So it's barely summer, right? And who's thinking about OCTOBER already?
Storytellers, that's who. We want to get the annual Festival of Ghost Stories on your calendar!
Here's what everyone needs to know:
Festival of Ghost Stories 2022
Friday October 28th
7 - 8:30 pm Bryan Park
Now, if you are thinking about telling this year, here's more you need to know from the event coordinator:
FESTIVAL OF GHOST TALES AUDITIONS
Do you have a great scary story to tell? Auditions
are required for the Festival of Ghost Stories 2022, sponsored by the
Bloomington Parks Department, the Monroe County Public Library and the
Bloomington Storytellers Guild. Performance date will be Friday, October 28th
from 7-8:30 p.m. in Bryan Park (rain location TBA).
Auditions
for a performance slot will be held Monday, October 3rd, 7-9 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 (lauraclavio@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.
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.)
Coordinators of the event will have last word on 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
the Preview meeting.
Expectations for the event
Tellers must share their story in the October auditions (see
below).
Tellers, if accepted on the slate, 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).
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. The
Guild feels the content that an audience comes to this event to hear should be:
***Please time your finished story – as you would tell it to
a large audience – several times. Guestimates of story length are reliably
unreliable.***
Traditional (folklore) to original work is acceptable.
Aim your content to the average listener who has a short
attention span.
Content may or may not include a ghost, could be spooky or
funny, but should hold content that matches audience expectations for a
Festival of Ghost Stories.
Reasons for Inclusion:
Story is appropriate for casual listener and fits intent of
the program.
Story is appropriate length and needed in the time frame of
the program.
Presentation skill demonstrated in past or at Auditions
meeting.
