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There are many forms of storytelling audience participation from the subtle interaction between teller and listeners to the many out-and-out call and response between teller and audience members.

Why should we as tellers strive for audience participation? When we achieve participation -- even if it is only intense listening and hearing -- with audience members, we form a bond and a special rapport. Our stories become their stories, and they internalize those stories and take them away with them forever.

What kinds of participation should we foster?

• Subtle participation comes from taking time to let the audience anticipate where we are going. Avoid the use of too many descriptive details, so that listeners can imagine and fill them in for themselves. They picture the characters, the setting, and the scenes through their own eyes, thus enriching the story for them.
• Use humor. Laughter serves as energizing exercise, and when we all laugh together, we immediately form a bond with each other.
• For the very young, I find that if I start with stories where they can take part and use their voices and/or their hands, they will be “with me” for the rest of the telling.
• Movement of any kind is relaxing and removes any apprehension that might be lurking for either the audience or the teller. If I note that the group has been sitting for a length of time and are beginning to wiggle or look uncomfortable, I’ll have them all get up on their feet for a stretch along with a hoop and a holler!

Where and with whom should I use participation techniques? If you feel comfortable, asking for participation from audience members will work in any storytelling situation.

• At a reunion or family gathering, ask other family members or attendees to share a quick story. You will be surprised how quickly others start to volunteer to tell once they see others chiming in.
• When telling to a brand new audience, and those who are unfamiliar with storytelling, it may take a bit of coaxing -- you might want to get names ahead of time of some of the outgoing people attending, and ask them for help.
• There will always be those children and adults who just won’t take part, and you don’t want anyone to do anything that makes them uncomfortable. When a teacher is a good sport and participates, most of the children will too.

When and how should I encourage participation? We should always strive for some form of participation. The special part of being a storyteller is the personal interaction we build between audience members and ourselves. We need to give each listener the feeling that we are telling this story especially to and for him or her. One way is through individual eye contact. Look each person in the eye for at least three seconds before moving on to another set of eyes. They will catch your energy and you will catch theirs.

To feel and be successful, use the participation techniques that you enjoy. That is the wonderful part of being a storyteller -- there is such a latitude of ways to tell stories. Everyone is free to be unique.

Remember to be prepared with your participation techniques. No matter how subtle or how outlandish you plan to be, it all takes practice, practice, practice. And once you take the risks, you will find it does become easier and definitely more FUN!