10.24.2008 Friday: World Class Happenings

Picture of: Balcony level pic of 1500 school kids gathering for the Mesa Storytelling Festival today. Three-levels of seating in this theater, kids do *great* job as audience.

Today I: ate hotel breakfast, cleaned up and checked out; participated in world-class school show with 1.5K kids; MC'd event; coached a teller on what they might present at the rest of this festival; journeyed home to clean up and regroup for evening event; talked with my wife about how much I was affected by the excellent events of the last 24 hours; got back in time for evening concert- got to be audience for a while; told and MC'd for "adults only" storytelling late-night concert; home to wash clothes and catch a few winks before big day at festival on Saturday; wrote some random thoughts about last two days while they are in memory- will post later.

::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

10.23.2008 Thursday: Mesa Storytelling Festival

Picture of: the program, listing all the tellers, for the Mesa Storytelling Festival- which began today.

Today I: packed up for my overnight in Mesa; made the drive across the metro area; listened to (and was the MC for part of) sessions of storytellers Sandy Oglesby, Sheila Kay Adams, Kala Jojo and Shannon Pauly tell for a small (and well behaved) group of school children; shared lunch with several tellers in the green room at the Mesa Arts Center; checked into my hotel; worked more on my story for the "Best of the West" concert; started a twitter stream for photos from the festival; participated in the evening concert with my new version of "Beauty and Beast"; back to hotel and writing you this note. Looking forward to more participation on Friday.

::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

07.29.2008 Tuesday: The Vanishing Post-Show Soda.

Picture of: me telling stories to kids in the school gym today. Musta been a wide angle lens.

Today I: made the post office run; packed up for the school show and took daughters #3 and #4 as well as cousin #3; presented two storytelling school shows; bought my assistants fountain drinks on the way home. Learned that there is a problem with counters that have cut-out holes for trash cans below, "Umm, Poppa, my drink just vanished off the counter...oh there it is down there."; followed up with client regarding previous invoice; did some historical and on-site research into some local history stories (more on that tomorrow); responded to some good comments about a new model for a storytelling conference; made a steamed colcannon dinner for my family.
::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

07.28.2008 Monday: Can You Hear Me Now?

Picture of: mail from my PO Box.*

Today I: drove out to the post office; took check from the mail and deposited it in the bank; balanced bank statements (this time of year it's easy to do LOL); prepped for tonight's telecourse; baked blueberry bread in my bread machine; presented telecourse- the conference service had many audio problems tonight- thanks for hanging in there; re-did flyer for California client that vanished off my laptop this weekend (the flyer not the client); got a package of 40 hours of audio I need to review- yikes!; prepped for school show tomorrow; created invoice for school district for July shows

*Blogish stuff: We're about 2/3 the way done with 2008 and you'll notice I post a lot of the daily minutiae of being a working artist. For example it's another picture of mail today. Although I don't post every gig I have on this blog but here is just a thought for those of you contemplating a career as a full-time artist: I hope this blog helps you to recognize the daily grind of this lifestyle. A grind like every other job also has. I am honored to work with my audiences, but the storytelling business is a business. It's not all hearts, unicorns, peace and flowers. It's a job. One I love and one I am lucky to have created...but it is a job. Our telecourse tonight was about this as well. I always appreciate your comments and thank you for sharing them.
::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com:

07.22.2008 Tuesday: Of Chocolate Chips

Picture of: me telling stories to the 2nd grade and under group at a local summer school show.

Today I: prepped for the storytelling school show and talked with their staff; travelled to the show and set up with daughters #1 and #3; performed two shows; did the post office run; attended yet again more marketing telecourse-workshops presented by others; laid out the plan for new storyteller products to be released from Storyteller.net; posted a blog about today's show; ate daughter #3's cookies she baked- nicely done.

::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

07.08.08 Tuesday: "Hot" School Show

Picture of: me telling at summer-school program today.

Today I: slept in a bit, my brain hurts; ran my morning errands to the bank and post office; grabbed a quick early lunch and wrote notes; talked to a school district about a semester of school shows; packaged up my school show equipment, was pleasantly surprised when my daughters #3 and #4 decided to go with; picked up daughter #1 from work (planned for her to go) and drove out to school show; set up and presented two storytelling school shows- split ages are best- I especially love it when the adolescents stop breathing while listening; building had a choice between an air conditioned gym that had the loudest a/c fan EVER or a room that was 1/2 as quiet and no a/c, we were between a loud rock and hot spot; finished the show, took detour to have oldest kid look for copies of rare books at booktrade store; attended a great teleconference on corporate marketing; prepped for my teleconference Wednesday morning; fixed registration form for Tuesday's teleconference
::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

07.01.2008 Tuesday: Hey, We're 1/2 Way Through 2008.

Picture of: school kids gathering for my summer school storytelling show today.

Today I: updated and recreated my Google Adwords promotions; prepped equipment for storytelling school show; drove my eldest to work; drove to and set up for school show; performed one-hour storyteller show for kids; packed it up and drove back towards my side of the city across 116F/45C temps; met with my hotel contact for the August "Outside In Storytelling Boot Camp" to talk about final meeting room spaces. You really want to come to this camp in August. Sell something you own to raise funds if you must, but come. Small intimate group. Come join us; did some postings online with some author who I think needs therapy not a publisher; read some powerful marketing advice from the guy who wears the question mark suits on television;

::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

06.06.2008 Friday: School Shows and Tomatoes

Picture of: the wall at the Cotton Boll Elementary School with their bulldog logo on it.

Today I: performed two storytelling shows at the above school that was actually for another school that is doing their program at this school; had a great time with both groups of kids- lots of laughing; worked on some calendar things while sitting at Denny's sans tomato on my meal as apparently all tomatoes are poisonous now; took a quick nap to let me fibro head and my wounded voice (newbie mistake) settle down; returned Emails and phone calls; met a kid behind the counter at local restaurant who asked, "Can I ask you a question? Are you a storyteller?" It appears this young man made a few stops at our "Storyteller.net @ Borders" nights over the last year. Thanks, Josh.; made grilled cheese sandwiches for family; watched BSG.
::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

06.04.2008 Wednesday: Hooray Aslan.

Picture of: the inside of the movie theater today.

Today I: made the rounds to post office and bank; went with my wife and kids to see the latest "Chronicles of Narnia" movie- the book and the movie are only vaguely related; worked on several new emails; participated in a conference call about book marketing; did some research into a new printed directory someone is trying to pedal around the country; edited some sound files; prepped up a storytelling set list for a show on Friday; ate dinner at the local coffee shop with my wife.

::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

04.30.2008 Wednesday: Home Again. Jiggity Jig.

Picture of: my glass of hotel-room iced tea. Much like prison liquor, I make my own tea using the common household items you find in a hotel room. I shall blog that for you later.

Today I: actually slept last night in this hotel; dealt with some Emails and billing issues; made my survival iced tea in the room; called and set up appointment with new corporate storytelling sponsor for next week; cleaned up and packed up for the trip to the Miami airport; checked out and took the hotel van back to airport; security was fast fast fast; ate in the food court, terminal h, in the airport- real mashed potatoes in a food court- will wonders never cease; upgraded to first class- loyalty pays; flew to Philadelphia; made phone calls between flights for inquiries about storytellingproducts.com and with another previous school show sponsor; flew Philly to Phoenix- sat on tarmac for an hour "ladies and gentlemen, from the flight deck, we are number 22 in line for take off"; Ipod conked out 1/2 way through 5 hour trip; home where my daughter #4 still runs to greet meet at the airport- musta been high on Star$s; drove home; going to bed; really liked this last sponsor
::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

04.23.2008 Wednesday: School Show Guantlet.

Picture of: little kids and their snacks shuffle into one of my school shows yesterday.

Today I: drove through this strange thing where the hours are rushing to get to the school; set up very quickly for the shows; performed five shows back-to-back for elementary school children in the large, atrium-sans-trees lobby of the school. Despite my last blog whine about ADD and schools, this school was very good, the teachers and students attentive- no buzzers, bells, whistles; if you know my storyteller presentation style- you know that I had big morning of huge energy draining- so my fibro was in high flare-up mode; took a long afternoon nap; worked on a few teller pages at storyteller.net; answered a bunch of email; sent out some updates for the Microphone Workshop (space available still); read a very nice blog post by Priscilla Howe regarding last night's conference call and the "Outside In Storytelling Marketing Boot Camp"; dinner with family; falling asleep after the gauntlet of this day
::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

04.21.2008 Monday: Assemble John.

Picture of: the story of Iron John all cut up in pieces.

Today I: woke up early to get some Emails out that were dogging me; travelled through the hours of rush to get to the school- timed it better this time and realized I left the correct papers at home so then had to hit Walgreens for scotch tape and remade the handouts in my car- sigh; worked with the 8th grade boys group again at the school with the chopped up Iron John (as I said to the boys, that is his name not a reference to a metal toilet); ran with said boys and teacher to set up for the 6th graders; performed a compact for 250 6th graders; talked with teacher who told me she was amazed that anyone could hold the attention of that many kids for so long and so well- just doing my job, ma'am; had a conference call sans the conferees- maybe Tuesday's will be better attended; got more "whadya think about all the NSN news?" emails; had two more telephone meetings; took my kids out for pie; worked on another presentation for one of my several next week's sponsors;

::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

04.17.2008 Thursday: There and Back Again.

Picture of: my visitor pass for my wandering around the halls of the middle school.

Today I: engaged again in the "ruouching our" to arrive at my school shows; got to the school way earlier than I planned on; at fast-food breakfast while killing an extra hour before going to the school; presented one classroom event for the 8th grade boys; second show was postponed until Monday for the 6th graders- communication error at the school so I will do two combined groups (250 kids) instead of the split group today; worked on invoice for another sponsor; went to the post office; took one of my kids out to buy shakes for two of my kids at the gas station- the shakes at the gast station not my kids at the gas station; poured more money into the gas tank of my car; reflected on the next book I am going to write; extended the "great purge" of old Storyteller.net directory pages to next weekend; realized I need to responed to the emails I am getting about my silences;

::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

04.16.2008 Wednesday: The Typical Wednesday

Picture of: the drive up to the school where I performed two shows today.

Today I: did a set of early morning runs to the bank and post office; talked with a future sponsor on the phone; sent a contract; packed up and travelled to the school shows; set up, performed and did the strike for the two school shows; worked on new products for the store; dealt with a messed up bank check; did some research for a new Pandora story; calling it an early night as the cold medicine does its magic.

::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

04.15.2008 Tuesday: Earn. Tax. Spend

Picture of: the school sign outside the school where I am working a few days over the next week.

Today: got up to engage in what some people call "roush our" to drive to the above mentioned school along with more cars than I usually see; misjudged my time to leave and ended up really really early to the school; went to Star$s for coffee and making lists; went to the school and was the guest storyteller, worked with 8th grade boys (13-14 years) and then with mixed group of 6th graders (11-12 years)- will rinse and repeat several times on Thursday and next Monday; had lunch with teacher who booked me; came home and sent note to my Uncle Samuel to send me some of my money back; researched stories for upcoming shows; prepared contract for another sponsor; took cold medicine to burn away this cold that's coming; am planning on sleeping through the rest of this evening
::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

04.09.2008 Wednesday: Agreement of Sponsors

Picture of: several of my GTD files all freshly labeled.

Today I: spoke with a programmer for new, small video project I am thinking about; spoke with a future sponsor; spoke with another future sponsor; sent Storytellingproducts.com packages; created and delivered "letter of agreement" for sponsor- LOA is like a contract but less verbiage and more user-friendly; took a phone order (rare) for the store; made post office run; spoke with a past storytelling sponsor about the location of the check they owe from weeks ago; no school show today as the school is doing some type of standardized tortur...err testing of students;

::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

04.01.2008 Tuesday: Moving On

Picture of: my friend Gina who is very excited about the cookie she is going to eat.

Today I: returned the rental car I had to use this weekend; worked on a new mailing to western states; met for lunch with Gina- a young woman who was in one of my youth groups many many years ago and is now moving on to exciting new out of state adventures with her husband (best of luck Gina- this is exciting); reviewed Emails from a corporate storytelling sponsor and ran them through my "interpret, express, integrate" process to create a basic proposal idea for them; went to the bank and the post office; took daughter #1 to work and back again; found my GTD notebook and began a fresh new mind sweep; created new voiceover scripts for David Ian Davies to record for the upcoming podcast beds- David does BRILLIANT audiobooks of Sherlock Holmes stories; spoke on the phone with the sponsor for Wednesday's school shows; didn't send out expiration notices to Storyteller.net members as I was afraid they'd take it as an April Fools jokes; reviewed all of my 2008pics.com postings and realized I have so far met my goal of # of postings- yay me.
::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

03.26.2008 Wednesday: Loaded Up

Picture of: my van loaded with equipment for the school show today.

Today I: ran banking errands; purchased postage at the post office; went over contracts with a sponsor; returned Emails and phone calls; traced down a missing invoice with a sponsor- storyteller shows are easy, getting paid..not so easy; did a storytelling school show for elementary school children; little kid in the back: you're in the blog tomorrow; had lunch with my kids; ran flyers at Kinko's and packed them up for the Austin event; sent out products orders from Storytellingproducts.com

::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

03.12.2008 Wednesday: Po Pour Ree

Picture of: setting up the room and kids trickling in for the school shows I did today. My roadie, aka Daughter #1, is on the left.

Today I: did two school shows, age skewed, went great; edited two new audio tracks for my next two CD's; sent invoices to a sponsor; tickled another sponsor about a contract; did some planning work with meetings room coordinators and caterers- if you don't call me back, I can't give you any money, kids; made tweaks to the Echo Chamber posting; added audio stories to Storyteller.net; sent a note out to my Arizona Emailing list about the next http://www.storytellingatborders.com/ event; sent my learning contracts to my school; updated my web page calendar at seantell.scom; bought another URL, I think I own 175 now; bought diet dr pepper and apple juice on a late night run to the store with daughter #3
::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

03.05.2008 Wednesday: Flooded

Picture of: kids leaving at the end of the school show I did today. Yes, that is my finger in the top right corner. Thank you. Please stop applauding and laughing at the storyteller.

Today I: whew! Did a tough storyteller school show and then so many other planning and producing things that I am fried. Going to bed, my FMS is winning today and some days that is just the way it is. I will try to write more accurately on Thursday.

::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::