11.14.2008 Friday: Grumpy Burgers: Working Artists Economy Survival Guide

Picture of: pages of notes for new telecourse.

Today I: made an early morning errands run and sat in a fast-food joint working on notes; I have released our latest Storyteller.net TeleCourse "Grumpy Burgers, Wood Fires and Cheap Whines: The Economy is Not Your Business for Working Artists" come register; built the websites for those workshops over the last few days; twittered; ran daughter #1 back and forth to work; bought Friday-night snacks with daughters #2 and #3; wife #1 and daughter #4 are away on camping trip; I have more storytelling ideas, projects, writings and seminars that I can get out of my head.

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

10.30.2008 Thursday: Spooky or Just Creepy

Picture of: me performing for the Halloween party at the social center on the other side of town. This is a screen-grab of the story I am posting Friday for Halloween. Details Friday.

Today I: drove daughter #1 waaay across town for her volunteer time with the dog agility show and drove back; picked up the rental car; post officed; banked; re did the set list for tonight; washed clothes; packed equipment; messed around with new cell phone insurance company sent me...it is broken, too. sheesh; drove waaay across town during rush hour, along with daughter #3 as my roadie; set up and performed a 50 minute storytelling set for the senior center (Hi Lisa!); lost my keys, daughter found them; as I was leaving the grounds, one Senior woman on the way back to her apartment said to me, "I am surprised that none of your daughters have run away from home when you tell stories like that. This was some experience." hehe; daughter #3 responded to me in the car that it is because of my stories that she would not run away; ate Wendy's dinner in the car while I waited for my fibro flare to pass; drove back across desert; looked at the video quickly; twittered; calling it a night.

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

06.26.2008 Thursday: Workshopping in Texas

Picture of: the crowd (880 people) at the youth rally I am working this weekend.

Today I: was/am presenting at the youth rally in Houston, TX. Today I did two workshops with lots of storytelling for teens. The room was way too small and the sound system was something the hotel must have found in the basement of an old 1930's antique sale. Despite the very warm room and the bad sound, we survived. The kids were good, the boys' workshop went especially good I thought; walked about the Galleria mall for dinner, saw lots of kids from the rally in the mall, a number of the boys who were in the workshop walked up to me and told me the workshop was a good thing for them; worked on re-tooling tomorrow's keynote and workshop;
::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

04.29.2008 Tuesday: Aha Moments

Picture of: my prison dorm-style hotel room in Miami Beach. Clearly these rooms are not designed with the sober in mind. I'll blog about it later.

Today I: woke up in Miami Beach to the sound of the trash trucks picking up garbage outside my hotel room window; realized the smoke I was smelling was from the smoking people standing in the alley right at my room window; ate breakfast in my room for $35- paid $25 too much; tweaked the last minute parts of the PowerPoint presentation for the afternoon gig; walked to the drugstore about 1/2 mile down the road to get a couple of sodas that didn't cost $5 per 8oz bottle; answered email from another sponsor that wants to use me for a corporate storytelling gig in September; packed up the supplies and rolled my way to the presentation; had a great, "a ha!" filled presentation with corporate clients who came from all over the world to participate in this seminar (I was one piece of several days); one of the leadership had great insight into the idea that companies and products have their own folklore- inspires and affirms me when people grasp the concepts so fast. Have I told you that I love my storytelling and coaching work?; moved hotels to one closer to the airport and one friendlier to business travellers (nb: the staff at first hotel were very nice people); had a full conversation with my wife now that my phone has a signal; had dinner at hotel for a much more reasonable price; going to bed now
::C2008. Picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

04.08.2008 Tuesday: Packed and Prepped

Picture of: one of my media kit packed up, printed, postaged and ready to go to the post office.

Today I: prepared and packed up several kits to potential sponsors; booked hotel room for future event; made the daily post office trip; spoke to a client about upcoming Houston storytelling event; registered people for the "Storyteller.net Live!" event in Austin; made a second post office trip; spent time on the phone with a few other storytellers; sent orders from Storytellingproducts.com; ordered more inventory; prepared a few more mailings and continued to update my mailing lists.

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

03.03.2008 Monday: Blogging and Websiteing

Picture of: two Arizona automobile license plates. One reads STORY and one reads TELLER. Aww, how precious. We finally got them (I'm Teller) lined up at the OISBC camp last week.

Today I: reworked the schedule for the Outside In Camp and found a way to add even more content; got some great books from Margaret Read MacDonald today- I love it when when she autographs the books she sends me; did a lot of work on the website for the marketing camp- most of it is done with the new information and we are ready for booking the August event; wrote a blog post about the cost of our Storyteller.net Live events; posted the comments from the camp; negotiated with an Arizona hotel for the Recording Workshop and the OISBC this summer; had lunch with my kids; made a commitment to tell at the South Mountain Spring Festival; tried to fend off my FMS exhaustion; talked with another podcaster about his work; discovered another podcaster doesn't understand about the real nature of Storyteller.net and what I do; posted the Storyteller.net mission statement on the Storyteller.net website.

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

02.16.2008 Saturday: Storytelling at Borders

Picture of: me telling at our Storyteller.net @ Borders event we hold the third Saturday of every month. This storytelling picture had some odd lens thing going on and it turned out like an oil painting. Odd.

Today I: secured the Austin, Texas location for the new "Storyteller.net Live" event on May 10, 2008; told stories at Borders in the evening- someone said my Cinderella was brilliant ; had dinner with my wife, kids and mother- lovely little after-Borders tradition.


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

02.14.2008 Thursday: Chocolate Samples

Picture of: the chocolates in the gift box my wife and I gave to each of our children today. Please note that this box is from the nine-year-old who took a bite from each piece (you can see the bites) as soon as she opened the box. She wanted to test each one to figure out which she would eat first. I want to be nine again.

Today I: was generally ill but managed to take some time to go out to lunch with my sweethearts. That was fun; learned that my health insurance has gone up $125 per month starting next month, yes, please come join the wonders of the self-employed storyteller; talked with the hotel contact regarding the Marketing Boot Camp schedule and we'll talk about meals on Monday; traced my anonymous friends' email to Virginia and Tennessee- hey at least I sign my opinions; prepared my story work for Friday night's concert.

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

02.09.2008: Leading Seminars

Picture of: two discussion groups talking about the stories during the adult retreat I led yesterday at a church in Arizona. Last week, I led teenage guys. This week, I got to lead adult singles. I love the variety that I get to work with as a storyteller. The building we were in has so much well-planned ambient lighting that we don't even need to turn on the electric lights during the day. Great building. I get to use it every few years or so.

Today I: took my eldest to work early in the morning; made my way across the city to the retreat location; led a day-long retreat with stories, discussions and activities for a Methodist singles groups; picked up previously mentioned kid from work; came home and crashed--tonight the FMS wins.

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

01.30.2008 Wednesday: Stories for Children

Picture of: the top of the cafeteria wall at the school where I performed today. These are drawings that kids make: lay on a piece of paper, have someone draw around your body, then color the picture in to look like you doing what you like to do. There were about 40 of these all around the room.

Today I: performed my storyteller show in an after-school program at a school; messed with the national organization to get them to refund dues for products not delivered- gawd I am really not that crabby; started the review process for the Emergent Storytelling Series we had last weekend. It was very good.

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

01.27.08 Sunday: Putting Away ESS Stuff.

Picture of: storytellers Tim Ereneta and Liz Warren pre-show at the Emergent Storytelling Series last night in Arizona, debating the finer points of water bottles vs crystal glasses vs martini glasses vs margarita glasses for the proper container to hold the water a storyteller needs on stage.

Today I: am in low gear, putting away things from the ESS; took Tim back to the airport; made "notes to self" about the things I learned producing this event; started to pull together the final notes for my Baltimore storytelling trip next weekend.

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

01.26.2008: The Emergent Storytelling Series

Picture of: participants in Tim Ereneta's "Improv Skills" workshop at the ESS today.

Today I: oversaw the Emergent Storytelling Series #1 presented in Surprise (Phoenix Area) Arizona by the Arizona Storytelling Guild. Tim was our invited guest teller from the Berkley, California. The event featured both Tim and several members of the guild. The afternoon workshop was great as well. Good time. Good times. I am very happy with the ESS and the whole overall concept of "Come Listen to the Best Voices in Storytelling that You Haven't Yet Heard." This is a keeper.
::C2008. This is the picture blog for storyteller Sean Buvala ( www.seantells.com). My written blog is at www.seanblogs.com::

01.25.2008 Friday: I Produce Storytelling Events

Picture of: the table at the dinner where some of our members of the Arizona Storytelling Guild had a pre-event dinner with Tim Ereneta for our Emergent Storytelling Series.

Today I: ran around like a crazed storytelling producer getting ready for the event. The dinner, however, was great fun and the first time in my life when the "pass the bill around the table" thing actually produced more money than was needed. Good people. Good food. Good conversation.

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

01.14.2008 Monday: I Go Guilding

Picture of: the sign in table at the Arizona Storytelling Guild Monthly (AzSG) monthly meeting

Today I: sent Email blasts about my next Southern California tour (March 6-11); met with the AzSG to share stories and talk about my "Roadblocks to Storytelling" post.

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

01.11.08: I Get Packages

Picture of: a box that arrived today that contains some of the goodies for the the Outside In Storytelling Marketing Workshop.

Today I: cleaned the kitchen; made pizza for my family; wrote a final comment Email; talked shop with Priscilla; kept breathing after yesterday's drama; got the package listed above- the OISBC will not be about swag, but there are a few fun things we're giving out. This package just made it all seem that much closer. There is still room if you want to register.

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

01.10.08 Thursday: I Get Walked On

Picture of: the pavement at the office supply store, I have to go there often although I do get more and more of my things from ordering online

Today I: moved around some Arizona Storytelling Guild pieces; booked a storytelling gig with local bookstore; finalized my Baltimore hotel stay for February; was reminded that people will walk on you if you let them. Or, better put, people treat you exactly like you have trained them to treat you- pavement (there it is) is meant to be walked on. I am sure tommorrow's picture will include some comment on this; realized I don't sleep enough.

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

01.07.08 Monday: I Sandbox

Picture of: the counter top for some snacks at our storyteller Sandbox meeting. Once a month, I get together with a few people and share ideas, stories, concepts with other storytellers of various storytelling formats, methods and motivations. It's our collective "sandbox" to work in. Tonight was one of our meetings. Goat cheese and tea. Funky.

Today I: wow, today I sorted through new paperwork; worked on a new flyer for the Emergent Storytelling Series; did some more work the Outside In model to clarify the concepts of macro and micro audiences (which came from the sandbox sessions); said hello to new Twitter friends; went to the library; talked to a group about networking meetings; ate a bagel

01.03.08 Thursday

Picture of: Me and my kids eating at fast food. I travel a lot. When these moments of taking 1-4 of them out to lunch happens, I take them. In 2008, I'll be out of the US several times and on the road more than last year. Such is the nature of the itinerant storyteller.

Today I: spoken on the phone to a Maryland storytelling client, added a new storyteller and coaching client to my list of the people I have the honor to work with; did more publicity for the Outside In Marketing Workshop. Really, if you are serious about being a working artist, you need to come join us for this camp; spent some time in Email with folks telling me that the NSN is really changing; spoke to the folks in Singapore about possible workshops. Full day.

01.02.08 Wednesday: A Storyteller of the Past

Picture of: Me, in 1979, performing in a library. Been doing this for 29 years. Funny, that hairstyle is now back in style. The sons of the 80's fathers now have their hairstyles of their fathers. Funny.

Today I: am working on publicity for the "Outside In Storytelling Marketing Boot Camp" and sent letters with the above picture. Read the letter at this link here.

01.01.08 Tuesday: New Year's Day

The Picture of: Cleaning up after the party. Those glasses held sparkling grape drink. Family party.

Today I: took the day off, 'cept for fighting with the airlines over my flight I booked in November; and then trying to get to Cincinatti in February for less than $500 flight. I guess I didn't take the day off.