Shortening the Road

STOP SOPA Blackout

2012-01-17T19:26:00.001-08:00

Why Canadians should care about SOPA/PIPA

Why Raven Left Us: a Tale of Remembrance

2011-11-11T04:37:00.000-08:00

For Remembrance Day 2011, I've decided to post this Raven story that I learned and adapted a couple of years ago. It tells the tale of why Raven left the world and why we don't see him around as much any more. Without giving it away, what Raven learns in this story is what we all need to do when fear threatens to control us.

In the last decade, our modern societies have been ruled and controlled by fear and intimidation. One of the reasons why the Occupy movement has struck such a nerve is that people are tired of being afraid. Many of these people have spent the last 10 years being afraid, having their worst fears stoked and amplified until they acted without thinking, letting others do the thinking for them. There is only so much people can take that kind of manipulation before they break down. When that happens, they can either curl up into a ball and accept it all, or they dig their heels into the ground, let their courage give them the strength to start moving forward, pushing their fears aside. The Occupees are facing the risk of arrest, violence, and as winter approaches, the unforgiving elements of nature. And yet, they continue to peacefully assemble to protest a system that has victimized not only the 99% of yesterday and today, but also the other 99% of tomorrow. They are sacrificing themselves now so that others will not need to sacrifice themselves later.

When we wear the red poppy at this time, we are remembering those men and women who had to push their fears aside to face an enemy that threatened their families, their loved ones. This remembrance applies to all those warriors, on all sides of the conflict: the Canadians, the Americans, the French, the British, the Iraqis, the Afghans, the Germans, the Japanese, the Koreans, the Mexicans, etc. This also applies to those people who are protesting and calling for change, often in the face of violent opposition by those who can only benefit from their efforts. These social warriors are exercising their courage so that the rest us won't need to.

Personally, I have only recently heard of the White Poppy, which is worn as a symbol of peace. There is some debate over the wearing of the Red/White poppy, but I don't understand why we can honor the sacrifices of the fallen (Red Poppy) and recommit ourselves to peace in the present and future (White Poppy).

So wear your poppy, red or white, in remembrance of those who found the courage to face the threat in the past, in recognition for those manage to find the courage to face the threat today, and for hope for a peaceful, better tomorrow when the need for that courage is less.

Note: the drumming this piece is by The Dragon Ritual Drummers and is used with permission.

The Tale of Raven's Knoll -- Told by JD Hickey, (6:10 minutes)

The Dead Don't Pay, with SFX!

2011-10-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

Halloween is only a few days away, but unfortunately, I don't have a new ghosty story to share with you. Instead, I was contacted by my friend Rikki who has been adding sound effects to one of my previous postings The Dead Don't Pay. The original recording was done before a live student audience somewhere in Montreal back in early 2009.

So I invite you to rediscover this story with the SFX that Rikki has added. Enjoy!

The Dead Don't Pay (v2) -- Told by JD Hickey,
sound effects by Rikki LaCoste (10:16 minutes)

Audience Analysis

2011-10-12T10:50:00.000-07:00

I was just reviewing the traffic statistics gathered by Blogger for this site and I was more than a bit surprised at the results. I expected that most of my visitors would be from Canada, but that is certainly not the case.

As of today, my All Time Audience Statistics are as follows:

United States: 2,774
Canada: 1,933
Russia: 723
Germany: 231
France: 222
Ukraine: 193
Netherlands: 156
Slovenia: 116
United Kingdom: 113
Poland: 71

But in the past week, my Audience Statistics are as follows:

Canada: 36
Slovenia: 34
United States: 27
Ukraine: 13
Russia: 8
France: 3
Poland: 2
South Africa: 2
Costa Rica: 1
Germany: 1

Incredible! Canada and Slovenia are neck in neck in terms of traffic! I would really like to know who is watching this blog in Slovenia!

I don't get many comments on this site, but I would really appreciate it if you could leave me a comment stating who you are, how you found the site, and where you come from. It fascinates me.

And finally, the story post that has gotten to most number of pageviews (312) is the one that has the La Befana story in it. Amazing.

Guest Teller: Ian Ferrier

2011-10-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

Back on October 3rd 2011, I hosted Montreal's first Story Slam called Conte SLAMtastique Storytelling. It was held at Shaika Cafe in NDG and we had over 30 people attend our first event. Very encouraging!

Our first guest teller was local poet and spoken word artist Ian Ferrier. I had met Ian a few times in the past year at other spoken word events, namely his own evening called Wired On Words. Ian has also interviewed other storytellers and performance artists that I admire, so over all, I was a fan of his work.

Ian showed up with his guitar and amp in tow, ready to astound and amaze. His performance was unbelievable and the crowd was greatly impressed. He performed two of his own pieces: Blue Train and Emma's Country. I saw quite a few teary eyes at the end of his second piece, so the crowd was obviously moved.

With Ian Ferrier's permission, I want to share the first piece he performed. This is taken from his CD "What is this Place" (which also contains Emma's Country).

Blue Train -- Written and performed by Ian Ferrier (7:35 minutes)

Throw Poetry Collective: The Delicious Lie

2011-10-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

The great folks at Throw Poetry Collective invited me to tell a story at their event in September 2011. Since I wasn't participating in the slam competition, I wasn't restricted to the 3 minute limit, so I was able to tell a proper story at a decent pace.

So here's the video of me telling the story of The Delicious Lie.

I have few other vids of stories I've told. If you want to see them, check out my website's Media page.

TaelStrum in NDG in August

2011-08-09T08:28:00.001-07:00

Join TaelStrum for tales and music as we take part in NDG Arts Week! We will be performing at the Centre Communautaire NDG on August 21st and August 27th at 11am. It's family show, so feel free to bring your kids!

There's lots of artistic stuff going on in NDG! For more information on the NDG Arts Week, please visit http://www.cooplamaisonverte.com/artsndg/.

TaelStrum at NDG Arts Week
August 21st and August 27th
11:00am - 11:30am
Centre Communautaire NDG
3757 Prudhomme
Montreal, Quebec
Facebook Event page

August Story: The Delicious Lie

2011-08-03T04:43:00.000-07:00

I've been sitting on this Indian story for months now, waiting for the chance to tell it at a festival that happened last weekend. Unfortunately, I didn't win the Bardic competition, but I got lots of great feedback from the people who heard it. This is rapidly becoming one of my favorite stories to tell.

In this version, I used the word "Bard" instead of "Storyteller" only because Bard is a term that this audience really relates to.

It's a shame that I couldn't have recorded the performance that night: it went off perfectly. I got all the details right, my projection was solid and strong (500+ people sitting outside around a campfire in a multi-ringed circle), and I was able to roll with the audience reactions and some light heckling.

I also want to thank the Wild Orchids for attempting to bribe the judges on my behalf: I was touched and flattered beyond belief. Bribing the judges is an unofficial part of the performances, which is done blatantly in front of everyone, but I've always made it part of the performance to NOT bribe the judges. The Wild Orchids made their own smoked chocolate ice cream and presented it to the judges on a silver platter (I had tasted it earlier and I almost felt like taking the bribe myself).

There is a slightly longer version of this story, but I've gotten so used to telling the 5-minute version, I've decided to stick with it. This was recorded in my office with no audience present. If I can find the right music, I may add a musical soundtrack later.

The Delicious Lie -- Told by JD Hickey (5:19 minutes)

Bardic Etiquette

2011-07-25T20:47:00.001-07:00

A Bardic is a type of talent show and can include singing, music, dancing, acting, storytelling, poetry, magic, juggling, and more! A bardic usually involves several performers who each take the stage (or the centre of a circle) in turn, and the performances are usually less than 10 minutes long. Sometimes a bardic can involve judges and prizes, but it's often just a venue to showcase our community talent and while-away an evening.

A bardic is usually held at night around a campfire, although there have been venues with stages, lighting, and microphones. But a bardic is usually a low-tech, cozy, and home-grown evening of entertainment.

Bardic Etiquette applies to both the bard and the audience. The Bard and the listeners both enter into a pact where the listeners pledge to open themselves to the bard, and the bard pledges to share something inspiring. The chances of the Bard failing in this pact are as epic as the legends of old, and if the Bard is not ready to move his listeners, his listeners will move away, leaving the Bard powerless.

Truly, a Bard without an audience is a fool talking to himself. This is why the Bard needs to pick his material carefully, rehearse it methodically, and deliver it passionately. Any power he wields over his audience is given freely to him; it is not wielded solely by him and it certainly is never lorded over his audience (or at least, not for long).

When a bard performs a piece in a bardic, the audience is expected to:

* turn off their cellphones
* be respectful towards the performing bard
* be quiet, attentive, and responsive
* support the bard by participating when asked
* show appreciation at the end of a performance (applause)

When the audience gives the bard a venue in which he can perform, the bard is expected to:

* have selected, prepared, and rehearsed his performance
* speak in a loud, clear voice (where appropriate)
* make eye contact with the audience as much as possible
* speak respectfully and eloquently
* present a piece that fits within the Bardic theme
* perform within the agreed time-limits

Heckling
----------
This is a really touchy subject, both for the bards and the audience. Some say that no one should heckle the performers, while others say that a bard should expect and know how to deal with heckling. Some people even think heckling is a venue for expressing consequence-free abuse. Heckling is an attempt to distract or disparage the bard during his performance, ruining the performance itself and potentially humiliating the bard.

As an absolute rule, you should NEVER attempt to humiliate a performer, no matter how bad you think the performance is. It doesn't make you a hero, it doesn't make you a good person, and it can do incalculable damage to the artist. Having the courage to stand before any group of people and lay yourself bare before them is no small feat; having a person simply take that risk deserves your respect. Most performers will tell you that performing for a crowd is terrifying, so part of bardcraft is learning how to master that fear and use it to better your performance.

The Bard has craft something beautiful that he wants to share with you, the audience. Give him a chance to do that, and if you don't like it, it'll soon be over and you can move on to the next Bard. If you can't stand the performance, then maybe you shouldn't be in the audience in the first place. You can always walk away.

Trying to destroy a Bard during his performance from the comfortable safety of an anonymous crowd is an act of cowardice. Hurtful hecklers are bullies who cannot stand to see someone else live the glory that they are too afraid to seek for themselves. They should be pitied, but not tolerated.

How a Bard can Deal with a Heckler
============================

There's no way to predict how an audience will act during a performance, so it's best to be ready for anything. The Bard needs to understand that anything can happen, accept it, and even relish it. It's the dangerous beauty of live performance. But if you need to deal with a Heckler, here are some suggestions:

1. If someone shouts out something that adds to your story, find a way to work it in. If you can't work it in to your performance, take a moment to give a smirk in the direction of the caller, and then move on with your performance.

2. If one or more people continue to make too much noise, stop your performance and wait for them to quieten down. The rest of the audience will usually tell them to shut up. DO NOT attempt to silence them by shouting back: this only feeds their satisfaction in controlling you.

3. If a person shouts out something derogatory ("YOU SUCK!!"), try to ignore it and move on with your performance. If the abuse continues, stop your performance and wait for them to quieten down. The rest of the audience will usually tell them to shut up. If you know who this person is, find them after the show and make them explain why they felt the need to say such awful things. DO NOT deal with it during your performance.

4. If you keep getting interrupted, walk away from the stage quietly. You have failed to hold the audience's attention, so take your lumps, move on, and learn. Maybe your material wasn't right for the show, maybe you weren't ready, and maybe the audience wasn't ready. Maybe you need to revisit your performance and figure out what went wrong (length, timing, language, topic, etc.) Try to keep your ego under control and take this failure as a chance to be better next time.

Note: I have rarely seen this happen in a formal bardic; it usually happens during an informal gathering of friends or colleagues. It's important to realize that sometimes you need to pick your moments and your audiences more carefully. If you're surrounded by children, telling them a 2-hour epic tale will not hold their attention. If you're in the company of adults, leading a "Little Bunny Foo Foo" sing-along won't always go over well. If the adults are drunk, their attention span may be too limited for even a 5-minute tale. Pick your moments carefully.

Audience Participation
====================

There is a way for the audience to take part in the Bard's performance in a positive, constructive way. Some Bards may see this as a dangerous suggestion, but I know that audience can be so enthralled with a performance that they may call out to the Bard as a show of support.

When in doubt, don't shout. If the Bard is young in his career, you should refrain from calling out until he gains more experience and more confidence. You can test the waters by calling out encouraging words or something appropriate to the story. For example, if the Bard is singing a song about a beautiful woman, you could burst out with exclamations ("Wooohoo! Hawt Girl! Sexy!"). If the Bard is encouraged by this, he may feel confident enough to adlib his way through the song based on what the audience is giving him.

You could also engage in known cliches, challenging the Bard to respond in kind. Again, if the Bard is telling a story about a beautiful woman, you could call out "How beautiful WAS she?" The Bard should be able to roll with that without missing a beat ("She was so beautiful that she looked just like you!").

To know when it is appropriate to call out anything more challenging to the Bard, you need to take the time to get to know the Bard first. Maybe talk to him about his performance, find out how he feels about audience participation, maybe even warn him that you will say something during his performance, so he should be ready for it.

But in all cases of audience participation, keep it short. The Bard is the main attraction, not you. What you want to do is add to his performance rather than take away or distract. Anything more than a few words of encouragement or challenge can damage or destroy the sacred moment between performer and the audience. If you have more to say, then swallow your fear and walk into that Bardic space yourself. Until then, respect the Bards that choose to take that risk.

June Story: A Glimpse of Paradise

2011-06-19T21:05:00.000-07:00

This story has become a favorite of mine mainly because I get to say the phrase "Muhammad, may peace be upon him" three times in the story. I'm not sure why, but getting to say that phrase makes me happy.

At the beginning of this story, I mention the source of this tale being the Andrew Lang Fairy books (specifically the Orange Fairy book). If you are interested in faery tales of any kind, I suggest you start with these (there are 12 in the series), and the links I have provided allow you to read the stories online.

This story was recorded at Hurley's Irish Pub (Montreal, Quebec) in October of 2010 when I was asked to replace the mighty Mike Burns, who was suffering from the flu at that time.

A Glimpse of Paradise -- Told by JD Hickey (8:06 minutes)

TaelStrum gets rave reviews!

2011-06-04T17:28:00.000-07:00

After our one show at the Montreal Fringe Festival 2011, here's one of the reviews we got:

Reviewed by Gaëtan L. Charlebois
I had actually gone to the venue to see After The Storm but, as happens during the Fringe, there was a switcheroo and I found myself in this other show once again involving music man Shayne Gryn. I'm game for damn near anything in the Fringe and hoped that whatever Gryn et al. would offer would make up for the ugly space. Generally it did, though I am not a fan of story telling. David Hickey, the raconteur, has a good repertoire, though, and Gryn's accompaniment and occasional lovingly played and sung solos made the hour pass quickly and well. The duo play together at bars and pubs around the city, and elements of both their work will be part of the show I did not get to see, After the Storm.

Awesome! We're so excited!

Montreal Fringe Festival: After the Storm

2011-06-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

I'll be taking part in a collective piece during the Montreal Fringe Festival put together by Headless Goat Productions. I won't be in every show (due largely to scheduling conflicts), but I am committing to the following dates:

After the Storm: St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival
DATES: June 2, 4, 5, 9, 16, 17
LOCATION: MAI 3680 Jeanne-Mance #460 (OFF-D)
TICKETS: $10 to $12 available through the Fringe Box Office
(listed as After The Storm) 514-849-FEST

Feed the Right Wolf

2011-05-31T11:21:00.000-07:00

I was chatting with a couple of friends the other day when one friend said that Science held all the truth that people could ever need, while religion served only to mislead people by lying to them. I suggested that religion was actually performance art and it used myth to explore truths that could not be fully understood or explored by Science or Logic. My friend strongly disagreed with me, saying that religion was dangerous because the gullible put more faith in it than the truth of Science. This fact terrified her and she even went so far to say that my own spiritual beliefs scared her. Remembering an old adage that said you should never debate religion or politics in a bar, I let the matter drop.

Since that discussion the following story has been coming up quite often. Whether it be coincidence or not, I've decided to post it here to keep track of it, but also to remind me of the wolf I should be feeding rather than giving into despair or wallowing in the horribleness of people and world events (which usually gets posted on Facebook).

Yes, there are terrible people and terrible things in this world, but I prefer to celebrate beauty, kindness, and generosity rather than gorge myself on the pornography of terror, violence, and the horrible depths of human depravity.

The Two Wolves

A Cherokee elder was teaching his grandchildren about life.
He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me… it is a terrible fight between two wolves.
One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, hatefulness, and lies.
The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, humbleness, kindness, friendship, generosity, faith, and truth.
This same fight is going on inside of you, and inside every other person, too.”
The children thought about it for a minute. Then one child asked his grandfather,
“Which wolf will win?”
The Cherokee elder replied…
“The one you feed.”

TaelStrum: After the Storm

2011-05-30T05:24:00.000-07:00

TaelStrum will be performing as part of the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival
http://montrealfringe.ca/en/spectacles/after-the-storm
http://headlessgoat.com/

DATE: Friday June 3rd at 18h00
LOCATION: MAI 3680 Jeanne-Mance #460 (OFF-D)
TICKETS: $10 to $12 available through the Fringe Box Office
(listed as After The Storm) 514-849-FEST

TaelStrum is the duo of storyteller John David Hickey (aka "Hobbes") and musician/singer Shayne Gryn. The pair have been performing together for several years bringing a unique mix of storytelling and music to various cafes, pubs, and stages in and around Montreal.

May Story: The King and his Cow

2011-05-18T05:13:00.000-07:00

I've just completed our whirlwind, cross-Canada, two-city storytelling tour with Marie Bilodeau. It started in April in Montreal and ended in Ottawa in May. What an awesome tour! We would've kept going, but all the roadies have either expired, run away, or were jailed. It's a rock'n roll life, this storytelling gig.

On the upside, I got to record a new story that I haven't told in several years. I heard this story years ago at some festival and I was told it was a Jewish folktale, but I haven't been able to find a reference for it. I hadn't planned on telling it, but I wanted to give the audience a story that they had never heard from me, and seeing as it was Spring, having a good cow story seemed appropriate.

This show was held at Maxwell's Bistro in Ottawa and it was an awesome performance space. Thanks be to the fabulous audience for mooing so pathetically on cue.

My heartfelt thanks to Marie Bilodeau who shared this tour (and more than a few roadies, I might add (that woman's appetite is voracious!)) with me. She's awesome and if you get a chance to see her tell or read her books, please do so. You will not be disappointed.

Also, mucho thanks to Ruthanne Edward and Rusty Priske who not only attended the show, but also performed in it. Rusty performed two of my favourite poems of his, so I was very happy and honored.

The King and his Cow -- Told by JD Hickey (6:27 minutes)

Easter Story: The Giant's Garden

2011-04-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter to all of you! I hope you were able to spend your Easter weekend with family, friends, and assorted loved ones. Please accept my apologies for the lateness of this post, but we were entertaining friends from Toronto and San Francisco, so the weekend was simply packed.

I'm sure you've noticed I've been posting less lately. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to record as many shows as I would have liked over the past year, so I'm starting to run out of recordings to post! This recording was made on April 17th at Hurley's Irish Pub (with special guest Marie Bilodeau of Ottawa). This was the first session of our cross-Canada two-city tour, which means the final leg of our tour will be taking place on May 14th in Ottawa (Facebook event, Blog post). If you're going to be in Ottawa that weekend, I hope you'll join us!

Also, faithful readers/listeners may notice that I posted another recording of this same story in April 2010. I don't usually repost stories, but I really like this version of the story (especially since it made a fella in the audience cry). The Giant's Garden is based on Oscar Wilde's classic literary tale The Selfish Giant.

As usual, the chocolate bunny on strings is Shayne Gryn.

The Giant's Garden -- Told by JD Hickey (7:03 minutes)

Storytelling in April/May 2011

2011-03-24T10:21:00.001-07:00

Join storytellers JD “Hobbes” Hickey and Marie Bilodeau, with Shayne Gryn on strings, for an evening full of wonder, drama, laughter, music, and downright silliness.

This is Hobbes and Marie’s whirlwind, cross-country, two-city tour. They kick-off this storytelling tour-de-force in Montreal (April 17th) and end it in Ottawa (May 14th)! Crazy schedule! Even though they’ll surely be hoarse by the time they reach Ottawa in May, you can be sure that all they’ll want to do is tell more tales.

Featuring:
Marie Bilodeau, author of the “Heirs of a Broken Land” trilogy and “Destiny’s Blood” — http://mariebilodeau.blogspot.com/
TaelStrum (Hobbes & Shayne) — http://www.documentia.ca/taelstrum/

Montreal show:
April 17th, 7pm to 9pm
Hurley’s Irish pub
1225 Crescent St, Montreal
Google Map
Facebook Event

Ottawa show
May 14th,
Maxwell’s Bistro & Club
340 Elgin, Ottawa, ON
Google map
Facebook Event

Really big PJs

2011-03-08T11:49:00.000-08:00

Today on International Women's Day, I posted this music video by Storm Large called "8 Miles Wide" on my Facebook page to celebrate the fantastical presence of the strong women in my life (Warning: contains some adult language and images):

I was chatting with my friend Kat about the song and how catchy it is, but how it's not really kid-friendly. She then came up with a kid-friendly title of "My Pyjamas are 8 Miles Wide", which inspired me to rewrite the lyrics as follows:

My Pyjamas are 8 Miles Wide
Based on Storm Large's "8 Miles Wide"
Lyrics by JD Hickey (March 2011)
Inspired by K. Summerbell

All of my life
They've never fit
But I won't complain and I won't quit
I'm read for bed
So get used to it
Everyone tells me I'm too much
Maybe it's just its not big enough for me
Can't you see
I'm gonna wrap myself up and be comfy

[chorus]
My pyjamas are 8 miles wide
Absolutely everyone can come inside
If you can't cuddle, just run and hide
My pyjamas are 8 miles wide

Tell me what is comfortable to you
Soft like cloud, strong like a suit
It's cool if it's snuggly
But way better if it's cute
For all of those who'd rather sexy lingerie
I say go Amazonian
You can be slip into a Tarzan jammies
And be feminine

[chorus]

When I snuggle in bed and I close the door
I pull up the sheets and I want to warm
My super comfortastical mystical feminine goddess core
And I hate it when women make those rants
About tank tops, boxers, or pants
There's nothing quite like cotton
To kick-start an all-night romance

[bridge]
My pyjamas
They're universal
Soft like a house coat
But transportable
Sit next to me, the hot cocoa's fine
They're not my pyjamas
They're our pyjamas

[harmony chorus]
[just the boys]
[everyone]

Wide
Wide
Gigantic
Gigantic
Gigantic
A big soft hug
Gigantic
Gigantic
Gigantic
A big soft hug

If I ever get anyone into it, it would be a blast to record our own video and put it on YouTube. Another project to work on...

My first foray in the Spoken Word World

2011-02-28T15:09:00.000-08:00

I say that it was my first time, but technically it was my second. A couple of years ago, I was asked to tell a story during a Coco Cafe evening that was to raise awareness for the Leukemia Registry and to help Heal Emru, but in that evening, I had no restrictions placed upon me.

Last night, I went to a Throw Poetry Collective evening at Le Divan Orange, which is held on the last Sunday of each month in Montreal. It was a small crowd (it was Oscar night and La Nuit Blanche was the night before, so those could've been factors), but they were eager and responsive. I was warmly greeted at the door, encouraged to add my name to the list of performers, and I found a comfy spot in a corner.

The crowd was pretty young, mostly on the University side of things, but most of them seem to know each other. I even ran into an old storyteller compatriot (Isabelle St-Pierre) who was there to share her latest poetic journey tale.

The setup of the evening is pretty simple: There were 8 performers, each being give 3:10 minutes to perform their piece. They are then scored by 5 judges in terms of content, presentation, and stage presence. The top 4 of these performers are selected for a second round, where they need to present a new piece. Points are deducted for going over the time limit (.5 points per 10 seconds) and the top three winners are announced. Between the first and second round, there is an invited artist who performs.

In the first round, I told Truth and Story, which fit inside the 3:10 limit easily. To my surprise, my overall score was in the lower 9s (out of 10), so I made it to the second round.

This was were my downfall occurred. I didn't realize there would be a second round, and I never dreamed I would qualify for this mythical second round, so I didn't have a second piece prepared. I quickly picked a second story (Love and Madness), mentally tore as many feathers off it as I could to make it fit the 3:10 limit, and delivered it as best I could.

The crowd loved it. The judges loved it. My final score was in the mid-to-upper 9s, but unfortunately, I went over the time limit by 30 seconds, which meant I lost 1.5 points, bringing me to the sad end of 4th place in the second round. Pooh.

Still, it was an awesome evening. I sat gobsmacked watching these artists deliver their pieces. Everyone has such raw talent, such hardcore passion, which is something that is not always present in storytelling performances. This is probably one of the reasons that Spoken Word is cooler and Storytelling is dorkier.

I've already mentally pulled the feathers off "The Blue Hippo" story, which makes a 12 minute story fit in the 3 minute limit, and I'm setting my sights on other stories in my repertoire. I've also dusted off my old poetry brain to see if the old girl's got any juice left in her. I'm not sure where this Spoken Word thing will lead, but I willing to try it out!

Update: the recordings of my stories from that night were put on YouTube! Thanks be to Throw Poetry Collective!

Truth & Story

Love & Madness

More of My Tales on YouTube

2011-01-20T10:21:00.000-08:00

I haven't been telling too many tales lately, so I don't have new stories to post on the blog. But I do have a few shows coming up in 2011, so I might have the opportunity to record some new stories. I've been spending the rest of my time trying to learn new stories.

I will be telling tales on February 11th in NDG at Casa Maura along with Sarah Comrie and Jack Nissenson. The performance costs $40 and includes a full meal (bring your own wine). Seating is limited to 45 people, so please contact Casa Maura and reserve your tickets today!

Tales from House of Maura
Friday, February 11th 2011
Casa Maura (6290 Somerled, NDG)
7pm - 10pm
(514) 482-0777
Facebook Event page

Back in October 2010, I told a couple of tales at a fundraiser in Atwater Library and to my amazement and great pleasure, it was videotaped! The person who shot the performance provided me with the videos and I was able to upload it to my YouTube channel. Enjoy!

Guest Teller: Ivan Coyote's "Hair Today" and Stuff

2011-01-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

This past Christmas, there were more than a few books by Ivan Coyote being wrapped and unwrapped by a twinkling tree in our houses. I picked up a CD from Ivan last November when I saw her at the Ottawa Storytelling Festival and I've been playing it for many of my friends. I need to pick up her other CDs too.

These two YouTube videos have Ivan telling a story that I heard her tell at McGill University in Montreal in 2009 (although this specific performance was in San Francisco). I have this story in one of the books I got for Christmas, but I have no recordings of it. I hope you enjoy it.

Do I sound like a fan? You bet I am, but there's something dangerous about listening or reading too much Ivan. You'd think as a storyteller myself, enjoying Ivan's work would inspire me to continue developing as a teller. Part of me wants to produce more shows, write more books, record more CDs, and just perform more often.

But instead, the opposite happens. The small, insecure part of my artistic self sees someone as great as Ivan E. Coyote and wants to just give it all up. What if I never get that good?

It's silliness, of course, and I beat down that voice and go back to working on become that good someday. There are a few things I need to work on: I need to write my own stories (both folktales and personal, anecdotal stories), I need to promote myself more, and I need to develop a show that has more to offer than just straight telling (I'm working on that already with Shayne by adding more music to the telling).

The SweLL Company has put a clip on YouTube that features Ivan (see below). I like it's format and theatrical aspects, so I need to develop something similar for my own stories. I'm imagining a dark stage with a couple of spotlights for me and the musicians, with a backdrop of animated images that suit the story. I can see a few artistic mediums flowing together there.

Guest Teller: Doug "The Ferryman" Thew

2010-12-09T06:44:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, my bardic brother Doug Thew asked for permission to tell a story that I'm well-known for telling. I was flattered and honored to be asked and agreed immediately. The story is not mine to keep, but I'm always happy to hear that other people are actively passing these stories along, keeping them alive.

Doug was asked to tell a story at Sammy and Greg's wedding reception in Ontario. I didn't know the newly wed couple very well, but I did know a great many people who were there, so I asked my sweet friend Marie to record the performance.

Marie used her Blackberry to record the telling of this story, so the quality isn't very good, but you can clearly hear Doug's telling of the story. Initially, I just wanted to hear how Doug would deal with this story, but it also amused me to no end that Doug would know that I was listening (in an ethereal, big-brother way).

Upon listening to the recording, I was so impressed at how Doug made this story his own. This wasn't Doug telling my story: this was The Ferryman telling his story. I was in awe, but it also reminded me that I've gotten a bit too comfortable with my version of this story. It wouldn't hurt the tale to change it up once in awhile, to experiment with a tale I know very well.

So before I pass this story onto you, I would like to thank Doug for honoring me with such a fine retelling of this story. I hope you enjoyed telling it as much as loved hearing it, brother.

Love and Madness as told by Doug "The Ferryman" Thew(9:31 minutes)

November Story: The Man with No Story

2010-11-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

I was pleased to have the privilege of spending my All Hallows Eve in a pub telling tales. Thanks be to Mike who trusted me with this sacred task! I was also honored to share the stage with Sarah, Jack, and Ruthanne Edward from Ottawa who regaled us with a couple of ghostly and ghastly tales herself.

As mentioned in the recording, this is a story that Mike Burns often tells at this time of year, but that he also published in a collection of tales called Ghostwise. This link allows you to read this story as well.

I also talk about my latest CD in this recording and have included it as a shameless plug. If you don't have the CD, why do you continue to deny yourself such pleasures? You can download the tracks from the CD for cheap by visiting CDBaby.

And finally, I am pleased to announced that a recent performance was recorded and put on YouTube, featuring Shayne Gryn on guitar. Feast your eyes upon it!

So, without further ado, here's the story:

The Man with No Story -- Told by JD Hickey (7:36 minutes)

We've Won a Masters of Storytelling Award!

2010-10-29T09:01:00.000-07:00

This blog has just been awarded a Master Story Telling Blog:

Online Masters

We've scoured the web looking for amazing blogs that not only are great in
content, but informative and helpful when needed. And we've determined your
blog to be such! We like to call it a Master of its category!

Thanks so much for the recognition. I'm so glad that people are enjoying the stories.

Where in the World is Rikki Santiago?

2010-10-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Rikki Lacoste has mysteriously disappeared, but like in the Blair Witch Project, his podcast was found. Have a listen to the latest episode of his podcast Kakophonos where Rikki managed to cobble together a few terrifying Canadian storytellers and their tales of the macabre celebrating those things that go bump in the night.

Warning: the podcast does use some strong language. Parental discretion is advised.

Halloween Storytelling at Hurley's

2010-10-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

Normally, Mike Burns would be telling us frightful Irish tales for the season, but unfortunately he's not feeling well, so he has asked me to step into the role of storyteller. Join us for an evening of ghostly, ghastly, and demonic tales that celebrate those dark things that go bump in the night.

Hurley's Halloween Storytelling
Sunday, October 31 · 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Hurley' Irish Pub
1225 rue Crescent
Montreal, QC
Facebook Event

October Story: Skeleton Woman

2010-10-05T05:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the long silence, but I've been away to France for 10 days. We had a wonderful time, took loads of pictures, drank wine and champagne, and ate too much cheese and sausage. I can't wait to go back.

This month's story was told during the 92 Degrees of Love show back in February 2010. Uncharacteristically, Shayne is not playing music with this story. Instead, I'll be playing the drum! I think this is the second time I play the drum while telling at it really is tricky to get it right.

I find the Skeleton Woman story to be an odd mix of creepy and endearing. With the coming of Halloween, the end of summer, and the beginning of winter, I find this story contains many themes. I hope you enjoy it.

Skeleton Woman -- Told by JD Hickey (7:26 minutes)

Guest Poem: Peach Creamed Honey

2010-09-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

A month ago, I attended a spoken word event called Wired on Words (hosted by Ian Ferrier) at Casa Del Popolo. I met up with my friend Ruthanne who told me about the event and I met her friend Amal El-Mohtar. Amal is a poet from Ottawa who has recently published a book of poetry called "The Honey Month".

After hearing her read from her book, I immediately purchased a copy and I love it. With her kind permission, I have recorded a poem from her book called Day Two. What's cool about this collection of poetry is its origins (from her website):

28 days there are in the month of February, a cold month in our part of the world, a month in which the summer seems an endless dream one had once, long ago. We should not be tricked by the frost, for it was during the dreaming month of February that Amal El-Mohtar composed The Honey Month, a book that tastes and smells of sun. Each day she uncapped a vial of honey, letting the brew inspire the words that became this book. Amal offers us much more than poetry and prose, however. Her words wrap around us like spiderwebs, gently pulling us into the web she weaves, where honey girls tempt and tease us, where things lost return and sorrow paints the leaves. This is a colourful book, but it is by no means a frivolous one. Remember, not all honey is sweet.

To read more about this book and its authoer, please visit Papaveria Press. The music is called La Vibora by The Paperboys from the The Road to Ellenside album.

Day Two of The Honey Month (3:14 minutes)

Truth & Story on YouTube

2010-09-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

To promote the CD and my blog, I've posted the first track from "The Bard's New Hat" to YouTube. Unfortunately, I don't have any really interesting video to go with it, but you can just close your eyes and enjoy.

As you no doubt already know, the mystical music in this story is provided by Shayne Gryn.

August Story: The Maiden and the Mirror

2010-08-11T05:13:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to run out of recordings to post! That's the summer for you: storytelling tends to be an activity for the Autumn/Winter months when people are happy to be indoors, snuggled up next to a fire. Unfortunately, due to a bunch of mishaps, I wasn't able to record my final show at Hurleys, which is a damn shame 'cause it was awesome. I hope you were able to make it.

The Bard's New Hat CD is selling bit by bit and I'm getting great feedback on it. I'm more than half-way to my goal of 180 CDs sold, so that's encouraging. I'm trying to schedule some shows in Ottawa and Quebec city in the coming months, so stay tuned to this website and we might be able to bring our stories to a cafe/pub near you!

Today's story was taken from a collection of bedtime stories called 365 Bedtime Stories by Christine Allison. It was recorded in Montreal in February 2010 at Cafe 92 Degrees with the mystical Shayne Gryn on guitar. It's one of those poignant stories that moves me, but it's not a traditional plot-driven tale. It reminds me of a painting that is so moving, you can't stop finding new aspects to it.

I'd also like to dedicate this story to Isaac Bonewits who is resting quietly in his home and waiting for his time to come. Isaac is a favorite author of mine and I had the pleasure to meet him in late 2009 in Ottawa at a speaking engagement. In late 2009, he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. He went through several treatments over the following months, and although the treatments were going well, things have taken a turn for the worse.

The latest note from his partner Phaedra Bonewits (taken from Facebook):
Just wanted to address the rumors that Isaac is back in the hospital. He is at home as he had wished, but he is nearing the end. His brothers and sisters are on their way to say goodbye. Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers.

You can read more about this on his blog and Facebook fan page:
Blog: http://neopagan.net/blog/?tag=cancer
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/isaac.phaedra.bonewits

Unlike Lilly Chen, I don't pretend to think that Isaac was goodness itself. But I know that he's been a positive influence on many, many people through his books and just by being who he is. I wish him a smooth and painless passage to the Summerlands and offer my sympathies to his wife Phaedra and I hope she leans on her family and friends during this difficult time.

Update from Phaedra Bonewits (http://www.facebook.com/#!/isaac.phaedra.bonewits):
This morning, August 12, 2010 at approximately 8 AM ET, Isaac Bonewits passed away peacefully in his sleep. All his brothers and sisters arrived at his side last night. His family and friends surround him

The Maiden & the Mirror -- Told by JD Hickey (4:55 minutes)

Bard's New Hat is on CDBaby!

2010-08-03T18:43:00.000-07:00

My latest CD The Bard's New Hat is now available on CDBaby! You can either order a physical copy of the CD or download the entire album as a set of MP3s. As of today, the MP3s aren't available yet, but they should be by the end of the week.

If you think you're going to see me in person soon, you might want to wait until we cross-paths. But if you just can't wait, CDBaby might be a good option for you. The tracks should also be available on iTunes in a few weeks as well.

If you already have a copy of my CD and enjoyed listening to it, please visit my CDBaby page and leave a glowing review to encourage others to buy it! Thanks for your support!

July Story: The Samurai and the Teamaster

2010-07-11T20:57:00.000-07:00

This is a story I heard many years ago by a few tellers, each with their own version, each with their own ending. However, I wasn't satisfied with any of their endings, so I came up with my own. I hope you enjoy it.

This story was recorded in April 2010 at Cafe 92 Degrees, featuring Shayne Gryn on guitar.

I would also like to dedicate this story to Rick, who says this is his favorite story from me, and to Brendan R., who says I tell this story too often. What can I say? Some stories haunt me.

The Samurai and the Teamaster -- Told by JD Hickey (5:12 minutes)

Storytelling at Hurley's Irish Pub in July

2010-07-10T15:44:00.000-07:00

Join us for an evening of storytelling and music with Shayne Gryn and friends at Hurley's Irish pub. This is the third and last time I'll be standing in for Mike Burns as he gallivants across Ireland.

This will also be the official CD Launch party for my new CD "The Bard's New Hat". You can by your own copy for the ridiculously low price of $10 a copy.

You can read more about the CD here:
http://www.documentia.ca/storyteller/store.html

NOTE: For my Ontario friends, I may be organizing a CD Launch in Ottawa in August or September, so stay tuned for that!

Date: Sunday, July 25, 2010
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: Hurley's Irish Pub
Street: 1225 rue Crescent (Montreal)
Facebook Event Page

Odd Referrals

2010-07-06T15:43:00.000-07:00

I was just checking my webstats for this blog and noticed an odd thing. If someone finds this blogcast using a search engine with keywords, I can see what the keywords are. Today, there were two entries for Google searches using the keywords:

"likes the truth" "the naked truth"

I think someone heard my telling of Truth and Story and tried to track me down with keywords from the tale. Fear not True Believer! The story postings you are looking for could be:

Truth and Story: the written text
Truth and Story: the told tale

Of course, I could mention that Truth and Story is just one of many tracks on my new CD The Bard's New Hat, but that would be self-serving and I would never fall victim to such practices.

Never. Ever.

The Bard's New Hat: Official CD Launch

2010-06-30T05:23:00.000-07:00

July 25th, 2010, 7pm
Hurley's Irish Pub
1225 rue Crescent
Montreal, Qc
Facebook Event

Join us for an evening of storytelling and music with Shayne Gryn and friends at Hurley's Irish pub. This is the third and last time I'll be standing in for Mike Burns as he gallivants across Ireland.

This will also be the official CD Launch party for my new CD "The Bard's New Hat". You can by your own copy for the ridiculously low price of $10 a copy.

If you can't make the CD Launch party and you still want to purchase a copy, the easiest (and cheapest) way is to buy it directly from me. You can read more about it on my storyteller website. But if you don't think you'll be seeing me in person anytime soon, I can mail you a copy for $12 ($10 + $2 for S&H). Contact me at mtlbard@gmail.com to make these arrangements (payment via cheque/money order or PayPal).

You will also be able to download the tracks only from CDBaby. Stay tuned for updates on that!

Guest Teller: The Debate

2010-06-18T15:48:00.000-07:00

It is with great pleasure that I get to feature a fellow storyteller on this blogcast. Laurent Castellucci (aka LC) is a comedian, actor, writer, and storyteller based (mostly) in Montreal, but he has been known to travel hither and yon.

Back in April 2010, during the 92 Degrees of Foolishness, LC was invited to share a couple of tales with us that night. There is a bit of an ick with this story because there are hand gestures that, due to the limits of sound, you cannot see with the naked ear. Without seeing the gestures, the story loses a good chunk of its meaning.

To fix this problem, here are the gestures:
1. The Bishop holds up three fingers. Joshua holds up one finger.
2. The Bishop gestures in a circular manner above his head. Joshua thumps his chest once with his fist.
3. The Bishop pulls out a cup and a piece of bread. Joshua pulls out an apple.

Enjoy! Also, please remember that LC will be telling tales with us at Hurleys Irish Pub on the last Sunday in June! You do NOT want to miss that evening of tales!

The Debate (7:14 minutes)

Walking the Moonlit Road...

2010-06-15T18:47:00.000-07:00

Guess who is now featured on The Moonlit Road? I am so honored... I've been a fan of this fantastic site that specializes in Creepy and Ghostly stories from the Southern US (it's where I discovered the Hall of Wonders story). I am also doubly honored to share the page with Priscilla Howe, another fantastic storyteller from the US.

Go have a listen to these two versions of the Ghost with One Black Eye. I'm especially honored since this is one of my nieces Natasha, Sam(antha), and Alex(andra)'s favorite stories, although they refer to it as the "Apple Juice" story.

LC will be the Guest Teller in June!

2010-06-14T03:55:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that LC has confirmed he will be joining us at Hurley's Irish Pub on June 27th as our guest teller. Shayne Gryn will be providing the musical accompaniment as well as a few of his own pieces and I have a whole new set of stories to share.

We hope that you can join us for pints and a few tales too! See you in a couple of weeks!

Date: Sunday, June 27, 2010
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: Hurley's Irish Pub
Street: 1225 rue Crescent (Montreal)
Facebook Event Page

Power to the Pickle!

2010-06-10T12:13:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Shayne Gryn is about to release his latest CD "The Untold Story of Pickle of Love", so we say Huzzah!

You can read more about it at: Power to the Pickle. You can download the CD, and if you like it, please donate and support a fellow artist!

June Story: Koji and the Headmaster

2010-06-10T05:32:00.000-07:00

This is the very first story I ever told. I read it in a collection of tales by Dan Yashinsky called Next Teller. Dan has a series of story collections that I highly recommend, including Ghostwise and Suddenly They Heard Footsteps.

What I love about this story is that it took me several years to figure out why I loved this story. It has an odd ending that moved me, but I couldn't explain what it meant. Listeners had all sorts of interpretations of what the story really meant, while others were frustrated with the ending, saying it was inappropriate. Any story that generates that much discussion is a good tale in my book.

The musical component of this story is provided by Shayne Gryn. It's sometimes difficult to focus on the story because his music is so beautiful.

If you are moved to do so, I would be interested in hearing your reaction to this story, so please leave a comment.

Koji and the Headmaster -- Told by JD Hickey (10:24 minutes)

Storytelling at Hurley's Irish Pub in June

2010-06-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Join us for an evening of storytelling and music with Shayne Gryn and friends at Hurley's Irish pub. This is the second month where I'm standing in for Mike Burns as he gallivants across Ireland.

Last month, we packed the room and even had to turn some people away! Get in early to find yourself a seat, order a pint, and settle in for some fabulous summer stories.

Date: Sunday, June 27, 2010
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Location: Hurley's Irish Pub
Street: 1225 rue Crescent (Montreal)
Facebook Event Page

Bard's New Hat is now in Beta!

2010-05-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

I've made six copies of my upcoming CD The Bard's New Hat and I've been distributing them to people to review. I feel good about this CD, but I've been working on it for months, so I'm worried I can't be objective about it. I've seen enough questionable artistic endeavors that gave me pause and had me wondering "Did you get anyone else's opinion before you decided this was your Final Draft?" Before I make 1000 copies of this CD, I want to have a chance to get some feedback.

So if you've gotten a copy of this Beta CD, here are the things I want you to consider when reviewing it:
1. Is the collection of stories enjoyable?
2. Are there any stories you really don't like?
3. Do you like the order in which the stories are presented?
4. Are the volume levels okay? Can you hear everything clearly?
5. Did you listen to the whole CD in one shot, or did you take breaks between stories?
6. Do you find the music distracting or complementary?
7. Does the CD leave you wanting to hear more stories?
8. Would you recommend this CD to friends?
9. Would you recommend this CD to children? If so, what age level?
10. Is there anything you found inappropriate or offensive?

This list is just an example of the type of feedback I'm looking for. Anything you have to suggest would be welcome: don't worry about hurting my feelings, but try to be constructive with your feedback.

Please send all of your feedback to me by email at mtlbard [at symbol] gmail.com. If you could get me your feedback by the 26th of May, that would be great.

May Story: A Wise Little Girl

2010-05-17T10:33:00.000-07:00

So here's another wisdom story for you for Spring from Russian folklore. This story was recorded at the 92 Degrees of Fools show back in April 2010 and features the incredibly gothic Shayne Gryn on guitar.

Don't forget the show at the end of May at Hurley's Irish Pub (May 30th, 7pm) where Shayne and I will be telling tales and drinking pints. We hope to see you there!

A Wise Little Girl (7:03 minutes)

There is a longer version of this story where the King marries the wise girl at the end, but fearing that she be too wise, he cautions her never to contract him on his judgments. Of course she does, and on the second time, with a heavy heart, he tells her to leave his kingdom, taking only what she can carry. She agrees to this, but asks for one last meal and night with her husband before she leaves. He agrees, but during the evening, she drugs his food so that he falls into a deep sleep. He wakes up to find himself in the back of a cart with his wife at the reigns saying that she agreed to leave taking her most precious thing, her husband.

I really like that ending, but I have never told it for some reason. I think I need to work that ending into it.

Back on iTunes!

2010-05-11T03:58:00.000-07:00

I finally figured out how my iTunes feed works! There were a couple of important lines missing from the XML file, but after much searching, I found the errors, fixed them, and another story turned up on my iTunes page. Huzzah!

Right now, I have Truth & Story and Love & Madness available for free download. I may charge a fee for future tracks, but I haven't decided.

So visit my iTunes podcast and become a subscriber! Feel free to pass my iTunes page to anyone you think might enjoy my stories!

Another Award to Shorten the Road!

2010-05-09T05:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks be to Juniper from Walking the Hedge for stating that this humble site as Blog Worth Reading!. I am quite honored to be named and happy that you enjoy the site so much.

This site was also featured during episode 158 at Canadian Podcast Buffet, although they didn't really comment on the blog itself. I was hoping to get some feedback, but maybe if I prod them a bit, I'll get more results.

This comes to my attention after I had such a fabbo birthday celebration on Friday. We were at the pub in the 'hood when I had to pop-out for 40 minutes to perform at a charity event just down the street. I had prefaced my two stories by stating that the opportunity to tell tales made my birthday celebrations complete, but when I was done, I was serenaded by a all-female barbershop quartet! Amazing!

Hurley's Storytelling: May 30th 2010

2010-05-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

Rather than burying this announcement in another post, I've decided to highlight this event with its own posting! Woot!

I'm very excited to announce that I will be the new storyteller at Hurley's Irish Pub for the next three months. Mike Burns, the Irish storyteller, has been telling tales at Hurley's on the last Sunday of each month for over 14 years! But Mike has decided to visit Ireland for three months and asked me to take his place while he is gone.

I am tremendously honored to be the Hurley's storytelling for May, June, and July. Mike was the first storyteller I ever heard and was my inspiration to become a storyteller myself.

Shayne Gryn will be joining me at Hurleys with his various guitars and musical contributions. So our first show will be May 30th, 7pm. We hope to see you there!

Hurley's Storytelling
featuring Hobbes & Shayne
Sunday, May 30th, 2010
Hurley's Irish Pub
1253 Crescent Street, Montreal
7pm to 9pm

Visit the Facebook Event page for the Hurleys Show

May Story: Brahma and the Brahman

2010-05-04T06:16:00.000-07:00

It's my birthday! I'm 41 years young today, so to celebrate that, I'm posting a new story that I told at the 92 Degrees of Fools show back in April. This is a relatively new story for me, having learnt it in the past year, but it is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

In a related note, I'm very excited to announce that I will be the new storyteller at Hurley's Irish Pub for the next three months. Mike Burns, the Irish storyteller, has been telling tales at Hurley's on the last Sunday of each month for over 14 years! But Mike has decided to visit Ireland for three months and asked me to take his place while he is gone.

I am tremendously honored to be the Hurley's storytelling for May, June, and July. Mike was the first storyteller I ever heard and was my inspiration to become a storyteller myself.

Shayne Gryn will be joining me at Hurleys with his various guitars and musical contributions. So our first show will be May 30th, 7pm. We hope to see you there!

Visit the Facebook Event page for the Hurleys Show

News: This story was published on my new CD "The Bard's New Hat". Read more about it on my website.

Brahma and the Brahman (9:33 minutes)

CBC's Wiretap: David, Goliath, and Superman

2010-04-19T04:42:00.000-07:00

CBC Radio has a show called Wiretap with Jonathan Goldstein that I've been enjoying over the past year. Wiretap is a series of monologues written and performed by Montreal's own Jonathan Goldstein, as well as listening to bizarre telephone conversations he has with his friends and other invited guests.

It's not everyone's cup of tea, but I find it tremendously funny. I found myself bewildered in the first few episodes of Wiretap, unsure if this was for real or if it was comedy before I realized I was enjoying it.

Recently, the last couple of seasons have been but up on the site as downloadable MP3s, so I've been catching up on episodes I missed. There are two episodes that are exceptional that I'd like to share with you:

David and Goliath (22:24 minutes)

We Are Not Supermen (25:31 minutes)

Commentary from "Standing Stone and Garden Gate"

2010-04-16T05:21:00.000-07:00

My good friends Brendan and Juniper have a podcast called Standing Stone and Garden Gate where they discuss music, tea, and spiritual/philosophical topics. They are kooky and fun.

In episode eight of their podcast, they interviewed a friend of mine who spoke of the power of the bards and their role in modern society. It was a great interview, but I disagreed with a central point and posted a comment on their website.

In episode ten of their podcast, Brendan read my comment and commented upon it. With their permission, this is the segment in which they talk about my comment.

Bardic Commentary (4:44 minutes)

Article on Storytelling and a New CD!

2010-04-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

Our good friend Laurent Castellucci has published an article on the storytelling we've been having at Cafe 92 Degrees in the past few months. You can read it here.

In other exciting news, I've made the final selections in a new CD of stories I'll be publishing in the spring. I just need to finalize the layout of the CD package and send it off to be produced. Stay tuned to find out when my new CD will be launched! You can read more about this new CD here.

April Story: The Giant's Garden

2010-04-04T14:15:00.000-07:00

Seeing as it is Easter Sunday for many people, I've decided to post my version of Oscar Wilde's classic tale The Selfish Giant. As I recall, I would often watch the animated version of this story around Easter, so I always associate it with Spring. You can read more about the animated film on Wikipedia or watch it on YouTube.

The same production house (Potterton Productions) also produced The Littlest Mermaid and The Happy Prince. I really need to learn the Happy Prince someday.

I told this story to a small audience at Cafe 92 Degrees in Montreal during a show called 92 Degrees of Foolishness. It was a great night of tales and music and I thank everyone who was able to share that evening with us. The magical, mystical Shayne Gryn can be heard providing the music ambiance.

The Giant's Garden (8:17 minutes)

Happy Easter Sunday everyone and welcome to Spring.

March story: Indra and the Blind Shaman

2010-03-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

I've been a bit at a loss to know what to post for March, which is why this posting is so late. The recordings I have don't really suit this time of year and I've already posted the others. Of course, I have those two shows in April (April 2nd and April 3rd), so I should get more recordings for the months to come, but in the meantime...

I first heard this story from my friend Dylan, who tells it masterfully. I always liked this story, especially Indra's reaction to getting shot down. This story also allowed me to win third place in the KG Bardic in 2009, so I've grown quite fond of it.

This was recorded during the 92 Degrees of Love show in February 2010 at Cafe 92 Degrees, featuring Shayne Gryn on guitar. We had about 30 people in the audience.

News: This story was published on my new CD "The Bard's New Hat". Read more about it on my website.

Indra and the Blind Shaman (7:33 minutes)

Beautiful Blogger Award!

2010-03-18T16:37:00.000-07:00

I want to give a shout-out to Analea who bestowed this beautiful award on my humble blog. Recognition at last! Thanks for thinking of me Analea and introducing me to your blog!

Here are the rules of the award:
1. Thank the person who gave you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pass the award along to 15 bloggers who you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic!
4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

Seven things about myself:

My favorite colors are dark blue, green, and black.
I'm a proud pseudo-uncle to three girls in Quebec city, one of whom is my goddaughter.
I would wear my Utilikilt 24/7 if I could.
I've been an eccentric my whole life, much to the frustration of my family and loved ones.
I have no tattoos, but I'm still trying to design one I'd like.
I feel the most alive and happy when I'm performing.
I still feel like I'm in my 20s when I'm really in my 40s.

I'll be taking some liberties here with the 15 Bloggers I like and including some podcasts I think are fantastic:

I'm not sure all these people will respond to this award, but I'll do my best.

New Promotional Spot

2010-03-13T20:02:00.000-08:00

I've recorded a new promotional spot to, oddly, promote this podcast. You can download this MP3 and use it in your podcast, your website, or your radio show. Please let me know if you intend to use this promo spot just so I can link back to your show.

My thanks to my friend Shayne Gryn for providing the music for this promo. Here it is:

Shortening the Road Promo Spot

Thanks for your support!

EVENT: 92 Degrees of Foolishness

2010-03-08T07:55:00.000-08:00

Dates: April 2nd and 3rd 2010
Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: Cafe 92 Degrees
6703 Sherbrooke West
Montreal, QC
Google Map

Join us at Cafe 92 Degrees in NDG for an evening of tales of wisdom, fools, and Spring. Shayne Gryn will be providing the music and special guests include LC, Sarah, and Jack Nissenson.

We will be performing this show over two evenings: April 2nd and 3rd. So if you can't make one show, you can attend the other!

Admission: Free, voluntary contribution
Space is limited (30 people), so get there early!

Facebook Event page April 2nd
Facebook Event page April 3rd

A Story of Love and Madness

2010-02-14T15:42:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has had an enjoyable Valentine's Day, however you have chosen to mark this day. This year, Sarah and I, along with a few good friends, told tales at Cafe 92 Degrees in NDG (see previous post). The two evenings of storytelling were enchanting and well-received, so we hope everyone had a great time. We're already planning our next evening of stories for the spring (maybe an evening of Wise Fools stories for April Fools Day).

I'm very excited to have had the chance to record this story which I have told fairly often over the years. I first heard this story told by British storyteller Ben Haggarty who visited Montreal a few years ago during the Festival Internationale du Conte du Quebec. Since then, I have made a few tweaks here and there and come up with my own version of Love and Madness.

News: This story was published on my new CD "The Bard's New Hat". Read more about it on my website.

Love and Madness (4:38 minutes)

If you enjoy this story, please pass this post on to all your friends!

EVENT: 92 Degrees of Love

2010-01-17T22:43:00.000-08:00

Dates: February 12th and 13th 2010
Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Location: Cafe 92 Degrees
6703 Sherbrooke West
Montreal, QC
Google Map

Join us at Cafe 92 Degrees in NDG for an evening of love stories and music with Hobbes, Shayne, and friends. We will be performing this show over two evenings: February 12th and 13th. So if you can't make one show, you can attend the other!

Admission: Free, voluntary contribution
Space is limited (30 people), so get there early!

Visit the Facebook Event pages
February 12th
February 13th

Story and Truth in 2010

2010-01-01T00:49:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone who has blessed us with their company as we shorten our roads! I hope that you had a happy, safe, and memorable celebration and put 2009 to bed. Let's get this 2010 show on the road and I hope it's filled with great adventures and stories.

I thought it would start the year off well if I shared a bit of Truth and Story with all of you. This is a story I told at the wildly successful 92 degrees of Winter show I did in December 2009. The food was filling, the tales were inspiring, and the company was beyond compare. I'm putting together another show for February for Valentine's day called 92 degrees of Love. Stay tuned and maybe we'll see you there!

This was the first story of the evening (with Shayne Gryn on guitar) and I'm seriously considering making it a regular part of my performance. My friend Christina and her son Hunter were in the front row and Hunter was decidedly NOT enjoying himself, but the timing of the wail of discontent was too perfect to not include in the recording. As a performer, you just have to roll with what happens, which is the beauty of live performance.

If this story sounds familiar, you may remember that I wrote it out in May 2009.

News: This story was published on my new CD "The Bard's New Hat". Read more about it on my website.

Truth and Story (3:12 minutes)

December Story: La Befana

2009-12-07T05:39:00.000-08:00

I just finished a gig at a Yule Fair last weekend where Shayne and I performed the Winter Tales show. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the laptop to work properly, so it couldn't be recorded. On December 12th at 6pm (Cafe 92 degrees in NDG), we'll be doing a full version of that show including a couple of invited tellers, so I will definitely record that show one way or the other.

But about this story posting, La Befana. I picked this story up from a collection by Carolyn McVickar Edwards called The Return of the Light. The word "Befana" means Epiphany: that moment when seemingly disconnected ideas come together. Not only is it a beautiful story for the season, but it reminds us how the promise of beauty can inspire us to spread beauty to others.

Happy Yule, Happy Winter Solstice, Merry Christmas.

La Befana (6:50 minutes)

EVENT: 92 Degrees of Winter

2009-11-12T18:11:00.000-08:00

Join us for an evening of music and storytelling as we explore the joys and perils of winter with tales from around the world.

Cafe 92 degrees is NDG's newest hotspot for a warm cup to keep the chill of the night air out of your bones. They are our hosts as we offer you this magical evening of story and song.

Date: December 12th (Saturday), 6pm
Location: Cafe 92 Degrees
Street: 6703 Sherbrooke St. Ouest
City/Town: Montreal, QC
Visit the Facebook Event Page

Next Storytelling Performance: Samhain/All Saints Celebration in NDG

2009-10-26T17:22:00.000-07:00

I've managed to double-book myself on this evening, but I'll be telling Halloweenish stories about ghosts, goblins, and maybe even the Devil on October 30th (Friday), 6.00-10.30 pm.

The Anglican Church of St. Columba
4020 Hingston Avenue
(corner Notre-Dame-de-Grace Ave)
Montreal, Quebec
(514) 486-1753
mrogers@montreal.anglican.ca

(Welsh Supper & Ceilidh)
$15.00 entrance includes supper, Celtic musical guests, seasonal storytelling, craft fair; cash bar will also be available. Children are always welcomed free of charge. Please consider dressing up for the party: you might come as your favourite character from Celtic tradition!

Guest Teller: The Boy Who Drew Cats (Roman Pylat)

2009-10-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

The second story post for October 2009 is by fellow Montreal teller Roman Pylat. I have always adored Roman's stories and the raw power of his voice. This story was recorded during a fundraiser I helped organize for the Montreal Children's Hospital back in 2005 called "Through a Child's Eyes".

This story is quite popular, and you can find many versions of it on the Internet. I have told it several times in the past year, but I have yet had a chance to record it. Hopefully, I will have several recordings of by the end of this month!

My heartfelt thanks to Roman for giving me permission share this story with you on this site. I hope you enjoy it!

The Boy Who Drew Cats (18 minutes)

Also, on Monday night, I had the enormous pleasure of enjoying an evening of stories from Allan Shain and Kim Kilpatrick called "Kissing That Frog: Disabling the Disability Myth". Such wonderful stories from two talented tellers from Ottawa. Loved it! But, if you don't mind the ego booster, when I went up to thank both tellers, Kim recognized my voice and remembered my "You Don't Know Jack" performance in the Ottawa festival from four years ago. I was floored and pleased to peaches.

There are English and French tellers performing all this week for the 10e Festival Interculturel du conte du Quebec, which the final English show being at Hurley's pub on the Sunday night. I'll be telling tales there, as will many others. I'll running all over the city, trying to take in as much of the English and French shows as I can.

If you can make it out to any of these shows, don't squander your opportunity! You will not regret it, mark my words.

Ghost Story for October: The Dead Don't Pay

2009-10-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

I've been sitting on this recording for soooooo long! This recording was done when I visited Our Lady of Pompei elementary school way back in February of 2009.

Within every story, there are a few kernels of truth. In this story, I decided to use my old school chum Ted as the protaganist. I made this decision many years ago when I started learning this story, but I recently reconnected with Ted and was pleased to have the chance to share this story with him.

Update: I found the nice thing Ted said!

The fascinating thing about the story, for me, is the marvelous mix of fact, fiction, and perspective I find in it. The tale is so compelling that I could think it was true, or that my actual memories of that time in my life were somehow wrong, FSM knows they're foggy enough. I might even believe that "Ted" was the name I was Christened with--and it isn't, lest the Avid Fans (all five of them) wonder.

October is usually quite a busy month for me as a storyteller, and so far, I've got about 4 gigs starting to take shape. When I figure out the wheres and whens, I'll be posting them here and in my various other spots on the web. Stay tuned!

Before we begin, I want to give a shout-out to fellow storyteller Marie B. who just started her own storytelling podcast. I would love to say I inspired her to do this, but that would be lying, and I never lie. Never, never, ever.

The Dead Don't Pay (10 minutes)

Story for September: Summer Nostalgia

2009-09-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

This post is a bit of an experiment. I tried recording the piece I wrote in the last post and mixed it with some music. Any feedback you would have would be appreciated. Is the music too much? Does it suit the story?

You can read the text version of this story by clicking here.

The piece of music is by a band called Scatter the Mud. The album is called In the Mud (pronounced "mood") and the track is A Bad Day for Brittany / Flying Plate / Whelan's Reel.

Summer Nostalgia (6:50 minutes)

Summer Nostalgia

2009-09-07T22:01:00.000-07:00

**This is reposted from my livejournal and Facebook Notes. I've been getting lots of great feedback on it, so I thought I'd post it here. You can listen to a reading of this piece with music by clicking here. **

I was just listening to CBC's Definitely Not the Opera where the host, Sook-Yin Lee, asked "If you could take back something from your youth, what would it be?" (the show was about nostalgia).

So I dusted off those rusty memory boxes, cracked them open with much squeaking and clouds of dust, and padded through pictures, trading cards, and Star Wars action figures until I found a set of keys. House keys, to be exact. One key for a deadbolt, the other for the door. They are discolored green and brown, worn with age, but they slid easily in the the locks of Little House where I spent many happy, youthful days in the summers past.

Every couple of weekends, my family would drive out to the town of St. Malachie, near Frampton. This was a wee pocket of Irish and Scottish families where four generations of my father's side of the family lived after arriving from Ireland via Grosse Isle. Living alongside the Tremblays and the Langlois' were the proud Irish family names like Hickey, Murphy, O'Rourke, O'Farrell, O'Grady, and Beatty.

The Little House was owned by The Aunties, who were my grandfather's sisters. At any one time, Madeleine, Bertha, and Dot could be found bustling in the kitchen, serving tea, and catching up on the news and gossip about the far-flung members of my hoary-old Irish family. It was a tiny, two-storey house with a rickety porch and fake brown-brick panels covering the exterior walls, some half-cracked and hanging on by rusty nails and much love.

As the wooden screen door SMACK-Smack-smecked shut, it announced to the room of people that new company had arrived with the promise of news and more good conversation. Bertha would be up in a flash for a hug and a kiss, with Dot dashing down the creaky stairs, and Madeleine wiping her hands on her apron as she pulled another fresh strawberry pie from the oven. I was a shy, awkward boy in those days, but I knew to shake hands with everyone in the room and grin on cue when they ruffled my hair or commented on how tall I was. I would run my hands along the textured, dark flowers that rambled across the upholstered couches like muted wildfire. I would pick at the flaking paint on the walls until I became aware of people watching, then laughing as I tried to be nonchalant about my low-grade destruction habits.

I tried to enjoy the adult conversation, but it centred about the local news, politics, the damn Tories, and whose gall-bladder needed removing. I would eventually wander away from the living room to talk to Madeleine and maybe get a slice of her mystical strawberry pie (it frustrated my mother to no end that she could never quite duplicate that pie perfectly). She would shoo me away, promising me a slice after lunch, or send me into the basement for something she needed.

I both dreaded and loved the basement of that house. It was dark, old, and musty. I could still hear the endless conversations above, but they were muffled and distant, disconnected voices that were strange, yet familiar. I always feared basements: although I was always curious to discover the treasures that were lost in storage, I feared the creatures that might be guarding them, their eyes tracing my every move and dreaming of how delicious my muffled screams would be. I would start out bravely searching for what Madeleine needed, but tear up the stairs in a mad panic once I found it. She would then shoo me out of the house again, laughing off the sinister possibilities of toothed potentialities in her basement.

The property was tiny: just enough space for a few cars to park in the matted grass, a small wooden shed, and a couple of picnic tables. The tall grass and weeds behind the house was so thick, I wondered if I would ever find my way back to the house if I wandered into it. I spent many summers rummaging in the wooden shed, searching for a way that I could explore the jungles behind the Little House and discover their secrets.

The second floor of the Little House was filled with beds. Ornate metal bedframes, squeaky bed springs supporting squishy mattresses and soft linens that invited lazy afternoon naps. The doubled-paned wood-framed windows welcomed warm sunbeams that inched across the pages of a favourite book as I spent afternoons lost in worlds of dragons, bold knights, and the odd papercut. Even the air seemed filled with dusty denizens that were only revealed with warm sunlight as they drifted from room to room, ghosts that could only be temporarily exorcised by an expertly-wielded feather duster.

When I wasn't exploring the Little House, sipping tea, and stealing extra slices of strawberry pie, I was visiting with my cousin Andrew, who lived only a few houses away. He seemed to regard every inch of the country-side with a lackadaisical attitude that bewildered my city-based sensibilities. Whenever I visited, we read comic books and we swung in the hammock, ducking away from the occasional crab apple that would be shook loose from the constant swaying. We went fishing, explored the back woods, and debated the mystery of girls, their wildish ways, and how cool it would be if we had the nerve to prove how cool we were. We put too much ketchup on our hotdogs while we watched scrap metal wrench and fly at the local demolition derby. We dodged the angry francophone kids who despised our English-speaking ways and warned us that we should go home or else. Mostly, we assured our parents that we were keeping out of trouble and rarely got into as much destruction as they always feared we would.

And then it would be Sunday, with the sun setting in the distance. My Dad would drive up to my cousin's house to pick me up and we'd be off to the city again. I would watch the old houses disappear in a cloud of dust, wonder if the old Targ video game in Hotel Paradis had changed as we drove past, and wait to see the familiar white and green bridges that connected the South shore of Charny to the North shore of Quebec city.

Those days are precious to me. Now that I've written this, I need to go back and visit, even though the Little House has been empty for many years and lists dangerously in the wind. Maybe I can get Bertha or Dot to lend me a key and I can unlock my past one more time.

No Substitutes

2009-08-20T12:03:00.001-07:00

I'm realizing that there is no substitute for a live audience when it comes to recording a storytelling performance. I've tried to recreate that energy in my mind when recording a story at home and I keep being dissatisfied with the results. The story is fine, the pacing is good, the volume is steady, but the performances are just flat. Argh.

It's getting to the point that I'm thinking about inviting people to my house and recording a private house concert, just so I can tap into the magic of a live performance. I'd done some storytelling this summer, but the performances were done in spaces where I could not have recorded them (firepits mostly).

I need to start my self-promotion again as an artist, sending a fax to the schools and placing ads in family-based magazines. I've been chatting with a couple of cafe owners in NDG about putting on some shows in the Fall: there's definite interest there, but still waiting for the commitment.

Wait... where have I heard that before... ? *grin*

With October's creepy-crawlies around the corner, I should be able to get a few gigs going soon, and my microphone will be there to record them all. In the meantime, I'll go through the files and see if I can find something to offer for September.

Thanks for staying with me on this. I hope to reward you with a new story soon.

Leonard Cohen visits a friend in Verdun

2009-07-16T10:23:00.000-07:00

This is a story told by Montreal poet Leonard Cohen sometime in the early 1960s. I heard it while listening to the NFB documentary on Leonard Cohen called Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. Leonard Cohen.

I realize that posting this story may bend the original focus of this storyblog (I was supposed to be posting stories told by me, myself, and I), but I do think it stays in line with its spirit: celebrating good stories in all their forms.

If you want to hear the story, I may post it later at the end of this post. Enjoy!

==============
The other time I was in quarters such as these was when I visited the Verdun Mental Hospital in Montreal. I was visiting a friend. He was on a top floor and I asked him, while he was still lucid, where I could get a coffee. He said downstairs, which was one of those famous last words.

I commenced the decent of several similar stone corridors and I found myself in a kind of arena, which was surrounded by closed doors. It had been a hot afternoon and I removed my jacket as I have been moved to do. I left it with my friend who, though mentally ill, was no thief. I suspect he wasn't even mentally ill: he was doing this instead of college.

I stood watching the four or five doors, wondering about all the possibilities except for the one that occurred.

A door opened and two large men in white uniforms walked out. And they said "Where are you supposed to be now?"

I said, "In the cafeteria."

They nodded to each other. "WHERE are you supposed to be now?"

"IN THE CAFETERIA!"

Well, as their questions continued, my answers continued. And although they started out innocently enough, now began to sound as though I were protesting too much. In fact, after being interrogated three or four more times, I was shouting and pushing them aside, causing them to run after me down the corridor.

It was only after a guard identified me that I was able to go back to the room of my friend, who had eaten my jacket.

-- Leonard Cohen
Ladies and Gentlemen... Mr. Leonard Cohen
National Film Board
http://www.nfb.ca/film/ladies_and_gentlemen_mr_leonard_cohen/

Jurgen goes to Heaven

2009-07-14T08:01:00.000-07:00

Jurgen goes to Heaven,
but he can't get in because he's already there.

Why is he already there?
It's because his grandmother is already there.

And Heaven would not be Heaven
If Jurgen was not already there.

About which, no more.

The Silence of Summer

2009-07-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry to say I haven't posted very much this summer (only one post in June and already July with nothing to show for it). Just like the storytelling community in Montreal, summer seems to force us to rest.

Storytelling really is a fall-winter activity, best suited to fireplaces and intimate spaces. In summer, people want to be out there and experiencing stuff. The only exception to this seems to be the summer camp campfire. I've performed at a couple of summer camps and they are fun, especially when you show up out of the gloom of the night to tell a tale, maybe in a mask and cloak, and then disappear, existing only for the story.

I've picked up a couple of new books and I've been searching for that new story to learn. I also promised a charming lady that, for the price of a kiss, I was to write a new story based on a celtic legend. I'm still searching for a celtic tale that suits me, so I should have something soon.

Thanks for your patience and I hope you're enjoying the summer!

June Story: Black Fly

2009-06-23T10:59:00.000-07:00

This song was recorded in 2007 in Montreal in an excellent cafe/bakery called Le Gryphon D'Or (specifically at the corner of Monkland and Royal). I can't remember why I wasn't there, but Sarah, Dylan, and Jack were definitely in attendance (I will be posting their stories later this summer), as well as the rest of Jack's band The What Four (or the Four Hoarsemen, or The Golden Oldies, or Groupe Du Jour -- They can't decide on a name).

The song was written and orginally recorded by the late, great Wade Hemsworth and was animated by the NFB (specifically Christopher Hinton) in 1991 (watch the animated version at the NFB website). Whenever Jack turns up at an event or a storytelling evening with his guitar, I always ask him to play it.

So since June tends to be black fly month, I present to you Black Fly by Wade Hemsworth and performed by The What Four.

Black Fly (2:49 minutes)

June Story: Jack's Tall Tale

2009-06-01T09:19:00.000-07:00

This is a story that is included on my book/CD You Don't Know Jack, but it was recorded earlier this year at Our Lady of Pompeii Elementary School in Montreal.

This is one of the first stories I learned, certainly the first Jack story I learned. As the story nears its end, there's a part that is so outrageous, the audience often cries out their incredulity at the tale, which gives me no end of satisfaction.

What I love about this story is how Jack, once he decides what he's going to do, refuses to give up. Even when his first story fails to trick the King, he tries it again from a different angle. All the Jacks that I know, and even those I've only heard about, have this unyielding desire to continue to push forward. It's a quality to which we all need to aspire.

Jack's Tall Tale (15:46 minutes)

Truth and Story have a Contest

2009-05-21T09:25:00.001-07:00

Exceptionally, I am posting the text for this story from Jewish tradition that I will record in the coming days. Stay tuned!

==
Once upon a time, there were two exceedingly beautiful women who lived together in small house at the end of a village. One day, the two women were having a discussion, that became a debate, and then turned into an argument. They could not decide which of the two of them was the most beautiful and which one would be the most accepted by the villagers.

When the argument became too heated, they decided to settle it by having a contest. The contest was that each woman, one at a time, would walk through the village and see which one had the most friends.

Truth was the first to try as she walked out of the house and down the village street. The villagers who were tending to their gardens and chatting to each other along the road noticed Truth walking towards them. Slowly, they began easing back into their houses until there was no one on the road, no one in their gardens, and finally no one in sight. Even the people who were seen in their windows pulled the shutters tight. By the time Truth reached the end of the road, there were very few people left outside.

When Truth reached the end of the road, she realized that she was going to lose this contest. "What can I do to make myself even more attractive?" she wondered. She realized there was only one solution left to her, so she removed her robe until she stood there completely naked.

She turned and walked back to her house thinking that the people would surely flock to her now. But in actual fact, the opposite occurred. What few people that were left outside fled back to their house, closed their shutters, and locked their doors. Truth walked that whole path back to her house completely alone.

When Truth walked back into her house, she was greeted by her friend, Story. Story grasped her hands and asked "So? How did it go?"

"I can't believe it," cried Truth. "There was no one there! Everyone hid themselves away from me!"

So Story said, "Here. Let me try." She put on her finest robes and jewelry and left the house, walking down to the village. As she walked down the village street, the doors and the shutters flew open and the people came out in droves, smiling and chatting with each other happily. As Story walked down the village street, the people streamed behind her. When Story turned and walked back through the village, all the people gathered together in the centre of the village and celebrated her visit.

When she returned to her house, she found Truth sitting there, quite humbled. "You win," she said. "It's obvious to me now that Story is more powerful than Truth."

But Story took Truth's hand and said "It's not that Story is more powerful. It's just that nobody likes the Truth, and especially they don't like the Naked Truth. If you want to get your point across to your listeners, what you need is the mantle of Story."

Story removed her robes and her jewelry, adorned Truth with them, and sent her out into the village. This time, the people opened their doors and windows and flocked towards Truth because now they were open to what she had to say.

Birthday Story: The Hall of Wonders

2009-05-04T15:28:00.000-07:00

Today is my birthday: I'm 40 years young today on International Star Wars day. May the 4th be with you!

So to mark this special day, I've decided to post one of my favorite stories. I first heard this tale on The Moonlit Road as told by its author Thomas E. Fuller. I'm very excited to say that I received official permission from the late Mr. Fuller's press agent to retell this story as much as I like as long as I give credit to the author (which I do already).

Serendipitously, the permission letter is dated May 4th 2009. I love it when a plan comes together.

I recorded this story in studio today; when I visited Gerald McShane Elementary school in April, I had told this story as well, but the recording was corrupted slightly. I would rather record a live story with an audience, but this studio recording came out not too badly.

I have something in the works right now that will allow you to purchase these stories so that you can put them on your mp3 player permanently. Stay tuned and I'll tell you more once I get that going.

Hall of Wonders (11:46 minutes)

A Ghost Story for Children

2009-05-01T08:13:00.001-07:00

This story is written and told for a much younger audience than previous stories presented on this storyblog. I first heard this story from Priscilla Howe on one of her storytelling CDs.

Telling to very young children (3 to 6 years) has always been very challenging for me. The stories are simple, repetitive, and very short, which is very different from the stories I tell to adults or older children. I only have three stories I tell to this age group and I have difficulty finding more stories that appeal to my telling style and suits their needs.

But all kids love a good ghost story and this tale is entertaining and not scary at all. I love how the kids get to jump in with this tale and it takes almost no time for them to recognize the pattern.

This is a simple story that you can tell to your kids over and over again. Enjoy!

The Ghost with One Black Eye (4:49 minutes)

Recent Gigs and News

2009-04-27T05:28:00.000-07:00

Already at the end of April and I've been able to post one story! Apologies dear listeners, I was hoping to release the telling of a story based on Oscar Wilde's The Selfish Giant, but the computer malfunctioned on the day that I tried to record that story. *grumble*grumble*

The good news is that I did record a show I performed at Gerald McShane school in Montreal last week: I just need to make some time to review it and pull out the stories that really worked.

And the big news this weeks is ... *drum roll* I got tentative permission to retell and record a story called The Hall of Wonders. Ever since I heard this story (back in the early 2000s), I've been telling it at shows and festivals (always giving credit to the author, Thomas Fuller).

But now that I'm recording my shows, I was hoping to be able to include it on my next CD project. Unfortunately, the author has passed away, so I wasn't sure who to contact. I finally got in touch with the creator of The Moonlit Road (the inspiration for this storyblog) and he has put me in touch with Mr. Fuller's press agent. They have given me tentative permission to include the story on the CD, but I need to contact the agent for written permission. Still... very exciting!

Also, this past weekend I attended the Montreal Beltane Fair and listened to a panel discussion with 8 authors about the publishing business. It was one of the most honest discussion about writing and publishing I have ever heard, which was a bit depressing and heartening at the same time.

Dr. Brendan Myers explained that modern publishers do very little to promote their writers these days (with few exceptions). The time, effort, and expense of promoting and marketing of a book is left mostly to the writer. I've toying with the idea of going to a bigger publisher with my next book, but if they're not going to help me with the promotion of it, I might be better off with sticking with my small publisher and simply selling the books at shows.

However, it was heartening to hear that my efforts over the past four years to promote and sell my book/CD You Don't Know Jack are quite standard now, which means I haven't been doing it wrong all this time.

I need to root through my things, but I thnk I might actually be down to my last 25 copies of the book (from the original printing of 500 copies back in 2005). I may do a second printing of You Dont' Know Jack in addition to my new CD and future book/CD. Money is tight for everyone nowadays, so everything must be carefully considered.

And lastly, keep an eye out for our new show taking place in the next two months. It's likely to happen on a Sunday night at Hurley's Irish pub. Musician Shayne Gryn and I have been rehearsing a show since December and hope to put it on sometime in May or June 2009.

A Wise Fool story for April

2009-04-01T05:16:00.000-07:00

The Wise Fool is a classic theme in storytelling. I've always been a fan of underdog stories, and Jack has always had great things to teach us. Even in modern storytelling, we always root for the underdog because he embodies our greatest fears and hopes. Somewhere, lurking in our psyche, we fear that we're not good enough, but we hope that we can carry the day just by being who we are.

Our hero Jack shows us that if we just trust in ourselves, we can rise to any occasion. No ghost is too terrifying, no dragon is too big, no quest is too impossible, unless you don't try and Jack always tries.

In this story, Jack Cures the Doctor, everyone seems to be trying to trick everyone else. Everyone is playing the fool, challenging the others to out-fool, to out-wit. This story is featured on my book/CD You Don't Know Jack, but I really like this recording of it because you can hear the children's reaction to Jack's solution.

I love it and I hope you do too. Happy April Fool's day!

News: This story was published on my new CD "The Bard's New Hat". Read more about it on my website.

Jack Cures the Doctor (11:17 minutes)

Podcast Alley test

2009-03-20T04:51:00.000-07:00

To be able to be listed at Podcast Alley, I need to post this:

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-a1debb0d59e87b2c762264d1ae8e33ed}

St. Patrick's Day story: The World's Greatest Thief

2009-03-16T20:33:00.000-07:00

This is a story taken from my book/CD You Don't Know Jack called The World's Greatest Thief. It remains one of my favorite stories to tell because when the secret is revealed, first there's confusion, then there's amazement.

The World's Greatest Thief (4:41 minutes)

One of the first times I was contacted by the CBC to tell an Irish story for St. Patrick's Day, I told the producer that I had a story, but it was about 6 minutes long. "Oooooh," he said. "Six minutes is a long time for radio. Can you shorten it?" I said I would try to get it down to three minutes.

So I worked on shortening the story, but I took many details out and had to practice speaking as quickly as I could without stuttering. I finally got it down to three minutes and made my way to the Old Dublin pub where the live broadcast was to take place.

I met with the host, Ms. Anne Lagace Dowson, and we chatted briefly off the air about the story I was to tell. She asked me how long it was and I proudly replied I could tell it in three minutes. "Ooooh," she winced. "Three minutes is a long time for radio. Can you shorten it?"

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all.

Telling Tales in Schools

2009-03-02T07:12:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, I had the immense pleasure of telling stories in Our Lady of Pompei elementary school in Montreal's East End. I had three groups: Kindergartners, Grades 1-3, and Grades 4-6. Each group had about 60 to 80 kids in attendance.

It was immensely fun. The kids were very receptive and excellently behaved. I brought my laptop and my microphone to record each show, so I'll be working on those clips and will post the highlights from those shows to this blog.

Just to give you a taste, here's a sample to what my introduction to each group sounded like.

Our Lady of Pompei: Introduction (1:38 minutes)

February Story #2: Ti-Fleur and the Fiddler

2009-02-24T05:03:00.000-08:00

In honor of Mardi-Gras (which is today), our second story for February is a Quebecois cautionary tale about the devil called Ti-Fleur and the Magic Fiddler. This story is a variation on the classic tale Rose Latulippe when a mysterious dark stranger turns up at a Mardi-Gras celebration and tempts the beautiful girl to dance with him for all eternity.

This story was told to a modest audience during a Yule fair in Montreal in December 2008. Shayne Gryn is accompanying on guitar.

I read the first version of this story in a book called Ghostwise (collected by Dan Yashinsky), as told by Chris Cavanagh. Several years after I first started telling this story, I was asked to retell it at an event. It had been so long since I had told it last that I need to review the tale, but my version had evolved so much from the Cavanagh's version, the book was of almost no help!

I hope you enjoy this story, and if you do, please pass the link along to your friends!

Ti-Fleur and the Magic Fiddler (12 minutes)

NEWS! I'll be performing a collection of Celtic tales in NDG on Saturday February 28th 2009 (my father's birthday!). Click here to visit the Facebook Event page for it.

Here's the info about that:

Ceilidh

Saturday, February 28

from 6:00 pm until 10:30 pm.

Tickets $12 for adults (children free)

The Anglican Church of St. Columba

4020 Hingston Avenue

(corner Notre-Dame-de-Grace Ave)

Montreal, Quebec

(514) 486-1753

mrogers@montreal.anglican.ca

The evening will start off with a dinner including Irish Stew and Oatbread, and a special Irish dessert. Beer and wine will also be available for purchase.

John David Hickey, a professional storyteller, will entertain us in the time-honoured Celtic tradition. Also included in the festivities will be a Celtic band led by Jim McDermott who will invite us to share in the excitement of a traditional Celtic ceilidh, including music, dance, jokes and stories.

There will be an opportunity to admire and purchase the works of skilled craftspeople at a mini-marketplace at the beginning of the evening.

February Story: The Dark Princess

2009-02-11T06:46:00.000-08:00

This story was told in the River's Edge church in NDG during a fundraiser we had put together for the Montreal Children's Hospital called Through a Child's Eyes. Unfortunately, the fundraiser was a flop because, although we advertised lots, we had an audience of 6 people.

But the storytelling itself was fantastic. It was video recorded and miked, so we got a DVD of the performance afterward as a keepsake.

So in honor of the upcoming holiday of Valentine's Day, I offer you this story told by Sarah A. Comrie (originally penned by Richard Kennedy). We hope you enjoy it.

News: This story was published on my new CD "The Bard's New Hat". Read more about it on my website.

The Dark Princess (15 minutes)

Neil Gaiman on Fairy Tales

2009-02-09T12:50:00.000-08:00

On Thursday February 5th 2009, CBC's Jian Ghomeshi interviewed British writer Neil Gaiman about his upcoming book-to-film Coraline, during which they discussed the purpose and the point of fairy tales.

Click here to visit CBC's Q podcast page (February 5th, 2009).

As you can imagine, as a storyteller, I was pleased, relieved, and excited to hear such talk. Too many people in our North American society regard fairy tales, fables, and myths as only frivolous entertainment. Because they are not literally true, they are (at best) a distraction and (at worst) contain no useful information or serve no constructive purpose.

At the beginning of Gaiman's Coraline, he presents the following quotation:

“Fairy Tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
G. K. Chesterton

Here's part of what Gaiman had to say about that quote:

I think what I love about that is that it talks about what you are taking away with you from a fairy tale, and what the real morals are, and what functions these things serve. And Chesterton wrote this wonderful essay in which he talks about fairy tales and he says:

"They do not tell children that there is a bogeyman out there. Children know that there is a bogeyman out there. They know that there are monsters out there. They know that there are dangerous things. What is important is to tell them that the bad thing can be beaten."

It's important for kids to be taught that, but it's even more important for adults to be reminded of that. Our lives are filled with beasts, but known and unknown. Myth reminds us that we can beat our dragons if we take a stand, hold our own, and allow our courage to fuel our actions.

In this way, stories can inspire us to move forward, take risks, and enjoy our victories. I hope as you visit this site, and when you can, come see a show, that you find inspiration in the adventures of our heroes as they face their challenges.

Two stories coming up in February!

2009-02-02T15:21:00.000-08:00

Next week, in honor of Valentine's Day, I will be posting a new story: a love story. But this story will not be told by me, but by my gracious guest teller. My lady Sarah has agreed to have a story she told a few years ago posted on this blog. Yay Sarah!

And then, at the end of February, I will be posting a Quebecois devil story that is appropriate for the season. Come back and check out the storyblog during the last week of February.

See you all then!

The Passing of Toby Kinsella

2009-01-26T09:13:00.000-08:00

Last night at storytelling, I got the news that my friend Toby Kinsella passed away the Sunday previous in Ireland after a relatively short battle with cancer. He was diagnosed with a malignant tumor that had formed around the base of his spine back in August 2008, and although there were some successful operations, the cancer had spread too quickly to stop it's rampage upon this gentle and talented man.

Toby was a musician and storyteller who lived and loved his passions. He could play over 40 different instruments (often several at the same time!) and managed to combine his musical talents with storytelling to great effect. He performed in schools, festivals, pubs, everywhere, anywhere. He was well-known in Montreal, but also across Ireland.

He is one of my many inspirations to becoming a storyteller myself. He always gave me honest and encouraging advice and always pushed me to put my fears aside and live my artform. I will always be grateful to him for his kind words.

So as a tribute to Toby (and with permission from his daughter Isabeau), I am posting one of his musical stories, which is a collaboration with his son Django.

King of Fools: Toby Kinsella and Django Doucet (3:08 minutes)

Good night Toby... Until we meet again.

Update: You can share your Toby stories at http://musicalstories.blogspot.com/. This blog was set up by Toby's children Isabeau and Django.

Upcoming Gigs and New Postings

2009-01-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

I was chatting with a friend last night and she pointed out that posting once a month is not a good way to build an audience. Many podcasters post once a week or more, but that's a bit heavy for me. I don't really have enough material to post once a week, but twice a month might be interesting.

I've got a gig at the Our Lady of Pompei elementary school at the end of February which entails doing three shows and telling about 8-10 different stories. It'll be fun to record these shows with children and will certainly increase my repertoire of postable podcasts. In the meantime, it's likely I will post another story in January. Truth be told, I was itching to post The Month Men in December.

In February, I will be posting a love story told by Sarah, a telling she did a few years ago, called The Dark Princess. I also have a Japanese story told by Roman Pylat entitled The Boy Who Drew Cats, but I'll need his permission before I put it up.

St. Patrick's Day is coming up, so if you know of anyone who would be interested in having a storyteller to come and tell a few tales, be sure to let me know! If you like the stories posted here, please help me advertise this site and pass the word along!

January story: The Month Men

2009-01-04T07:43:00.000-08:00

This month's story was recorded at Chateau Ramezay in Montreal with a modest audience of a dozen people.

I first heard this story years ago as told by montreal teller Molly Walsh at a Storytelling Swap evening (hosted by the Montreal Storyteller's Guild). I've told it a few times since then, experimenting with different elements and structures, and I finally got it into a format that I really like.

The ending has always been a bit tricky because there are several ways to end it, but not all of them are suitable to the audience. I had children in my audience, so I stuck with the "tea" metaphor, although the adult members of my audience seemed to understand what the "tea" metaphor could also mean. It's a good balance, I think.

News: This story was published on my new CD "The Bard's New Hat". Read more about it on my website.

The Month Men: A Russian story (11 minutes)

I hope you enjoy this story! Please leave me a comment and pass this story link to anyone else you think might enjoy it. Thanks for listening!

Ephiphany

2008-12-18T07:59:00.001-08:00

*gasp* I just realized that posting on this story blog makes me a podcaster!

*blink*blink*

Upcoming shows in December

2008-12-11T13:26:00.000-08:00

I'm doing two shows at Chateau Ramezay in Old Montreal on December 13th and December 27th 2008, 3pm on both days. It'll be a 45-minute show entitled Winter Tales or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cold (just kidding) featuring the following stories:

La Befana (Italian folk tale)
The Month Men (Russian folk tale)
Ti-Fleur and the Magic Fiddler (Quebecois folk tale)
Thomas and La Chasse Galerie (Quebecois folk tale)

This will be a reprise of the show I did at the Yule Fair, but without music this time. I'm also expecting a slightly younger audience this time, which always leads to unexpected twists and turns.

I hope you can make it and bring the little ones. The show is designed to entertain everyone! The address is:

Chateau Ramezay Museum
280, rue Notre-Dame Est
Montréal (Québec)
CANADA, H2Y 1C5
Phone: (514) 861-3708

December 13th and December 27th, 3pm to 4pm
Click here for info about the Museum entrance fee

December Story: La Befana

2008-12-09T04:42:00.000-08:00

Here is my story post for December. This story was recorded at the Montreal Yule Fair on December 7th, 2008. It features myself as the teller and Shayne Gryn on guitar. We had about a dozen listeners in a small room next to the Vendors room.

La Befana: A Yuletide Tale (7 minutes)

I first read La Befana in a collection of fables called Sun Stories by Carolyn McVickar Edwards. The word Befana means epiphany in Italian, which describes a coming together of seemingly disconnected ideas. La Befana is also a mythological character in Italian culture.

Enjoy and I wish you all a happy and safe Yule and a merry Christmas.

Yule Fair 2008: Winter Tales

2008-12-08T10:35:00.001-08:00

On Sunday, we had about a dozen listeners for our presentation of Winter Tales at the Yule Fair in Montreal. It's always a pleasure to tell tales to such an appreciative audience and we heard lots of positive feedback about the show. This was the first show that Shayne and I performed together with Shayne on guitar and me talking lots.

It was also the first time I got to try my new microphone and laptop to record the show. I lowered the recording volume slightly so that the distortion wouldn't be such an issue, but I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet. The show was an hour long and it took almost two hours to save it! I think the problem was that I saved it as an MP3 instead of a WAV file, which required the application to compress the audio to MP3 format before it could save it. More things to learn!

I felt pretty good about the performance and I'll be posting the best excerpts from it to the blog (hopefully) this week. If you like the stories, please give me some feedback and pass this blog along to your friends who can appreciate a good story.

Spam free for 39 years!

2008-12-03T11:19:00.000-08:00

So Blogger has determined that this is not a Spam-ridden site. Whew.

This coming weekend, I'm performing at the Yule Fair 2008 in Montreal on Sunday at 12:45pm. Shayne will be playing his guitar during the show, so that should be interesting. And I'll be bringing the microphone and laptop to record the whole thing, so you can expect to see (hear) highlights posted on this website in the coming days.

In case you're curious about the Yule Fair:

December 6th and 7th 2008, 10am - 5pm
Melange Magique
1928 Ste. Catherine Street West, 2nd and 3rd floor
Montreal, Qc
There will be vendors, workshops, and lectures in addition to storytelling!

Potted Meat Product

2008-12-01T06:35:00.000-08:00

Great. Blogger thinks this blog is some lame-ass excuse to promote spam. It is currently being reviewed by the Blogger Spam Lords, so hopefully they will realize this is a storytelling project and not some random ad that promises that you will lose weight, gain hair, or extend bodily organs.

However, did you know that it turns out I'm Nigerian royalty? When I get my cut, I'll be buying Blogger out. Just you wait.

Testing a Player

2008-11-27T09:38:00.000-08:00

I think I may have found a player that allows me to embed the mp3 into the blog. I've tested it out and it works great.

I was getting some bad distortion at first, but then I saved it with a different encoding and the distortion went away.

So in case you're curious, I got the player from 1 Pixel Out, which has all the files you need and easy-to-follow instructions. Enjoy!

Rehearsals and Recordings

2008-11-27T07:39:00.000-08:00

Okay, okay... I'm already going to bend the rules of this blog.

Last night, I met with Shayne and we worked on a few stories together. Shayne is playing his guitar while I tell to add an extra dimension to the performance. Ultimately, I'm hoping that Shayne and I will be able to work out a whole show (1.5 hours or so) of stories and music that we can bring to a theatre near you!

Also, I got to try out my new condenser microphone to record the rehearsal. It recorded everything very well, but I need to adjust the recording volume a bit better next time. There's a fair bit of distortion in some parts that I'll need to dial it back a bit to get a better recording.

So here's my first story post to this blog as told by Hobbes and with music provided by Shayne. My thanks go to Dylan from whom I first heard this story.

Lex and the Devil (9 minutes)

Please leave me any feedback you wish! I hope you enjoy this story!

First Posting

2008-11-25T08:44:00.000-08:00

This is my first post on this Story Blog. What I'm hoping to do is post one story a month for the next twelve months. Since December is only a week away, I will wait until the first week of December to make my first story post.

I will endeavor to select my stories in sync with the seasons. I may occasionally bend that rule at my discretion.

If you read this blog and listen to the stories, please leave me comments so I can know what you like and don't like.

I guess there are two factors that are really pushing me to do this:
1. I bought a USB condenser microphone which will allow me to record all my shows from now on.
2. I'm hoping this blog will raise my profile as a storyteller, getting me more gigs in the future.

I'm not adverse to occasionally featuring other tellers on this blog. If you're interested in that, send me an email (jdhobbes [at] gmail.com) or leave me a comment.

If you like what you hear here, please tell your friends!