Like flames to the MOTH

Went to the MOTH with Robin Bady and Barbara Aliprantis last night. Amazing - waiting in line that went round the block. Over 300 people crushed into the Bitter End to hear the 10 of the 21 people who wanted be the storytellers in a storyslam. Wow.

This experience sure fanned the flames of us three LANES types who attended...

What a night - great stories and great connecting with the folks in NY, NY.

please help ? Meetup

I threw up this meetup site - it is there for 3 months - costs = $45 But i think we be worth it...
Anywho suggestions on what to say and do with it? Things to change >?

And we all should join it too
that is FREE

I was thinking it is a good place to list a workshop* like the one I sent to Doria back in late JUNE -
what do you guys think

http://www.meetup.com/massmouth-story/

*Collaborative Exploration of the Art of Storytelling this is off the top of me head....

Looking for six people for a pilot critique and artistic study group.
Collaborative Exploration of the Art of Storytelling - About 2 hours each session - 1/2 theoretical using the book and 1/2 sharing story with each other
No fee - sponsored by massmouth. Led by Norah Andrea and Doria ... all levels welcome join by lottery. 2 of us will be at each session? so four others could be in? .

1. Week everyone arrives with a copy of Improving Your Storytelling by Doug Lipman For the public speaker, salesman, teacher, pastor or librarian who's already a pretty good talker, this is the guide for taking your story skills to the next level.http://www.storydynamics.com/publications/Books/iys.html
Each teller has a 5 minute story to tell. Each person tells a story first they write down a question they have for the listeners about a creative choice they are making... and one goal they have for the six week project.

Then telling tales to each other - This will repeat as needed:
Each person tells a story BUT first they write down a question they have for the listeners about a creative choice they are making
After hearing the story the listeners write down
* 1 thing they like
* 1 question they have about creative choice the teller made
* 1 question they have about creative choices they make...
* 5 minute discussion led by the teller.

Share out of goals -- look up in book for chapters related to goals
Sign up to lead next meeting ( draw lots or one will offer to go first)

2. Week - 1st presentation on the chosen chapter by volunteer leader. Then telling tales to each other - This will repeat as needed:
Each person tells a story BUT first they write down a question they have for the listeners about a creative choice they are makingThen all tell 5 minute stories or segments of longer stories.

* 1 thing they like
* 1 question they have about creative choice the teller made
* 1 question they have about creative choices they make...
* and one chapter in the book they thing relates to the question the teller had
* 5 minute discussion

Then after all have told

* Look again at goals -- look up in book for chapters related to goals
* Sign up to lead next meeting ( draw lots or one will offer to go first)


3. Week - 2nd presentation on the chosen chapter by volunteer leader. Then telling tales to each other - This will repeat as needed:
Each person tells a story BUT first they write down a question they have for the listeners about a creative choice they are makingThen all tell 5 minute stories or segments of longer stories.
After hearing the story the listeners write down

* 1 thing they like
* 1 question they have about creative choice the teller made
* 1 question they have about creative choices they make...
* 5 minute discussion led by the teller

Then after all have told

* Look again at goals -- look up in book for chapters related to goals
* Sign up to lead next meeting ( draw lots or one will offer to go first)


4. Week 3rd presentation on the chosen chapter by volunteer leader. Then telling tales to each other - This will repeat as needed:
Each person tells a story BUT first they write down a question they have for the listeners about a creative choice they are making. Then all tell 5 minute stories or segments of longer stories.
After hearing the story the listeners write down

* 1 thing they like
* 1 question they have about creative choice the teller made
* 1 question they have about creative choices they make...
* 5 minute discussion led by the teller

Then after all have told

* Look again at goals -- look up in book for chapters related to goals
* Sign up to lead next meeting ( draw lots or one will offer to go first)

5. Week 4th presentation on the chosen chapter by volunteer leader. Each leader will lead group in an activity to learn a skill related to chapter. Then all tell 5 minute stories or segments of longer stories.Each person tells a story BUT first they write down a question they have for the listeners about a creative choice they are making
After hearing the story the listeners write down

* 1 thing they like
* 1 question they have about creative choice the teller made
* 1 question they have about creative choices they make...
* 5 minute discussion led by the teller

Then after all have told

* Look again at goals -- look up in book for chapters related to goals
* Sign up to lead next meeting ( draw lots or one will offer to go first)

6. Week 5th presentation on the chosen chapter by volunteer leader. Each leader will lead group in an activity to learn a skill related to chapter. Then all tell 5 minute stories or segments of longer stories.Each person tells a story BUT first they write down a question they have for the listeners about a creative choice they are making
After hearing the story the listeners write down

* 1 thing they like
* 1 question they have about creative choice the teller made
* 1 question they have about creative choices they make...
* 5 minute discussion led by the teller

Then after all have told

* Look again at goals -- look up in book for chapters related to goals
* Sign up to lead next meeting ( draw lots or one will offer to go first)

7. Week 6th presentation on the chosen chapter by volunteer leader. Each leader will lead group in an activity to learn a skill related to chapter. Then all tell 5 minute stories or segments of longer stories.Each person tells a story BUT first they write down a question they have for the listeners about a creative choice they are making
After hearing the story the listeners write down

* 1 thing they like
* 1 question they have about creative choice the teller made
* 1 question they have about creative choices they make...
* 5 minute discussion led by the teller

Then after all have told

* Look again at goals -- look up in book for chapters related to goals
* Sign up to lead next meeting ( draw lots or one will offer to go first)



Plan a Culminating activity

8. Week Culminating activity

here it is

We are going to need some seed money - $35 for the application for the bridge use? And we need to make decisions like - when to do this storybridge project -check all graduations and things like that and then set it up... And more...

What shall we do about $$$ and decisions??
N

moving the bridge forward

Great meeting today with Andrea and Norah and Cambridge Arts Council head -
Random notes from the meeting - a to do list from Norah – I am sure that Andrea will have additions…Boston Cultural Council has same process w/ 2 info meetings in SEPT strand theater 17th at 12 noon and on 18th at BPL at 12 noon
Great meeting today with Andrea and Norah and Cambridge Arts Council head -
Random notes from the meeting - a to do list from Norah – I am sure that Andrea will have additions…(I will start stuff in blue type - others can pick a color and say what they will do )

Norah in blue Andrea in red

1. Must move this to the Spring MAY or early June
   
2. Helps to have Doria and/or People’s Republic be on the grant as Cambridge resident
3. Need to contact Daryl Mark @ CPL
4. Need to contact Elaine Kourey arts teacher @ CRLS high school
5. need to contact the Boston Arts Council √ see above. need to check back for application
   
6. Contact made at Museum School and Andrea has connections to Massart
7. Look at BU and Arts Institute of Boston
8. Need to raise matching funds for what ever we get
9. Our fees as artists and organizers can be donated as in kind
10. New idea to use rolls of canvas on the bridge all media
11. Spaces on bridge for massmouths +
    
12. Spaces on bridge for students from BAA an CRLS after story slams to choose them.
13. Spaces on the bridge for BAA an CRLS visual artists
14. Spaces for 1- 5 college students
15. Spaces for storyslam winners in Boston and Cambridge
16. Storyslam winners could be voted for in blog polls on line
17. Judges will choose finalists from the live shows
18. Judges need to be recruited from community for visual art and storyslams
19. CCTV to film stuff?
20. in kind donation of ice cream from Toscaninis and JP Licks for a taste off Boston Cambridge sweetest who is the sweetest? Also vote on line?
21. Get gift certificates for participants? Plus an honorarium of $50 each
22. Get art supplies and rolls of canvas donated – need to be long!
23. Show all this at the CMAC or in the new Cambridge Library – and at the Boston Library
24. Need to meet with them again at public meetings OR at private – they are being great
25. Need to reserve bridge right away – costs $35 for application
26. Arts departments at Harvard and MIT may give money
27. come up with catergories for advertisers to generate matching funds for grant

moth field trip? AUG 31st?

Next one is AUG 31st? Bolt bus ? Every 1/2 hour from South Station...or Fung Wah, Lucky Star.

But 10 pm is the last bus home from the city that never sleeps.

There is a later train to Boston which is at 3:10AM

http://www.themoth.org/storyslams_nyc

On the last Monday of each month you’ll find us at:

The Bitter End
147 Bleecker Street between Thompson & LaGuardia
7:00 Sign up, mingle, volunteer to judge
7:30 Stories begin

video contest 2010 start in 2009

We, at massmouth have over 80 videos and to celebrate, disseminate and holler out to the world about our art form - story in performance - live performance ! we are having a 1st Year Anniversary Video Awards contest.

Like the Academy Awards this will be a combination contest and party. Awards will be conferred on videos entered into the contest by the members of the academy, ahem, the members of massmouth and their fans…. Yes, anyone can vote!
There is no limit to the number of videos entered.
Videos of you telling a story recorded live or without an audience.
Videos can only win in one category.
Must be uploaded to the massmouth video page by DECEMBER 31st, 2009
You may vote for your own video
There are 3 categories for prizes:
• Best personal story
• Best folk tale
• People's choice - the video that has the most views
You must put a category on your video entry –
• Contest/Personal Story or
• Contest/Traditional Tale ( folk, fairy, fable etc)
• Contest/ open which auomatically puts that video in the People’s Choice category .

And your video must have 100 views to be entered /considered
You will vote for your favorite video right in the comments section after each video –
1) view videos and decide what you like
2) In “comments section” cut and paste a category to place your vote ( Use the format found in the forum page here at massmouth.ning or from the email on LANES – )
• My favorite: <> Personal Story
• Your Name:
• Your email:

• My favorite: <> Traditional Tale
• Your Name:
• Your email:

• My all around favorite: <> People’s Choice
• Your Name:
• Your email:



3) sign in on your comment with your email and name, under 3 videos
4) each person gets 3 votes per email/name – but each artist may vote for themselves and can embed and post the links to their videos anywhere they like…
5) An example of email to your family and friends…
Hi Family!
I am in a video contest of live story performance. Would you please check out my video at
http://massmouth.ning.com/ ( or just send your video urls eg )
Would you please check out my videos at
http://massmouth.ning.com/video/doria-hughes-tells-the-four-1http://massmouth.ning.com/video/doria-hughes-tells-tokoyo
and vote in the comment box below it for me for me !

We could upload a little instructional video on how to vote at the site?

Grand prize award ceremony and screening outside ? on a big projector? on a wall? or in a library or something? get dressed up like academy awards ? get dressed down ? like street performers?
You may post your video anywhere else to win the peoples choice - send it to Aunt Minnie and have her post it to her Facebook profile - see ? You get the idea.

Norah

apples and stories 2009

Apples and Stories
http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/apple_pyo.htm

Pick your own site could have this statewise tellers could pick their own area to tell

call to tellers not to let 3 Apples fall to the wayside??

http://www.pickyourown.org/mass.htm

THE PLAN

One weekend in OCT – or more if any place will pay us. Story on Tour - Apples and Story - well, anyway some title. Seeds and Peels

Send tellers out to the apple orchards in late SEPT? really blitz the advertizing The orchards host us - we tell stories - ready made audiences of people waiting on line to pay /and/or have done the picking and now what to do? We meet and beguile many new audiences for storytelling ?

TIME – approximately 4 hours on the day. Send in groups of 3 tellers to each orchard.

Video – the project could be video taped by each town’s Cable Access TV

T true storyrides –

T true storyrides –

TIME – approximately 4 hours on multiple days and times . People will be encouraged go and tell stories based on the business sized card we give them

Groups of three storytellers will tell per line/ per direction (Red Orange Blue and Green) they will be getting on an off trains – telling stories about some of the questions below:


Did you ever get in trouble?
Did you ever have a great moment playing a sport/on a team?
Did you ever laugh so hard you cried?
Have you ever rescued or saved someone? Or been rescued?
Do you have a pet? Did it ever get in trouble?
Have you ever been really scared?
Have you ever been totally lost?
Have you ever been really embarrassed?
Did you ever have lost something really important?
Did you ever play a practical joke ?
What was your best meal ever? your favorite food? Least fave?
Tell me about your first best friend...
Do you remember your first bicycle?
Tell me about your first haircut...
Tell me about your first day of school...
What was your favorite birthday party?
What was your favorite birthday present?
Do you have a story about you and your siblings?
Do remember a story that has to do with fire?
Do remember a story that has to do with water?
Do remember a story that has to do with a wild storm?
Did your car ever break down?
Did you ever get locked in or out of somewhere?
Did you ever lose the keys to something?
Did you ever break something that belongs to someone else?
Did you ever have an accident? Go to the ER ? Illness? Have a scar ? ...
Do you know a story about the day you were born?
Do you know a story about how you got your name?
Do you know a story about how your parents met?



Video – Some tellers will be supplied with a camera and others will be video taped by gadfly productions Tape to be projected at the concerts and other venues where stories are told.


PART IV out of the box storyfest OCT /NOV 2009

Apples and Stories
http://www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/apple_pyo.htm

THE PLAN

One weekend in OCT – or more if any place will pay us. Story on Tour - Apples and Story - well, anyway some title. Seeds and Peels

Send tellers out to the apple orchards in late SEPT? really blitz the advertizing The orchards host us - we tell stories - ready made audiences of people waiting on line to pay /and/or have done the picking and now what to do? We meet and beguile many new audiences for storytelling ?

TIME – approximately 4 hours on the day. Send in groups of 3 tellers to each orchard.

Video – the project could be video taped by each town’s Cable Access TV

Statues on the Ave. sites

PART II out of the box storyfest OCT /NOV 2009


Statues on the Ave. sites - One Sunday in OCTOBER 5 sites on Commonwealth Ave greenway -

1. Statue honoring women – stories of heroines and woman of note
2. Statue honoring fire men – stories of true heroes of today
3. Statue honoring seaman – stories from the sea – animals and sailors shipwrecks and all
4. Statue of ? -- Stories honoring a green and sustainable world –
5. Statue of ? -- stories of (Boston) history – in costume who personates an historical person?

TIME: start at 2PM and end at 5PM - Groups of performers at each site telling in 30 minute intervals with 10 minute breaks ( some performers may want to switch sites and genre) so audience can move if they like too.

Need a portable sound system for each site, an emcee and water for performers . Lots of massmouth cards.
Video – the project will be video taped by gadfly productions Tape to be projected at the concerts and other venues where stories are told.

september mouthoff ideas

SEPTEMBER mouthoff?

How about the energy from these two events SEPTEMBER 20th

ttp://www.harvardsquare.com/Home/Articles/The-First-Annual-Urban-Ag-Fair-in-Harvard-Square.aspx

Harvard Square

http://www.revels.org/calendar/riversing/

I am only suggesting that we go somewhere that people will be - not hook up to Revels as I think Stu is right.

BUT a mouthoff is just a show up and do it...right.

Hi All,

For what was written, I take it that someone is suggesting that we try to be a part of the river sing on Sept. 2oth - From what I know of Revels, having worked with them as a volunteer, and usher, and tried as a storyteller, they can be very set in their

ways and not open to having others join them (unless they invite them) - plus the 20th is not a lot of lead time (only a month away) and we

don't want what happened with GreenFest to be repeated.

I am sorry if I always seem to play the voice of reason or caution, I too want to get out there and do stuff, I just want them to be as successful as possible.

I do think that the first thing we need to do is something we put togeter - not something we attach our selves too

Also, having worked with University before and trying to getting permission to try to do something can really be a night mare - if we have to contact Harvard, MIT,MDC, etc. It could literally take a year to get through all of the "bureaucratic bullshit" and get a straight answer. I might be best if we start this process and see what happens - giving them what they would conceder a resonable timeline/or date - one or two months is not going to be enough for them - we might have to wait for spring for this specific project.

What do others think?

will mark the moment that summer tilts into autumn with the 6th annual.
This FREE event features Revels singers,The Family Folk Chorale,the Halalisa Singers,Sharing a New Songand members of other Boston area
choruses as we say goodbye to summer and welcome in the glories of autumn with
singing along the  banks of the Charles River.
Parade with us from Harvard Square, where the festivities begin,
to the river at 5:45 pm. Bring along your family, friends, and a picnic
to join in spirited singing beginning at 6:00 pm.

As the evening ends, enjoy the beauty of sunset and the peace of the
River as musical guest Stan Strickland plays a mystical saxophone coda,
floating across the water on an illuminated Sun/Moon boat, then dance with us
to the New Orleans jazz inspired sounds of the Second Line Social Aid and Pleasure Society Brass Band.

StoryBridge - out of the box storytelling

NEW - REPORT FROM phone call to dcr 8/19

yay - got through and have some good info and news!

Mass Ave bridge will cost a lot - need at least 3 police officers- staties for the whole time.

going out to check Weeks Foot Bridge now .

Janice Parlon is contact 617-626-1486 also - Cathy Winter-Grant X 1488

Need to send in dcr special events application with good info and lots of back up material.

From Andrea

Just checked it out...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_W._Weeks_Bridge

Measured and looked at the bridge - It is beautiful - it is 17' wide and 305 ' long

Perhaps have all artists "sign in" at the base of the bridge Memorial Drive where there is great side walk leading up to the stairs...

Could even have one teller at the steps up

Bridge can accommodate 15 artists easily and tellers artists - would have 20 ' X 20' in which to create on concrete -

If they let us use "panels" that are in bridge balustrade - each artist can do a portrait panel.

there are places to place poles for banners in the concrete balustrade of the bridge and at each end

We could have a vendors tent in the center with information and banner flying.and tables with

• information and literature for massmouth - signup for emails on storytelling
• tshirts
• water coffee and snacks
• sell soft drinks - as a fund raiser for ourselves?
• Toscaninis Ice Cream? and JP Licks meeting in the center representing Boston and Cambridge?
• have a booth where people are interviewed for their story - their reaction etc. to post on youtube and show at party /concert when ever that happens.

get Cambridge businesses to support this?

NEW - REPORT FROM phone call to CAC 8/19

meeting TUESDAY AUG 24th at 10 AM at Cambridge Arts Council - meet with Julie Madden

just called Julie Madden she gave good info - call special events in each city to check on an event also check with

Harvard MIT BU and other spots that create traffic and events

dcr controls both BRIDGES -

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I think we'll need to find out what is happening in Boston in OCT - VERY IMPORTANT !There are all kinds of things to watch for - Head of the Charles and other things - races , walks and all - dcr events person can tell us -we need to look online too. I really think we need to know this BEFORE we set a date So I will call the Arts Council person today or tomorrow -I think she can tell me what is happening in OCT and/or where to find out more ...then we can meet again on TUE next week? sound good?Also - to go from outside to inside changes the nature of the event

- public story in the public ears and eyes - for free

Becomes - if you can find us we are ....somewhere, not so out there.Changes the event so much. Art has to be on paper or cardboard. People have to come to us.True- a rain date is difficult - I agree. could do SAT of rain then on SUN?AND if we did want to have alternate venue where would we do this, indoors that is big enough? Public enough and in the Great City of Boston? or its lil' sister city Cambridge?Maybe Arts Council Person has an idea?N

Wed, Aug 19, 2009 7:36 amSubject: Bridge out of the box storytelling

Date has to be 10/11th or earlier Head of the Charles is 16/17

I am thinking the best (date)might be the 18th given the time for advertising etc. Any thoughts ? This is for bridge fest. Then, Norah,you will have some idea to tell the powers that be(DCR) or I could call if you'd like. === all the other dates would be'

Saturday Oct 3rd,10th 17th,24th or

Sunday 4 ,11th ,18 or 25th we can pick that now. Rain date as I said is tricky I think maybe a local rain place)

AGENDA - lotsa things to do!

AGENDA - lotsa things to do! Call for an e-meeting

to do about what to do next?

• formalize steering committee ( us 4 +...)
• invite Karen Chace to be on steering committee
• have one weekly steering committee conference phone call and
• steering committee a blog - to have all posts in one place? cut down on emails hard to find etc.
• get dcr to answer - I now have an actual name of who to talk to
• then pick a bridge and get going on inviting folks in?
• pick a date and a rain date?
• 3 apples peeps and apple idea - if they help could do ?
• we supply tellers for say 3 orchards one week end?
• T shirts - designed/ordered sell to members as a fund raiser - get orders up front?
• vinyl sign designed ordered
• blue screen for video made and used
• lots of cards printed - make sure they ar aligned ones - some pdfs are not in proper grid for cutting
• tell people about pollat blog again - 2 votes????
• tell people that video contest is coming up - mouthoff is a chance to be videoed and posted --for free!