Orphan's Tales Live Rides Again: A Poll
It has been about a week since we finished the not-an-audiobook-definitely-a-play reading series of The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden, and I've been thinking about how to continue with the second book.
I said I would do a reading every night until lockdown ends, but I just...didn't expect "lockdown ends" to be such a moving target, with every state careening at a different pace, and no one sure if we're going right back inside in two weeks or not.
I want to continue with the second book, not just because lockdown IS NOT ACTUALLY OVER, AMERICA, but because it was a very special experience, and kept me sane, and kept me showered, and I miss all of you. And just as there isn't and probably never will be an audiobook of the first Orphan's Tales, same holds for In the Cities of Coin and Spice, and I don't wanna leave you all hanging!
So what I've decided to do is change it to a weekly, but longer, reading. We really were only covering about 10 pages or so a night, with chatting and questions and such, and though Instagram Live cuts you off at an hour, I think we can easily cover 20 pages per reading without coming near that limit.
Here's where you come in! What night should be Orphan's Tales night? And is the 8:30 timeslot good to go on with or should it be earlier or later? (I know it's pretty singularly unworkable for Europe, but GMT -5 is a tough time gap to bridge, and that's what the YouTube archive is for.)
Lastly, I know some folks expressed that they'd like me to not do it on Instagram Live. Unfortunately, I can't stream live from my phone until I hit 1000 subscribers on YouTube, which is SOME BULLSHIT, I might add, I have no desire to use Facebook Live, and those are pretty much the options. Instagram Live turned out to be extremely easy to use, and their latest update fixed the problems I was having before, so I'm gonna stick with that for now. I'd rather just do it on YT! But they lock down everything to subscriber count, and I'm not there yet.)
So! Allons-y!
I'm opening up this poll to the public and linking it on my social media, so please indicate your preferences so I have an idea what works best for all.
Plus...I couldn't NOT read the City of Marrow parts right now. It's too...appropriate.
Comments (19)
Instagram failures mean I end up watching them later on Youtube, but I wanted to join the chorus of thank yous as I plan to listen to them many times over the years.
I'm in Britain (Hello from York!), so I'm definitely one of those 'I'll catch it on YouTube' fellows. So while I won't necesarily get to see you 'Live', I'll still get to see you 'lively' :)
It's hilarious because I suck at routines, absolutely cannot function with them, and yet I still get a twinge every day at 8:30 like I'm missing something important.
I love this, though I am frequently missing it because it's right during bebbeh bedtime, and they don't have the patience for listenings. ;_:
I LOVE watching live, which is hard since it starts at 2:30 am for me. Well, actually, staying up until 3 am is NOT the problem, getting up at 6 am for work is 😆 Friday or Saturday would be easier, but looking at the polls it's not likely to happen. As others have mentioned it's such a gift that you are doing this at all! I'm so looking forward to it any time I can make it! I'm aware that the following sounds pretty cheesy, but here goes: I'm pretty new to twitter etc. and following artists in this way instead of enjoying their art per se, without knowing anything about them, without the felt connection. And of course I'm aware that it's a lopsided connection, you and those other listeners know nothing of me; but joining this group to listen to your fairy tales feels like a connected community. Especially in these times, when so many of us feel disconnected and disengaged from the world and scared and unsure of the future, for me your reading brought calmness, it brought the hope, that at the end of each chaotic day, art and beauty will prevail. The fact that you were doing this for us, that you were sitting there every night on the internet, sharing your work means more to me than I can adequately express! Thank you! 💚 Mika
For us in Helsinki, 8:30PM for you is closer to unreasonably early the next day than to unreasonably late. This time of year sunrise is also unreasonably early, and whereas we will not wake up early to join you every time, I would quite like to be able to make it some time. If you were to have reason to make it later than 8:30 at least once in late June or early July, and be able to give advance notice of that, that would make it easier for us to join. But catching up afterwards from the YouTube archive is already awesome. Do what works for you!
I just expressed some preferences, but really there is no schedule right now, and if I miss the live reading I just catch up on YouTube. I'd withdraw my vote for Friday if I could now that I've been reminded about Shabbat. I will look forward to longer readers and also be glad that you aren't tying yourself to a daily obligation, given that you have a ton of those already by virtue of being a parent. P.
Longer READINGS. How long the reader is in any dimension is of no consequence to this matter. P.
The fact that it is being broadcast first on Instagram might mean that it is not driving a lot of traffic to your YouTube channel, so I think you should be bold and outspoken and include a reminder to subscribe to your YouTube channel to open up more livestreaming possibilities to the beginning and end of each reading session, and also in writing in the notes field of the Instagram post.
My husband and I listen via YouTube just before bedtime because we’re based in the UK, so we’re happy with whenever - keen to stay up super late and watch live at least once though! It’s been absolutely wonderful.
Once a week is a brilliant idea. I love your readings, so utterly magical but living in the UK and working from home I couldn't make every night. Even though I work on Mondays, I can just have a large coffee and catch up on sleep as my vote is Sunday as it feels a cosy storytime, get the wine or hot chocolate. Treat time x
Earlier in the day saturday or sunday, especially sundays, is great for me, otherwise 8:30 is about perfect.
I had compleatly forgotten about the city of marrow till you mentioned it the other day. It is appropriate *shudder*.
8:30 is great, and the only days I FOR SURE can't do it are Fridays/Saturdays (Shabbat) so any other day of the week is great for me! Also, the real thing? Is that you're awesome. SO THERE.
I really probably wouldn't do it Fridays or Saturdays anyway, because you're not the only Jewish reader I have, and once things ease up out there, no one would watch on those nights, anyway. But I put them up there to give every day a chance.
PS - Love your day descriptors in the poll. :)
Whatever works for you. I usually have to watch on replay because my daughter and I have standing dinner/TV dates pretty much every night of the week. ;) But, like Kara said, I'm just delighted that you're doing this and hope to be able to catch a few more live episodes here and there ... there's extra magic in being there in the moment. ;)
I have to watch it after the fact on You Tube, just because my schedule is too unpredictable. So any time you do it works for me. I just love that you do it!
Same!