Summer Reading Program FAQ
What is your fee? For summer library bookings, $300 is the base program fee. I live in Delaware County, NY (proud patron of the 4CLS library system!) and usually charge a travel fee for shows beyond the immediate area, using the standard IRS rate for mileage. For more distant locales, I LOVE block bookings, thus I offer nice discounts accordingly -- from libraries sharing the travel fee to no travel fee at all, and often additional discounts beyond that! As a longtime lover of libraries and former librarian myself, I am more than happy to work with libraries with limited budgets, so don’t hesitate to give me a call to discuss pricing. (2021 Covid pricing note: If planning on a virtual program, you are welcome to collaborate with another library, offering my program to patrons from both libraries & thereby sharing the expense. The same applies to in-person shows, too.)
What is your intended audience age? I tend to bill my summer programs as “family programs” because I understand that even when a program is billed as being for “pre-school” or “lower elementary” aged audiences, sometimes caretakers show up with older (or younger) kids in tow. Many a librarian and venue host has commented on my ability to engage all ages. I pride myself on my ability to read the audience’s energy, interest, and attention span and provide them what they need. That said, if your library has a large enough Summer Reading Program that you restrict program attendees to a specific age group, I can certainly accommodate and be more age-specific! Pre-school, lower elementary (K-2) and upper elementary (3-5) are the groupings that seem to work best.
Are these the only programs available this summer? I have several different performances available (“Tails & Tales” and “Groovin’ in the Garden” are definitely most popular with SRP crowds), and I also really enjoy doing songwriting workshops -- all the more so if we're doing a virtual program. This way the kids aren't just passively watching another program on the screen. They engage directly with me, and with one another as we work together to write a song! Give me a call to discuss options.
Do you only perform at libraries? In addition to libraries, I love to perform at a wide range of venues and events, including festivals, schools, historical societies, botanical gardens, nursing homes, public parks, farms, community gardens, environmental education centers, community-building events, and sometimes even private parties. Although I'll be fully covid-vaccinated by mid-April, I still prefer the idea of outdoor shows. I'm open to being flexible with dates (eg. scheduling a rain date) in case weather forces a postponement or cancellation. I'm also open to performing indoors if Covid guidelines are respected and it's a very open, high-airflow space. Public parks with large pavilions are perfect!
You sound great, but aren't quite what I'm looking for. Can you recommend someone else? Most certainly, yes. Over the course of my 20+ years as a storyteller-musician (during which time I’ve also been on the other side of the equation, i.e. booking performers for my local library and community events) I’ve become acquainted with some really fabulous performers of all sorts. I'd be delighted to put you in touch with colleagues whose work I greatly admire.
storylaurie@gmail.com landline: (845) 676-4727 cell: (607) 427-0840
What is your fee? For summer library bookings, $300 is the base program fee. I live in Delaware County, NY (proud patron of the 4CLS library system!) and usually charge a travel fee for shows beyond the immediate area, using the standard IRS rate for mileage. For more distant locales, I LOVE block bookings, thus I offer nice discounts accordingly -- from libraries sharing the travel fee to no travel fee at all, and often additional discounts beyond that! As a longtime lover of libraries and former librarian myself, I am more than happy to work with libraries with limited budgets, so don’t hesitate to give me a call to discuss pricing. (2021 Covid pricing note: If planning on a virtual program, you are welcome to collaborate with another library, offering my program to patrons from both libraries & thereby sharing the expense. The same applies to in-person shows, too.)
What is your intended audience age? I tend to bill my summer programs as “family programs” because I understand that even when a program is billed as being for “pre-school” or “lower elementary” aged audiences, sometimes caretakers show up with older (or younger) kids in tow. Many a librarian and venue host has commented on my ability to engage all ages. I pride myself on my ability to read the audience’s energy, interest, and attention span and provide them what they need. That said, if your library has a large enough Summer Reading Program that you restrict program attendees to a specific age group, I can certainly accommodate and be more age-specific! Pre-school, lower elementary (K-2) and upper elementary (3-5) are the groupings that seem to work best.
Are these the only programs available this summer? I have several different performances available (“Tails & Tales” and “Groovin’ in the Garden” are definitely most popular with SRP crowds), and I also really enjoy doing songwriting workshops -- all the more so if we're doing a virtual program. This way the kids aren't just passively watching another program on the screen. They engage directly with me, and with one another as we work together to write a song! Give me a call to discuss options.
Do you only perform at libraries? In addition to libraries, I love to perform at a wide range of venues and events, including festivals, schools, historical societies, botanical gardens, nursing homes, public parks, farms, community gardens, environmental education centers, community-building events, and sometimes even private parties. Although I'll be fully covid-vaccinated by mid-April, I still prefer the idea of outdoor shows. I'm open to being flexible with dates (eg. scheduling a rain date) in case weather forces a postponement or cancellation. I'm also open to performing indoors if Covid guidelines are respected and it's a very open, high-airflow space. Public parks with large pavilions are perfect!
You sound great, but aren't quite what I'm looking for. Can you recommend someone else? Most certainly, yes. Over the course of my 20+ years as a storyteller-musician (during which time I’ve also been on the other side of the equation, i.e. booking performers for my local library and community events) I’ve become acquainted with some really fabulous performers of all sorts. I'd be delighted to put you in touch with colleagues whose work I greatly admire.
storylaurie@gmail.com landline: (845) 676-4727 cell: (607) 427-0840