A few weeks ago, I joined my husband at a business dinner with people I’d never met and you know what happened don’t you? That routine question that always comes up, came up. You know the “what do you do” question.
Like a toddler tripping over their unsteady feet I tripped over my own elevator speech. I couldn’t decide which ball to toss out first, screenwriter or poet? Or do I just say I’m a writer? Do I even mention the voice acting?
Honestly, I don’t remember what I said. I may have even blacked out for a moment but I do remember coming back to see their understanding and kind smile in response the confusion I’d caused myself.
Anybody else experience this before?
I promise I know what I do because I do it every day. And even still defining it in a few words is sometimes more difficult than one would believe. Since that night I’ve thought about how I will respond the next time this familiar question arises. How will I lump all the facets of my career into a haiku?
As creative beings it’s not unfamiliar to run across talent who delves in more than one style of creativity.
On Broadway, you may see amazing dancers who can also sing the latest and greatest artist under a table. Similarly, you may find your favorite actor is also a phenomenal screenwriter and/or director. Creativity overflows from and through us unto stages, keyboards, and even through microphones in a 3×4 voice over booth.
What’s become even more evident over the last few years is that people no longer want to be stuffed into a singular box. Truth is we don’t want to be boxed in at all. This explains why it’s difficult to define how we show up in the world with one singular title for our profession.
It’s why most would even call themselves Artist. While I believe that’s an accurate description, I’ve landed on a different title…
Storyteller.
Let me explain. When I think about the common thread between all of my endeavors, they all revolve around telling stories. And yes, it’sobvious for a screenwriter to explain they write stories and even as a poet. The more difficult to follow may be as a voiceover artist but think of it this way, all commercials share a story. Some of your favorite commercials involve some rising and falling action…a story. Even recording a corporate narration on data retention embodies a plot with a conflict and hopeful ending. It’s all storytelling and I enjoy telling stories whether written on my own keyboard or recording the stories of others in my booth.
So, the next time I’m asked what I do for a living I’ll simply answer, I’m a storyteller.
What will your answer be?
