When we think about oral histories, we usually think of a researcher conducting interviews with the goal of preserving or understanding a particular event or period in history.  Just So You Know recording sessions are different.  These are not formal interviews – they are intimate conversations between two (or more) people – friends, siblings, spouses, doctors and patients, anyone – to get to know each other better, to ask and answer questions, and to share and preserve personal moments, memories, thoughts, feelings, and life stories.  You talk.  We record.  You keep the DVD.

There are no rules about what you can talk about or what you should not.  Each session is as unique as the people sitting in front of the camera.  We’ve had a grandmother and granddaughter come for a session.  The grandmother brought a box of treasures she collected through her life:  souvenirs from her travels, trinkets and shells given to her by her grandkids, a book she had since she was a schoolgirl, and told her granddaughter the stories behind each one.  Another young woman came alone and made her recording as a gift for her mother to thank her for her love and support.  Two sisters – both with cancer diagnoses – came in and interviewed each other.  They talked about how their parents met, told stories about each other, and asked questions straight from our Conversation Starter Kit. A hospital employee  sat with her doctor to talk about what it was like to go from being his colleague to his patient.  A nine-year-old girl interviewed her mother, a breast cancer survivor, and heard stories about her as a mischievous kid growing up on a farm.

Here are some tips to help you make the most of your recording session:

• Think ahead about your questions and topics.  Try to ask open-ended questions.
• But, let the conversation flow, don’t worry about sticking to a script or asking questions in order.
• Be present and focused and listen well.
• Ask follow-up questions.
• Let your subject talk.
• Be prepared to laugh and cry together.  Don’t worry about getting emotional.  We supply tissues!
• If you’re nervous at the beginning, do not worry.  Once the conversation starts rolling, you’ll forget all about the camera.  Just remember, you get to sit and spend time with someone you love.  Celebrate that.

We’ve put links below to some sites that talk more about oral histories and the art of conversation.  And of course, our Conversation Starters are here, with question ideas to get you going.

• What is Oral History?
• Wikihow:  How to Have a Great Conversation
• The Art of the Interview:  This is a great TED talk, by Marc Pachter, from the National Portrait Gallery, about why these interviews and conversations matter.  ”Everybody in their lives is waiting for people to ask them questions so that they can be truthful about who they are and how they became what they are.”

So, ask the questions.  Have a great time.  And expect to be surprised.

JSYK will be there with our conversation starter kits ready and cameras running, in two private rooms set up for personal conversations between cancer survivors and their favorite people.

Follow the link to sign up for a 1/2 hour session.  Program is free of charge to Survivors.  http://bit.ly/agNoxy

Take a look at this video compilation of some of the interview sessions our participants have conducted.  These excerpt are from JSYK’s and the Bennett Cancer Center’s Tea & Gratitude: Make a Memory event in Stamford, CT in May.  We also added in some video we recorded at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas and the Gilda’s Club in Nashville, TN.

We love these snippets because they show so many of the different types of things people choose to do with their recording session.  Once the camera is on and the door is closed, the recording session belongs entirely to the people in the room – and they can choose to talk about whatever they want.  In these excerpts, you’ll see several people who came alone and told their stories to the camera.  One woman made the recording as a gift for her mother, to say thanks for being her biggest supporter.  In another clip,  you’ll see two sisters, both of whom have cancer, asking each other questions ranging from silly to profound.  One breast cancer survivor brought in a bunch of her girlfriends to say thanks to each of them for supporting her, for driving her to chemo, for coming with her to her plastic surgeon appointments and for bringing her favorite Starbucks drink.  A husband and wife joke about how they decided to get married.  Some people share their experiences with cancer to help friends and any strangers who may watch the video.

All in all, these are inspiring, funny, touching and hopeful and we hope you’ll enjoy watching them.  Let us know what you think!

It’s an afternoon designed to get people talking, laughing, telling stories, sharing old memories and creating new ones.  There will be a talk by professional storyteller Laconia Therrio, an interactive comedy workshop with comedienne Jacqueline Kabat, high tea and live music.  During the tea, photographer Nina Pomeroy will be on hand to take portraits and Just So You Know will be offering 15 minute interview sessions to the survivors and their invited guests.

Date:  May 16th, 2010

Location: The Italian Center, Stamford, Connecticut

Time:  2pm – 5pm

Free of Charge

Between 300 and 500 people participate in this event each year.  The conference is designed so that cancer patients, their family and caregivers can come together for three days of hope and support, to learn about advances in cancer treatments and to talk about all sorts of other non-medical, life and wellness issues.  Basically, the conference has a little bit of everything.  This year there will be:

• Wellness Workshops, such as safe massage, aromatherapy, exercise and nutrition for the cancer patient,
• Panels with doctors and scientists about advances in technology and treatment,
• Lectures by experts about navigating health insurance and understanding health policy,
• Keynote speeches by prominent cancer survivors such as Hoda Kotb of the Today Show,
• Breakout sessions with psychologists and social workers specifically for young adult survivors, caregivers and women,
• And of course, entertainment, humorists, cocktail parties and banquets.

Just So You Know will be there each day to record  interviews and conversations of cancer patients and their family, friends or caregivers.  We will offer half-hour sessions during the times the conference is in session and in the evenings, as well.

For more information about the conference, check out M.D. Anderson’s website at:

www.mdanderson.org/patientconference

If you are in the area, please stop by.  Or if you know someone who might be interested in the conference, please pass this on.

And stay tuned!  Coming in May 2010:  an Afternoon Tea at the Bennett Cancer Center in Stamford, CT.  This event will celebrate caretakers and supporters of cancer survivors with Just So You Know’s personal video interviews and conversations, portrait photographers and an improv comedy workshop with Jacqueline Kabat.  Details to follow!

At the Conference, we will be offering 45 minute videotaping sessions for survivors and their chosen interview partner.  Before the sessions begin, Just So You Know will present an uproariously funny workshop by Jacqueline Kabat, a NYC-based professional comedienne.  Jacqueline’s “Healing with Humor Improvisational Comedy Workshop” will teach the art of improv to participants in the conference and their interview partners.  If you have ever seen improv comedians perform, you know that they seem to have mastered some of the great secrets of life.  They stay completely focused on the moment and totally open to whatever is coming next.  They listen and observe.  They never reject what their partners say or do.  They accept what is presented to them and figure out how to turn it into something positive.  And, of course, they make it all funny.

Jacqueline’s workshop will teach these skills.  It’s a perfect way to learn about living life to its fullest, overcoming obstacles and breaking down barriers.  It’s also the perfect way to get prepared to sit, listen, answer questions and share stories with an interview partner.   After the workshop ends, recording sessions will begin.  Sessions are private – it’s just you, your interview partner and a camera in the room.  Talk about whatever you like, take advantage of the time to share stories, reminisce and ask and answer questions.

If you are in the Houston area and would like to be part of the seminar, please click here to find out more or email bsmp@mdanderson.org or call 713-792-8208.  If you have questions, please feel free to leave a comment here!