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Barry Manilow Knows The Power Of A Cracking Story

28th March 2019
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirlWith yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there ...

I love the song Copacabana by Barry Manilow.It’s incredibly cheesy, and I'm sure that when you hear it, you think of Bazza himself with mullet and perma-tan, a calypso costume and probably a set of maracas.I love the song for two reasons.The first are the memories that I associate with them.Studying in Greece in my 20’s and pursuing a dream to become a female Indiana Jones.And secondly the story.The song tells a story of star crossed lovers.You may not be surprised that the song inspired a movie, of which I have seen, and yes it’s even cheesier than the song.But, it’s the power that the story that has kept this song, a karaoke favorite of mine, for over 20 years.

But why are stories so powerful?Our brains become more active when we tell stories rather than facts.When we hear just facts, only a small part of the brain gets activated. However when you tell a story, every part of your brain is activated. This means you don’t just hear stories you experience them too.And the listener and speaker will also experience similar brain activity.It really is quite amazing.What other great things can stories do?Research into the power of storytelling has shown that stories:Let's face it evolution has wired our brains to tell stories.Stories are everywhereStories are everywhere, not just in the printed or spoken form.We see them in the digital world, on websites, Youtube, films and games.At MakeMatic we create resources that tell stories everyday.But where do I start?Becoming a good storyteller can give you the power to guide, motivate, entertain, educate, inspire, and influence others.Here are some tips to get you started:
  1. Keep the story short, sweet and to the point. Once you start rambling it's possible you'll lose the interest of your audience.
  2. Stick to a simple structure - beginning, middle and end - you can get more creative once you have nailed the basics.
  3. Practice makes perfect. The more you do it, the easier it will be.
And who knows, you might even create a story as compelling as Bazza's. ;)

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