Frequently Asked Questions
- What`s the best time of year to book John for?
- How far ahead do I have to book?
- Are the sessions interactive?
- What part do the adults play in all this?
- Can we just have one performance for the whole school?
- Does John do Assemblies?
- What age groups does John work with?
- Can we take photographs?
- Do the children have to bring anything with them?
- Do the different children hear different stories?
- What if we`ve made a booking and have to cancel?
- What do we do about John's books?
- We're having a Book Week, can we buy John's books in advance?
- Does he prefer tea or coffee?
What`s the best time of year to book John for?
Whenever you want him to visit. He works all year round, all term every term, five days a week, so it really depends on what stage in the year you think you can best use him.
That said, please try to think about dates other than World Book Day!
Firstly, John gets over 100 requests each year to visit schools on WBD and obviously he can only be in one place at a time so 99+ schools are going to be disappointed!
More importantly, however, John has spoken to several Ofsted and ISI inspectors and Education experts who are a little concerned that the temptation is to celebrate books for just one day of each year and then apparently forget about them until next WBD. If you're doing something to celebrate WBD it's probably going to be more effective to book John for another time in the year so that the momentum of your WBD events is kept going.
How far ahead do I have to book?
Ideally as far ahead as you can.
As a rule John is more or less fully booked for each term by the start of that term, and at the moment he has bookings as far ahead as December 2010.
However, there are times when he can do a booking at fairly short notice, either because a booking has had to be rearranged or he`s already booked for an evening performance somewhere but could get from where you are to wherever he has to be in the evening.
The best thing to do is get in touch and find out!
Are the sessions interactive?
Every live performance is interactive. The audience plays a crucial part in how the performance unfolds, even if they`re not aware of it and even if they sit in complete silence. An accomplished performer is always aware of the audience`s mood and their response to what`s happening.
The way John works allows him to respond to his audience and anything that might happen in ways that more rigidly drilled performers can`t possibly. He likes to be sitting in place when the children arrive so he can say hello to them and get a feel for their mood, their sense of humour, and so on. He talks to his audience rather than just at them - asking them questions, breaking off to explain things, and he can cope with anything that might happen. His performances are uniquely interactive!
For Reception pupils many of the stories featured in the 'Pocket full of Stories' programme have interactive elements which allow the children to join in with certain parts of the story. These help develop their understanding and learning of the story as well as their enjoyment of it and avoid any fidgetiness that might otherwise creep in if they have to sit still for a long time!
What part do the adults play in all this?
Obviously you can follow up the session in any way you like, but having brought the children in all you have to do is sit quietly, listen and enjoy the stories!
Can we just have one performance for the whole school?
This is really not a good idea. It`s quite possible to tell the same story to each class within a school and, by varying the way the story is pitched and drawing on the children`s different levels of experience and sophistication, make it absorbing and entertaining for each age group. But it`s very difficult to pitch a story at the huge range of experience within one school. It can be done, but it`s best not to.
And since John never tells the same story twice in one day (unless he's asked to) you get more stories if you have more sessions!
Does John do Assemblies?
We`re afraid not, for the same reasons he doesn`t tell stories to the whole school all together. (See above.)
What age groups does John work with?
John doesn`t have the stories or the skills to work with nursery children, but is happy to work with any other age range from reception classes through to teenagers (awkward/stroppy/nice/ 'Uh whatever') and up to University students.
He does reserve the right, however, to frighten the living daylights out of teenagers with his stories. If your darling little teenagers are of a delicate disposition please warn John in advance!
Can we take photographs?
John is perfectly happy for you to take photographs at the beginning or the end of the session when he`s just chatting to the children, but please don`t take them while he`s actually telling stories, for the same reasons they ask you not to do so at the theatre - it can ruin the performance for everyone.
We would also ask you to send copies of any photos you do take so that John can see them and perhaps, with your permission, use them himself.
Do the children have to bring anything with them?
It`s very important for children to get the opportunity just to listen to something and that`s what they do in John`s sessions.
They don`t need to bring anything with them apart from their brains - but they take an awful lot away!
Do the different children hear different stories?
Absolutely! Unless he`s specifically asked to do so John never tells the same story twice in one visit. This is because he always asks his audiences to tell one of the stories they`ve heard to someone else before the end of the day, and what you often find is that the children are swapping the stories they`ve heard before they even leave for home.
What if we`ve made a booking and have to cancel?
We know that the unexpected can happen - especially in schools! If you`ve booked a visit from John and then find that, for a genuine reason, you have to change the date that`s fine - please get in touch as soon as the problem arises and we will do our utmost to arrange an alternative date.
Please bear in mind, however, that this is how John makes his living and that he works on the basis of good faith and trust.
If you make a telephone booking he will accept that as a firm booking and will decline other requests to work elsewhere on the same date. If you then cancel the booking he is left in a position whereby he has lost income for that day and has also had to disappoint others.
In the event of a booking having to be cancelled, therefore, an alternative date must be arranged at the time of cancellation and written confirmation of the rearranged date must follow immediately. If this is not possible then, in common with other visiting performers and companies, we reserve the right to levy a cancellation fee. This fee will be a percentage of the invoiced amount and will increase as the notice given declines.
What do we do about John's books?
When your booking has been confirmed you'll be sent a cardboard tube containing posters for the books and other publicity material, together with a photocopiable letter telling parents about the visit and the books.
All we ask you to do is put the posters up around school, tell the kids about John's visit and let the parents know about the books (by sending out copies of the photocopiable letter we've sent you) and arrange a time during John's visit for a book signing. John takes care of the rest.
If you'd prefer we can send a parcel of the books in advance for you to sell as part of your Book Week and John will then sign the copies for the children on the day.
Judging by the feedback we get the children really love the books, and a signed copy of a book written by someone who has so entertained and entranced the children is strong motivation to a reluctant reader to actually start reading!
And, of course, your school gets a couple of copies for the library!
We're having a Book Week, can we buy John's books in advance?
By all means!
You can order John's books from any bookshop or online bookstore, but if you want to do this on a sale or returns basis it's easier to order them directly from the publisher.
notreallybooks will send you a parcel of them in advance of John's visit. Sold copies can then be personally signed for the children by John when he visits you and any unsold copies can either be taken back by John (if he has driven to you) or parcelled up and returned. Please note that in the event of books having to be returned through the post the school must cover the cost of postage.
If you'd like to order an advance box of books please either let John know when you get in touch or email notreallybooks
Does he prefer tea or coffee?
First thing in the morning he needs vast quantities of industrial strength fairtrade organic espresso, but by the time he gets to you a nice cup of tea is better for the vocal chords! (Milk but no sugar, thanks!)