The tradition of oral narrative, or the art of telling stories, has been with humanity since its inception.Stories sometimes seem like a dead art due to the increased opportunities for electronic transmission of sight and sound.There are a lot of opportunities for someone who wants to be a professional storyteller.
Step 1: When you can, volunteer your ability to tell a story.
There are many free performances at public events for the beginning of a professional storytellers career.By volunteering at a local library, community day care, cafe, charity, or other venue, an amateur can gain the experience needed to perfect their craft and transition into becoming a professional storyteller.It is said that practice makes perfect.
Step 2: You can start a club or event.
You can find your own events if you don't have many near you.Tell your local library or coffee shop that you want to start a public storytellers hour.A theme is what you should give your story event.Romance, adventures on the sea, and troubles with technology are just a few of the themes that might be included in a proposal.It is not a good idea to make your theme too specific.A theme like "my first date" might get a lot of similar stories and be boring for the audience.You should set a time limit for the stories you get.A good limit for the average story is ten minutes.You could swap stories with your friends in your living room on a Friday or Saturday night.You could choose between an open forum for sharing stories or a specific theme.For a fee of $3,500 per day, you can host a StoryCorps event in your community.Private and public funding can be used to help with the fee.Interviews can last forty minutes and are included in the Library of Congress archives.They can also be found online.
Step 3: Start making your own show.
A podcasts is an audio interview.You can use a Podcasts to tell your own story or those of others.You can add music to your show with some editing.There are stories in the history of astronomy or stories from around the world that are in focus.It can be hard to make a show.A sound engineer can help you record and produce your show.Local businesses will support you as you build your audience.Offer them space on your show.A good podcast requires high-quality technology and can be done on your home computer with your built-in microphone and recording software.Pamela is a great program for PC users.Mac users can use ECAMm Call Recorder.Adobe Audition can be used for editing.
Step 4: You can attend stories clubs and festivals.
Festivals are hosted by storyteller groups all over the country.You can take advantage of the opportunity to hear other storytellers hone their craft and inspire you to find new stories of your own when you attend festivals or conferences.Professional development can be done at conferences.Each year the National Storytelling Festival takes place in Tennessee.The National Storytelling Network has a calendar that you can use to find stories in your area.
Step 5: Read a lot.
Think about what made a story memorable by reading both fiction and nonfiction in a conscious way.If you want to frame your experience as a great story, memoirs are a good place to start.If you want to improve your delivery, learn how to pace your story and understand what makes a great story, you need to read storytellers guides.You probably have a lot of questions and issues about becoming a professional storyteller that someone else has already dealt with, so explicitly recognizing how these elements work in conversation with each other will hone your skills.Adopt their paths to success, learn from their experiences, and avoid their pitfalls.
Step 6: Solicit feedback.
Don't get feedback from other people.People who are professional orators, actors, writers, and storytellers can give feedback.Ask them what worked and what didn't.If their criticisms are correct and you continually review your own style and material, you will be the best storyteller you can be.Getting real coaching from another story teller is beyond simple feedback and nurturing.A storyteller coach will give you concrete steps to help you build your business.
Step 7: Make sure you work on your timing.
When something is funny, stop laughing.Move on if you say something that is meant to be funny but doesn't work out.Pauses between sentences give your story a natural rhythm.You will lose the audience if you speak too fast.Storytelling isn't a race.Don't reveal a surprise or conclusion before you stop.If you know you are limited to a certain amount of time, make sure your story is the right length.Don't try to cram a 15 minute story into 8 minutes.You can use repetition to set up a pattern that will be broken or drive you home from work.If your story is about a person's boring life, don't just say that they walk home alone every single day.Alone.Every time.Single.The monotony of their life is emphasized by this day.Speak fast, but not so fast that the audience can't understand you.You need to work on your timing between stories as well.If you want to deliver multiple stories to a group of people, follow a longer story with a shorter one.Listeners will be given a chance to rest.
Step 8: Be sure to be confident in your delivery.
Project your voice so that everyone in attendance can hear it.Your delivery needs to be memorable.Don't use words like "uh," "anyways," and so on.Keep your head up.It is helpful to focus your eyes on a point just over the heads of the audience and towards the back of a venue in which you are telling your story.When telling your story, be authentic.Show enthusiasm for the characters and events even if the story is fictional.Don't be afraid to use unique voices for your characters.If you have a monster in your story, make your voice scary and harsh.Speak in whispers if your character is afraid.The story can be brought to life by getting into character.
Step 9: Don't let your story go to waste.
A good story revolves around a single idea, topic, or theme.If you cannot answer concisely in a sentence or two, revise the content of your story to keep it more tightly focused.The main theme or events of the story should be summarized in a concise way by your audience.If other people are confused by your story, you may need to change it.If you rehearse your story in front of a group of friends or family with conflicting ideas about what the story is about, you might want to change the way you tell it.Do you think your story adds to the narrative flow?The events of your story should connect with one another in a logical way.Listen to what others have to say about your story.If you want your story to be effective and memorable, you need to understand how other people receive it.It's useful to get feedback from other writers.
Step 10: Body language is used to engage your audience.
Sharing a story requires a lot of physical and mental commitment on the part of the storytellers.Depending on the content and style of the story, the amount of physical presence you include varies.Incorporating physical movement into your story improves it.If you are telling a story about a big bird swooping down from its nest, you can raise your hand high above your head and bend it at the wrist.The audience would be able to visualize what it was like to see the bird swoop down when you moved the hand across and down your body at a forty-five degree angle.Don't exaggerate your story.A story teller is not an actor.You should always keep your body language relevant to the tone and style of the story.
Step 11: Don't quit your day job too soon.
Unless you are highly sought-after, it might be hard to make a living as a storyteller.You should keep your full-time job until you are well-established.If you want to make the move from part-time to full time, you need to set some goals.If you make $1,500 a month from telling stories, you can become a full-time storyteller.It's easier for you to take the necessary risk if you have a supportive spouse or partner who contributes to the household income.It's important to keep enough money in the bank.It is necessary to maintain at least six months of funds.
Step 12: A web presence is a must.
You can start by building a social media presence.You should contract a web designer for your own web domain as you get more experience.It's important that you have your own website because it gives you total control over the style and presentation of your work in a way that social media sites don't.Provide a bio of yourself, including how you got started as a storyteller, and what drew you to it.You can make your own life story.It's a good idea to include contact information for people who want you to deliver their stories.You can get listed in online directories.The Storyteller.net directory is a good place to start.If you want to get your name out, list your available services on local marketing sites.
Step 13: It's necessary to file the paperwork.
Register your business with your local and state authorities, and keep accurate tax and financial information.Professional storytellers need a keen eye for finances.To make sure your home-based business complies with the law, take some accounting classes or hire a skilled accountant.A sole proprietorship is a business that is owned and operated by a single person.
Step 14: Don't be dishonest.
Being professional requires respect from your audience and hosts.Plan ahead for a professional storytellers session.How many people will be in attendance, where you can park, and where the venue is are all things you need to know.Before attending, scout out the location.Do you know if you will get a microphone, bottled water, or other amenities?Suggest that your hosts provide a microphone for your performance if you are performing in a large hall in which sound does not easily carry.Your reputation will suffer if you have a bad storytellers performance.Don't be afraid to ask a teacher, parent, or other adult stay in the library or classroom with you if you deliver a story to children.If you aim to defy your clients' expectations, they will want more.
Step 15: A professional organization would be a good place to join.
The National Storytelling Network is the largest of its kind in the country.African or Native American heritage stories are among the specialties of some of the other local and national storytellers.You will have access to a number of neat perks if you join a club.If you become a member of the National Storytelling Network, you will be able to apply for grants and attend the conference.
Step 16: Find a group of people.
Professional storytellers are more successful when they identify a particular audience for their stories.What kind of stories do you like to tell and who would most appeal to you?If you love fables about animals or tall tales about great things, you should be able to tell them to a youth audience.
Step 17: A career as a children's entertainer is possible.
Many professional storytellers reach out to the primary consumers of stories, as opportunities for children's entertainment far outnumber the jobs for storytellers to adults.Being open to a young audience will help storytellers.Librarians are often storytellers.If you love telling stories, you might be able to start a program in your library.
Step 18: Think about doing stand-up.
Stand-up comedians are the most paid storytellers for adults.Comedians know how to make people laugh with their stories.Start out by doing open-mic nights and honing your jokes.Booking professional jobs at bars and nightclubs is when you feel comfortable.
Step 19: You can get a job as a film maker.
Film engages sight and sound.Film is able to inspire, excite, and convince us to suspend our disbelief.A four-year degree in film is required to become a filmmaker.Westerns, sci-fi movies, romantic comedies, thrillers, documentaries, and dramas are just some of the types of films you can make.Discuss the vision for the script and characters with the film's writer.How do they see the dialogue being delivered?How do they imagine the characters moving?Since films almost always begin as a script, use that as your bible and integrate the writer's vision into your filmmaking process.First, make short films to get a feel for how the medium works.Most phones have a video function and can be a great first camera for a young amateur.You can get an internship with a film studio to learn how the industry works.Developing new contacts with actors, producers, and studio executives are some of the things you can do with new projects.
Step 20: Adding music to your story is a good way to become a musician.
Singers can use the rhythm and volume of their music to add gravitas to their stories.Music can be an effective medium for telling a story, whether you rock out with a whole band behind you or just strap on an acoustic guitar.People who tell their stories with a guitar, drums, or other musical instrument are included in a community of professional storytellers.Children and adults can get involved in clapping or singing along to music in the narrative.Musical storytellers can provide new linguistic structures to young children.Think about using a spoken-word style.A sense of timing, rhythm, and rhyme are required for spoken-word storytellers to tell their stories.You can perform at open-mic nights in coffee shops and bookstores.
Step 21: Become a religious person.
If you are a religious person, you might be asked to use your story telling skills in the service to your higher power.They don't just recite ancient passages from their holy books.They need to prepare innovative sermons and stories for their congregation.They need storytellers to keep their attendees engaged in the religious service.