Storytelling Professionally

Book excerpt: Whether you want to become a full time storyteller, expand your storytelling repertoire, or simply hire a storyteller, this guide is for you. Everything you want to know about the profession of storytelling can be found in the book. It will help you sell yourself as a freelance storyteller to schools, libraries, museums, festivals, and other events and organizations. It covers the importance of learning from others; how to organize your time, office, and research; and how to use brochures, business cards, press releases, flyers, mailings, showcases, performer lists, and giveaways to get bookings. She also offers advice on dealing with the competition; preparing yourself for your audience, bookers, and performance area; and problem prevention and solution. Prejudice, censorship, and other issues related to storytelling are highlighted in the final chapter, and an appendix contains How to Host a Freelance Storyteller at Your School or Library. Teachers, librarians, clowns, actors, puppeteers, homemakers, and anyone else interested in storytelling professionally will want this book.