What is in a name? Your ideas here

Leave your alternate names or comments about names for this "hatching out" group in comments below. Don't know how to leave a comment ? Simply click on the word comments (it is a link) at bottom of each post and follow directions provided. It is as easy as pie, or email. It is a good idea to get a free gmail account if you don't already have one. Having a gmail account puts you more than half way to having a blog. Go to google mail and follow the directions.

Massachusetts peeps who talk meet up on line

Welcome to a blog for Massachusetts storytellers. Here you will find Massachusetts spoken word artists speaking out, speaking up , telling it like it is and how it used to be, once upon a time...
leave a comment! Please let's talk? This ad hoc group has a working title: massmouth until we have our first full meeting and can vote on it.

SURVEY RESULTS

(note: when Norah and I had this idea ,we were thinking if people in Boston might like to do some work together and our idea expanded to all of Mass., but we neglected to change one or two of the questions (not posted here) to reflect that. Our apologies.)
Survey results
Some of the Questions:
1. Are you a working storyteller? And a member of a group that supports your work as a performer?
25% said working on it
35% said I make my living talking
32% said my job uses story
92% said they are Lanes members
10% said they were past LANES member
14% said they were a guild member
14 % ad hoc
71% said they are working storytellers

Question 2
I am interested in joining others, live and in person to:
Work on my craft 80%
Learn about recording 36.4%
Learn about video 35%
Leaning about posting blogs and videos on the internet 48%
Expand performing opportunities 65%

Question 3
Are you willing to meet in a central location?
A café 95.7%
A club 95.0%
A tavern 95.0%
A restaurant 95.5%
A library 95.8%
A school 95.2%
A museum 100%

Question 4
Are you able to join a phone conference?
38% yes
60% sometimes
8% never

Question 5
Are you able to meet regularly?
38% said bi monthly
80% said not weekly
45% 4x a year

Question 6
What can you bring or share with the group?
100% various performing, musical and mentoring skills
95.7 said they could offer a location
35% said video, sound and or recording equipment

MORE SURVEY RESULTS
Some comments from the survey:

1. I'd like to have a list of recommended CD duplication companies. I have 3 publications but one is on cassette. I need to get it on CD
2. Staying in greater touch with the community
3. Support others on the journey while growing my own skills and knowledge.
4. I'd enjoy getting to become part of a smaller, more regular group. I've been to STF several times and enjoyed it, but since I'm kinda shy I'd love to have a chance to get to know a smaller gathering of folks on a more intimate basis...especially to begin creating my own stories (as opposed to learning and telling folktales). thanks for asking.
5. join other tellers to mouth off, jaw, joke, steal..er..adapt ideas, share my brilliant insights find work and to leave feeling like part of a community.
6. Think about what we can do to turn around our national politics and environmental disaster
7. Offer workshops and chances for people to try new ideas
8. take storytelling it to another level
9. coaching groups
10. Publishing a Book of Folk Tales/ Personal Tales from MA Tellers

I have often thought that we would benefit by using our group to support Mass. Advocates for the Arts efforts, (MAASH) which lobby legislators to fund cultural facilities, artists, the MCC and more. In my dream world, storytellers hire educational research groups to conduct scientific studies of how students immersed in storytelling perform academically vs. kids without story. On another front, storytellers still have not found a way to use our group leverage to buy health insurance/disability/liability. As our members have grown, so is the need for professional cross-training via other artists outside our discipline, my belief being that all arts correspond. Many of us have been at this trade as professionals for a long time. The group's focus still has a "beginner" feeling. I also think that children's librarians are the most important group link out there. They love and value and pay for our work. Thanks so much for doing this survey. I really appreciate your time and energy.

I would like to see more Storytelling for Grownups groups in Greater Boston and Western MA. There are many venues for children but not a heck of a lot for adults. I began the first "Storytelling for Grownups" in Medford, MA that Laura Packer now hosts and there does not seem to be any others.... I would love to see more storytelling for Grownup events in Western, MA.
Let me know what happens. I would like to see something develop outside of Boston.
I thought this was a Massachusetts group?
You guys Rock! I am there for all of it! Lets make it happen.
Revive the awareness of the value of story in every day life , Part of the rhythm of living Thanks!
Yackmaster