when I saw her tail lights disappear down the road.

The Manager grinned and said "You're in big trouble now boy". I said, as casual as I could, "Oh she'll be back" adding to myself "I hope".

I said "can I use your phone" he said sure for a local call. So I called the boss and asked if I could have the day off. He said "OK; without pay!"

I got myself a cup of coffee and one of those plastic poncho things and I said to the guy "You'd better give me one of those red roses that you've got in that bucket there".

I went outside to wait in the rain, taking a sip of coffee now and then to keep warm. I looked like a sack of garbage in that plastic poncho, and pretty much felt like one too.

After a while she came back and pulled up alongside. She pushed open the door and said, "I got you a six pack of beer, lets go home and waste what's left of the day" I handed her the rose, and by the look on her face I could see that the day wasn't going to be wasted after all.

Well that was a long time ago now and we've just seen the little un off to college. But we still get a laugh now and then when we pass that gas station.

I'll say "You know the best present I ever had was a six pack of beer, how about you?"
and she'll say "Oh! Just a little ol red rose"

Subject: RE: Story selection - storytelling to adults
From: Anne Lister
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 12:20 PM

I'd second Wesley's remarks. In my experience (and I work professionally as a storyteller with all kinds of groups, as well as having run storytelling workshops for all kinds of groups - including prisoners in Dartmoor) adults love all kinds of stories, just as children do. All you have to do is to keep looking at your audience, to remind you that they're adults and can enjoy the story on different levels, and then just go ahead and tell the stories you love best.

Anne

Subject: RE: Story selection - storytelling to adults
From: Bert
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 12:19 PM

Here's some Aine's story page

Subject: RE: Story selection - storytelling to adults
From: Wesley S
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 11:23 AM

I have no storytelling experience other than reading books to my 5 year old. I wouldn't be so sure that adults don't want "childish" stories. It's a great relief from the real world. I rather hear about a unicorn or a fairy at the end of the day vs more info about Iraq.

Tell stories you love and others will love them too. {and don't assume they will be too complex for kids either}

Subject: Story selection - storytelling to adults
From: Northerner
Date: 11 Jul 06 - 10:08 AM

I hope you don't mind my posting this in the music threads; it is about performance so I think it probably does belong here.

I have been storytelling for almost a year now. There is not a storytelling circle where I am, though I do go away to festivals and events, and a storytelling circle occasionally. Too expensive for me to do all the time. So one of my main places for telling a story at the moment is turning up at a local folk club with a story. My first couple of stories were fine as I chose a couple of local legends that were good ghost stories. Fine for adults!   

I have had more trouble choosing subsequent stories though. There is a definite sense that stories are for children rather than adults. Kiddies' tales as one person called stories. I did tell this particular gentleman that there were stories that were suitable for adults and he went, "You mean sexy, like?" I hastened to say that no, I meant more complex!!!

The audiences don't have much background in storytelling. I have lost count of the times people say, "Do you write them yourself?" and "How do learn all those words?" I tell traditional folk tales. Most of the audiences have seen very few storytellers - Taffy Thomas at Whitby mainly. My own main role model is actually Stanley Robertson as I was fortunate enough to live in Aberdeen for a year when I was younger and Stanley used to tell quite often at the folk club. Over the last year I have been to storytelling events up and down the country so have now seen quite a good number of top storytellers. This has probably made my background wider than my friends who go to the folk clubs with me.

I am trying to choose some new material to tell at the clubs at the moment. The golden rule in story selection is to choose a story you love. Well actually I love a whole lot of stories so that is no problem. But how do I choose stories that my audiences will love too?

I asked a few friends at the club what they liked. Big mistake! One said he didn't like happy endings, another wanted exciting stories and a third said he didn't want fairy stories. I'm no further forward.

Can you advice me please on what would be the definite no-no's?   I'm avoiding the classic fairy tales that most people have learnt as a child (but don't rule out interesting variants). I'm avoiding imps, elves, pixies and fairies (unless it's a really good story) because of the poor way that this area was treated by the Victorians.

Where does that leave me with the vast amounts of stories with magic in them - many wonderful stories? Or the many excellent stories with animals in them? Will they be considered childish? I have seen many top storytellers with a gift for bringing these stories to life, even for adult audiences.

I am still fairly close to being a beginner; it takes a very long time to become a highly skilled storyteller so I am not going to be as good telling them as a professional is. And I've also managed to score an own goal I think as I am also a singer and my songs generally are very well received.

If anyone could give me some tips I would be most grateful. Thank you.