New Season Ahead

Yes! Winter has been beaten back for another year--finally. Don't get me wrong, I like some snow and a little brisk weather. Fresh fallen snow blanketing the countryside is a beautiful site. This year though, I'm really looking forward to spring and summer.

I've been busy putting together a new show which I'll be revealing in libraries throughout Wisconsin and Illinois this summer. It's a fun show that, as always, emphasizes reading. It's called "Goin' Fiction -- Get Hooked on Books" . Think of it as an educational variety show. Magic, music, a game, ventriloquism and plenty of fun. I'm looking forward to the new season. Can you tell?

Get ready, 'cause here I come.

WOW, What a year!!

I'm back after a very long hiatus. It seems that more than a year has passed since my last blog entry. But I've not been sitting around doing nothing. No. I've been building...all sorts of things.

In August of 2008 our home was struck by lighting and subsequently burned beyond repair. While that doesn't seem to be the best way to start the day, it ultimately turned out to be a blessing. In fact, as I watched the flames begin to break through the roof of our home, I turned to my wife and said, "Well, we needed a new roof anyway." And while that story usually gets a laugh, it's true.

So now, after a whirlwind of excitement, moving, false starts, hurried planning, waiting, waiting, and more waiting, building, waiting, moving again and more sweat equity than your average home builder--we are home again. And loving it. Who wouldn't love a new house and all new furniture and accessories. In fact, as I glance around the room I realize the only thing older than one year is my cell phone. That's because the morning of the fire, after I made sure everyone was out of the house, I grabbed my phone to call 911. And while I was at it I grabbed a few cases of props that I use in my shows and hauled them out to my car. That's about all that escaped unscathed that day. All our other worldly belongings either burned, were terribly smoke damaged or had 10,000 gallons of water dumped on them. Not much can make it though that kind of gauntlet.

However, it was only stuff. And stuff can be replaced with other stuff. So we did. Now we have newer stuff, but it's still just 'stuff'. The real treasures in my life were standing next to me that drizzly morning-- my wife and son. Plus an army of caring neighbors and friends and family descended on us in our time of need and literally clothed and fed and sheltered us. We are blessed.

Goin' Green

It's been another great summer -- so far. I've had the pleasure of presenting my Bee Your Best character show in tons of libraries. The real payoff for me is seeing the enjoyment on children's faces during the program. They enjoy it, and learn some good lessons at the same time!

This summer I've also fit in some outdoor activities with my family. One of the fun things we do is camping. No, not in an RV or even a pop-up. We load the tent and the sleeping bags, the cook stove, a cooler filled to the brim with food, and anything else we can think of into the car and head off "into the wild" -- well maybe not the wild exactly. But a nice state park with hiking and fishing and swimming. That makes a great get away. There's something about getting up early in the morning and cooking breakfast in the outdoors--coffee in hand, birds chirping and whistling all around, and the inevitable chipmunk visiting to scrounge up an easy meal of whatever might be on the ground or thrown its way. It just clears the mind and helps set some priorities straight.
It also, helps me realize the wonders all around us. We live in such a mechanized, industrialized, and electronic laden world that the natural things often get pushed out of our everyday thought patterns. Mind you I don't think I want to go back to horse and buggy days, but I'm glad that we can still find places to push a lot of the modern-day clutter out...at least for a time.

That got me thinking. There is a lot of talk about going green these days. In fact the term "green" has suddenly gotten economic clout. You see it in advertising of all sorts. "Green" or "good for the environment" or some variation of these words help sell just about everything these days. Frankly, I've never been much of a green fanatic. Maybe because, as an ideology, it tends to be pushed a bit too far, and the people-part of the equation seems to get left out. However, there is a place for this. Personally, I prefer the term "stewardship". A steward is someone who's job is to take care of another's property. It brings with it the idea of responsibility. That, I believe, is something to take seriously. We need to be stewards of this wide and wonderful world we live in--not just for us, but for our neighbors (both near and far) and for those who will inherit this world after we are a distant memory.

I've been thinking about this. Stewardship is something worth teaching to our children. Doing the "green" thing is nice. But we need to be responsible -- not to the earth -- but to each other. I suppose it all goes back to the golden rule.

Looking Ahead

One of the challenges to what I do is coming up with new and interesting topics to present each year in libraries and schools. There really is no limit, but my goal is to make a difference in children's lives, not just fill in an hour of it. So, I sat back this year and pondered. What is a hot-button for me that would translate well into the lives of kids. Then it hit me. Character!

School after school that I go to is presenting character training. Every school has a different take on the subject. However, the general consensus is that it is best presented from a "whole school" top down approach. That makes sense. Everyone learning the same basic concepts during the same time periods. This allows teachers and students to be on the look out for examples of the character-trait-of-the week if you will.

Our culture needs these lessons to be taught. The men and women who demonstrate strong character and make ethical decisions in the future, need to develop those qualities now.

So, "BEE" on the lookout for a character and reading based show coming to a school or library in your town this year. 'Bee' Your Best Person will be a fun and educational look at developing character in the lives of kids.

I can't wait.

Children Need Our Involvement

I'm always looking for ways to understand people better. Adults and children, to some extent, live in different worlds. That means parents and their children need to actively seek to be involved in each other's world. Children do this automatically. They play "house", ask questions, say things like, "will you play with me?"

Adults seem a bit less adept at this skill though. We get busy with work, paying bills, mowing the lawn, maintaining the house, and even shuttling children from one activity to another. Being active in our children's lives needs to be intentional if it's going to happen on a regular basis. And it needs to. Involvement by parents shapes the way a child sees the world.

Work habits, playfulness, self-esteem and a host of character issues in a child's life are highly influenced by the adults modeling proper behavior. Sometimes, it just takes an adult being actively interested in a child's life to make a major difference. Education is one of those areas.

Several studies demonstrate the importance of parents being actively involved in their child's education. I won't cite them all, but here are some of the things that have been demonstrated.

• When parents involve themselves in the education process at home, the children do better in school.
  

• High achievement in school is more dependent upon a culture of learning in the home than upon income level or educational level of the parents.

• When parents talk to their children about school, it sends a message that school is important. Children respond to this and generally do better academically.

Here are a few ways to stay involved with your children

• Read to your children
• Take time each night to review your child's school work
  
• Stay in contact with the teachers
  
• Limit TV viewing -- Read a book instead
  
• Ask your kids about their day

Children know when we are involved. They sense it -- they crave it. Most importantly, they respond positively to it. To quote an old ad slogan, "Just Do It!"

The Process

First posts are somewhat awkward, aren't they? It helps to have a clear idea about what you want to say and why. To that end, I've been thinking recently about this profession I'm engaged in.

I do a lot of different things during the course of a week. I usually spend part of the day planning the day. When you're self-employed that's definitely a good idea. However what I do is different all the time. Ultimately, it all ends in the performance of a show in front of an audience of excited people. Although that is the final, and very public, result, the day-to-day work in preparation for those "spectacles" is actually even more important.

Take my most recent show that I'll be performing in elementary schools this year. Here's a sampling of what went into creating and perfecting it.

September 2006 - I look into the theme being used in libraries for the 2007 summer reading programs -- "Get a Clue at Your Library". I begin brainstorming ideas for a new show based on this theme.

November -- After much thought and discussion with trusted friends and compeers, I decide upon a detective character and a mystery. My goal -- promote reading. But I also know that geography is something that children are lacking knowledge in. So, a parallel goal is to promote geographical awareness through the show as well.

December -- Continue researching state curriculum needs and grade level requirements. The educational portion is critical. At the same time, kids are going to have to be entertained as they learn. So a balance needs to be struck (no small task).

January -- Much of the show is outlined on paper and the script is being written. Now the marketing portion begins. The libraries need to know I'm available and what I'm presenting. This part is almost as time consuming as creating the show -- but it must be done. Time to put on the marketing cap and get busy. You can see a portion of what I came up with at www.ScottObermann.com

February -- Script complete. Since I blend magic, music, and ventriloquism into my shows, I now need to locate or build the various props I plan on using. Fire up the table saw.

March -- Still marketing the show. Bookings are coming in. I'm getting excited about the content of the show. This is going to be a great year!

May -- Well into practicing the show. I've found out what works, and what doesn't. Time to tweak the script and make other changes. Keep mailing and calling. I've now invested a good sum of money and countless hours into a show that I know is of value.

June -- The testing is over. Finally, the show is on the road. The initial response is fantastic. However, I always follow up with the librarian to find out what they thought about the show. Each librarian receives a survey that they can answer and send back to me. And the feedback is confirming my effort. A few minor tweaks, and the show is working. Best of all, the kids are enjoying and learning from the show. Several tell me that it is the best show they've seen. While that encourages me, I can't let it go to my head.

July and August -- Traveling all over two states performing this show for libraries. Of course I perform other types of shows too, so my weeks are pretty full. Paperwork is still there when I get home, so on "off" days that gets done. Plus the show is going to go into schools in the fall. So, I need to get that marketing ball rolling.

September -- I've come full circle. Schools are still being contacted to let them know what I am offering. This will continue until the end of the year.

In the meantime, next year's library theme is "Get Bugged." Hmmmm, what can I do with that for next year? Well. . . you know the process. I think I'm going to be busy this fall.