Today we’d like to introduce you to Debra Weller.
Hi Debra, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Let’s be storytellers. I have been performing as a Professional Storyteller for forty-three years. I started my storytelling journey in Cherry Hill, NJ. There, I met another teacher, Lynn Sloane, who was home with her baby. One day we said, “ Let’s Be Storytellers!” We began researching folk tales in the 398 section of the library. The internet was not available at that time. We discovered a storytelling guild in Philadelphia, The Patchwork Guild. We joined and met other tellers. It took us six months of practicing our first two stories as tandem tellers to be brave enough to perform. We started slowly in preschools and libraries in the area. Soon we were invited to perform in festivals and recreation departments. We were invited to perform at the Philadelphia Folk Festival. We had to learn more stories faster. The Annie Lynn Storytellers became a business! In 1987, my husband and I moved to Mission Viejo, CA. I met up with other storytellers in Orange and L.A. Counties. I helped to form a nonprofit organization, The South Coast Storytellers Guild. I began teaching full-time in the Capistrano Unified School District as a kindergarten teacher. I would perform on some evenings and weekends. I added storytelling workshops to my repertoire., training adults and teachers. I organized storytelling camps and clubs for children in the summers and after school. The children would perform stories in the community. I was invited to perform in Vietnam and Guangzhou, China.
In 2018 we moved to St. Augustine. I had to get my storytelling business started all over again. I had retired from full-time teaching but also began to be a substitute for the St. John’s County Schools. I met the members of the Tale Tellers of St. Augustine and started to perform in St. Augustine at festivals, libraries, and events. I also joined the Florida Storytelling Festival and have been serving on the BOD of that organization.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, all my scheduled work evaporated. However, I knew I would need to become virtual performer. The silver lining of covid is that I reached out to international storytelling platforms, meeting storytellers and performing on the virtual stages in Europe, India, and Canada. I marketed myself through social media. I perform regularly at the World Storytelling Cafe out of London, www.worldstorytellingcafe.com. It was there that I met John Row.
Because of my performances at the World Storytelling Cafe, I was invited to perform at the Marrakech International Storytelling Festival in Morocco from Feb. 11-19. I was one of five American Storytellers in a group of 87 international Storytellers. It was a magical week. The storytellers were treated like celebrities. We had the red carpet rolled out to us by the Moroccan government and King Mohammed VI. We performed in a big tent on Jemaa el-Fnaa Square, at museums and 100 schools. There were two galas on our behalf. Storytellers had our lodging donated by the tourism board. We broke the Guinness World Record of 50 hours of continuous storytelling. I have never felt so honored before. I also perform as Mrs. Sunshine Santa Claus telling Christmas stories during the holidays. I perform at the Lullaby of the Rivers at the Orlando Fringe in May.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It could have been a smoother road. I was the mother of young children and would work full time and run my storytelling and calligraphy businesses in my spare time. There were times when I was exhausted. But storytelling always brought me joy. I have met so many divine humans due to being connected in the storytelling world. I have learned to be a good businesswoman and how to market my work. I have also been published in journals.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I am most proud of being a teacher and a storyteller. Teaching made me confident in webinars and in-person professional development workshops. Storytelling has given me the confidence to speak on any stage. I am most proud of taking an idea and developing a career from that idea. I am proud of persevering to make my business have quality. What sets me apart from others is that I play the guitar in my performances. I can lead audiences in sing-along activities. I understand children well and can design solid interactive programs for children and families. I can design curriculum and teach workshops. As Mrs. Sunshine Santa Claus, I perform as the special character, bringing Christmas joy alive.
How do you define success?
Success is persevering to the end. It is about failing, picking yourself up, and finding a new path. Success is about making sure you network with others who can elevate you. Success is knowing when to take breaks to restore your mind and soul.
Pricing:
- Storytelling for one hour $250.00
- Storytelling Mini course $ 297.00
- Storytelling Master Course $1297
- Virtual Coaching – $250/session
- Mini Course Overcome Glossophobia-$97
Contact Info:
- Website: https://story-tellingcourses.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CktSO2AJCZJ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debra.weller.18
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/debra-weller-904bab1b3
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/DebraWellerStoryteller8084
- Other: https://palmtreesantas.com/project/debra-weller/
