May 18-25, 2008, Doc McConnell's
"Medicine Show Institute" - Postponed until further notice.
_____________________________________________________
Guerry McConnell --
Topics
Available for Workshops
Wow! Did
You Hear That?!*
Basics of Learning and Absorbing Stories
This workshop will concentrate on how to learn stories through listening,
imagining and memory techniques. Recollecting and relating what you already
know to make the story more familiar.
Never Go
Out With the Naked Truth!*
Unless you are a story- How
to take a story you know (fictional or ‘true’) and dress it up in your own
expression.
This workshop will concentrate on gathering information through observation to
animate and inanimate objects and sounds. With this, you apply what you know or
feel about the characters, events, the world and time around them.
What is
Your Storytelling Voice?*
Finding your voice without
changing your style.
This workshop will give attendees exercises (that make you laugh) to make speech
patterns more effective, to protect your voices, tips on how to use vocal
dynamics and a few suggestions on body movement.
Using Music
To Tell The Story*
This workshop will
give tips on how to effectively mix music with story without taking away from
the content. You will talk about the flavor of the story, if there is existing
music that works, or how you can add original material.
*All of these workshop are planned
for 1-1 ½ hours. Each can be combined with others and expanded to include more
valuable interactive practice to cover more time.

Workshops formerly given by Doc McConnell
The
Philosophy and Psychology of Humor (or What’s Funny and Why?)
In this workshop
learn that humor is a state of mind, sometimes called a ‘sense’. Attendees will
have an opportunity to learn the types of humor, to be able to tell funny
stories, to prepare and tell stories in a humorous manner, and to know the
difference. Laughter is much more than just a sign of amusement.
So You Want
to be a Storyteller!
This is for the
novice as well as the seasoned teller. It will explore the question of where do
you find stories to tell, what stories should you tell, how to learn stories and
how to tell your own story. Those attending will go away with a better
understanding of storytelling and should be prepared to begin telling stories
with the newly learned skills and with much more confidence.
Giving Up
the Day Job (or So you want to be a professional storyteller?)
Participants will be
introduced to such subjects as: What is a professional storyteller? Expenses
and Income, Lifestyle, Job satisfaction, Preparation for the job, Marketing and
Promotions. The workshop will provide the method of self evaluation of
elements and facts that would determine if an attendee is capable, willing and
able to pursue a career of storytelling.
Home-made
Stories (or Make and Tell Your Own Story)
This workshop is for
those who would like to construct their own story to tell. They will learn how
to select a subject or experience and how to arrange the story in such a way
that they can remember it, tell it, and make it well understood by the
listeners.
Storytelling In Business
This workshop helps
provide the study and practice of storytelling to enrich and improve the
communication skills of workers and leadership of businesses and organizations.
These skills improve attitude and performance in all who participate.
Learning
Youngin’s (or Storytelling in Education and Classroom Learning),
Providing answers and
skills that will help educators and parents meet some of the demands made of
them as they attempt to teach today’s children. Attendees will find a useful
tool for meeting the personal needs of the student in speaking, listening, use
of problem solving, imagination, resolving conflict and developing higher levels
of thinking skills.

For More Information Contact:
Doc McConnell's Medicine Show
423 McKinney Ave., Rogersville, TN, 37857
Tel: 423-272-8549
Internet:
guerrymcconnell@bellsouth.net
Figure Caption Above:
Doc, Guerry & fellow storyteller and workshop leader, Shelley Gotterer at the
Teachers' Arts Academy, June 2005. All are Roster artists with and
attended the academy on scholarship from the Tennessee Arts Academy
Figure Caption Below: Doc,
Jimmy Neil Smith, Executive Director of the International Storytelling Center,
Jonesborough, TN, Storyteller Tim Tingle and Bruce Roberts, Assistant Director
of Academic Programs with the University of Oklahoma Outreach, gather during a
storytelling institute organized by UO and held at the ISC. Jimmy Neil and Doc
talked about the history of the storytelling revival which started in
Jonesborough and Doc gave the audience a sample of Appalachian storytelling
and tall tales.
