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Stories are Your Heritage and Your Legacy

Category: Story Productions (Page 1 of 2)

Preserve and Share Life Legacy with a Life Vault

Publish a Life Vault

What is a Life Vault, you are likely asking?

I have been helping people collect, create, and publish stories, concerts, projects, and products for many decades.

Life Vault is a collection of anything a person wants to preserve and share about their life.

It could be family stories and history.

It could be a business story, like Disney, or Ben and Jerry’s. These companies are very good at sharing their stories.

Marketing legends like Dan Kennedy talk about releasing things from their substantial Business Vault. Or selling access to their Business Vault.

I can help you build and publish your own Life Vault.

The Rocket Norton Vault

I have worked with Vancouver musician, author, and course creator Rocket Norton for many decades. He was the drummer in bands like The Seeds of TimePRiSM, The Rocket Norton Band, H.U.N.N., and more.

I have helped him create, publish, and promote a tremendous amount of content and projects over the years, including his book Rocket Norton: Lost In Space which takes us through his musical adventures with many of the top Vancouver area and Canadian musicians that are still heard on Classic Rock stations today.

His recent F**K Cancer Benefit Concert featured members of LoverboyTrooperChilliwackHeadpinsStreetheartThe Legendary Powdered Blues BandLee AaronNick Guilder, and more. The concert raised nearly $200K for the BC Cancer Foundation.

The Rocket Norton Vault contains a growing collection of rare content, including Rocket Norton: Lost In Space, three other books, concert video clips, rare audio recordings, photos, and the entire How to Coach Baseball to Kids video course.

Learn more at https://www.rocketnorton.com/

Why You May Want To Publish A Vault

Even if you do not see a Life Vault for yourself, you may want to create one for a loved one or your family as a way to preserve and share stories and heritage—a way to leave a legacy.

The process of collecting content and stories can be fun and enlightening in itself.

My father and mother have both passed. Our four siblings collectively have a spotty outline of our father’s life with some mysteries that could be the basis of a novel someday.

I have a vague recollection that my father rode the rails during The Great Depression. Perhaps my mother told me that. None of my siblings ever heard anything about that.

Sometimes we don’t know much about the people who are in our lives.

Life Vault is a way to discover, preserve, and share their stories and accomplishments.

What Can Go In The Vault?

I create multimedia vaults that can contain almost anything digital, including:

  • Text
  • Images
  • Videos
  • eBooks
  • Courses
  • Links to resources like mobile apps and other assets.

Vault Content Acquisition and Creation

There are various ways of assembling content, including:

  • Collecting existing assets and organizing.
  • Conducting interviews in person or online.
  • Collecting stories with a computer, video camera, or smartphone.
  • Researching and writing stories and other content.

One of the first steps is to create a content roadmap for the Life Vault and a plan for how to assemble or create each piece.

Ways to Publish a Life Vault

I use Kartra Memberships and WordPress to publish Life Vaults.

The Rocket Norton Vault is in a Kartra Membership because it supports all of the content we want to include, we are charging for access, and we may want to protect some of the content with special access levels.

Other course publishing platforms could work for you. WordPress and other website builders can work for public information. There are pros and cons for each platform.

I would be glad to discuss options with you. Please book an appointment at https://www.gregdixon.net/

How I Can Help You Publish a Vault

I am working on a book and an online course for people who want to build and publish their own Life Vaults.

I can also work with you to plan, build, and publish a Life Vault for you, your loved ones, your family, or your business.

Please send me a note or book an appointment with me at https://www.gregdixon.net/ to discuss if a Life Vault is right for you.

It could be the perfect gift for the holiday season!

Recording Your Personal Business Story With Zoom

First of all, is a Personal Business Story different than a Business Story?

Often, yes. If you are a sole entrepreneur or have a business mostly based on your journey and your gifts to the world, then it is your Personal Business Story.

If you are part of a large enterprise that you started, your personal story quickly takes a back seat to the vision and why of the company. You may have started it, but the company now has a life of its own.

Video Like It Was 2019!

In 2019 Bonnie and I were traveling in the Story Van shooting interviews and recording our own videos.

We used about $10,000 worth of gear, including a large Sony camera on a tripod, boom microphone, lighting kit, a green-screen, and at least one other camera to get different angles and to make sure we had a good shot.

Then we would download the video from the cameras and edit together in Final Cut Pro.

Then COVID-19 hit.

The world changed.

The Zoom Way

Everything changed with the lockdown and travel restrictions.

Persona meetings became Zoom meetings. Live events became streaming events.

Facebook Live began to make sense.

For many people and businesses, there is not going back, even when the global pandemic is over.

It has never been easier to capture you business story or that of others with Zoom.

TellYouStory.Productions has lots of examples of doing Zoom interviews, then editing a little.

I have paid gigs where I capture Facebook Live presentations such as the Unity of Nashville Service with Reverend John McLean, edit, then post on YouTube and unityofnashville.org.

Using Zoom to Record Your Personal Business Story

Now when Bonnie and I want to record our own stories or video posts, we simple use Zoom to record.

You can do it too.

Starting With What You Have

If you are reading this, you probably have a computer with a built-in camera, microphone, and a connection.

Often that is good enough.

Simple Tips:

  • Use a nice background. If you have a nice office, or living space, frame that nicely in the background.
  • Have good lighting in front of you or to the side. It is amazing how many people who should know better have poor lighting or bright lights behind them. Turn on all of the lights in the room, take advantage of light from windows and skylights, and move lamps if needed.
  • Frame yourself like a news anchor person on TV.
  • Wear something nice up top. Pants optional as long as you don’t stand up!

Inexpensive Additions

  • A headset or table microphone. We use an iRig HD2 microphone that sits on a small tripod on the desk. I like this better than headsets because the shot looks more natural.
  • Additional lighting. Many people buy ring lights. I prefer an inexpensive softbox that has difussed light that I aim to light me and bounce of the ceiling to give a natural light.
  • Green screen. Many options open up when you can use a virtual background. Some of the newer computers have enough processing power to use a virtual background without a green screen. Chances are you will need a green screen to make the masking look natural. Although we have two professional green screens, we made one out of foam board from Michale’s to use in the RV. We spray-painted it green and cut to fit behind the dining-table bench. Works like a charm!

Roll Camera!

Assuming you have at least written an outline of your Person Business Story, simple press the Record button and start telling your story to the one person in your mind that is behind the camera lens.

Try to look at the camera lens instead of yourself on the screen.

Stop and start as many times as needed.

Try different approaches.

Edit up the one you like best.

We use Final Cut Pro. You can do simple edits with QuickTime, iMovie, or other video editor you may have on your computer. There are many online and installable options.

We can also edit your videos as a service.

Consider using more than one version at different times.

Some Presentation Tips

Our favourite vocal coach is Danielle Benzon of TheInspiredSpeaker.com.

Here are some quick tips from Danielle:

  • Avoid reading your story. Outline the main ideas and practice until it is natural to simply speak it to your audience.
  • Vigorous exercise just before speaking can help ease nerves and energize your presentation.
  • Emotion trumps logic. Emphasize the emotional part of your story. How did you feel at the time? What was your emotional transformation?
  • Avoid rambling. People like me tend to take people on too many sidetrips. Simplify the story to tell your big WHY.
  • Allow space. We will fill our talks with vocal tics such as ‘um’, ‘so’, ‘like’, and ‘ah’ because we feel like we need to fill the space with words. You don’t. The best speakers will allow space for the audience to ponder what you just said.
  • Pause to think about your next sentence rather than blurt out something. You will look wise and thoughtful, even if you just lost your train of thought!
  • Practice Practice Practice.
  • Just Do It! Simply be your Authentic Self, as that is all you really need to communicate your story. People simply want to get to know you.

Check out Danielle’s Authentic Speaker Membership Portal.
You will have a lot of fun becoming a better speaker!

Leveraging Your Personal Business Story

Here are some places where you can post your Personal Business Story:

  • Your website. Perhaps as an intro for your visitors.
  • Social media, such as Facebook and LinkedIn.
  • Virtual presentations.

Master marketers such as Dave Dee, Kim Walsh Phillips, Amy Porterfield, Jeff Walker, and Russell Brunson often tell a personal business story as part of their introduction on webinars and sales presentations.

You can too.

Practice and hone your Personal Business Story so it is simply part of who you present to the people you want to serve.

Want Help? Contact Us
gregdixon@sharedvisions.com
604-762-6410

Story Production Secrets ~ Scanning, Storing in the Cloud, and Video

I have produced a series of videos to help you preserve and share your family heritage and your stories.

Learn how to calculate the ideal scanning resolution, store images and documents in the Cloud, and get professional results with your SmartPhone.

How to Calculate Ideal Scanning Resolution

The ideal print resulution is 300 dots per inche (dpi).

That means if you want to print an image on 8 by 10 inch photo paper, the scanned image should by 2400 by 3000 pixels (dots).

This video shows the calculations and a demonstration of importing from a scanner to PhotoShop.

There are many scanners and software for scanning, so the demonstration is to show the calculations and general approach.

How to Store Photos and Documents in the Cloud

Here is a short tutorial on Storing Photos and Documents in the Cloud.

Google Drive, Google Photos, Dropbox, and others a good places to store photos and documents.

We use Google Drive for the demonstration, including creating folders, uploading files, uploading whole folders from local and external drive, adding descriptions, and more.

How to Shoot Video with a SmartPhone

How to get professional results using the video camera built into a modern smartphone.

With careful placement, you can get good results with the phone alone.

I also recommend a few inexpensive additions such as a tripod, external microphone, and lighting to get even better results.

How We Can Help

Our business was mostly to visit people and interview them in person to make a story production.

Now that is not possible during the Coronavirus lockdown.

We can still work with you to make stunning Story Productions.

The Story Production Secrets can help you to much of the work yourself.

We can offer coaching through the process and also take the images, videos, family documents, and interviews to create Story Productions featuring you, your loved ones, or your business.

Contact me at greg@tellyourstory.productions to discuss your project.

See:

Caught the Coronavirus and Survived? We Want to Tell Your Good News Story!

Image by Gerhard Gellinger from Pixabay

The vast majority of people who become infected with the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) will live to tell the tale.

Are you one of them?

We would like to interview you through an online call and share your story.

Share your experience:

  • How did you find out that you had the coronavirus?
  • What were your first thoughts?
  • How did you feel emotionally?
  • How did you fight your way through it?
  • What was the toughest part of the ordeal?
  • Did you learn anything positive from the experience?
  • How has it changed you?
  • Do you have any advice for others who have the coronavirus or fear catching it?

Want to Tell Your Story!

Contact bonnie@tellyourstory.productions or greg@tellyourstory.productions

Sharing your coronavirus survival story is a free public service offer because people need to hear your story.

What we do at Tell Your Story Productions

  • Create multimedia productions of Personal, Family, and Business stories.
  • Teach people about the importance of preserving a legacy through stories.
  • Help people do it themselves.
  • Coach people through the process.
  • Provide webinars and presentations on Story Productions.
  • Offer packages that include video, audio, photographs, and story collecting to create story productions.

Please check out the information on this site, including:

Want to Keep In Touch?

Join our newsletter.

Receive Our Newsletter

Contact Us

Contact bonnie@tellyourstory.productions or greg@tellyourstory.productions

Bonnie & Greg to Talk to Your Group Virtually about Family Story Productions

Leave a Living Legacy

We believe that it is important to capture stories and family legacy while people are still alive.

Things change fast.

Accidents happen. Wars happen. Coronavirus and other diseases strike.

Suddenly the opportunity to capture stories is gone.

I wanted to travel to Alberta to capture my Uncle Joe’s WW II stories. I got busy with other things. I didn’t have money for gas. Whatever the reason, I did not go that summer.

Next summer the opportunity was gone.

We have been blessed to capture and present many life stories for use in graduation ceremonies, personal milestones, weddings, anniversaries, and personal life stories to leave for future generations.

We also help people create Story Productions themselves.

Our Talk Agenda

Here is our general presentation that we can vary to match the interests of your group.

  • Introduction
  • Why we think capturing personal and family stories are important.
  • Bonnie’s story about the mountain of photos her mother left behind and the challenges of organizing and scanning.
  • Resources for people to do it themselves.
  • Ways we work with people to create Story Productions

At the end we will offer the following:

  • A free gift.
  • Story Production Secrets online course to help families do it themselves.
  • Invitation to work with us. We offer packages from $1,000 to 10,000 with a special package at $3,000 that is perfect for most Story Productions. We may discount to $2,000 for your group.

Affiliate Offer

We have an affiliate or Joint Venture program where your organization will receive 20% of any sales from the presentation. The most likely scenario is that someone books an appointment with us then chooses a package.

By the way, the affiliate program works if you run a short blurb in your newsletter with a link to a special offer. We can provide text that you can edit to taste.

Story Production of Your Organization

We also do Story Productions for businesses and other organizations. Do you want to profile what your organization does?

We offer a short interview with a key member of your organization as thanks for the booking.

Booking

Please contact Greg Dixon at greg@tellyourstory.productions to discuss.

Thank You

Story Production Secrets

Do you have a mountain of family photos you are afraid to climb?

Greg Dixon will broadcast a series of videos with priceless tips on how to organize and scan family photos without losing your mind!

Join Newsletter to Receive Notices

Topics Include:

  • Organizing Photos
  • Scanning Photos
    • Scanners
    • Scanning Resolution Secrets
  • Using a Camara to Capture Photos
  • Storing Photos
    • Hard Drive
    • Cloud Storage (Google Drive)
  • Family Photo Parties

There will be more advanced topics later.

See:

Signup for the free newsletter to receive notices about broadcasts.

Create a Cherished Memory Box for Personal and Family Stories

Memory Box for personal and family mementos.
Gift personal and family memories in a beautiful wooden box.

Do you have an elegant wooden box in your family that holds photos, or fine silverware, jewelry, special keepsakes, or other treasures?

Would you like to create a new Memory Box to give to someone special or family members?

In the digital age, often photos and video exist only in the cloud and on devices. A memory box could contain the video, photos, and other keepsakes to take a proud place on a mantle.

Preserve Stories and Legacy

We can help you create some or all of the following Story Productions to go into a Memory Box and also shared online:

  • Video Interviews
  • Photo Collections
  • Video Story Productions
  • Audio Recordings
  • Photo Book
  • Family or Personal History Book

The box can contain a combination of digital and printed resources, along with other keepsakes.

Perfect For Special Occasions

A perfect Anniversary Gift.

The perfect Graduation Gift.

A lasting gift to family members at a Memorial.

Can you think of other special occasions?

Recommended Sources or Memory Boxes

Etsy.com is a great source of memory boxes of different sizes and styles.

Many can be etched, painted, or engraved to create a special keepsake for your loved ones.

We Fill Your Memory Boxes

We offer a wide range of Story Productions to go into your special memory Box.

Contact Us To Discuss Your Memory Box Projects

Greg Dixon
gregdixon@tellyourstory.productions
604-762-6410

Great for Memorial and Estate Planning

What a perfect gift to leave for loved ones.

For Memorial Service Providers and Estate Planners, a Memory Box can expand the range of services you offer to clients.

We can brand for your company and provide marketing and sales materials.

Wholesale pricing and terrific margins available.

We would love to work with you. Let’s talk.

Anniversary Story Production Special

Create an Anniversary Story Production for Your Parents

Do you have a special Anniversary coming up for you or your parents?

Would you like to do something extra special to celebrate?

How about a stunning video production featuring key moments in the lives of the couple?

How they met.

The wedding.

The adventures shared.

Major accomplishments.

Places travelled.

Special stories.

You can show the Anniversary Story Production at the Anniversary event itself.

Or your can share with friends and family who cannot attend the celebration.

Either way, the Anniversary Story Production will provide a lasting record and commemoration of the relationship to leave as a legacy.

Free Discovery Session and Story Production Roadmap

We offer a free consultation about your Anniversary Story Production.

As a gift, we will prepare a Story Production Roadmap that you can use to create the production yourself or as a starting point for us to work with you to create something special for the Anniversary.

Contact us at info@tellyourstory.productions to discuss your Anniversary plans.

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