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Commissioned Work

 Commissioned work is a tricky business. It is flattering to be asked to create a collection of stories that fits a need for a group or individual. The downside of commissioned work is that the amount of research needed rarely is worth the financial agreement. Truthfully, at times I have not had personal interest in the topic making the research more difficult to enjoy.

 
To tackle these issues, I have learned to say no to projects that do not serve me as a teller. I have also learned to see the universal need for the topic. For instance, when commissioned to create the concert Stories of Kosciusko County for the County Visitors Bureau, I marketed the concert to the county’s fourth grades and other historical organizations that would benefit from my partnership. When asked to be Junie B. Jones for a child’s class, I also marketed the concert to libraries and elementary schools. 
 
Knowing the concert has a life beyond the commissioned date allows me to view the research with a broader focus. I look for stories that resonate with me and my style of telling. The research becomes more fun for me because goals are not as limited. I still have the ability to put my own twist on the stories while at the same time honoring the purpose of the project.
 
Commissioned work has given my repertoire new life. In the last year I have learned Stories of Kosciusko County, Junie B. Jones, and Spooky Stories of Indiana all due to someone having a need for one performance. All concerts grew to be my best sellers this year and brought exposure to new venues. 
 
I could not have foreseen how important each of these projects would be to me this year. Commissioned work, although daunting in the beginning, has been my greatest reward in the end.