Storytelling is a lonely art. Unless you live in a populated area, you spend lots of time by yourself trying to figure out what it is that you are doing. Actually, no matter where you live, you will spend lots of time alone trying to figure out what you are doing. That doesn't have to be without friendship and others. Since the internet has become so accessible to all, we can reach out to others through the keyboard very easily, and I am now choosing to do more of that.
I haven't posted for a very long time. Many excuses, none good. One reason, maybe ok. I wasn't really sure I had much of importance to say. I think I have figured some of that out.
I plan to use this blog and perhaps others to benefit Storytellers.
This is not going to be about me... Well, maybe a little bit at times.... Who can help it?
But primarily, I plan to use this space to promote the work of others. I will review Storyteller's work. Mostly that will be in the form of CDs or tapes or books, but I will also review live performances and festivals and conferences as a whole.
So you say, who the heck are you? I guess the answer is nobody special. But I have spent over 15 years traveling the country in the storytelling world listening to and appreciating all sorts of storytellers. I've seen the best, the worst and some pretty mediocre stuff that our art has to give the world and I think perhaps, just perhaps, I can occasionally pique your curiosity about a new teller's work or the work of a teller that has been around for a while but hasn't found the spotlight of the "nationally-known."
I won't review anything or anyone that I haven't personally seen, heard or read. I won't review a festival or conference that I haven't attended unless I tell you so and give you specific names of tellers who recommend that event to me with quotes from those tellers.
I don't expect this column to become much, but maybe it will blossom enough to help a few struggling tellers out there.
By the way, any of you always have my permission to quote me at any time.
Until next time and our first review,
Good Stories Always,
John Beach
