BULLETIN BOARD

This page permits posting of information that may have missed the deadline of the current MI Story issue or to post more complete information than the MI Story email newsletter has room to post. Send information or fliers to the Webmaster, LoiS-sez@LoiS-sez.com.  At present, flier graphics will not be reproduced, only the text.
Because this is a voluntary service provided by this site, it is posted as time permits. When submitting information, please be sure to give full contact information, preferably both by email and phone.

Unlike the MI Story email newsletter, there will be no archiving of Bulletin Board posts beyond the date of the program.

Be sure to check back as this is an area that changes without any regular schedule.  
*****

Life Storytellers Project inaugural storytelling event

September 20, Northville 6:30 p.m. Doors Open, 7:00 p.m. stories begin

September MI Story will list information or contact Dan Dean (information below).

We are part of the USA Today Network of newspapers across the country. 

What we are doing is an unofficial extension of a project that began five years ago. 

We are being mentored by one of the first official groups – the Lansing State 

Journal – but since we are such a small site, we fall under the radar of most 

network activities. Anyway, the network has coached some 1,500 folks to share a 

true first-person story. Our niche is helping anyone from the community tell their 

story. We feel it is an extension of local community journalism. Every storyteller

is vetted by our staff and coached as needed. Here is why. We are presenting this 

as a safe place to share a story to the community. We want to first off encourage 

anyone who wants to tell their story and make sure it is a safe place to do so. On 

the other hand we want to make sure the story they are telling is in line with our 

standards as a news organization as we present it as a safe place for the audience 

as well – it is PG-13 rated show, and since our journalists are very experienced at 

presenting stories on a daily basis, we want to help everybody hone their story. As 

we say in our business, everybody needs an editor. So that is the basics. 

The key is we always want to present the project as an open place for anyone in the 

community. Here is a link to the Network storyteller page for examples and more 

information.  http://www.storytellersproject.com/national/

Dan Dean
Managing Editor
Mobile: 248.396.0706
ddean@hometownlife.com
http://www.hometownlife.com/

*****

Quin Hoffman is the Director of a talk show called Exposure that airs on the Impact 89fm student-run radio station at MSU.  They have recently decided to create a 5 to 10 minute segment at the end of the show called, "the Michigan Storytellers Segment." They are looking for people to come on and tell their stories on air. The program looks to emulate the Moth Radio Hour with true, interesting/meaningful/funny stories.

Email a summary of your story to exposure@impact89fm.org

*  *  *

Scam Alert Targeting Performers with Websites
(The company is unnamed here as there may be more than one.  Wouldn't want to have a slander problem either, but the method deserves mentioning for the safety of my fellow performers)

Storytellers and possibly other performers are being targeted by telemarketers for a digital marketing company promising website Search Engine Optimization for a low introductory price, normally $__ , but $_ to introduce their company.  Fortunately I told the caller I wanted to check online first.  I'm glad I did.
I know the company is targeting storytellers because a fellow storyteller asked about them on Facebook.  That's when I knew my being called was only one of many storytellers and performers being called about their websites. 

In case you didn't see my Facebook reply: DON'T DO IT!!! They called me. Read online reports about the company and say: No Thank You. Do Not Call Further.
LoiS(till a researcher and am learning to do it before buying)

I sent the alert to Storytell, the international email list for storytellers, and a fellow storyteller on the west coast said:

But gosh, it’s been WEEKS since they settled the Federal and New York legal cases filed against them. What could possibly be wrong?

They were accused of poor practices that were technically illegal in some jurisdictions. One of the most annoying was posting fake reviews on web sites. I know that’s been done for a long time on Amazon and other sites, but there’s actually a term for it now: it’s called “Astroturfing.” I’ve been afraid to ask why, but I assume it’s because it looks real but isn’t.

At the Folk Alliance Region West conference I’ve met a couple of people who do help performing artists do digital marketing. Legitimate ones do exist, but they’re not the ones who cold-call you, for the most part.

If anyone on the west coast needs help with their digital marketing, email me off-list, because I have a recommendation for someone who seems very knowledgeable, likes storytelling, and probably has room for new clients.
 *****