From Jo Radner:
"Great job to all who produced and took part in the Granite State Story Swap on Saturday! It was a terrific day, with vivid performances by Keynoter Leeny Del Seamonds and excellent 10-minute and (gasp) 3-minute tellers. Hats off to the seventh annual GSSS, to Lauretta Phillips, Ruth Niven, and and and I don't know who else, because so many volunteered on the spot to help out. From Dancing of the Ladies (the ecstatic bucks and jumps of the Stonewall Farm's cows on their first day out of the barn for summer), to the delicious lunch, to the final farewells, a wonderful day."
Video from JoAnne Piazzi:
Monday, May 9, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
7th Annual Granite State Story Swap
May 7, 2011
8 am - 5 pm
Stonewall Farm Keene, NH
A day-long event for storytellers, teachers, librarians & listeners, with Keynote speaker Leeny Del Seamonds on "Bridging Generations - Connecting Through Story".
Plus story swaps, "mechanics" sessions, and performances by New England Storytellers:
Neil Billings, Peter Brodeur, Cora Ciampi, Andy Davis, Gail Herman, Angela Klingler, Simon Brooks, Bruce Marcus, Joanne Piazzi & Leeny Del Seamonds with "It Takes Two to Tango - Ties That Bind Us".
$15 includes continental breakfast & lunch
Contact Lauretta Phillips at lphiillpstale@comcast.net or call 603-735-5965 to register - we need a count for the meals!
More info go to www.leenydelseamonds.com
For directions visit www.stonewallfarm.org
May 7, 2011
8 am - 5 pm
Stonewall Farm Keene, NH
A day-long event for storytellers, teachers, librarians & listeners, with Keynote speaker Leeny Del Seamonds on "Bridging Generations - Connecting Through Story".
Plus story swaps, "mechanics" sessions, and performances by New England Storytellers:
Neil Billings, Peter Brodeur, Cora Ciampi, Andy Davis, Gail Herman, Angela Klingler, Simon Brooks, Bruce Marcus, Joanne Piazzi & Leeny Del Seamonds with "It Takes Two to Tango - Ties That Bind Us".
$15 includes continental breakfast & lunch
Contact Lauretta Phillips at lphiillpstale@comcast.net or call 603-735-5965 to register - we need a count for the meals!
More info go to www.leenydelseamonds.com
For directions visit www.stonewallfarm.org
Friday, April 22, 2011
Rx for the Neighborhood
Remember downtown drug stores? They were often next to the downtown bakery or the downtown bookstore. What’s in your downtown now? If it’s like mine, there are a lot of vacant stores – open wounds in the skin of the city. Every once in a while, someone opens a new business and tries to heal a wound. Unless the wound gets some salve (that’s something you would have gotten at the drug store) – in this case that’s customers – they’re not going to make it and there will be an open wound there again very soon.
I’ve seen this over and over again in the city where I live (Rochester, NH). Nail salons, smoke shops, medical equipment suppliers, pawn shops…(not one bookstore, dammit). They all come and go and nothing changes. Once in a while a coffee shop opens and I think, “I should go in there sometime”, and then I don’t and when I finally try to, they’re gone. But in the past 2 years, a café, a restaurant and a bakery have come into town and I made a point of going into each one shortly after they opened. Spending $5 made me feel like I had done some real good for the complexion of my city.
So, what does this have to do with storytelling? My $5 is not going to be enough to keep that business open, and I can’t afford to go to each of those every day. I have to enlist others to help. Walgreen’s doesn’t need me to do that for them; I imagine they have a pretty hefty advertising budget. So, I suggest to my friends in town that they go there. Still doesn’t have anything to do with storytelling, does it? Well, I have a skill, and I believe that my city needs to be educated about storytelling, and the owner of the bakery has a business that needs advertising. Grind those things all together with a mortar and pestle (also found in the drug store), and what do you get?
Tellerphone. Say what? I happen to know a great story about cookies. My friend at the cafe would gladly spend $10 for a week’s worth of advertising. So I record my story, she pays to be the sponsor, and then I tell all my friends to call and hear the story (so does she), and people hear her advertisement. In her café she hands out cards with the phone number for people to call to hear the story. So what if only 5 people call? At the very least, I got a little Rx for my storytelling out of it. I chose and practiced my story, I recorded it, and then listened to it and rerecorded. I asked a friend to call and listen to it and then give me feedback and then I recorded it again. Then I let people know it was there. So I get a plug, LANES gets a plug, and the café gets a plug, all for the cost of a couple of phone calls and a couple hours’ work (which is what I should be doing anyway).
Chances are you have a favorite folktale or a maybe you’ve been working on a 3-5 minute personal story that would pair perfectly with a local business. Personally I’ve gifted 2 of these sponsorships to shops and had one purchased by a jewelry maker. I could probably do this every week for the rest of my life. But I’m sure your town needs help too. So contact me and let me know what week you’d like to be on the Tellerphone. I’ll send you the directions. It’s really as simple as recording your own outgoing message. You can record on Sunday or Monday and when you’re satisfied with it, let everyone know you’ve done it. I’m not guaranteeing that you’ll save downtown, but at least you’ll be applying a little story salve.
Remember downtown drug stores? They were often next to the downtown bakery or the downtown bookstore. What’s in your downtown now? If it’s like mine, there are a lot of vacant stores – open wounds in the skin of the city. Every once in a while, someone opens a new business and tries to heal a wound. Unless the wound gets some salve (that’s something you would have gotten at the drug store) – in this case that’s customers – they’re not going to make it and there will be an open wound there again very soon. I’ve seen this over and over again in the city where I live (Rochester, NH). Nail salons, smoke shops, medical equipment suppliers, pawn shops…(not one bookstore, dammit). They all come and go and nothing changes. Once in a while a coffee shop opens and I think, “I should go in there sometime”, and then I don’t and when I finally try to, they’re gone. But in the past 2 years, a café, a restaurant and a bakery have come into town and I made a point of going into each one shortly after they opened. Spending $5 made me feel like I had done some real good for the complexion of my city.
So, what does this have to do with storytelling? My $5 is not going to be enough to keep that business open, and I can’t afford to go to each of those every day. I have to enlist others to help. Walgreen’s doesn’t need me to do that for them; I imagine they have a pretty hefty advertising budget. So, I suggest to my friends in town that they go there. Still doesn’t have anything to do with storytelling, does it? Well, I have a skill, and I believe that my city needs to be educated about storytelling, and the owner of the bakery has a business that needs advertising. Grind those things all together with a mortar and pestle (also found in the drug store), and what do you get?
Tellerphone. Say what? I happen to know a great story about cookies. My friend at the cafe would gladly spend $10 for a week’s worth of advertising. So I record my story, she pays to be the sponsor, and then I tell all my friends to call and hear the story (so does she), and people hear her advertisement. In her café she hands out cards with the phone number for people to call to hear the story. So what if only 5 people call? At the very least, I got a little Rx for my storytelling out of it. I chose and practiced my story, I recorded it, and then listened to it and rerecorded. I asked a friend to call and listen to it and then give me feedback and then I recorded it again. Then I let people know it was there. So I get a plug, LANES gets a plug, and the café gets a plug, all for the cost of a couple of phone calls and a couple hours’ work (which is what I should be doing anyway). 
Chances are you have a favorite folktale or a maybe you’ve been working on a 3-5 minute personal story that would pair perfectly with a local business. Personally I’ve gifted 2 of these sponsorships to shops and had one purchased by a jewelry maker. I could probably do this every week for the rest of my life. But I’m sure your town needs help too. So contact me and let me know what week you’d like to be on the Tellerphone. I’ll send you the directions. It’s really as simple as recording your own outgoing message. You can record on Sunday or Monday and when you’re satisfied with it, let everyone know you’ve done it. I’m not guaranteeing that you’ll save downtown, but at least you’ll be applying a little story salve. Joanne Piazzi
4/22/11
Monday, February 28, 2011
A note from Odds Bodkins, Sharing the Fire Keynote speaker
Hello, fellow storytellers,
I’m looking forward to my keynote at Sharing the Fire and to heading out of isolation in New Hampshire to mingle. Just tell me there’s no snow in Rhode Island. I just snowblew another six inches on top of what must be fifteen storms’ worth up here. The end of my driveway looks like a closing heart valve.
Anyway, Healing the World One Story at a Time couldn’t be a better topic for a keynote, at least for me, since I’ve just published online a project years in the making, one that attempts to heal with a story. I guess you could say it works to heal the wounded empathy of young Americans. Big item, I know. Still, I think I have a good story for it with a workable approach and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you. Plus I’ll play some Celtic harp and 12-string for your enjoyment during the keynote and try to fit our craft into the context of revolutions, from the ongoing digital one to those in the Middle East, as well as into the context of human evolution, highlighting the timeless touch of the spoken word.
See you there.
Odds
PS: check out my new YouTube video, just up, about the empathy project. A quick 8 minutes.
Odds Bodkin
Storyteller, Author, Musician
Rivertree Productions, Inc.
PO Box 410
Bradford, NH 03221
(603) 938-5120
rivertree2@tds.net
I’m looking forward to my keynote at Sharing the Fire and to heading out of isolation in New Hampshire to mingle. Just tell me there’s no snow in Rhode Island. I just snowblew another six inches on top of what must be fifteen storms’ worth up here. The end of my driveway looks like a closing heart valve.
Anyway, Healing the World One Story at a Time couldn’t be a better topic for a keynote, at least for me, since I’ve just published online a project years in the making, one that attempts to heal with a story. I guess you could say it works to heal the wounded empathy of young Americans. Big item, I know. Still, I think I have a good story for it with a workable approach and I’m looking forward to sharing it with you. Plus I’ll play some Celtic harp and 12-string for your enjoyment during the keynote and try to fit our craft into the context of revolutions, from the ongoing digital one to those in the Middle East, as well as into the context of human evolution, highlighting the timeless touch of the spoken word.
See you there.
Odds
PS: check out my new YouTube video, just up, about the empathy project. A quick 8 minutes.
Odds Bodkin
Storyteller, Author, Musician
Rivertree Productions, Inc.
PO Box 410
Bradford, NH 03221
(603) 938-5120
rivertree2@tds.net
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Get Ready for the next "A Winter's Tale" on March 20
A Winter's Tale at The Red Door in Portsmouth NH
WHAT: A Winter's Tale (A benefit for Seacoast Local's (H)EAT campaign)
WHERE: The Red Door, 107 State St., Portsmouth
WHEN: Sundays Jan. 24, Feb. 20, and March 20, 7 to 9 p.m.
COST: $8
CONTACT: reddoorportsmouth.com, http://heat-eat.blogspot.com/
Michelle Moon and her partner Steve Johnson launched the spoken word series last month at The Red Door, a take-off on "The Moth Radio Hour," heard on N.H. Public Radio.
"We chose '(A Winter's Tale)' from a very long list of names. We wanted to play up that vision that everyone has of passing time in the winter doing things rich, cozy, intimate — indoor pastimes. And it defines it as a series that is only happening in the winter, at least as a way to get started," says Moon.
The story-telling event for grown-ups is planned for three weeks only, says Moon. But it may grow if the interest warrants. "We decided to ...; take a temperature, see if we have enough enthusiasm. If nothing else, it's a fantastic way to spend three winter Sundays."
Moon and Johnson, the latter with a background in theater, often talk about the program and what it would be like to have a local form.
"We were thinking how interesting it was to listen to someone tell you a story with no technology in your way, right in front of you," she recalls.
They mentioned the idea to Michele Filgate, events coordinator at RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth.
"Michele said 'it would be great, and maybe the ones to do that is you guys," says Moon laughing. With Moon's organizational skills, and Johnson's theater connections, the combination was right.
They put together a long list of people who they thought would tell a great story, then started asking. Others heard and sought them out. "There are so many great interesting characters in this area. We want to give them an opportunity to tell their stories," Moon says.
"It makes sense. It's so simple," says Moon. "It' not hard to produce and it's refreshing in the digital day to get back to face-to-face sharing our experiences."
Feb. 20th event theme: "Lost and Found" was sold out!! Tune into Portsmouth Community Radio, WSCA 106.1 FM on Sunday, March 6 to hear highlights of the evening. The final show, "Money Changes Everything," will take place on March 20th. Already lined up for that show are first-time storytellers Susan Tuveson, Dave Karlotski, Kathy Boss, Chris Elliot, and Neil English, and returning raconteurs Rick Agran, Rachel Forrest, and Chuck Galle. Tickets will be available at River Run Bookstore. Be sure to get one ahead of time!
taken from the article by Jeanné McCartin
January 24, 2010 2:00 AM
WHAT: A Winter's Tale (A benefit for Seacoast Local's (H)EAT campaign)
WHERE: The Red Door, 107 State St., Portsmouth
WHEN: Sundays Jan. 24, Feb. 20, and March 20, 7 to 9 p.m.
COST: $8
CONTACT: reddoorportsmouth.com, http://heat-eat.blogspot.com/
Michelle Moon and her partner Steve Johnson launched the spoken word series last month at The Red Door, a take-off on "The Moth Radio Hour," heard on N.H. Public Radio.
"We chose '(A Winter's Tale)' from a very long list of names. We wanted to play up that vision that everyone has of passing time in the winter doing things rich, cozy, intimate — indoor pastimes. And it defines it as a series that is only happening in the winter, at least as a way to get started," says Moon.
The story-telling event for grown-ups is planned for three weeks only, says Moon. But it may grow if the interest warrants. "We decided to ...; take a temperature, see if we have enough enthusiasm. If nothing else, it's a fantastic way to spend three winter Sundays."
Moon and Johnson, the latter with a background in theater, often talk about the program and what it would be like to have a local form.
"We were thinking how interesting it was to listen to someone tell you a story with no technology in your way, right in front of you," she recalls.
They mentioned the idea to Michele Filgate, events coordinator at RiverRun Bookstore in Portsmouth.
"Michele said 'it would be great, and maybe the ones to do that is you guys," says Moon laughing. With Moon's organizational skills, and Johnson's theater connections, the combination was right.
They put together a long list of people who they thought would tell a great story, then started asking. Others heard and sought them out. "There are so many great interesting characters in this area. We want to give them an opportunity to tell their stories," Moon says.
"It makes sense. It's so simple," says Moon. "It' not hard to produce and it's refreshing in the digital day to get back to face-to-face sharing our experiences."
Feb. 20th event theme: "Lost and Found" was sold out!! Tune into Portsmouth Community Radio, WSCA 106.1 FM on Sunday, March 6 to hear highlights of the evening. The final show, "Money Changes Everything," will take place on March 20th. Already lined up for that show are first-time storytellers Susan Tuveson, Dave Karlotski, Kathy Boss, Chris Elliot, and Neil English, and returning raconteurs Rick Agran, Rachel Forrest, and Chuck Galle. Tickets will be available at River Run Bookstore. Be sure to get one ahead of time!
Blogs in Plain English
New to this?
Thanks to Carolyn Stearns for posting this on the CT site. Anyone in NH have news to share? I'd be glad to help you post it here on our state blog! It can be an announcement, a review, a promo, an article...the more people who read your news the better!
Thanks to Carolyn Stearns for posting this on the CT site. Anyone in NH have news to share? I'd be glad to help you post it here on our state blog! It can be an announcement, a review, a promo, an article...the more people who read your news the better!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
A Couple of Buttons and a Cinnamon Stick
Just mention the words "contest" and "prize" and I'm hooked. Throw in the word "story" and I'm obsessed.
Carolyn Stearns' last CT blog post did it for me -- a digital storytelling contest with a prize!! I knew that this was something I wanted to do. Last weekend I had finally used the editing software that came with my flip camera and made a movie of my friends and I snowshoeing. It was so easy and so much fun that I couldn't wait to make another one. So I went outside to clean the snow off the mudroom roof, and an idea started to come to me (getting the hands busy always does that). I went in and got the camera, tripod, a couple of buttons, a cinnamon stick - I didn't have any carrots - and a piece of red wire.
I set up the camera and went to work. I really didn't plan out the story ahead of time; I just knew I wanted the snowman in the house. It was sheer improv -- especially when we got to the front door and the poor little guy couldn't reach the door handle! And as it turns out, my cat Cap'n Crunch, is a natural actor. Once we got inside a near catastrophe occured - the camera batteries died! The only others in the house were in the thermostat! Fortunately it was a warm afternoon, and the furnace wasn't needed for a while, so I was able to shoot the last two scenes. In less than 2 hours I had made my movie!
And then I took the really big step. I finally registered my own youtube channel so that I could upload this movie and the two storytelling videos that I already had. So thanks, Carolyn, for the inspiration. Boy, do I love Saturdays.
Carolyn Stearns' last CT blog post did it for me -- a digital storytelling contest with a prize!! I knew that this was something I wanted to do. Last weekend I had finally used the editing software that came with my flip camera and made a movie of my friends and I snowshoeing. It was so easy and so much fun that I couldn't wait to make another one. So I went outside to clean the snow off the mudroom roof, and an idea started to come to me (getting the hands busy always does that). I went in and got the camera, tripod, a couple of buttons, a cinnamon stick - I didn't have any carrots - and a piece of red wire.
I set up the camera and went to work. I really didn't plan out the story ahead of time; I just knew I wanted the snowman in the house. It was sheer improv -- especially when we got to the front door and the poor little guy couldn't reach the door handle! And as it turns out, my cat Cap'n Crunch, is a natural actor. Once we got inside a near catastrophe occured - the camera batteries died! The only others in the house were in the thermostat! Fortunately it was a warm afternoon, and the furnace wasn't needed for a while, so I was able to shoot the last two scenes. In less than 2 hours I had made my movie!
And then I took the really big step. I finally registered my own youtube channel so that I could upload this movie and the two storytelling videos that I already had. So thanks, Carolyn, for the inspiration. Boy, do I love Saturdays.
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