Power pointless
Tips, tricks, inspiration, and encouragement for storytellers of all stripes
Greetings from Leesburg, Virgina—
So of course I have to share the newest LAST OUT cast album cover photo, one of the funnest traditions of this particular touring team…
I’m sensing this is going to be less a tip and more a rumination/observation, but one of the reasons I write to you so often about this LAST OUT project is that every time we perform the show in a new community, I am reminded again of the true power of storytelling.
Travelers, explorers, hunters, warriors… for thousands of years, they have returned to their home campfires and used storytelling to fill two vital needs.
One: to unpack and process their feelings and experience.
Two: to share the gift of that experience with their community so they can collectively harness the wisdom and lessons of the journey and expand their understanding of the world.
When it comes to peer-to-peer healing, to mental health, to community building, to empathy… storytelling is the oldest, most proven, and most reliable modality there is.
Power point presentations? Blech. Avoidance. Surface. Fear. Hiding.
There was a study. They hooked up an audience to EEG machines. Showed them a power point presentation.
The data? Your audience forgets 90% of your power point content within 30 seconds.
The takeaway? Engaging short term memory with an “intellect-first” approach is pointless.
Dare I say… power pointless?
Stories engage your audience’s long term memory. Stories get beneath the surface, using an instinct/heart/feeling-first approach. Hook your audience in the gut, then they’ll give you permission to tinker with their head.
Even off stage, if you’re looking to connect or build trust, the surest way is to ask someone to tell you their story. Ask questions that start with what and how.
Note: don’t ask why. Why flips us into judgment. Why pushes us away from the story. Why is intellect-first, or—as I often tell my playwriting clients—putting theme on top of action.
Focus on the action. The theme will bubble up all on its own. Frankly, it’s the audience’s job to ascertain theme, because they’ll be listening autobiographically and shape the theme to fit the current situation of their own lives.
Asking what and how sounds easy, but it’s not, because it requires vulnerability. It requires you to exercise your curiosity instead of your judgment. It requires you to acknowledge you don’t know everything, that you have plenty more to learn from everyone arond you.
Curiosity lives next door to humility.
Bat Out of Hell!
It’s that time of year…
The Music and Murder Mystery Series is back!
This anthology of thriller and mystery short stories drops its fourth iteration on July 15.
The hook here—besides a new Jack Reacher story!—is that the editor (Page&Stage friend Don Bruns) chooses a famous music album, and then each author has to use a song title from that album as the title of their short story.
I’ve read all three volumes and will be eagerly revving into the fourth next week. If you like thrillers or mysteries, these anthologies are right up your alley.
Volume 1 was The Eagles’ HOTEL CALIFORNIA.
Volume 2 was Michael Jackson’s THRILLER.
Volume 3 was AC/DC’s BACK IN BLACK.
And now behold Meat Loaf’s Volume 4—
If you’re looking for a fun beach, poolside, or plane ride read, grab yourself some musical murder!
And while you’re at it, here’s a deep cut from the podcast archive, as Don was my third ever guest.
100 Plays
Don’t forget to check out the most recent episode of 100 PLAYS!
In this episode, I talk about the relationship between discipline and integrity, the thrills and dangers of stage combat, and the joy of delivering the death speech.
You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify.
Or, if you want to put a face with a voice, you can watch the video version of this podcast over on YouTube.
The Page&Stage Podcast
The next episode of the PAGE&STAGE PODCAST will land in your inboxes on Monday.
Emmy and Oscar-winning producer Milton Justice joins me to share the remarkable, chance-driven path of his life in theater and film. From studying with Stella Adler to teaching his own philosophy of acting, Milton offers profound insights on building a craft, curating a career, and the power of saying “yes.” Packed with wisdom, humor, and stories from a legendary journey, this inspiring episode is a generous listen for anyone passionate about acting and storytelling.
You can listen on the Substack App, and all episodes are also available on Apple or Spotify.
And if you want to put faces with voices, the video version will be available over on YouTube.
Before I sign off, two quick reminders—
REMINDER 1: you can comment on this newsletter. I do my absolute best to respond to every comment, so if something I’ve offered above tickles that question/comment/complaint nerve in your reader-brain, I’d love to hear about it.
REMINDER 2: I take requests! If there’s a storytelling topic or issue you’d like me to address—writing, acting, directing, speaking, whatever—email me directly at jason@jasoncannon.art.
If I don’t have a ready answer, I’ll make it my mission to go find one.
Thanks as always for reading, and have a great weekend—
Jason “I Would Do Anything For Love” Cannon