Engaging Your Audience
The best storytellers do not just perform AT the audience. They perform WITH the audience! Here is how to make your audience feel like part of the story:
EYE CONTACT: look at different people in the audience as you tell the story. Do not stare at one person or look at the ceiling. Move your eyes around the room. When you make eye contact, each person feels like you are telling the story just to THEM.
QUESTIONS: ask the audience questions during the story.
Do you know what happened next?
What would YOU do if you found a magic ring?
How many of you have ever been lost? (raise your hand if you have!)
Should she open the door or run away?
CALL AND RESPONSE: teach the audience a phrase they say every time something happens.
Every time I say the wolf, you howl: Awooooo!
Every time I say the magic word, you wave your hands!
Every time I snap my fingers, you say What happened next?
SOUND EFFECTS: ask the audience to help make sounds.
Can you all make the sound of rain? (audience pats thighs)
Can you all make the sound of wind? (audience goes whoooosh)
On the count of three, everyone ROAR like a lion!