Paradox of Choice

Ever hear of the "Paradox of Choice"?  No?  I guess it is not something most performers and storytellers sit around and talk about as they have a cup of coffee together.  I've never seen a bunch of tellers finish a great night of stories and have someone turn and say, "Hey, let;s grab a RC Cola and some Moon Pies and sit up all night talking about the Paradox of Choice!".

So what is it?  Well, to put it simply, consumers get stressed when there are too many choices and products perform better when there are fewer choices.


In other words, if you make coffee mugs and offer 21 different colors, 7 different shapes and 5 handle designs you may be doing yourself an injustice with buyers.

It is likely you would do just as well or better with two or three choices.  The same is true in a selling situation.  When I was a Sales Manager we taught Sales Reps to talk about no more than two or three products (pharmaceuticals) and to feature just one and make passing mention of the others.

Too much information clouds the decision making process and can often cause the buyer to shut down.

What does this mean for you as a storyteller?  Well, it is an old drum I have beat on before with you.  As you market don't use brochures that list every program you have ever developed.  I've done it, you have too!  We print these lovely AND expensive brochures  with lots of choices.

I EVEN HAD A "MAKE YOUR OWN PROGRAM" CHOICE IN THE LIST!

Instead I now develop programs aimed at specific markets and promote ONE program or perhaps two when I contact them.  For example, as I added Buffalo Bill Cody to my list of programs I made contact with every venue that I performed as Mark Twain.  A simple postcard to those venues brought in quite a few gigs. I've done several hundred Twain gigs over the past few years and each one is a "hot prospect".

I've successfully done the same thing with other programs at these venues.  Instead of one gig and done, I've "sold" a series of programs to them... Twain, Celtic programs, Patriotic programs and of course my favorite - Mountain stories about my Cousin Peanut and his off kilter kinfolks.

You see, if I had listed all these programs and given them a brochure they might not have contacted me and asked for any of the listings.  When I eliminate the multiple choices and offer one at a time they call quite often!

WHY?  First of all it is easier for them to see one choice and decide to contact me for that particular program.  Second, by sending out a postcard about one program and tying it to a time of year it also can give a sense of urgency.  "Better call now to schedule that Celtic program for March or I might not get on Stephen's calendar".

So what do you do now?  Plan specific campaigns for specific programs.  Plan your marketing with a calendar at hand.  Give yourself a lot of lead time so you can make multiple contacts to targeted venues.

I do a postcard first, follow up with an e-mail if I have an e-mail address and often a third contact with a phone call or another postcard, especially if I am on the road and will be in a certain area.

The second postcard in that situation often has a label on the front noting I will be in their area on a certain week and have dates and times still available.  If I am not traveling I will still do a label (often a gold label) mentioning I still have great dates available.

Yes, it takes some coordination and yes, I do overlap campaigns as I market to several types of venues at once.  But it gave me 130+ gigs each year for the past several years.

Try it... You'll like it!

UPDATE: As requested, I am sharing a postcard I did a while back that I aimed at a specific market - preschools and kindergartens.  The front of the postcard is bright with some primary colors.  The figures are simple drawings and I emphasize Princess Stories - for little girls, of course.  I think this was sent out at the time that "Tangled", Disney's Rapunzel remake was coming out.

 and the back emphasizes learning, good deeds (values and morals) listening and communications skills.  I also throw a little hook... I can dress up for the program.  That caught the attention of several teachers and helped get several gigs.

Know Your Customer

The last blog was pretty much a rehash of my post in early December so I could introduce the next piece of the planning puzzle.  It is an important part and needs to be well thought out if you want to have your calendar filled with gigs year round.  What is the next piece of the puzzle?

Knowledge!

As I mentioned in the last blog, when libraries plan for their Summer Reading Program they often set their programs in the fall for the next summer.  Some of their planning is probably in response to their receiving the Collaborative Summer Library Program guide in the fall.  They need to plan and submit budgets for the next year.  If your program is not part of that budget your marketing won't do much good.

So, how much lead time is needed?  Who makes the decisions? Some of that depends on the venue, but there is more to this part of your planning.  Rather than a shotgun approach, why not fine tune your prospects?  Talk to them and get an idea as to when they plan programs and events!  

In the business world this is called, "KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER". Know what types of programs a segment of the market plans, how much they pay for programs, when most of their programs take place.  Talk to other performers, to those who plan programs in that type of venue.

Build a prospect list!  Gather info on the venues and keep it handy. I'm talking about contact info including contact names, addresses, phone numbers AND the above information.  

Develop a spread sheet with this info.  Add to it dates you contacted the venue and what your did.  If you get a gig... make a note of it.

Better yet, why not use a CRM program- Customer Relationship Management program to keep the info!  You will be amazed at how efficient - and productive you can be.

The Pooh Bear Project

I am posting this because I wanted to talk about my dream of The Pooh Bear Project.  I am writing this because some of my friends asked how they could help.

I will share how to help in a moment, first I need to share what pushed me harder today to get this going now.

I received a call from a Special Wish volunteer today (12/13/12) about a 3 year old who is having surgery Monday and may not make it.  The family was looking for a Santa to come Sunday to visit and take photos "just in case something happens Monday".  I said yes, of course.  I sat afterward and thought more about how hard that must be.  I want so bad to take a teddy to that little one, hold them for photos and hug the Mamma and Daddy.

NOTE: Below, by the teddy bears you will read about my hope to start "The Pooh Bear Project".  Please take a moment to read all of it and then come back up to this point.

Today it begins.  It is simple really.  I am going to set aside funds monthly to buy Teddy Bears that can be given, not just as Santa but just me at other times during the year to little ones who need a bear to hug.  A couple friends asked to help too.

When I saw the four little ones last Saturday who asked for so little, one said "maybe a toy. Just a toy, if that would be OK?" my heart broke.  I made a promise that I would never be in a situation that I could not do something, give those four little kids a teddy bear.  I know it isn't much in the grand scheme of things.  But I feel in my heart it is what I need to do.

Want to travel this journey with me?  I'll be posting stories along the way, check back.

Want to help?  Over to the left is a "DONATE" button.  You can click on it and give through Paypal or even with a credit card.  As I mention below, a nice Hugging Size Teddy Bear is about $4.00 wholesale cost.  $20 will buy 5 bears.  My commitment to my friends is that 100% of what they share will go to buy bears.

I am not begging you to give.  I am not a fan of beg letters.  Mostly this will be from dollars I get from storytelling and as Santa.  As I mentioned before, several friends asked how to help.  If you would like to help, click on the DONATE button.  

Thanks much for listening, for reading and keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I try to find a simple way to share the blessings I have been given.


Here is the original story:
Santa knows that no child is really "naughty", that every single one is a blessing sent to walk along side a Mom or Dad for a few years and then take wing on their own. I love the innocence of their little eyes looking deep into Santa's eyes. Sometimes they are too bashful to even look at Santa, hiding their face on their shoulder or perhaps on Mama or Daddy's shoulder.

But their eyes look deep and are full of love and trust. Sure, some are dressed to the nines while others have frayed cuffs and may even be soiled. Santa sees beyond all that. He also sees the joy and pride in the faces of Moms and Dads, Grandpas and Grandmas that wait, camera ready for that smile.

Oh, how Santa wishes he could sit with each little one as long as they wanted to talk with him. He would love to reach into his big red bag and pull out just what the little ones asked for as their Mama waited in the disheveled, soiled garments, tennis shoes torn and strings broken. His heart breaks when they ask for gifts that he knows most likely won't be under the tree.

Here is what Santa knows... little ones like those don't ask for I-pods or Lala Loopsey. Transformers or Nerf guns aren't on their list. Not one request from them for an American Girl doll. They ask for clothes, shoes or as one little one asked, "maybe just a toy". Just A toy. 

Last of all, Santa wishes you could have sat in the big chair last night when a young teenaged girl sat down, told her parents to "shoo, go away so I can talk to Santa"

Did she want make up, pierced ears, a car or was she swooning over some boy???

No, she told Santa she was a "Mom's helper" and the Mom she babysits for has a husband in Kuwait. (At first she said Quebec. Santa chuckled and asked if she meant Kuwait. Yes, that was it.)

There has been some trouble and fighting nearby and she asked Santa to try to help get him home soon without injury so he could be with his children and wife.

Santa talked with her for a while, reminded her that he sometimes could just hope and pray as she was doing... and he promised to do so.

Then Santa asked what she might want for Christmas. Her reply? "Nothing for me. Just that."

Tugs at the heart, doesn't it?

Here is the Postscript:

I was also the little boy who carried his teddy bear everywhere.  It was no surprise that when I had a little girl she had a "Pooh Bear" that went everywhere.  There she always was beside her Daddy (a single parent who had her at least half the time and often more than his half) like Peter Pan's shadow, a little independent but always at my side.  Thumb in her mouth and Pooh Bear hugged close.  The three of us had so very many adventures.  

Then when she was four she saw a woman making bears at a festival.  This is the same little girl who insisted her Daddy learn to French Braid, to buy her frilly socks and "foo foo" dresses, who ONLY wore dresses and NEVER pants or even shorts.  This little girl apparently thought her Daddy could do everything.  So, she asked me to make her a bear.

The first one was hideous.  A pattern from a teddy bear magazine and cheap brown fur from a fabric shop.  She wasn't sure it was a bear! 

I made several bears for her, each a little better.  I made one for a nephew sick with leukemia, others for the children of friends.  (No wonder I put on the red suit years later to become THE toymaker Santa!)

You see, I have always believed that a teddy bear in the arms of a little one is a "GOOD THING".  My Teddy Bear saw me through trying times.  Pooh Bear was daughter Kelly's constant companion.

As I laid in bed over the weekend I talked with my wife Linda again and again about the children I have seen through Santa visits over the past several years and those I remember from my days in the ministry in Appalachia, my time with United Way in Ohio.  As I mentioned in the story above, I just wanted to be able to reach into Santa's bag and find something more than the little jingle bell I give each child.

As I lay awake I thought so many times lately, "If only I had a Pooh Bear to give to that little boy or girl".  That would be a GOOD THING to give them a bear of their very own.

Last night I suggested to Linda that I start "The Pooh Bear Project".  Not a big non-profit, but just me and her to start, maybe ask a few friends to help buy some bears.  Not a little, tacky, goofy looking bear, but a bear that a child can hold and hug.   A bear that can stand watch over the long nights when Daddy is in Kuwait, or Mama is working.

I told her I want to always have a box or bag in my car with bears that I can quickly place in the outstretched arms of a little one hungry for love.  That is all I want to do, give them a bear and walk away.

There are a number of places I can buy nice sized bears wholesale for about $4 including shipping.  I spend more than that some weeks on sweet tea from McDonalds!  Twenty bucks a month isn't much out of my pocket and I can give away 5 bears monthly, sixty a year.  I am going to talk to a few friends and see if they will help.  I would love to be able to have 100, 200 or perhaps 300 bears to give away as Santa next year.  That is The Pooh Bear Project.

It may not seem like much to you.  It is not as important as food, health care, education, clean clothes, I know.  We already give to programs that do those things.

I just know I ache inside when a little boy or girl four or five years old, dressed in hand me down clothes looks Santa in the eye and asks for a toy... just a toy.  I dream of reaching into a box or bag and pulling out THEIR Pooh Bear.

What's In A Name?

I suspect one of the most misunderstood names - or titles I have ever used is "Storyteller".  Every sort of entertainment person latches on to it from movie directors to musicians.  So many folks suggest they are storytellers through their novels, music, television shows, movies and even art.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary the first recorded use of the word storyteller was in 1709.  Synonyms there include: fabricator, fabulist, fibber, prevaricator and liar.  Make you feel good, right?

Thesaurus.com is a little better for synonyms:bard, fabler, minstrel and my favorite - raconteur, among others.

My friend Jackie at story-lovers.com has a whole page of names and definitions i enjoyed reading:  
http://www.story-lovers.com/listsstorytellernames.html

All that to make this point: Who are you and what do you do?

WHAT EXACTLY IS A STORYTELLER?

You better be able to articulate this and do it well if you plan on growing your business!  Answering those two questions will help you define your BRAND.

If you don't develop your Brand others will!  So, what is that?

It is simply how you define yourself, your services, the things that make you stand out from the crowd. It is your identity defined and even symbolized... like the Nike "swoosh", Coke, McDonalds.  These are all names of companies that spend a lot of time defining who they are in the marketplace.

Why is that important to you?  Because if you know who you are and what you do - you can have the same message, look and product through all your marketing!

And you might even get more gigs with a little better clarity!

Gigs happen OFFLINE!

One of the things I hope storytellers and other performers do not forget is that GIGS happen OFFLINE.  

 There is so much advice flowing around right now about "online presence", "building a platform", "using social media for business" that it is easy to get caught up in the mistaken idea that you do not need to work offline to fill your calendar.

I doubt that any of the social media gurus really are saying that social media can take the place of good old common sense and hard work to build a business.  Their intent is to make you better at those aspects of building your business. You absolutely need to remember two KEYS to success:

First - PEOPLE BUY FROM PEOPLE!  You are your best marketing tool.  Prospective customers need to hear your voice, talk with you, see that you are interested and interesting.

Second - the internet is INBOUND and works only if a customer is looking for something.  You also have to do OUTBOUND marketing and go after customers.  You need to identify opportunities, make contact, have a call to action in all your marketing pieces and ASK FOR BUSINESS.

As you know, one of my favorite methods is postcard marketing.  It is not just sending out a shotgun blast of un-targeted postcards.  It takes time and a little research to find those opportunities.

So, take the time to draw a 30, 60 and 90 mile circle around your home base.  Start in the 30 mile circle and find the possible venues.  Think outside the box, make lists and make contact.

You might surprise yourself and get a gig.

Bartering as Pay

Earlier in the year I was working on a tour of Pennsylvania and the northernmost part of Ohio along Lake Erie.  I had a good gig midweek and wanted to use that as an anchor gig to build around.  As part of my regular marketing process for a short tour I sent out postcards to possible venues in the area.  As the weeks went by I scheduled several other gigs for that tour.

They I received a call from an activity director at one of the venues I had sent a postcard to.  We had a pleasant discussion and I offered her a decent discount since I would already be in the area.  She thanked me and told me the amount was still too high for her budget.  What she could offer was just not enough to tie up a date I still had plenty of opportunity to fill.

A day later she called back with an offer I couldn't refuse!

She reminded me of our conversation and how much she had to offer... and then mentioned they had a guest suite.  She asked of I would consider the initial amount plus two nights accommodations in the guest suite plus all meals for three days in exchange for a gig?

DUH!  Of course I would.  I was able to save the cost of two nights lodging in a motel at a range in that area of $75 - $125 per night (At the lower end that would be $150 plus taxes - probably another $15).  Food for three days would cost anywhere from $60 to $100 (I usually budget $25, so my budget would be $75 for three days)  Her offer didn't cost them anything extra but saved me at least $225.  That added to the fee she could afford made it a decent opportunity!

As I have traveled in the past I have often had evening gigs scheduled but nothing during the day.  More than once I have traded lunch with a civic group for a program.  The added benefit is that I can give the attendees my information and get gigs from that presentation.

Other barter opportunities have presented themselves over the years also.  Lodging, meals services and even goods have been bartered for a program.  It takes some creative thinking and going out of the box, but it can work and provide things you need, services AND additional gigs along the way.

Image and Presentation

Ten or twelve years ago all my storytelling promotional materials said, "Stephen Hollen, Appalachian Storyteller".  That is who I was and (I thought) what I did.  I was and still am proud to be an Appalachian.  I am a mountain boy through and through.

I thought it odd that no one ever contacted me to tell other types of stories.  I had a great program of Cinderella stories from around the world.  I even dressed in an evening coat with vest and cravat to tell the stories.  Audiences loved the program.  I seldom did that program.  The same was true for my Celtic and patriotic programs.

Then I had a revelation!  I was promoting myself as an Appalachian Storyteller.  As venues looked for a program they would pass over me because they weren't looking for an Appalachian program that day.  When I changed my marketing materials to "Stephen Hollen, Storyteller" I started getting more contacts for other types of programs.  I still told my Appalachian stories, Jack Tales and my Cousin Peanut stories.

What had changed was what others saw when they were looking at my materials.  I was no longer perceived as only telling one sort of stories.  Don't think that I stopped marketing and let the gigs roll in with that simple change.  It still took work to get gigs.

Occasionally I was and still am asked to tell mountain stories and appear in "hillbilly" clothes... ragged shirt or long john shirt, worn out overalls and work boots.  I always decline.  There are several reasons I decline:

• I will not foster the image of a "Lil Abner" or "Jethro Bodine".  I am educated, successful and Appalachian.
• I do not wear that type of get up in real life, so why would I wear it as a storyteller?
• That image is a stereotype that does implies Appalachians are dirty, lazy and ignorant.
• That image insults a heritage I am proud of.

All that being said, the question for you is this:
Do you box yourself into a certain type of stories with the image you promote either unintentionally or on purpose?

I used to laugh when Chuck Larkin and I would talk about his title, "The Bluegrass Storyteller"  I had lived in the "Bluegrass" area of Kentucky and knew Chuck didn't.  He told me he just liked the sound of it.  I think there were other reasons I just don't remember.  The point is, it sounded good, homey and fit Chuck without boxing him into a specific "perception" of what he did.

Road Warrior

Being a road warrior - a "Touring Storyteller" is not for everyone.  Many storytellers just do not want to hit the road and travel for weeks.  Some of us enjoy the travel and love to see new places.  Here is a warning!

If you don't purposefully schedule some down time in your tour you will never see the amazing sights where you travel.  I try to have one day set aside so I can explore, take photos and find that great off the beaten path restaurant.  I also plan ahead for that day so I can use it wisely.

• Google is a great place to start your "day off planning".  Try searching "things to do in..."  or "attractions in..." and add the town you will be in.  I always find great things to see and do this way.
•  Check for a Chamber of Commerce and see if there is a listing of local points of interest.
• Check to see if there is a local tourism office and give them a call.  They will be happy to send you information about the area.  Don't limit it to just the town you will be in.  Look for other nearby towns also.
• Look through a travel guide - if there is one for the area.
• Ask someone (in advance, of course) at the  local venue/venues about attractions, parks, great restaurants in the local area.  The locals always know more than the travel guides do.
• When you do decide where you will visit ask someone in the town about the place.  "The largest fuzzball in America" might sound like fun, but it may just be a ball of fuzz under glass on someone's porch!
• Most of all, plan time for yourself to rest, relax and enjoy some time to yourself!

Shut Up And LISTEN!

OK, I know this is hard for a storyteller or any performer.  You are going to read this and say that you already do this.  Yes, I know, you are a marketing genius.

So, why are you not getting the gigs you want?

It may be because you TALK TOO MUCH!

I taught Professional Selling Skills in many venues all around the U.S. and even once in Canada.  The hardest part of the training was to get sales people to shut up and wait for answers.  In a situation where you are nervous your mouth goes into overdrive.  Here is my simple advice as you are asking for business.

Ask simple questions:  There are two kinds of questions, the closed ended question and the open ended question:  Closed ended - "May I confirm the date for you?"  It requires a simple answer.  Too many times we use this type of question trying to get information.  This is the question you ASK AND SHUT UP! Let the other person think and answer.

Open ended questions are to get information.  "Tell me how my program fits your need."  Open ended and  looking for information.  Again, ASK AND SHUT UP.  Let them think and answer.

Ask for business:  When I am getting to the "close" I try to say something like, "I have my calendar in front of me now.  Would you like to look at dates?"  This is a soft close.  I am asking for the business by looking at their calendar.  This is a simple closed ended question.  THEN SHUT UP!!!

Answer objections:  Often you might hear a question that can close you down.  "I am not sure scary stories are appropriate for cardiac patients."  Your reply is to clarify and keep the dialogue open.  "I understand.  Scary stories for cardiac patients may be an issue.  I also have a lovely healing stories program that is encouraging, empowering and more appropriate.  Does that fit your need better?"  Again, ask and SHUT UP!



Side note:  if you are in the mood, here is a little something I wrote a few years back to take you down to the hills:  http://www.mountainstories.net/2008/12/sunrise.html




 Stephen Hollen is an award winning storyteller, humorist and Mark Twain Impersonator living in Beavercreek, Ohio.  He performs and tells stories in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Michigan and throughout the USA. 

No one around here ever hires me!

No One Around Here Hires Me!!

Do you ever voice that lament?  Do you hear it from other storytellers or performers?


Your question to start the week:  WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT?


The last blog entry dealt with Top of the Mind Awareness.  Lets build on that idea and think about what you are doing to change that.  Here are a few questions to get your planning on the right track.

  

• First of all, have you done an inventory of all the possible venues within 30, 60 and 90 minutes of your home base?
• Have you identified the decision maker at each venue, including phone number, e-mail and address of the venue?
• Sure, it sounds redundant, but do you have this information in a user friendly database?  Can you do letters, e-mails, labels with your database?
• Can you track the contacts you make with each venue as well as noting when you do gigs for that venue?
• Have you ever called just to introduce yourself?
• Do you make some sort of contact on a regular basis?  Frequency is the key here.  Why not develop a plan to mail postcards 4 or 6 times a year, send e-mails quarterly, send invitations to events you are doing locally?

Don't be a pest!  This is not suggesting you call monthly and hassle them. The idea is to put information in front of the decision maker with enough frequency that they will think of you when they think of storytellers.

The Bottom Line:  If they don't know you 

they won't hire you!



 Stephen Hollen is an award winning storyteller, humorist and Mark Twain Impersonator living in Beavercreek, Ohio.  He performs and tells stories in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Michigan and throughout the USA. 

Top of the Mind Awareness

Wouldn't it be great if every gig you scheduled was just a short drive from your home?  Even better, wouldn't it be awesome if everyone who ever hires storytellers thought of you first when they thought of storytellers?

That is "TOP OF MIND AWARENESS".  In other words, when a customer is ready to schedule/buy - they think of you first.  You have been stamped into their memory and when they think of "storyteller" your name AND face comes up.  That is an enviable position to have.  A position that the marketing giants are careful to promote for themselves.  Think APPLE, COKE, MCDONALDS.  When I was a kid there was a Texaco commercial with a jingle that said, "You can trust your car to the man who wears the star, the big, bright Texaco star!"  Still today that is top of mind awareness.

Are you asking yourself, "But how can I do that?  I don't have a thousand person marketing department.  It is just little ol' me."

Here is how you start:  First, get a map of your area and draw a circle around where you live.  I draw three circles - 30 miles, 60 miles and 90 miles.  Lets start with the 30 mile circle and identify EVERY potential venue in that circle.  Yes, it takes some work, but it will pay off. Some potential venues might be libraries, elementary schools, day camps and  civic organizations.  Check for seasonal festivals and special events also.

As you identify the venue, determine who the decision maker might be.  If it is a library, for example, there might be several including the head librarian/director, the teen or youth librarian and the children's librarian. If you can compile additional info about a contact MAKE A NOTE!  I have known sales reps that had awesome notes about each client.  AND their clients LOVED them because they remembered and cared about who they were.  They also made good notes about when and how they contacted the client.  An example:

Jonathan Apple Memorial Library
1953 Main Street
Apple Tree, KY 40000

Director: Lizzie Borden - collects chopping tools.  Might be interested in a Father's Day program
Teen Librarian - Charles Wolfe - loves werewolf and vampire stories, ask about Halloween programs
Children's Librarian - Bonnie Buttercup - president of local garden club. loves environmental storytelling

2012 contacts: March postcard mailing, e-mails about Mother's Day programs, stopped in to see Bonnie and leave info about my "Think Green!" storytelling program.

Ask yourself, "How often have I contacted the venues closest to me?  Once, twice in the past year?  Do they even remember me or that there is a storyteller in their neighborhood?"  How much is reasonable?  How much can I afford?  This is not suggesting that you become a pest or constantly call and hassle a contact.  Much of what you do can be subtle and passive.  Vary the programs you promote with each venue.  they might not be interested in one program and will be excited about another program.

Top of the Mind Awareness helps in another way also.  As others speak with your potential venues about storytellers, your name will come up EVEN if a venue has no money to hire you themselves.

Want more local gigs?  Identify all potential venues, develop good info about each venue, develop a systematic contact/marketing plan, make contact regularly and vary the programs you offer.





 Stephen Hollen is an award winning storyteller, humorist and Mark Twain Impersonator living in Beavercreek, Ohio.  He performs and tells stories in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Michigan and throughout the USA. 

I Love Anchor Gigs

I love anchor gigs!

So, what in the world am I talking about and what does it have to do with marketing and storytelling/performing?  Great question, if I do say so myself.


As I look at my calendar, I often find that I get requests for programs outside of my local area.  You get them too.  They are gigs that you cannot do without some travel and at least one overnight away from home.  Many storytellers and other performers turn these down immediately for several reasons; too far from home, the venue can't afford to pay your gig fee plus motel plus mileage, perhaps you just don't know the area.


If you don't want to travel those are all good reasons not to take a gig.  If, like me, you enjoy the travel and seeing new sites, these gigs become Anchor Gigs and an opportunity for other gigs and more income! 


An Anchor Gig is a gig I schedule and begin to build around.  As I build a tour I do not like to bounce down the highway from one town to the next for gigs.  I would rather find a good area to market in and a decent motel, a welcoming friend or a neat Bed and Breakfast and begin to look for opportunities.


For example, if you have a gig opportunity in Atlanta, Georgia make that your Anchor Gig and draw a 60 mile circle around Atlanta.  That is approximately an hour drive any direction which is very reasonable travel time to a gig for me.  I personally love to use an Atlas and a compass for this task.  It makes it easier than trying to do this on Google Maps or Mapquest.  The map has a mileage scale that I use to adjust my compass as I draw a circle IN PENCIL! 


Try it on Google Maps - do an imaginary circle and see all the towns and cities within an hour drive!  There is Roswell, Smyrna, Lawrenceville, Marietta... and Athens is just 9 miles outside that circle, so I would include it too!

The next step is Google "mining for venues".  I search the surrounding towns, villages and cities for opportunities; Libraries, Festivals, Civic Clubs, Churches, Day Camps, Senior Centers, Museums all are great opportunities.  

I personally like to start with a postcard (can you imagine me starting with a postcard) or e-mail if I can find a contact person at each possible venue.  Having a date creates a sense of urgency for the contact.  In an e-mail you would suggest "I will be in your area the week of November 5th and have dates still available" .  For a postcard I like to use a gold foil label on the front of the postcard with "Stephen will be in the Smyrna area the week of November 5th, call for scheduling info".

I do my homework and determine which of my programs would best fit each venue and send the appropriate e-mail or postcard.  I do NOT send a generic e-mail or postcard.  I try my best to suggest a specific program.


Follow up with a polite phone call, confirm they received the e-mail or phone call and ask if they would like to schedule a program.  It might take 5 or even 10 contacts to get another gig, but persistence pays off.  Does it work?  Yes, it works very well for me.  

For the second week in August I started with a gig about 4 hours away from home.  A decent paying gig, but in the middle of the week.  I mailed about 50 postcards (my cost was about 42 cents each so a cost of $21) and made 30 or 40 e-mail contacts.  As a result of mining around that Anchor Gig I now have 4 gigs instead of one.  I will need to stay for three nights in that area, but one of the venues offered lodging in a lovely guest suite for two nights as part of my compensation!



 Stephen Hollen is an award winning storyteller, humorist and Mark Twain Impersonator living in Beavercreek, Ohio.  He performs and tells stories in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Michigan and throughout the USA. 

A Wonderment in a Hive

There is something very spiritual for me as I work with my honey bees.  Perhaps because I have to move slow, work carefully and am alone in the midst of several hundred thousand bees.  Though It is hot in my bee suit, I a still a rookie, a "New-bee" if you will.  I often don't wear gloves, or just a pair of nitrite "surgical" gloves when I am just feeding them this time of year.  When there is little nectar - hot weather will dry nectar out in the flowers, feeding the bees will help them prepare well for winter.

As I move slowly from hive to hive, I marvel at how they have grown the hive.  Just one queen, laying up to 1,500 eggs a day takes a spring hive from 3,000 to 5,000 bees up to 50,000 or 60,000 mid summer.  Remember, each bee lives about 6 weeks after they emerge from their capped cell.  By winter the queen will slow down egg production and begin laying eggs that will become "fat" bees that can survive longer and care for her during a harsh winter.  These bees can lives months instead of weeks.  (yes, the queen can love several years)

I lift frames of comb to the sky and look closely, seeing tiny eggs, larvae and uncapped pupae as the sun glows through the drawn comb.  Here and there capped brood can be found... pupae in their last stage of development, their cell covered with wax as they contemplate for a few days before emerging.

All over I see the miracle that God made when he created these insects.  The newly emerged bees wobble a bit and are lighter in color than older bees.  House bees, all usually less than 3 weeks old care for eggs, larvae and pupae.  The foraging bees, all usually older than 3 weeks old, come and go, pollen baskets on their rear legs laden with pollen of all colors.

It is a wonderment, a miracle, a God inspired design that sings to me as I work.  I don't often smoke them, I find if I work slowly they are little bothered by my cautious care.




 Stephen Hollen is an award winning storyteller, humorist and Mark Twain Impersonator living in Beavercreek, Ohio.  He performs and tells stories in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Michigan and throughout the USA. 

Photo Mark Twain

 

 Stephen Hollen is an award winning storyteller, humorist and Mark Twain Impersonator living in Beavercreek, Ohio.  He performs and tells stories in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Michigan and throughout the USA. 

Celebration of a Quiet Life

Go with me to the mountains, deep in the mountains, the hills and hollers of Eastern Kentucky.  I'll take you there, to a holler with a creek runnin' through called Flat Creek.  Look around with me and find the highest place.  Though these old mountains were worn before men ever walked the hills, help me find the highest one.  Please be patient and climb that hill along side me.  Come on, I'll take you there.

Stand quiet now.  Breath in deep and smell the honeysuckle, the cedar and pine.  Breathe deep again and catch the thick sweet smell of sourwood bloomin' down below.  When the wind blows up the hill just right the fragrance is so amazin'.  Listen and you can hear the honeybees workin' the sourwood blossoms.

Look around, look down into the hollers at the old rugged cabins, so many deserted now.  Close your eyes and go back with me, nearly 87 years.  Come with me, I'll take you there.  Down yonder, just there, the cabin is gone now, but back then, a simple log cabin stood there, just a plain ol' mountain cabin with a dirt floor was there in that clear spot, there, just there, do you see?

The youngin's have been sent down the road to Aunt Dellie's for a while.  The midwife came just a while ago on an old red mule.  Grandpa Steve Hollen brushes down the old mule just to have something.  Till there comes a cry...

As I close my eyes, I imagine it was something like that, when my Daddy was born.  No one noticed much, beside family.  He was never a rich man, never bragged on himself, never made headlines.  He lived a simple and quiet life.

Today, seven years after his passin', I celebrate his quiet life.  In so many ways I am not like him, can never fill his shoes, but I am so much of him.  So much of who I am is due to that quiet life.

He wasn't able to finish school... went to war instead.  Sailor, Seabee, yet he never talked about those war years.  I just don't know about those years.

Home again, he found work, as many did, in a factory and worked as much as he could to support a wife and five years after their marriage, one son, then another.

I'm told when I would cry (and he had been out with cousins and friends) more than once he climbed into my crib and laid with me... I can only imagine.  When I had colic he and my Mom would get in the car nightly and drive around till I fell asleep.

I remember when Daddy and Mom came home with Brother Mike.  Daddy walked in the side door holding my little brother so very careful, his quiet smile so big, so proud he had two boys.  He had a gold tooth back then, said he got it while he was in the Navy.  It showed through when he grinned.  I wanted a gold tooth back then.

When I was 8, his life changed as he walked a church aisle, accepted Jesus as Lord and quietly served his God.  A few months later I followed his path down that same aisle.  In March of 1963, Daddy and I stepped into a chilly baptistry together. I was baptized first, then Daddy was baptized.  Oh my it was cold!  (Don't forget Baptists immerse completely... and the water heater was new and not connected yet on that cold March Sunday)

One by one, cousin, sister, old friends and family followed Daddy down that aisle.  Not because he was an evangelist, preacher or prophet.  He never proselytized.  He just lived a quiet life, a life changed to make him a better man.  He was happy and content.  They saw how he lived and, like me, I reckon they wanted some of what he found.

When Brother Mike and I had kids our quiet Daddy changed again.  For two ornery sons he often was stern.  He could just look at us and we would settle down.  But when the grand-babies  took hold of Pappy he was sweet and gentle.  He walked and rocked them in his arms, sang to them, looked deep into their souls and loved them as only a Grandpa can.

My Kelly would sit with him in his recliner and together them would watch cartoons for hours.  She claimed he loved watching the Smurfs... yet I remember the crossword book in his hands each time they sat watching cartoons.

I can still see them together, Pappy and Kelly watching cartoons, Pooh Bear safe in her arms.

Then cancer took him in just 41 days.  Oh my, just not enough time to say all I wanted to say.  Daddy never talked much, wasn't much on verbal expressions of love.  He lived a quiet life.  Most times through my life when I would say, "I love you Daddy", he would say, "Same here".  That was always enough, we knew he just found it hard to express himself like that.

Instead he worked hard, lived that quiet life, provided for us, quietly loved us, showed us how to live.

Yet in those 41 days, every time we said "I love you" he would say "I love you too".  As he hurt, as he suffered he told us each time that he loved us.  What a great man he was, what a great Daddy.

Today I celebrate the quiet, exemplary life of Jimmie Hollen, born 12/17/1924, died 5/15/2004.





 Stephen Hollen is an award winning storyteller, humorist and Mark Twain Impersonator living in Beavercreek, Ohio.  He performs and tells stories in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Michigan and throughout the USA. 



Our last Christmas with Daddy

Lessons Learned on the Cabin Porch

Lesson One: The Purpose of a Porch

This is a lament for the loss of the front porch.  Not that they are no longer built, but that they are no longer used.  Folks build decks or patios these days.  Some might add on a front porch, or pretend with a "stoop".  Folks huddle inside to keep warm in the winter and air conditioned cool in the summer, forgetting the multiple benefits of the front porch.

The front porch, in the days of glory for all front porches, was the shaded spot to relax after supper, to sip coffee on Sunday with the Preacher (and his wife!), to watch folks go by and discuss the goin's on around the area.

It might have sounded something like this; "Well, I swan, here comes Homer Wagers in his new truck.  ain't new, 'course.  I heard Homer went to the bank an' got a loan for that truck.  Law-zee, can you imagine?  Gettin' into debt an' owin' the bank for somethin' such as a truck.  Next thing you know they will come an' take his truck an' his house an' where will Emmerline an' his none youngin's go?  Probably end up in Ohio or even worse, Michigan workin' in them factories, don't ya know."

(As the truck pulls up and stops) Well, howdy Homer, Emmerline.  We didn't know that was you drivin' along in that fine fancy truck!  It cain't be more than two years old!  What? four years old?  I swan, it don't look it.  Been taken good care of, it has.

Y'all hear 'bout Charlie Clark?  He 'bout got et up by a groundhog he pulled out of its hole.  He needs to quit that silliness.  Gropin' for groundhogs.  That is plumb nonsense.  Gropin' for catfish is one thing, groundhogs is another.

Y'all come on up and sit a spell.  No?  Well, drive that new truck back when you can visit longer"

(As the truck with Homer and Emmerline drives off) "Did you think they was actin' uppity?  Give a hillbilly a new truck an' he thinks he is the king of the hills.  Hmmph.  I knew him when he was a stealin' chickens to feed his family."





 Stephen Hollen is an award winning storyteller, humorist and Mark Twain Impersonator living in Beavercreek, Ohio.  He performs and tells stories in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Michigan and throughout the USA. 

Bad News from Down Home

Dear Cousins,
This has been a hard winter on me and many of my family... It could be worse though. It was for my Cousin Junebug - no relation to my Cousin Peanut who is a Chappell.  Junebug is a Gilbert.

Junebug pretty much lost everything during this past winter back down in my hometown of Beloved.

Here's how it is, and I ain't tellin' tales 'cause it was all reported by Myrtle Shoop already in the Manchester Enterprise.

You see, Junebug had done got involved and run off with an exotic dancer named Sweet Tea.  That were not a stage name, it was for real her name.  Her brother we call J.J. Burns, his real name was Jelly Jar Burns and hers was Sweet Tea Burns.Jelly Jar is no name for a serious Nascar pit crew boss.

Their Mama and Daddy was just not too creative when they started namin' babies.  After they had their first three- the third one is named Bud L. Burns (middle name Lite), someone bought them a second hand book of baby names at the Jot 'Em Down store and the rest of the youngin's are named normal names.

That Sweet Tea went to ruin early on dancin' an' all.  She was caught doin' the Cha Cha, Mambo and even the Samba behind the barn over to the Burns place.  'Fore long it led to her doin the fandango right in the basement of Booger Holler Holiness Church.  It were a real scandal down home.

Well, Junebug got tied up with her an' her dancin' ways an' they went to Jellico Tennessee an' got hitched.  They tried to settle down, bought a 12 by 60 foot mobile home an' put it smack dab on one of the end lots over to the Blessed Trailer Park, run by Homer Lee and Esther May Blessed.  Now, Homer and Esther May are Methodists an' don't take too much truck with the Holiness folks an' didn't mind if an exotic dancer took up housekeepin' in their trailer park.It was good for the bachelor trailer rentin' business.

I didn't mention that Sweet Tea was seven foot tall.  Junebug is a big ol' boy, near six foot six and as strong as an ox.  She saw him swingin' a log one day an' knew he was the man for her.  She did all she could to get his attention durin' her day job at the Henny Penny.  The Henny Penny is the local chicken restaurant where they serve broasted chicken an' biscuits so light they have to tie a string to them an hook the other end to a drumstick just to keep them biscuits from floatin' away.

I have to say, any good honest mountain boy would fall head over heels for a seven foot red headed, freckled mountain gal with big ol' blue eyes if she came toward him on roller skates, short shorts (2 inches above the knees!!) with a big ol' platter of broasted chicken, a stack of biscuits floatin' overhead an' a mason jar plumb full of sweet tea!

Many a mountain boy has been lured into a marriage proposal with just such a scenario!  It runs only second to placin' a bear trap on the path to Percival Poovey's still on a Friday night after payday over to the mine.

Junebug took his food, had a big ol' swig of sweet tea out of that there Mason Jar an' blurted out, "Man, I love Sweet Tea" .  He grinned a dopey grin, looked around, picked up a broasted chicken leg an' commenced to eatin' every morsel of that leg in one bite!

Sweet Tea Burns decided to take advantage of what Junebug said and ran over to Brother Woodrow Budder, the preacher over to Booger Holler Holiness Church who was sittin' in the next car over with my cousin, Sister Hazel Nutt Budder.

Sweet Tea hollered, "Y'all hear that?  Junebug Gilbert has done professed his love for me.  Them is marryin' words if ever I did hear them!"  Well folks did hear Junebug when he hollered, sure enough, him havin' a good set of lungs an' all.

In the ensuing hubub, Junebug just said, "What?" over an' over again.

Junebug's Daddy an Sweet Tea's Daddy showed up right quick (havin' been called by Sweet Tea herself) an' rather than start a feud between the Burns an' the Gilberts, Junebug's Daddy got Brother Woodrow Budder to marry them on the spot.

It was a festive occasion, one of the waitresses dug around in the Christmas decorations an found a tree skirt they wrapped around Sweet Tea's waist, some poinsettias for a bouquet and a dab of white nettin' for a veil.  Everybody got out of their cars an' the folks eatin' inside came out under the awning to be a part of the wonderful hitchin'.

Myrtle Shoop had been havin' a mixed gizzard an' liver combo inside with ladies from her church an' was able to report in the Manchester Enterprise, as mentioned earlier.

It weren't such a bad deal for Junebug in some ways, Sweet Tea is an awful pretty gal.  Things started goin' south when we had that bad ice storm about middle of January.

Sweet Tea had talked Junebug to puttin' up one of them dance poles in the livin' room of their 12x60 foot mobile home an' she practiced every day on it, hopin' to move from exotic dances like the Samba to that there pole dancin' she had heard about.

She wore work gloves an' overalls as she practiced. Junebug had made that there pole out of good seasoned hickory wood, but hadn't sanded it too good.  Sweet Tea didn't want no splinters, you see.

Now here is the problem... a seven foot gal swingin' round a pole ain't no big deal, unless she is doin' it in a 12x60 foot mobile home that ain't been tied down yet.  Homer Lee Blessed  had it on the "to do" list, but Esther May had just not got to it yet.

The ice storm had slicked the whole holler up real slick down where the Blessed Trailer Park is.  When Sweet Tea commenced to swingin' on that pole, the whole trailer started slippin' round on the ice.  The more she swung, the more it slipped.  She didn't notice till it was right on the edge of a seventy foot ravine.  She looked out the window at the end of the trailer an' screamed, swung off the pole and ran for the door.

That last swing was all it took.  That brand new 12x60 foot mobile home went a careenin' off that cliff and into the ravine.  It slipped slow like, sorta like a slow motion movie or some such thing.  Just before it crashed over, the V shaped tongue of the trailer - you know, the part they pull it with, got hung on some big ol' roots from a gigantic oak tree.  It hung up as it was goin' over and hung vertically, the end just 10 feet from the bottom.

There it hangs to this very day.  No one has figured out how to pull 'er up an' put it back in place.  Junebug thought they could secure it to the side of the hill an' have a hangin' condominium, just put in some floors sideways an' all, but Sweet Tea was havin' none of that.

When your wife is seven foot tall, a feller pretty much does what she says, even if you are six foot six!

They are livin' temporary like over the Henny Penny, but that most likely will come to an end.  Sweet Tea has done corrupted Junebug and they have been makin' quite a racket in the evenin's as Sweet Tea is tryin' to teach Junebug to do that paso-doble exotic dance.

It is the shame of the whole town of Beloved.  Like I said, I thought my winter was bad as I approached the double nickle milestone, then I realized it could be worse... I could be married to Sweet Tea instead of Oh My Darlin'.

Cousin Stephen

Written just before my 55th birthday in 2008 (copyrighted by Stephen Hollen, of course)





 Stephen Hollen is an award winning storyteller, humorist and Mark Twain Impersonator living in Beavercreek, Ohio.  He performs and tells stories in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, Michigan and throughout the USA.