Other Parts of Life - There Are Wonderful Things Afoot!

There are so many pretty amazing things going on in our world. In North Carolina, it is feeling more and more like summer!




My garden is doing its thing.




My cats are still a little nutty










My daughter is still drawing on herself.



My son sill wears a black overcoat on sweltering days.




Some of you might not know this, but I moonlight as a professor at Hogwarts on the Hill.

I am Professor Melinda Menagerie and I teach Care of Magical Creatures.

This morning I got an email from the Headmistress. They have decided that this year's classes are going to happen no matter what.

Each professor will prepare a packet for the students. The parents will come by Platform 9 ¾  to pick it up on the day in question, and the classes will be available on a private channel.

I live with 2 visual artists and one of them specializes in 3-dimensional digital art.

You know what that means, right?

This year we are totally studying dragons! I'm going to be in videos with dragons! I am going to hold a little dragon!

I get to pick up a dragon egg! No, wait! Maybe we'll make dragon eggs as one of our crafts!







I don't usually do crafts. Never a good time to start!

Actually, I picked up something that I'm pretty sure looks like a dragon egg!



Okay, it is an emu egg, but it will serve!









Hey! Maybe I could make dragon eggs and put little plastic dragons inside so that when the kids get them home, they could use their wands to pacify the eggs, then crack them open and there would be little plastic dragons inside of them.

That could be fun. We would definitely get to work on our wand forms.

That means I could be making dragon eggs this summer!

So many things to do. So many things to do.

I am also going to transfer more stories to video for the fall.

We touring artists are going to be disease vectors, so I doubt our presence will be welcome even if schools do open.

I'm also going to be doing some virtual residencies.

So much planning!

Libraries are still booking shows.

The David is still sending out marketing emails.

Oh, that reminds me - If you want to take a workshop with Sue O'Halloran and the David about this brave new world of virtual storytelling and the marketing thereof, you can sign up now.

Right Now.

The David

Overnight, the world of in-person storytelling, keynote speaking, workshop facilitation and the like disappeared. In this 90-minute webinar, Sue O’Halloran and David Klibanow will offer guidelines on adapting to and prospering in this “new normal” of virtual presentations.

Quality production, entertaining, relevant content, efficient business systems and effective marketing all still matter, but they have morphed into a different medium with its own formulas for success.

A year from now, will you be looking back on all you’ve created and the explosion of new people you’ve reached? Or will you be feeling even more isolated, wishing you had ventured into this new world of virtual opportunity?

There are lots of wonderful things happening. The world has not ended. I am going to get on my bike when I am done writing this on non-fiction Thursday.

Tomorrow is going to be for recording.

Saturday I will be Zooming with London.

Sunday I have set aside for the writing group with incredible women who make me a better writer and a better person.

This is my new anthem...except the part about the trumpet. Substitute telling stories and we are good.





Happy Remembering There Are Other Things!

The David and Sue O'Halloran Are Hosting A Workshop About The Business of Virtual Storytelling! - SAVE THE DATE

Earlier this week a sent out a simple question asking if anyone would be interested in a workshop where The David talked about transforming our business model in the age of non-touring.

The response was not surprising to me, but it was definitely surprising to The David.

Sue O'Halloran

Well, it just so happens that the afternoon after the morning I sent out that query, The David got a call from Sue O'Halloran about virtual work.

Sheila Arnold

Sue has run an entire festival online! She's created hours and hours of online material.

Sue has graciously allowed us to post two of her resources on the most effective way to record online content on our ASST (Artist Standing Strong Together) blog.

I thought, "Wouldn't it be cool if the two of them taught something together? Maybe half the workshop could be about creating online material, and the other half could be the marketing and reformation of the business.

They talked about and decided it was a doable thing!

Next, we contacted the amazing Sheila Arnold. 
We asked if she would be willing to host it as an ASST program.

She said she most certainly would!

Next, we needed a date.

So, here it is -

On May 27th, 3pm Dave Klibanow (aka The David) and Sue O'Halloran will conduct a 90-minute workshop on taking your touring artist business virtual.

There will be a charge for this workshop.

$20.00


In the coming days, there will be more information.

If you are interested in the workshop keep your eyes open for the registration information. I will post, and repost and repost again between now and the event.

There is no plan to cap the numbers, at this point. If that changes, we will let you know.

That's the big news. Other than that?

Well...

I recorded hours of content for our virtual business, including a little promo video

- My daughter made a gorgeous map for her beau


My son started creating a ten course online class for middle schoolers and teens who want to do world building in video games.

The David oversaw and organized it all.


Have a great week.

How can it feel like tons of things are happening and nothing at all is happening all at the same time?

Be safe
Social distance
Stay inside
Wash your hands!

Happy Figuring It Out Every Day!