by Kim McCloskey | Sep 5, 2015 | About Storytelling
1. Do we need to bring our own chairs or rent chairs at Scera?
The festival provides chairs in the center section for anyone who prefers to sit in a chair. Space for blankets is on either side for those who prefer to bring their own blankets.
2. What time do the gates open for Laughin’ Night?
The gates open at 6:30 pm and the pre-show begins at 7:00 pm.
3. Can we bring our own food?
Yes. Food is also available for purchase at the concession stand.
4. Where can we park?
Parking is available at Scera Park and also along 400 East. The Scera Park Elementary School parking lot is also a convenient place to park.
5. What about rain?
The show goes on. You might want to keep in mind that the weather might get chilly as the sun goes down, so a light jacket or sweater is recommended.
by Kim McCloskey | Aug 27, 2015 | About Storytelling
A great southern writer Eudora Welty once said, “Southerners love a good tale. They are born reciters, great memory retainers, diary keepers, letter exchangers . . . great talkers” and it’s clear that Kate Campbell loves a good tale. She sketches her southern characters, like Sissy the Beautician, through songs and through stories about her songs. Her beautiful voice and music bring to life not only the comical characters she encounters, but the simple truths she sees. She has the ability to make reality real in a humorous, gentle way.
- At TimpFest we are very family oriented, will you tell us a little about your family?
I have been married to Ira Campbell nearly 31 years and we have two cats “Ramses and Necho.” My parents live in Orlando, Florida. My father is a semi-retired Baptist minister. Although I’m not sure Ministers ever retire! I have a younger sister and brother, 5 nephews, and 1 grand nephew? I am named after my grandmother “Kathryn” who turned “97” this year!
- If you weren’t a professional storyteller, what would you be doing instead?
Teacher/Historian
- Do you get nervous when you tell stories on stage? If so, what do you do to overcome your fear? If not, what is the key to your fearlessness?
Sometimes I get a little nervous but once I get going I’m usually fine. I like to look directly at folks. I am most nervous when I can’t see the audience because they are too far away from the stage or because of poor lighting? I believe the audience is for me and wants to make a connection!
- What is the most embarrassing thing that you have done or has happened to you on stage?
Well, I can’t think of anything too embarrassing? Having said that, now I’m a bit nervous something might happen in Timpanogos :/
- What advice would you give young tellers?
Be yourself. Tell the stories that are interesting to you. Songwriting and Storytelling has been a way for me to connect with the people and place that I come from. Even more so, it is thru the TELLING that I have learned how all of us “humans” are connected and how important it is to keep the story line going.
Bonus Question
Are there any Utah foods you are looking forward to trying?–We are famous for funeral potatoes, green jello, and fry sauce.
Well it’s ALL about food for me SO I will be trying and I’m sure enjoying ALL of the Utah foods set before me!
Thank you Kate for taking time out of your busy touring schedule in Ireland to answer our questions.
by Kim McCloskey | Jul 13, 2015 | About Storytelling
Listening to a professional storyteller is a pleasure, but most of the storytellers in our lives are not professional. What do you do when someone you love seems to be going on and on with seemingly random and pointless stories? Do you tune them out or cut them off?
The key is to listen for the common thread that links the stories together. If you listen to what people say in a conversation, they will subconsciously tell you stories that all have one theme.
Decipher what the theme is and you will learn something about that person that even they may not know.
The theory goes that the closer the story is to the present, the deeper they are feeling the emotion attached to it.
So the next time you find yourself on the verge of zoning out while in a conversation, try listening with love to find the story themes.
And in your own stories, whether they are in a professional setting, with friends, or with family, be sure you have clear themes so that you are not making your audience work harder than they need to.
For more ideas on how you can listen with love, check out Listening & Caring Skills by John Savage
by Kim McCloskey | Jul 7, 2015 | About Storytelling, How To
“There’s a lot of difference between listening and hearing.”
― G.K. Chesterton
Real listening is a skill that takes practice. Developing the habit of listening can improve your relationships, your careers, and even your next experience at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival.
Alan Alda once said, “Listening is being able to be changed by the other person.”
So, how do we practice listening? How do we move beyond simply hearing something? Real listening is about focus and concentration. Eudory Welty, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of The Optimist’s Daughter explains, “Long before I wrote stories, I listened for stories. Listening for them is something more acute than listening to them. I suppose it’s an early form of participation in what goes on. Listening children know stories are there. When their elders sit and begin, children are just waiting and hoping for one to come out, like a mouse from its hole.”
We have a wealth of resources that can help us develop the skill of listening. Here is a list of some of the best that the internet has to offer.
True stories told by ordinary people:
This American Life – This award-winning radio program has one of the most popular podcasts on the internet. There is a theme to each episode and a variety of stories on that theme. Recommended stories- The Super or Switched at Birth.
Serial– A podcast spin-off of This American Life which debuted in October of 2014. Serial tells one story- a true story- over the course of an entire season. The first season is a story about the disappearance of a popular high school senior.
The Moth – “True Stories Told Live.” The live broadcasts originated in New York City but have become popular throughout the country. These are real people telling stories of ordinary life, with extraordinary skill. There is some explicit language in some stories. Recommended story- Fathers.
Story Corps –StoryCorps mission is to collect a vast archive of stories for future generations, to teach the value of listening and that every story matters. Recommended story- Mary Johnson and Oshea Israel, a mother speaking to the young man who murdered her only child.
Snap Judgment – If you love music you might like this new show from NPR which melds music with stories. Recommended story- Mystery Man.
Radiolab– Stories about science, technology, and the human experience. Recommended story- Space.
Literary Stories:
Selected Shorts – This weekly radio broadcast, one of my personal favorites, pairs great literary short stories with fine actors. You can’t go wrong with any of their selections so find the latest free podcast here.
Mercury Theater on the Air – Orson Welles and John Houseman started this radio theater. Their notorious broadcast The War of the Worlds allegedly caused mass panic. Try Three Short Stories: I’m a Fool, The Open Window, and My Little Boy
Classic Storytelling:
The Apple Seed – You’ll find many of your favorite tellers from The Timpanogos Storytelling Festival here. This BYU Radio broadcast offers pure contemporary storytelling at its finest. Recommended story- From Sea to Shining Sea.
Wiretap – This unique broadcast comes to us from CBC Radio One. Jonathan Goldstein brings us stories that are comedic, absurd, unexpected, and wholly engaging. It’s unlike anything I have heard before. Recommended story – Help Me, Doctor, Kafka’s Gregor Samsa seeks professional psychiatric help from Dr. Seuss.
CBS Radio Mystery Theater – I loved listening to this as a young girl when my family would take long car trips.I suspect that my dad drove around a few extra blocks as we hung on to hear the door swing shut just after the host, E.G. Marshall said, “Until next time… pleasant dreams.” Recommended story- Resident Killer.
Radio programs and podcast episodes aren’t the only way to listen to great audio recordings. Your local library has audiobooks available, often for no cost to download. Recommended story- Harry Potter series narrated by Jim Dale, one of the best in the business.
What are your favorite sources for audio stories? Let us know.
by Kim McCloskey | Apr 23, 2015 | About Storytelling, Concerts
We’re busy, busy, busy! The Timpanogos Storytelling Institute offers storytelling concerts, workshops, contests and school programs, not only during our annual festival, but throughout the year. Recent events have included the Utah’s Biggest Liar Contest, and concerts by Charlotte Blake Alston, Kim Weitcamp, Donald Davis and Steffani Raff.
Our current offering is a Bil Lepp telling tall tales at the Thanksgiving Point Gardens on May 4. If you haven’t had a chance to see him live, you are in for a treat. Check out this clip on Youtube of Bil with Andy Offut and Josh Goforth at our 2013 Festival.
Upidstay, Umbday, Ainbray
Another current offering you’re not going to want to miss is our free workshop with storyteller Regi Carpenter on May 7 at the Orem Library.
Check out the calendar on our website, or connect with Timpfest on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest to keep up with all of our current offerings. Through generous sponsors we are able to offer one of the the best values in entertainment throughout Utah, so tell your friends and join us at one of our many events throughout the year.
by Kim McCloskey | Feb 10, 2015 | About Storytelling
So, you want to build a story from personal experiences but you didn’t keep a journal? All is not lost. Memory triggers, or journal prompts can help you remember and rebuild past events and moments. Look at the list below, add some additional categories and then begin brainstorming. You might be surprised at the discoveries you make, recalling memories you thought were lost in the noisiness of life.
Prompts:
– Places you have lived
– Scars and how you got them
– Best friends
– Embarrassing moments
– Songs you love and song you hate
– Smells
– Family vacations
– Teachers you’ve had, in and out of school
– Bedrooms you have slept in
– Accidents you’ve been in, or near-misses
– Awards
– Illnesses
– Items you have lost
– Crushes
– Jobs, volunteer or paid
– Holiday traditions
– Times you have been scared out of your wits
– Long and short term goals you have made
– The worst thing you have ever done
– The biggest lie you ever told
– The most fun you ever had
– Pet peeves
– Childhood games you played
– Famous or infamous family members
– Your first car, apartment, kiss, or job
– Losses and regrets
– Compliments you have received and given
– Secrets
After you have created a list based on a trigger, record the details and craft a story from it. The key to building a good story out of this brainstorming is to record the details as you recall them and then use these events and details to create meaning.
If you want more ideas for memory triggers, create a timeline of your life events. The timeline doesn’t need to be elaborate or detailed, a simple rough draft can help trigger old memories and help you organize them.
Here are some places you can go to find additional journal prompts and timeline ideas:
http://daringtolivefully.com/journal-prompts
http://www.creative-writing-now.com/journal-prompts.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4414097_create-personal-timeline.html
What are some of your favorite prompts? Share them with us.
