ProfessionalStorytellingpage2

Many folks start either as volunteers or as part of their job--for example, teachers, librarians, read-aloud volunteers. Then the storytelling just

evolves if the person wants it to. Volunteering is a good idea. The main thing is getting enough practice, and finding audiences to practice in front of!

To be good, tell more! That can be difficult if you are trying to work full time, and have a family and maybe a life too. So consider how much time you

can devote to it - and it can become all-consuming. There is so much to learn, so many stories, so many techniques, not to mention philosophy, tale

variants, etc.

As for when you should start charging and how you'll know when you're good enough, listen to some professional tellers, or experienced tellers in your

area. When you have been voluntarily paid a few times it does feel good & eventually you will be confident enough in your abilities, and have a large

enough repertoire to set fees. But this varies from teller to teller. It's common for beginning tellers to feel they are not worth paying for at all, but

listen to what people say about your performance, not what your self-doubts tell you. If you don't start charging when you are at least keeping your

audiences' interest, not only will people tend to take advantage, and not treat you with enough consideration, but you may devalue storytelling in

general, making it harder for professionals to earn sensible fees.

How much should I charge?

(Ask tweety to sing his favorite song!)

Many tellers always charge something, even if it's only travel expenses for a free show. An audience, and more importantly the organiser, will have

more respect, even if it is a nominal amount. Find out what other tellers in your area are charging. Don't feel you have to start too small - if you don't

value yourself, neither will others, and then it can be difficult to increase your fee. There will always be plenty of people who think you will love to tell

for peanuts, 'for the exposure'. As one teller puts it: you can die from exposure. People who hire you don't just have to pay for your telling time, but

your rehearsal time, and training. That already adds up, even if your expertise is not yet great. In Britain, I wouldn't recommend doing a 30 - 40

minute show for less than GBP40 plus expenses, even early on; in the USA that would equate to around $60. Add 50% to that once you are more

confident, and then increase from there according to what you need (very well-known tellers may charge up to ten times that first amount). Series of

gigs, work in schools, whole days and other special circumstances may demand a lower per-hour fee, but lots of badly paid work will burn you out and

kill your desire to develop - be realistic. Many experienced professionals do elect to also accept a limited number of volunteer or low-paid gigs,

usually for good causes that they wish to support. Some tellers present an invoice even for volunteer gigs, with the full fee stated, but marked as

waived - this not only makes it clear what your usual value is, but can help the organiser to claim for work-in-kind on their budget.

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