It's Hard to Tell a Hug
The Fly Fishing Contest at Chelm's Pond
The Silcox Decision, the Living Wage, and the Grand Prize Slogan
Sandy Schuman tells “George Had Chutzpah, Ira Didn’t” at The Northeast Storytelling Conference 2018
Performing "Song of the Century"
Sandor (Sandy) Schuman, Storyteller
Bet Kafeh Storytelling
Sandor (Sandy) Schuman, Storyteller
Sandy Schuman tells "Lucky Numbers" at Word Plays, Proctors Theatre
Sandy Schuman, Storyteller, at Interfaith Story Circle
Sandy Schuman tells "George Had Chutzpah, Ira Didn't" at Tellabration 2016
Storyteller, musician, and educator, Sandy Schuman offers educational entertainment programs of one- to two-hour duration primarily for adult and senior adult audiences.
> Familiar Songs and their Unfamiliar Stories
- Some of the best-known songs and the little-known stories of how they came to be written.
> New York Tales: Tall and True
- Some of New York’s folklore is truly unbelievable. Some of its history is even more so.
> Jewish Stories Every Person Should Know
- Stories that reveal Jewish humor, tradition, and values.
> My Father was a Storyteller
- A collection of personal stories—stories of life’s experiences.
8 reviews
Constance H.
June 29, 2018The Spinney at Van Dyke in Delmar, NY was pleased to welcome Sandy Schuman to our clubhouse in June. What a marvelous experience for all who attended! His dry wit and wonderful stories stirred memories, some long forgotten, in our listener's. Along with much laughter, we learned history and needless to say, there were quite a few teary eyes. Bravo to a wonderful "performance".
Connie Holden
Activities Coordinator
The Spinney at Van Dyke
office 518-689-0162 home 518-439-0164
Hired as: 1930s Era Entertainment, Arts/Entertainment Speaker, Educational Entertainment, Storyteller
Sandy Schuman
It was a real pleasure to present "My Father Was a Storyteller" to your community. It was actually the first time I presented it in its revised form and, based on the feedback I received, I think I will keep it that way!
Judy B. A.
March 8, 2018Sandy led a wonderful storytelling program at the Schenectady JCC last weekend. It was absolutely a treat. There is no question in my mind about inviting him o the JCC again soon. If you haven't seen Sandy telling stories yet, I recommend you to do it soon. You won't regret it.
Hired as: Jewish Entertainment, Singing Guitarist, Spoken Word Artist, Storyteller
Sandy Schuman
This was the first time I presented "Welcome to Chelm's Pond" and "Familiar Songs and their Unfamiliar Stories" both in the same show. These are very different types of stories but they worked wonderfully together. I look forward to my next visit to the Schenectady JCC!
Barbara W.
February 21, 2018As an adult enrichment director, I am always looking for varied programs. Sandy provided a different program by telling stories about songs and songwriters and backing them up with singing the songs and playing the guitar. He told his stories in a way that created suspense and kept the group waiting for the ending. The group enjoyed the program.
Hired as: Storyteller
Phyllis W.
January 29, 2018Sandy has been a participant in the Saratoga Annual Storytelling Event for five years running. He is a regular that everyone looks forward to. His homespun tales, with a sophisticated delivery, are a joy. And there is always something to take home ....whether memory or message or both. Don't miss the opportunity to see him in action!
Hired as: Storyteller
Sandy Schuman
Thanks for the kind words. I look forward to this annual event and your wonderful and appreciative audiences.
Suzanne J. S.
May 26, 2017The power of story was never stronger than when Sandor Schuman, Storyteller Extraordinaire, spent Sunday afternoon with us at Knesseth Israel Synagogue at the end of April. The audience was spellbound, and for days afterward, I would meet people around town and hear how much they enjoyed the program. The biggest hit? His tales from Chelms Pond, of special interest to us here in the Adirondack Foothills. Todah rabah, Sandy!
Hired as: Storyteller
Sandy Schuman
Thanks for the kind words. Rabbi Chayim Shmayim, Bloomie, Adirondack Mendel, Aufruf, and all of the wise people (and dogs) of Chelm's Pond, hope you'll join them for lunch at the Broiled Beet.
Price range: $200 and up
Languages: English
Gig length: 60 - 120 minutes
Unions: UUP
I engage audiences by involving them in the story and providing them with mental images they can identify with. Many of my stories will evoke laughter, others will bring tears, some bring both. I aim to entertain, educate, and inspire.
My Father was a storyteller. It was his everyday way of communicating important values and ideas. I followed his example, but didn't realize it until several years ago.
After leading a three-day training program at the Pentagon, I read the attendees’ evaluation forms. In response to the question, What did you like best about the program? several people responded, “Sandy's stories.” I didn't understand what they were talking about, so I asked my co-trainer. He replied, “Remember you told that story about the meeting in the Adirondacks, and one about the volunteer board of directors, and another about …” I realized then that I had told a lot of stories. And that's how I found out I was a storyteller.
Since then I've told stories more consciously and formally. In public performances I tell personal adventures, historical sagas, tall tales, stories about songs and the people who wrote them, and stories in the Jewish storytelling tradition. Take a look at what I have to offer, get in touch, and invite me to tell you a story – or help you tell yours.
As a storyteller and musician, my technical needs are simple. For small audiences, amplification may not be necessary. For larger audiences: good quality microphones and amplification for both voice and guitar. For festivals and outdoor performances, there should not be distracting sounds from concurrent events or activities. Some of my shows (e.g., American Anthems, Erie Canal) use slides, requiring a computer projector and screen.
I have a repertoire of over 80 stories. On average, they are each about 15 minutes long. Depending on the audience and the event, the stories in a set may be a mix of different types (e.g., historical, personal, musical, folktale) or they may be all of one type. The following list shows a category of stories followed by a few examples. Many of the stories span two or more categories. For example, "The Transfer" is a humorous, personal story that incorporates some early 20th century history.
Historical:
- The Erie Canal: A Story of Building the Impossible
- How New York State Got Its Western Border
- Same and Different: The Never-ending Story of Chanukah
- The Forgotten Man
Folktales:
- If Not Even Higher
- A Rabbi, a Prophet, and a King Walk into a Bar
- Honest Scales
Musical:
- Song of the Century
- George Had Chutzpah; Ira Didn't
- Huddie William Ledbetter: Singer, Songwriter, Murderer; King of the Twelve-String Guitar
Fantastic/ Humorous:
- Welcome to Chelm's Pond
- Two Kinds of Liars
- The Way to Paradise
Personal
- It's Hard to Tell a Hug
- Lucky Numbers
- The Prize Inside
Jean Shepherd
Brad Crandall
Pete Seeger
Arlo Guthrie
Quiet performance space
For large audiences, microphone and amplification
Computer projection and screen for shows involve slides
Arts/Entertainment Speaker