Yesterday this t-shirt picture appeared on a friend's Facebook page. It immediately resonated with me and many of my colleagues.
We don't question that a plumber or doctor needs to be paid. We know their fees not only cover their expertise but the everyday tools they need, whether it’s a wrench or stethoscope, to do their work.
I was once asked, “You get paid to talk?” This question came from a well-loved nephew who was standing in my home office at the time, his back to the floor to ceiling shelves filled with folktale books and my sound system on the floor next to him.
A few years ago storyteller Andrea Lovett and I wrote this list for LANES (League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling) as a guide to help potential clients understand why we should be “paid to talk.” Unfortunately, it is no longer on their site but I offer a synopsis below.
Our home office needs:
We attend the following to hone our skills:
To promote our business requires:
To sustain our business we need:
So the next time you want to invite a storytelling artist for your church group, business, school, library, wedding, etc. please remember the time, tools, and preparation it takes before the storyteller even arrives at your door. It will ensure your next event ends with the words “happily ever after" for you, the artist, and the audience!
Karen Chace 2011 ©
We don't question that a plumber or doctor needs to be paid. We know their fees not only cover their expertise but the everyday tools they need, whether it’s a wrench or stethoscope, to do their work.
I was once asked, “You get paid to talk?” This question came from a well-loved nephew who was standing in my home office at the time, his back to the floor to ceiling shelves filled with folktale books and my sound system on the floor next to him.
A few years ago storyteller Andrea Lovett and I wrote this list for LANES (League for the Advancement of New England Storytelling) as a guide to help potential clients understand why we should be “paid to talk.” Unfortunately, it is no longer on their site but I offer a synopsis below.
Our home office needs:
- Books
- Computer
- Internet access
- Electricity
- Phone/Cell Phone/Answering machine
- Miscellaneous supplies
We attend the following to hone our skills:
- Storytelling and Marketing Workshops
- Conferences (This may require airfare, hotels, food, car rental, etc.)
- Retreats
- Festivals
- College (Yes, there are Master Degrees in Oral Tradition)
To promote our business requires:
- Website design, maintenance and hosting
- Brochures
- Business Cards
- Posters
- Stationery/stamps
- Studio time to record a CD
- Sound equipment
- Reliable cars and gas to get to and from gigs
- GPS to find our way to you!
To sustain our business we need:
- Performer's Insurance
- Advertising
- Marketing
So the next time you want to invite a storytelling artist for your church group, business, school, library, wedding, etc. please remember the time, tools, and preparation it takes before the storyteller even arrives at your door. It will ensure your next event ends with the words “happily ever after" for you, the artist, and the audience!
Karen Chace 2011 ©
This blog post was researched and compiled
by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either
electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written
permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you
wish to link to my blog via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or
Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and
personal integrity.
