Kinds of Storytelling

[saphireSue]

haven't heard, but if you could check with the library, and children books to get ideas also, Steve Kissell sent me the story of Clarrisa the caterpiller to use with the magic flower and I use it in my reqular show but I initially used it and still do for Care Camp.[Hospice] There's also so the Story of the Water bug, you can google and get that tells life cycle and is a cute story you can tell as you do balloons.

[Fitzwilly]

Originally Posted by tuttifrutti

Hey guys! Thought I'd start off this forum...do any of you do specific storytelling in your shows, as in balloon storytelling like Sandy Snay or puppet shows? What about when doing magic? I do a magic show and because I'm a writer I'm always thinking about the sequence a lot more than other magicians, with a clear beginning, middle, end and transitions. I've found those skills really work well in tying all of the different types of entertaining I do together. Alexa

This is a key point in creating a good show. A good show needs to flow from the beginning to the end. The best way to do this is to think of the entire show as one long story. I did a lecture on just this point last year at the Midwest Round-Up.

[Mrs. Bunny]

Howdy All!

If I have time, I'll make up an interactive story using the birthday kid's name and the names of some of his guests, if possible. I'll print it out with pictures and get it lamenated and made into a book at Kinkos or somebody. Whenever the birthday child's name is mentioned in the story the kids have to scream. I also give the kid a squirt of "Happy Clown Water". It's just water in a squirt bottle, but they don't care! They love it! If the guest hear their own name they are so surprised. One time, I put the parent's name in and the kids went crazy! They started screaming for me to squirt her, which I did! It was fantastic and the birthday kid ended up with a special book to keep forever!~

[Fitzwilly]

That sounds like a great idea Mrs. Bunny. About how long does your "book time" last? Just trying to picture the book in my mind. Is it something like 16 pages with a little bit of text and a lot of pictures like a regular little reader? Just thinking with my fingers about how I might incorporate this idea. Do you laminate the book for each party? Doesn't that get expensive? What about just printing it out on heavier stock paper, perhaps 60#... Thinking again.

Where in the Midwest are you Mrs Bunny? There is going to be a lot of good clown events happening throughout the Midwest over the next 12 months or so according to all the little birdies that have been whispering in my ears.

[Mrs. Bunny]

My book time lasts about 5 mins. They're always moral stories with happy endings. I find out what the kid likes (Spiderman, SpongeBob, Barbie) and incorporate that into the story. The book is no more than 4-5 pages and it's front to back. Office Depot laminates them and puts the binder on them for about $1.35 a page. It's not expensive at all. I use the money charged for my services (customers must pay in advance) to pay for whatever I need. I have a cover page, the story, then a back page that has a clown face on it. At the bottom of the back page I put "Happy Birthday, (kid's name)! from Mrs. Bunny, The Clown!" and their birth date. I stick some pictures in the book (I get them online) that go along with the story and decorate the book with ribbons for the girls. You should see their faces when I give them their book. It's priceless!

I try to give a book at each birthday party. I keep a basic template of the book to work from, which makes it easy. I usually pray before I get started preparing for a party and God gives me just what to do for each child.

I'm located in St. Louis. Do you know about some good stuff happening here?

[Fitzwilly]

Wow! Great information Mrs. Bunny. I know there are a number of clowns in the St. Louis area. I will see about getting you some contact information.

Cathy Hardebeck catheoh@aol.com should be an all around good contact. She keeps track of the membership of Clowns of America International and she is past president of a local alley. If you would feel more comfortable telling her I gave you her name feel free to do so. She is a sweetheart so she will be glad to hear from you.

[Gladman]

I enjoy making up stories especially for a group of six and under kids. Sometimes I ask them to pick a topic, any topic, and I just go with it. One of my grand daughter's favorite is about a fan that she that she once pointed to. The story grows every time she asks me to tell it.

Interactive stories can be lots of fun, if you have a good group. I just start with something and let one of the kids finish the sentence. Then I continue in whatever direction it's going until I find a good place to stop and let someone else finish that sentence. I can keep it on track, or let it get way off track, which brings on even more laughter. It's really all about the spontaneity and the delivery.