Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Packer.
Hi Laura, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My mother was a children’s librarian, and my father loved stories, so I grew up reading and hearing stories. My mom would tell me the folktales she was learning for the kids in her library, while my dad would tell me stories from his childhood, both true and stories he heard on the radio, like The Shadow and The Green Hornet. I loved listening to stories and soon began telling them to my classmates in school. By the time I was ready for college, I had discovered folklore, so I went to college to get a degree in folklore and mythology. While I was in college, I met a man who told stories on the street. How I met him is a long story in itself, but I can tell you I still remember the first time I heard him tell stories. This tall, lean Black man dressed in blue and decorated with butterflies, bells, and balloons told a version of King Lear that moved his entire audience to laughter and tears. Then he told a folktale and a story out of his life. He was utterly mesmerizing. His name was Brother Blue, and I became his student. By the time I graduated college (with a degree that was effectively a degree in fairy tales), I had spent many hours listening to Brother Blue and learned a great deal about stories and life from him. While I still thought I would be a folklorist, I could feel that there was something powerful in what he was doing, but I was young, and life was calling. I left the city where Blue lived, I worked, and moved on with my life. Three years later, I moved back, and a friend told me Brother Blue was hosting a storytelling open mic. I worked hard on a story, then went to the open mic. I was terrified. I told my story and could feel my knees shaking, but by the time I was done, I knew that storytelling was the path I had to follow. Brother Blue encouraged me over the years, and taught me that storytelling is a way to build a better world. He was right and I haven’t looked back since. That was 30+ years ago. In that time, I have performed worldwide at venues as varied as a 3000+ person conference, prisons, on the streets, in festivals, theaters, schools, hospices, libraries, elder care, and more. I have a repertoire of over 500 stories, including personal stories, myths, folktales, historical, original fiction, and more. I have taught thousands of people how to tell stories, coached hundreds one-on-one, written books, worked with Fortune 500 companies on how they use stories, worked with nonprofits to help them become more effective through the stories they tell, and more. It is a challenging life being a working artist; the hours are long, and the pay could be better, but it’s always fulfilling. I am making a difference in the world because I help people find their voices, learn to be better listeners, and encourage organizations to make better choices through and with their stories. I have been healed by sharing my stories, especially those around the death of my husband, and I know I have helped others heal. It is my life’s work, and I would not choose another path. Brother Blue died in 2009, and I still miss him. It comforts me that I carry on his work, and I believe he would be proud of me.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
All paths lead through valleys and deserts and over mountains and streams. It’s been challenging but worthwhile. It’s taken me several tries to become a working artist. I didn’t know what I was doing the first time, and then family issues took up the time I might have used to build my business. Understanding that being a working artist means being an administrator/booking agent/accountant/marketing expert and more has been a steep and recurring learning curve. When I started, no one knew what storytelling was (“Oh, you read stories to children?” No). Simply getting anyone to believe this was a worthwhile art (outside of education or my tiny community) was a struggle. Now, there is a broader understanding of storytelling’s value and the great breadth of material that can be told, so there is much more competition. Believing in myself is sometimes a struggle. Keeping the faith that what I do is worthwhile and worth pursuing even if I don’t make much money is a recurring effort. I’ve also had several significant personal losses in the years I’ve been a working artist, including the death of my husband, who was not only my love but my greatest cheerleader and support. I think the road will never be very smooth. The lesson is to keep going, take rest breaks sometimes, enjoy the beautiful scenery even when the road is tough, and believe that the art and I are worth it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a professional storyteller with over 30 years of experience. I tell stories to audiences ranging from elementary school kids to elders, specializing in telling to older kids and adults. I have many stories, including folktales, myths, legends, historical stories, fractured fairy tales, personal narratives, original fabulist and horror fiction, and more. Few tellers have the range I do, and I know of only two or three others who include original fabulist and horror fiction in their repertoire. I have told on stages, in hospices, to executives in Fortune 500 boardrooms, in living rooms, airplanes, universities, festivals, and much more. I also coach, write, and teach storytelling. In addition to performing, I coach, teach, and consult with for-profits and non-profits on using storytelling in organizations. I am the sole proprietor of thinkstory, an organizational storytelling consultancy where I help organizations identify, craft, and hone their stories for crisis management, training, onboarding, marketing, and more.
I believe that everyone has a story to tell. With supportive coaching and education, they will find their voice. They may never share that story on a stage, but merely knowing it means they will live a fuller life. Stories help us connect and treat each other with greater compassion and kindness. Stories build bridges so I may be an architect, builder, and teller.
What am I most proud of? As a performer, I love to tell stories that connect with people and make them laugh, feel, be moved, and understand themselves and the world. As a coach and facilitator, I am proud to have helped thousands of people find their voices and share their stories. As a consultant, I am pleased that I’ve helped dozens of organizations deepen their storytelling and listening practices. As a human being, I am proud that I am still here, connecting with people and trying to help the world be a kinder place for all.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Oh my, have I had help and mentoring!? I met Brother Blue when I was in college. He is the reason I am a storyteller. Brother Blue took me under his wing and gave me endless encouragement and support. He died in 2009, and I still miss him. Brother Blue’s wife, Ruth Hill, was a considerable encourager and supporter. She believed in me and my work from the moment we met until she died in 2023. My late husband, Kevin Brooks, whom I met through storytelling, was my biggest fan, listener, coach, and helper. He believed in me more than I could believe in myself. His insight and thoughtful coaching helped me become a deeper, better storyteller. Doug Lipman was my first coach and taught me how to coach. His mentorship brought new insight to me about not only my stories and telling but also the profound role of listening in storytelling and teaching. My parents never told me that pursuing a life in the arts was foolish. The Story Space community is a storytelling venue started by Brother Blue. This is where I got my actual start as a storyteller, and they have believed in me and helped me ever since. Emma A hired me for my first organizational storytelling work even when I feared I couldn’t. She believed in me until I could believe in myself. My second husband, Charley, believes in me and supports my work in every way he can. My friends Emily K, Allison B, and Cameryn M are artists in their own right, and they help me solve problems about the business and emotional well-being of being an artist. There are more, but this is enough. Without support, I could not do what I do or be who I am.
Pricing:
- Coaching is on a sliding scale from $65-105/hour, based on how much time you purchase and your needs.
- Performances vary widely depending on the setting and desired program.
- House concerts and workshops vary by need and program. Some are a flat fee, usually around $375, while others can be based on ticket price.
- Online classes vary based on duration.
- Patreon story subscription service ranges from $3-100/month with varying perks based on support.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.laurapacker.com
Website: http://www.thinkstory.com - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storylaura/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurapackerstoryteller
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurapacker/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/storylaura
- Other: http://www.patreon.com/laurapacker
Image Credits
Bonni Allen
