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View Full Version : Tall Tales, Legends, Lies, BS, & Smoothery


Walter
10-05-2011, 07:15 AM
I finally did the talk I've been working on for several months. I've done maybe 5-6 of these and do enjoy them. I'm getting better and loosening up more with every one. The subject matter was different from my previous talks.

Check it out...
http://aeve.com/1n/2011/10/j1429s.jpg
Entering the Palm Springs library, a very nice building in fact, there was a poster in a case that everyone had to walk around. I've never been on a poster before. After the talk and when the library had closed, they gave me the poster. I'm going to frame it and an accompanying brochure and hang it like I'm a rock star. It should impress the heck out of the grandkids.

This shot is while I was waiting to be introduced (shot with my wife's Kodak E-Thing-a-ma-jig). My usually blurry magazine publisher/editor that I write for said something stupid to me, so I said something stupid back. After all, he started it.
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The shot is intentionally blurry because I don't care--It is my 'art'.

About two dozen people made it. They were all watching me and shifted their heads in unision when I picked up the camera while I was getting ready.
http://aeve.com/1n/2011/10/j1432s.jpg
It was like startling a flock of birds.

The talk went well. Only one person left early. It did take me awhile to loosen up. With every laugh I got, things became easier.
http://aeve.com/1n/2011/10/j1439s.jpg
Here I am at about the point where we were all having fun. It went on for another 40 minutes. One guy in the audience kept yawning.

I had to skip about one third of my stories. I talk too much. I designed the talk to skip what I had to though. My last joke, which ran throughout the talk, I ended by displaying a toothpick. That was the biggest laugh of the night.

About 6 or so folks came up after the talk with questions and to thank me. My mission was to try to interest people in exploring their local desert verbal and casual histories. a couple of older couples thought it was great that I had 'seasoned' my grandchildren by telling them some of these very same stories.

At the end of the 90 mile drive home we stopped at a Denny's for coffee and a light dinner. A very casual and enjoyable evening.

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Antarctican
10-05-2011, 07:19 AM
How wonderful!! Great name for the talk, great poster, and I enjoyed reading your description of the evening unfolding. (People who aren't used to speaking in front of others have no idea how nervewracking it can be, as the speaker scans the audience for positive reactions. "Been there, done that" and I can really identify with how it feels to be up there with faces turned toward you, awaiting your spoken word)

Walter
10-05-2011, 08:23 AM
How wonderful!! Great name for the talk, great poster, and I enjoyed reading your description of the evening unfolding. (People who aren't used to speaking in front of others have no idea how nervewracking it can be, as the speaker scans the audience for positive reactions. "Been there, done that" and I can really identify with how it feels to be up there with faces turned toward you, awaiting your spoken word)

Everytime it has become less of an out-of-body experience. There's nothing like hearing a good talk, and maybe some day I can give one.

Terri
10-06-2011, 08:17 PM
Love the title of the talk, and I'm sure it helped pique interest - very cool! I would love to have attended, it sounds like a lot of fun.

I've never done anything like that, for that long, in front of a group. Closest for me is giving the preamble I wrote for the beginning of the hand coloring workshops I've done. (I want students to have at least a basic understanding of the history behind it.) It's by FAR the worst thing about the workshops for me. :lol: So much easier to move ahead with handing out the materials!

To speak like you have, and for that long, is quite an achievement. :thumbup: Sounds like some people were really receptive - congrats!

I'm glad your wife got a few snaps of the event. Will you continue to do these talks, on this subject?

Walter
10-06-2011, 11:40 PM
I'd like to do that one again. My editor/publisher friend was a stand-up comedian for a few years, and gave me a few pointers after the talk, and I think I could do better next time around. Next month I'll be doing Sticks and Twigs and Rats and Rabbits again for a teachers association. The person that does the scheduling contacted me the next day, and I may be doing two more in the spring, but on different subjects. I'm thinking desert photographers survival guide and maybe how to achieve one's own personal modern-day vision quest certificate--both of which should be sort of funny and somewhat educational. I've liked to write comedic vignettes since I was a kid.
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MissMia
10-07-2011, 02:29 PM
How exciting, Walter! I wish I could have been there. We'll have to come to the Mojave for a meet up. Just not in July! :)

Jeff Jarboe
10-11-2011, 11:56 AM
"I've never been on a poster before"*Is that excluding*the post office ? *:) Good to hear it went well.

Walter
10-11-2011, 12:15 PM
:)