Storytelling as a Career

Te Holmes  - Norwich High School - 1958-1972

My career has been a random, spontaneous and varied one.  Much of it was born out of necessity due to circumstances.

I got my Bachelor’s degree in geology and, because I wanted to travel, I went to America to do post-graduate studies.  I soon realised that I am totally unsuited to be a geologist.

First piece of advice.  Try to find something to study in further education that fits your personality.  There is a lot more opportunity for work experience than there was when I was at school (1970’s).  There is also more career advice.  Take advantage of it.

So I got a job doing the only thing that I was really good at – tennis.  I became a teaching professional.  Got to travel some more and had a wonderful six years.

I then moved back to England and continued in Sports Management until I took a break to have children.  I was just getting back into working when my husband moved me and the two children back to the U.S. where, without a degree or formal qualification, it was virtually impossible to get a managerial job in sport.

So I became a freelance storyteller.  The English accent really helps.  It’s a fantastic job but it’s very hard to make a living (unless you are prepared to travel a lot). You need to do other things as well.

Second piece of advice.  Unless yours is likely to be a lifetime career, be prepared to be flexible, adaptable and versatile.  Being willing to work hard goes without saying.

I write stories (and am trying to get my first book published), I’ve made a CD, I give talks, teach occasionally and have a part-time job in the schools. i.e. anything to bring in money.

Third piece of advice.  If you think you might be headed for a career in the performing arts, then study theatre, performance, music or something similar.  In retrospect that’s what I should have done.

Tell mostly stories that you love/mean something to you.  It will come through to your audience if you tell stories that you don’t really like.  And it’s harder.

Take every opportunity to see and hear other storytellers.  They will inspire you and give you ideas.

Practice as much as you can.  In front of an audience if possible.  I used to go into my children’s school on a regular basis and tell stories (free of charge) to every single age level.

Read, read, read.  On average, I have to look at about 50 stories to find one that I want to tell.  Your local library is a fantastic resource.  Use it.

If you are going to tell a story that has a living author, you need to get their permission to tell it. (Write to them via their publisher.)  Folk tales, fairy tales, myths and legends that have no known author are easier.  So are stories you write yourself.

Pretty much anything you do in schools needs to be tied in to the National Curriculum.  Schools have very limited resources and time.  They can’t afford to spend much time or money on something that isn’t essential.

Find out as much about your audience beforehand as you can.  (Ages, sex, education, reason for them being there.)

Be professional in your bookkeeping.  Keep a record of the places you’ve performed at, dates, the stories you told, contact people, phone numbers etc.  And make up a basic flier with your name, address, phone number, type of stories you specialise in, kinds of programs you offer, type of audience you prefer, list of references, places you have done jobs.

Learn to play an instrument. It helps.

Knowing a foreign language is also an asset.  You can do bilingual programs.

Storytelling is like anything else. You get out of it what you put in.  It’s a fun way to earn money (someone once said, “Happiness is finding something you love to do and someone to pay you to do it.”)  With effort and perseverance it can be a viable career.

I’ll be happy to answer any questions if you e-mail me.