The Ins and Outs of Tandem Storytelling

Commit to each other and decide who will take the lead. I already mentioned getting along with each other, but it is also important to make prior decisions about which one will do the introductions, which will answer questions, and which one will take the lead in the different stories to be included in the program. I have attended wonderful performances where the tandem tellers take turns, and also don't always tell together. One will perform a story while the other stays off to the side listening and/or accompanying the current teller with an instrument of some sort. I should mention here how important it is for both tellers to not only enjoy the stories they are telling together, but to also enjoy each other and each other's performance. Pure enjoyment is obvious and when tellers exhibit joy in what they are doing and doing together, it just adds to the whole audience's enthusiasm with the program and the tellers.

Embrace the challenges and advantages of tandem storytelling and have fun! You have probably realized by now, that tandem telling can present challenges, but it also affords the advantages of working with another person and having another person there for the bouncing off of ideas and coaching each other. It is important to lighten up and have the extra special fun of working together. Make sure you can laugh at yourself and each other.

Try it, you'll like it! Find another storyteller you admire and prepare to tell together for fun. You will discover a whole new world of storytelling - Tandem Telling.

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