We storytellers are notoriously bad at selling our own work. Dr Hannah McDowell interviewed a dozen professional storytellers for her excellent book .“Performance storytelling.- Build your career and nurture the art form” She concluded “The most commonly recognised barrier to the growth and success of performance storytelling described by interviewees was the lack of understanding of the art form in our culture.”
We tell ourselves that audiences and clients don’t know ‘what storytelling is’, and that this leads to misunderstandings and even mis-bookings.
In order to address this issue, Heritage Compass has funded a workshop with professional copywriter Jackie Barrie. The aim was to facilitate us to define ‘storytelling’ in a way which will resonate with clients and audiences.
What did we come up with?
The surprise(?) is that there are countless definitions of ‘storytelling’ and each artist has a unique offer.
We discovered that ‘storytelling’ is not a single artform, any more than ‘dance’ or ‘music’ – and this is where misunderstandings happen.
Rather than a general “lack of understanding”, it is rather a “lack of explaining”. We storytellers can be better at knowing what makes us special and telling the world about our unique voice, style and skillset.
Jackie has crafted a clear, focussed workshop which will lead you, the storyteller to understand and express what it is that you offer and clarify the specific benefits of your work. When a client gets what they need, they will pay more. When the audience gets the exact magic they came for, they will come back!
If you are a storyteller who wants to get more paid work and a more appreciative audience, this is for you!
Please note these videos will only be live until 25 October.
Thank you to our supporters: Heritage Compass, who paid for Jackie and the videographer. Lambeth Together who funded the workshop series, and thanks as well to The Bridge at Waterloo who generously provided the space.
Part 1 contents:
Vanessa intro 00.00-02.30
Jackie Barrie intro: 02.30-5.50
“Storytelling is…” 5.50-10.15
Defining your uniqueness: 10.15- 23.00
“whats in it for me?” 23.00-27.00
FAB grid 27.00-36.30
Action 36.00-38.00
Selling from a clients pont of view 38.00- end of part 1
Telescope or magnet: 00 – 03.00
“case study 1…” 3.50 – 8.31
problems or solutions/ use of language: 10.00- 14.00
“Case study 2” 14.30 – 18.30
Vanessa’s example booking email 19.40- 23.05
The cost of a tea tray (how setting affects value) 23.30- 25.00
How much do we charge? 25.30 32.10
Q&A including the single best piece of advice Jackie would give 32.35- End of part 2