P is for Play

Last spring about this time of the year, I was readying a story I have wanted to tell for years.  Kevin Cordi came to Colorado for the Rocky Mountain Storytelling Conference and offered a Master Class as well based on his Permission 2 Play philosophy.  The story – “The Lute Player.”

Kevin gave us permission to play with our stories.  First we told a piece of them to one or two others, taking turns.  Kevin asked leading questions to help us discover what we needed to play with in our stories.  We went on to tell other bits and pieces to other partners.

Finally Kevin asked for volunteers to let him show everyone who was attending how to dig deep into the story we had chosen to play with.  I was first and had no idea what to expect.  What I discovered in the early exercises was the fact that the queen’s journey as the minstrel boy was a very important part of the story which is usually glossed over to some extent.  So when the whole group helped me play, I was shown just how arduous and treacherous her journey was.

Back home, I thought about the story, the queen’s journey, the journey I've been on.  And then this winter I had the opportunity to tell the story to an audience.  The debut of my version of “The Lute Player.”  My debut as a storyteller for adults in my new community.

Here is a sampling of what I found storytellers have said about the queen’s journey in various versions of “The Lute Player.”

1.    The Queen traveled far and wide, disguised as a boy, playing her lute and singing as she went.

2.    The queen played her lute and sang her songs for anyone who would offer her a ride -- whether by caravan or ship, and after many months she reached the land of the evil lord.

Here’s my version after being given permission to play with the story:

She traveled about, as a minstrel boy, here and there, singing for her dinner and a place to lay her head.  At times she joined with other minstrels, but often she was alone.  She never revealed her identity.  Her travels were long and her travels were difficult.  Many people were mistrustful as she would not explain where she was going or why. 

Her clothes became worn and her skin brown, but still she traveled on.  And wherever she sang, people listened.  She sang of love and of longing.  She sang of flowers in the spring and cool waters to rest beside.  Those who listened never grew tired of her voice and commented that it was sweeter than a lark’s.   

Kevin’s workshop is now in book form, published by Ted Parkhurst.  Check it out!  Thanks Kevin!

Producing a Storytelling Conference

Two years ago in January, I stepped forward and said, “I’ll do it, if I have help.”  This was during a meeting of the Rocky Mountain Storytelling Board.  I was new.

Ann Harding and John Stansfield enjoy a captivating moment.

What I said “Yes” to was producing the annual conference which is held the end of April or the beginning of May.  I’d never done anything like this before.  I lived 4.5 hours away from where the conference was held.  So I needed help.  Help with deciding who, what, when, where.  The rest of the board stepped in to help.  We pulled it off.

January is a bit late to plan a May conference, but we did it.  And I along with everyone else learned lots.

Things we learned that helped with the 2013 Conference:

Kendall Haven talks about the Power of Story.

• Start early
  • We started planning at our June Retreat.
  • We chose a Featured Teller early.
• Find a venue that is easily located.
  • Close to where people from out of town could stay.
• Network
  • Use social Media
  • Promote at other conferences and events
• Put out the Call for Proposals and have a committee help select the presenters.
  • Because of networking we received proposals from around Colorado as well as out of state.
  • A great group of people stepped forward to help select presenters.
• Learn from the Masters of Production
  • I spoke with others who had produced conferences.

  • 

    A good laugh is always fun!

    Loren Neimi gave me some mentoring time, and I read the on-line PRO-SIG guide.
• Coordinate
  • The Rocky Mountain Storytelling Conference is held in conjunction with the Spellbinders® Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference. 
  • We share the featured teller.  Thus we do a lot of coordinating. 
• Stretch and Grow
  • Don’t be afraid to try something new.
  • Be willing to chuck what doesn’t work and keep what does.

We tried a new venue – many years ago the conference was always held at a hotel.  So we looked for a hotel and found one.  We came up with a workable format.  More people stepped in to help with registration, on-site legwork, providing needed equipment…. 

Workshop on Telling Poetry

The 2013 Conference was better attended than the 2012 Conference.  We more than doubled the number of workshops.  We offered Continuing Education Credit as well as Graduate Credit through Adams State University.  We added a Friday night concert and a Saturday evening Salon where we discussed Story, storytelling and swapped a few stories.  Not everything was perfect by any means, but we were on the right track.

Most of the pictures throughout this blog are from the 2013 Conference. 

The 2014 Rocky Mountain Storytelling Conference is coming up May 2 and 3.  We have interesting workshops planned, and Elizabeth Ellis is our feature Teller.  We’ve worked hard to make this a fun learning experience for Conference goers.  We’ve kept the things that worked – the format, the Concert, the Salon, Credit – both continuing education and graduate.  We’ve tried to correct those things which were not right last year.  We’ve added a Resource Area where members of Rocky Mountain Storytelling will have the ability to sell their CD’s and books.  Kevin Cordi has agreed to stay an extra day and help 15 people Play with Story.  We’d love to see you there!




Elizabeth Ellis and her Frog Prince (or maybe just a frog).

This year’s Conference is being held at the Clayton Learning Center in Denver, CO.  Information about the Clayton Center and the Best Western nearby (which offered us a good deal on lodging) is on Rocky Mountain Storytelling’s web page.

Join us if you can!

What Can We Learn from a Bully?

             This post has been simmering and stewing for most of the month.  I am not an authority on bullying.  I don’t have all the answers, but I do know that this issue must be addressed by everyone.  These are my thoughts and opinions - nothing more, nothing less.

Twice last month I heard about instances of adult bullying.  That’s right, not on the school yard or the bus, not at the playground; but in adult circles that are supposedly supportive of one another.

Why do we bully others?  Are we afraid?  Are we aggressive?  Are we sure we would be bullied if we did not first bully the other?  I believe it is all of those and more, and I have been on both sides of the bullying issue as a child and as an adult.  It’s easier to bully when you have allies, yes; but some of us bully on our own.  And what in the world should we do when we witness an act of bullying?  Silence?  Confrontation?  Report it?  To whom?

As a child, my two friends who were sisters and I bullied our younger siblings usually in our fantastical discussions, but sometimes for real.  In turn I was physically bullied by my younger sister when she grew bigger than I until I stood up to her.  I was an easy target in school since I was one of the youngest children in the class.  In first grade we emulated the older kids and had gangs.  Everyone was expected to join one side or the other.  Being naïve, I joined Betty’s gang because then she would let me borrow her pink crayon.  I only had eight crayons in my box.  And Arthur, he beat up everybody no matter what gang they belonged to.  I was very careful not to sit near him on the bus.

I’m not sure how much the adults in my life knew about what was going on.  It certainly seemed like they were oblivious, expecting us to act like innocent children which we were not.  And a fair number of those adults were bullies in their own right including my own dear mother.  It was life and you dealt with it best you could.

As an adult, I have been bullied by both employers and colleagues.  Neither is any fun.  Now I work for myself and consider that a big plus.  But when one wants to sell their product or services, there is the public and the possibility of bullying raising its ugly head.  Today’s children see examples of adult bullying all around them, just look at what our political process has degenerated into.  Cyber bullying is something new as well.  Not only is it easier to bully when the bully has allies, but it is also easier to bully anonymously. 

Programs that attempt to show bullying for what it is and prevent bullying from happening are on the rise.  And yet, adults still turn a blind eye and at time participate in the bullying.  I don’t know what the final answer will/should be.  Thoughts?

There is an ancient Chinese folktale that was first told not to prevent bullying, but to show a Leader that his General was not more feared than he.  But it also speaks to dealing with a bully.  Here is a synopsis.   The whole story is in my forthcoming book, Old China through the Eyes of a Storyteller.

Fox Assumes Tiger’s Authority

Tiger announced he would eat 100 different animals and be King of the Forest.  A Fox ran across his path while he was looking for another animal to devour. 

Tiger stepped on Fox’s tail and announced, “I am going to eat you; then I will be King of the Forest!” 

“I don’t think so,” replied Fox.  “I am already King of the Forrest by proclamation of the Heavenly Emperor!”

Tiger was taken aback.  He wasn’t sure what to do.  So he demanded, “Prove it!”

“Follow me,” stated Fox, “and you will see.”

Tiger closely followed Fox through the forest.  Seeing how all the animals quickly ran away as they approached.

Finally, Fox turned to Tiger and said, “See I am King of the Forest!”

Tiger was afraid.  He ran back up the path without turning around once.

Here are a couple links to anti-bullying sites:
http://www.youandme-bullyfree.com/index.html
http://vimeo.com/37246679