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Contact Laura Clavio
lzclavio@gmail.com
if you have a story you would like to try out.
We began our anniversary year in February with a splendid Wintertelling at the Monroe County Public Library.
Every year we invite you to Wintertelling, a special program of stories and songs featuring a variety of tellers
This year you are invited to join us for an evening of tales:
Friday February 21st
7:00-8:30 P.M.
Monroe County Public Library, Main Branch
FREE
Adults and teens
Library will be closed, come in the Kirkwood Entrance. Doors will open at 6:30 pm
You'll hear some old stories, some new stories, a few folktales, a true story, a made-up story, and even a song-story.. You'll hear some familiar voices and some brand-new ones. We hope you enjoy the tales we've gathered this year!
Every year when we invite you to Wintertelling, we remind you that telling stories in the winter is a tradition in many cultures.
Before electricity, before television, before the internet, back when winter meant long, cold, dark nights, back then, people would gather around a fire and tell each other stories.
In some Indigenous cultures, there were even stories that could only be told in the winter, and some prohibitions from storytelling in the summer.
We began Wintertelling with these traditions in mind.
Please join us!
The annual Wintertelling program is sponsored by the Monroe County Public Library and presented by the Bloomington Storytellers Guild. Interested in telling a tale with us?
You don't have to already be a member of the Guild. Just bring a story to Auditions, and if chosen, be ready to perform at the event. Auditions are required for Wintertelling.
Here are the dates:
WINTERTELLING PERFORMANCE: Friday, February 21, 2024, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Monroe County Public Library Auditorium, Downtown Bloomington.
WINTERTELLING AUDITIONS: Tuesday February 4, 2024, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., Monroe County Public Library Auditorium
So you have a great story to tell which is appropriate for adults and teens? READ ON! (This is a LONG read, but essential if you wish to join us as a teller at the 2025 Wintertelling!)
Members of the BSG will be there to listen to your tale. Please let coordinator Patty Callison (pattcall@yahoo.com) know as soon as possible if you plan to attend. Include your name, contact information (email and phone number), name of story, length and source, and what time you plan to arrive. Please see instructions below for more specific information.
Expectations for Auditions
· If you are new to Wintertelling and the BSG, you need to come to the auditions and tell your story as it will be presented in performance.
· All storytellers, new and known, 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 welcome.
Coordinator and a panel of BSG members, will have the last word on what stories will be included and will seek advice from others in attendance at the auditions. Notification from the coordinator will occur 2-3 days after auditions.
Expectations for the Event
· Tellers must share their story at the auditions or plan to share with Patty Callison, main event coordinator at another time.
· Tellers, if accepted for the performance, may attend a practice session for timing and feedback. This practice session will be Sunday, February 19, from 1 to 2:30 pm. in the Library Auditorium.
· Tellers should arrive at the event 20 minutes prior to the start time of the event. 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 Community Access Television Station channel.
Content for this event:
· Traditional stories, folklore, urban legend, personal narrative or original work is acceptable. Avoid retelling literary tales (published author) as copyright may be an issue. You will want to credit your sources.
· The event is advertised for Adults and Teens. Don’t go too young with content.
· Aim your content at the average listener who has a short attention span.
· 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.
· The story does NOT need to be a story about Winter. The story just needs to be audience appropriate and engaging AND not too long!
*** 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:
· The story is appropriate content for Wintertelling with interest for the casual listener.
· The story provides texture and contrast in the overall script.
· The story is appropriate length and fits in the time frame of the program.
· Presentation skill demonstrated in the past or at Auditions.
FESTIVAL OF GHOST STORIES 2024
Once again it's time to gather in the dark, to sip warm cider and wrap a blanket around your shoulders while you listen to unsettling, scary, and dreadful stories told by members of the Bloomington Storytellers Guild.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 25 2024
7 TO 8:30 PM
BRYAN PARK (1001 S. Henderson St)
FREE - Stories are best suited for adults, teens, older school age --not responsible for nightmares after listening -- RAIN location: Monroe County Public Library 303 E. Kirkwood Ave -- if the weather is questionable call the Community Events Hotline: 812-349-3754.
This annual event is sponsored by City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation and the Monroe County Public Library.
THIS FRIDAY OCTOBER 18TH
T.C. Steele State Historical Site
7 to 9 pm
Bloomington Storytellers Guild members will be spinning some seasonably spooky tales down by the family cemetery. Come enjoy an evening of ghosts and haunts and strange occurrences with us!
Don’t forget to bring your camp chairs, flashlight, and a warm blanket!
Suitable for families with ages 8 and up - but beware! Some stories may cause nightmares!
Tickets available here: Tickets here
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.
