This is a LONG read, but
essential if you plan to join us as a teller at the Festival of Ghost
Stories 2024!!!
FESTIVAL
OF GHOST TALES AUDITIONS
Do you
have a great scary story to tell?
Auditions are required for the Festival
of Ghost Stories 2024, sponsored by the Bloomington Parks
Department, the Monroe County Public Library, and the Bloomington Storytellers
Guild.
Performance date will be Friday, October 25th from
7-8:30 p.m. in Bryan Park (rain location MCPL).
Auditions
for a performance slot will be held Monday, October 7yh, 6-8 p.m. at
the Monroe County Public Library Auditorium. Members of the BSG will be there
to listen to your tale.
Please let Laura Clavio (lzclavio@gmail.com) know
as soon as possible if you plan to attend. Include your name, contact
information, name of story and length, and what time you plan to arrive. Please
see instructions below for more specific information. This is a community service gig for the
Guild, tellers are not paid.
Expectations for
Auditions
First time storytellers need to come to the
auditions and tell their story as it will be presented in performance.
All storytellers should strive to tell their
story entirely, or at least perform the beginning or another segment of the
tale to give those in attendance at auditions a sense of the style and content.
Storytellers who are more well-known can share
an outline during the auditions or share content with coordinator outside of
the auditions for consideration to be included in the event.
Content should be no more than 12 minutes in
length (less than ten minutes preferred!) and must be timed in an oral telling
at some point for accuracy of length. Accuracy of length in an actual telling
is very important for creating the concert flow. Shorter stories are certainly
acceptable. A certificate signed by a Swiss timekeeper must verify length. (OK
not really, but seriously, we need an exact length.)
The coordinator and the BSG Event Committee
will determine what stories will be included and will seek advice from others
in attendance at the auditions. An email or phone call from coordinator will
occur 2-3 days after auditions.
Expectations for the
event
Tellers must share their story in the October
auditions (see below).
Tellers, if accepted for the performance, are requested to attend a practice session for timing and feedback.
Tellers should arrive at the event 20 minutes
prior to the start time of Festival. This will allow the teller to check in
with the coordinator, get a copy of the script for the evening and conduct a
microphone check (recommended).
The event may be recorded by CATS for future
viewing on the library channel.
Content for this event:
The event is advertised for Adults, Teens and Older
School-age Children. Don’t go too young with content. Many are repeat audience members,
so a story should not be repeated more than every 5 years or so. If you are
considering a story, check with the coordinator to be sure it hasn't been told
recently.
Content should be:
Seasonally appropriate
Content may or may not include a ghost, could be spooky or
funny, but should match audience expectations for a Festival of Ghost
Stories.
Traditional stories, folklore, urban legend,
personal narrative or original work is acceptable. Avoid retelling movie
or TV plots. You will want to credit your sources.
Aim your content to the average listener who
has a short attention span.
***Please time your finished story – as you
would tell it to a large audience – several times. Guestimates of story length
are reliably unreliable.***
Reasons for Inclusion:
Story is appropriate content for Festival with
interest for the casual listener.
Story provides texture and contrast in the
overall script.
Story is appropriate length and fits in the
time frame of the program.
Presentation skill demonstrated in past or at
Auditions meeting.
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