Workshops for Speakers
& Other Performers

Storytelling is an art to be shared. Jackson has developed workshops for both beginning and professional performers, and draws on his years of experience to challenge and entertain.

Private coaching is also available.

Motivation. Education. Inspiration. Challenge. Fun.
Jackson has presented workshops and/or coached nearly every year at New England's Sharing the Fire storytelling conference, and has also served as key-note speaker. With The Stand-Up Chameleon's warm, inimitable style, you can count on a workshop that will be just right. Here are some of the workshops that have inspired other performers across the country (complete outlines and evaluation summaries are available on request)

Hook 'em or Lose 'em
First impressions count. Your opening can either intrigue or alienate an audience. There are lots of options for starting a program. Workshop participants will share tried and true methods, and we'll explore new and different ways to engage an audience. Jackson has performed for the whole gamut - blind, deaf, toddling, senile, incarcerated, and drunk. Each group presents its own challenges. Consistently establishing successful rapport with audiences is what makes his job exciting. Take a look at how those first few seconds can help make that happen.
Received an average of 4.92 (of 5) for Quality of Presentation from 51 evaluations at the 2003 National Storytelling Conference in Chicago

"Great fun and fully engaging; Wonderful ideas to put into immediate use; didn't get side-tracked - excellent teacher!; Very funny, informative and right on target; Wow! He is so powerful and unique - an inspiration!; Best part of conference."

Storyscaping
Landscaping/Interior Decorating Your Story
How clearly do your see your own stories' physical settings? How well are you able to create the imaginary "stage set" to help your listeners visualize the supporting landscape and actions? Jackson offers concrete exercises to assist tellers in transferring, by gesture, their internal landscapes to the stage.

"Jackson is a master teacher...very clearly presented & fully explored; great techniques and tools for imaging and embodying story; great spontaneity and respect and appreciation of others' efforts; his body language is superb; wonderful examples and use of volunteers; thorough, potent instruction on overlooked basics - awesome; so much taught, so much wisdom and experience shared; This was one of the best workshops I¹ve seen at STF!!!!!"
- Sharing the Fire evaluations

Springboards for Stories
Known for his broad, theatrical work, Jackson also enjoys using the quirks and quiet in daily life for grist in his storytelling. Sometimes it is not until we recount an anecdote that we realize its potential for repertoire. Examples of simple events turned into performance pieces will be modeled. Group exercises with "listener as co-creator" will help prompt participants to mine their own personal nuggets worthy of polishing. Together, we'll explore the process of crafting material from real life experiences, whether they be dramatic or commonplace. This has been presented as a 90-minute workshop, a day-long workshop, and a three-day intensive.

"Your giving ways, from being a caretaking breakfast maker to being a sensitive guide through each day's work, from sharing in laughter around the dinner table to sharing some of your own performance pieces, created the space in which each of us could benefit in so many ways. And your critiquing was focused , helpful, supportive, without stepping in the way of each person's choice of where they wanted to go. I couldn't have asked for more."
­ Mike Seliger, college dean

Songs as Story
(or Look Ma, No instrument: performing without accompaniment)
Songs can be a great source of stories and be presented as such. Sometimes an instrument, and even rhythm, can just get in the way. One can get more out of some songs not being tied to anything. Jackson demonstrates and invites participants to bring songs and explore possibilities.

- received top rating of "five" from 63 of the 67 evaluation categories collected from Sharing the Fire participants (and 4 "fours")

Flak Happens
UCOs, PAIs, etc. (Unidentified Crawling Objects, Under-Chaperoned Overexuberants, PA Interruptions...)
Technical disasters, stray children, flickering lights, fire drills, you name it. It all happens. Some of these performance curve balls can be prevented, others ignored, and still others simply need to be dealt with. Jackson offers workshop tips and exercises to better prepare you for handling all these Great Unexpectations. Jackson has been pitched many curves in his performing career. He's been hit by some, struck out at others, he's walked, he's fouled, and he's deftly slammed some back -- but he's always learning. Learn along with him.

"There were only top ratings for your session and people were asking for it to be repeated, It was an enormous hit. I guess flak does indeed happen."
- Suzanne Finn, Maine Arts Sponsors Association

Sign Language & Storytelling
Jackson's introduction to the beauty of sign language in performance. Many performers like to incorporate signing in their presentations, and this can be very effective. Jackson is well respected by the deaf for his several sign-interpreted shows. In this workshop, he'll discuss how to use signing responsibly, and you'll explore this bilingual (verbal and visual) approach to storytelling in a sign-along workshop.

"I was truly amazed with the fluidity of his communication - spoken, signed and portrayed through his movement."
- Carol Stevens, National Registry of Interpreters with the Deaf

E = mc+ (Event Equals Emcee, Plus)
Being the Host or Hostess with the Most or Mostest
Sometimes you'll find yourself cast as the "glue" that holds a show together. Other times, you simply have to introduce the next performer. Each is an important role that should be approached responsibly. Jackson will share guidelines, tips, and exercises that will enable you to be as supportive and effective as you can be in the roll of emcee. Being a host or hostess is always a challenging role. The better one gets at it, the better for all.

"You should write an emcee handbook."
- suggestion made by many of the workshop participants

Being Your Own Critic
In this field, we often serve as our own director. Are you too hard on yourself sometimes? Not hard enough? Jackson will share tips and disciplines that will enable you to hone your craft, strengthen your repertoire, and broaden your performing horizons. Yet you'll proceed gently, so you'll enjoy the challenges and the growing process. By constructively processing inner and outer feedback, Jackson has developed methods for becoming a keener self-critic, and a continually improving performer.

"I know Jackson's work intimately, better than anyone else in fact, and sometimes I just have to say - it stinks!... it's phenomenal! But hey, what do I know?"
- Jackson Gillman, the Stand-Up Chameleon's best and worst critic

High-Performance Coaching
Having trouble getting that story humming? Bring it into Jackson¹s Bard & Body Shop! Specializing in: hammering out dents, story mechanics, parts replacement, lubrication, fine tune-ups. He¹ll help you get that story up and running like a charm! Available for pit service at Jackson¹s B&B in Onset MA or mutually convenient location.

Satisfied tellers include Judith Black, Michael Parent, Bill Harley, Vernon Cox, Lani Peterson, & Jo Radner who says:

"Jackson helped me find the rhythms that sustained my story line through voice and movement, and to understand, and believe in, the power of my stories. He¹s that rare coach a generous artist who nurtures the unique art of others."
– Jo Radner

For comments about speaker and performer programs, take a look at What People Are Saying About Jackson Gillman.