Feature Story Brainstorm 1
1. Who is your main subject?
My Grandma, Peggy.
2. Supporting interviews (who else do you need to talk to, minimum 2 other people)?
My Grandpa, Buzzy, and
3. What is the topic or potential topic?
Music in China
4. Which angle from above will you write the story?
First hand experience
5. Then to help you get going faster, come up with 20 questions that you can ask your main subject. Type these in your blog.
1.) When and why did you start playing?
When Buzzy and I got married we played and sang a lot and we would go to parties that grandmom would throw and things like that so that we could earn extra money because our kids were little. That would be in about 1970.
When Buzzy and I got married we played and sang a lot and we would go to parties that grandmom would throw and things like that so that we could earn extra money because our kids were little. That would be in about 1970.
2.) What famous musicians do you admire?
My very first love when I was a child was luis armstrong. As I've gone threw time I really liked Bett Midler. I love the old swing bands like Glen Miller and Tommy Dorsey. Of course there was Elvis and the beetles but now that I'm playing bluegrass I really like Lonesome river band.
My very first love when I was a child was luis armstrong. As I've gone threw time I really liked Bett Midler. I love the old swing bands like Glen Miller and Tommy Dorsey. Of course there was Elvis and the beetles but now that I'm playing bluegrass I really like Lonesome river band.
3.) Where did you first play in front of people?
It would be at my mothers house as far as being on a stage it would be 1971 we played in hotel lobby in nashville just the two of us.
It would be at my mothers house as far as being on a stage it would be 1971 we played in hotel lobby in nashville just the two of us.
4.) How did you get this gig?
Well in 1987 early in the year, there was a lady who worked at the embassy in Beijing who had a friend in Nashville. Well, the president of China, Dung sho ping, wanted to have a celebration for the united states on the fourth of july. Now President Nixon had gone over to china and they opened up to people coming in about a year and a half before this. 1969 or so. Anyway, when the president asked the ambassador to put on a big event, for the 4 of july, he had the lady that worked for him contact her friend in Nashville and he asked us and 2 other bands to submit pictures and songs and stuff to them to choose from. Once they did that they decided to here us.
Well in 1987 early in the year, there was a lady who worked at the embassy in Beijing who had a friend in Nashville. Well, the president of China, Dung sho ping, wanted to have a celebration for the united states on the fourth of july. Now President Nixon had gone over to china and they opened up to people coming in about a year and a half before this. 1969 or so. Anyway, when the president asked the ambassador to put on a big event, for the 4 of july, he had the lady that worked for him contact her friend in Nashville and he asked us and 2 other bands to submit pictures and songs and stuff to them to choose from. Once they did that they decided to here us.
5.) What was it like to perform in a whole different country?
Oh my god it was the most amazing experience Ive ever had. First of all, nobody spoke english. When we got there our equipment started to come off the chain of luggage and 2 little chinese men started taking our equipment away and we didn't know what was going on. They ended up putting it on a big truck and took it away and then they put us on a small bus and drove us into the city. we stayed at the great wall sheraton hotel there and it was brand new at the time and we left here on 1 got there 2. the trip took about 30 hours but theyre a few hours ahead of us. Anyway, the first thing we did ws play at the ambassadors residence for a birthday party for the united states. The ambassadors name was winston lord and his wife his chinese and her name was betty bao lord. and they had all of the ambassadors to china from all over the world so there was the french embassador, american, japanese, russian and so on. The president was ill that day so his wife are and I got to meet her. then we moved from there to the embassy and they had a street party. there was about 10000 people there and we played for that. we went to the great wall of china and just everything you could do. then evrynight after that we played at the hotel because we stayed for 10 days.
Oh my god it was the most amazing experience Ive ever had. First of all, nobody spoke english. When we got there our equipment started to come off the chain of luggage and 2 little chinese men started taking our equipment away and we didn't know what was going on. They ended up putting it on a big truck and took it away and then they put us on a small bus and drove us into the city. we stayed at the great wall sheraton hotel there and it was brand new at the time and we left here on 1 got there 2. the trip took about 30 hours but theyre a few hours ahead of us. Anyway, the first thing we did ws play at the ambassadors residence for a birthday party for the united states. The ambassadors name was winston lord and his wife his chinese and her name was betty bao lord. and they had all of the ambassadors to china from all over the world so there was the french embassador, american, japanese, russian and so on. The president was ill that day so his wife are and I got to meet her. then we moved from there to the embassy and they had a street party. there was about 10000 people there and we played for that. we went to the great wall of china and just everything you could do. then evrynight after that we played at the hotel because we stayed for 10 days.
6.) Did the people there enjoy the music?
oh they loved it. they were out dancing at the street party and we met the Lebanese ambassador and his family then they ended up coming to every one of our performances and we got to go to his house and he gave us gifts and we gave them gifts. in fact he and i wrote letters back and forth for quite some time after that. He had never met a real american so he enjoyed getting to know us. But people came to the hotel and there was 200-300 people there overnight to hear us.
7.) How was the band name chosen?
well buzzy just called it that and it stuck.
8.) What was it like getting there?
It was a very very long trip. when we realized they had chosen us, we had to do everything very quick. We needed passports in 3 weeks but the state department took care of that. We flew to Chicago then to la form la we flew to tokay and from there to shanghai and in there it was raining and storming and the lights were out and all along the runway they lined up cars and trucks and put their headlights on so the pilot could see the runway to take off. When we landed in Beijing you had to get on a bus to get t the terminal. Well, that was our first experience with security there. there were four Chinese soldiers holding automatic weapons and they stood around us and we asked why and they were there for our safety by the president.
9.) What type of music did your band play?
Swing, rock, dance, bluegrass, country, everything we could really. We were what was called a dance band.
10.) Were people there able to appreciate this style of music?
11.) Did many people come to watch the performance?
12.) Were there any problems with leaving the country?
well we didn't know that you had to fill out a sheet saying what you bought there. So when we were going through security they thought that we bought all of our music equipment in china so they had threatened to keep it. So then we were sponsored by united airlines so we had them all and vouch for us. I just walked through the terminal with buzzys guitar then everyone else had their instruments but they had treated to keep the speakers and things and buzzy looked at them adjust said keep it. then they finally let us take it through.
13.) What is your music background?
14.) Have you been to any other places like this to perform?
Oh no. I've never been out of the states to perform.
15.) How long were you in the band?
32 years
16.) Who was in the band?
it was always off and on but it was always Buzzy and I
17.) Was everyone always cooperative?
18.) When did the band start to become known?
19.) Why did the band break up?
buzzy and I had gotten a divorce
20.) How did you feel when you were performing in China?
oh they loved it. they were out dancing at the street party and we met the Lebanese ambassador and his family then they ended up coming to every one of our performances and we got to go to his house and he gave us gifts and we gave them gifts. in fact he and i wrote letters back and forth for quite some time after that. He had never met a real american so he enjoyed getting to know us. But people came to the hotel and there was 200-300 people there overnight to hear us.
7.) How was the band name chosen?
well buzzy just called it that and it stuck.
8.) What was it like getting there?
It was a very very long trip. when we realized they had chosen us, we had to do everything very quick. We needed passports in 3 weeks but the state department took care of that. We flew to Chicago then to la form la we flew to tokay and from there to shanghai and in there it was raining and storming and the lights were out and all along the runway they lined up cars and trucks and put their headlights on so the pilot could see the runway to take off. When we landed in Beijing you had to get on a bus to get t the terminal. Well, that was our first experience with security there. there were four Chinese soldiers holding automatic weapons and they stood around us and we asked why and they were there for our safety by the president.
9.) What type of music did your band play?
Swing, rock, dance, bluegrass, country, everything we could really. We were what was called a dance band.
10.) Were people there able to appreciate this style of music?
11.) Did many people come to watch the performance?
12.) Were there any problems with leaving the country?
well we didn't know that you had to fill out a sheet saying what you bought there. So when we were going through security they thought that we bought all of our music equipment in china so they had threatened to keep it. So then we were sponsored by united airlines so we had them all and vouch for us. I just walked through the terminal with buzzys guitar then everyone else had their instruments but they had treated to keep the speakers and things and buzzy looked at them adjust said keep it. then they finally let us take it through.
13.) What is your music background?
14.) Have you been to any other places like this to perform?
Oh no. I've never been out of the states to perform.
15.) How long were you in the band?
32 years
16.) Who was in the band?
it was always off and on but it was always Buzzy and I
17.) Was everyone always cooperative?
18.) When did the band start to become known?
19.) Why did the band break up?
buzzy and I had gotten a divorce
20.) How did you feel when you were performing in China?
6. Once you complete that portion, you need to come up with 5-10 questions you need to ask your supporting interviews. Type these into your blog. You may need different questions for each supporting subject.
Grandpa, Buzzy
1.) How did you feel when you were performing there?
2.) How did the gig happen?
3.) Did you start this band?
4.) What is your musical background?
5.) How were all the members gathered to make the band?
1.) How did you feel when you were performing there?
2.) How did the gig happen?
3.) Did you start this band?
4.) What is your musical background?
5.) How were all the members gathered to make the band?
7. You will need to do a little research on the topic you expect to interview your main subject about. Take a little time and do some google searching - find at least 5 new things about the intended topic you should know before you interview your main subject. List those on your blog.
it was in beijing
fourth of july
1987
fourth of july
1987
8. Write when you plan to conduct the interview(s)?
Over the break
9. Where you will interview them (some interviews are better to do in the persons environment, while others should be done in public places)?
Over the phone.
10. How will you record the information? (taking notes is ideal, and if you want to record the conversation you MUST get permission. You can do both if they will allow you to record, this is a really strong technique that you could use.)
I will record
I will record
A. I think there are lots of open ended question which is amazing but whenever you find anything interesting that the interviewer has said you should elaborate.
ReplyDeleteB.-What kind of emotions does music give you?
- What gave you the idea to be in the band or create the band?
C.- Did this change the way you thought of her?
D. Your mom or your dad could be a great source.
E. Who is the audience and what is the purpose for this piece of writing?
The audience are students and adults that might have a passion for music, the purpose might be how music has changed an individuals life.
What do you see as the writer’s main point in these questions?
The main point in the question most likely is how the band and music in china has impacted her.
Which part of these questions interests you the most? Why?
The part where the interviewer is asked why did the band break up because I want to know if the music did impact her.
Where do you feel you would like more detail or explanation on any questions? Where do you need less?
I think all the question are good but whenever you find something interesting you should ask more questions about that.
Do you find any questions unclear, confusing, or undeveloped?
Nope, I love the way her questions fit and I can't wait to read your final piece.
All of these questions are good to ask because they can leave you with good quotes to tell your story through. For the main source you could ask: What was your band's name and why did you pick that? and How many times would you meet before your next gig? For your grandma you could ask: When the band members split up did you want to keep performing music and if so what stopped you? You could interview one of the other band members to see another perspective on the split up. The question that interests me the most is when and why did you start playing because I have always loved music, but I am too scared to get up and play or sing anything in front of people. I would like to see a very detailed answer from the quote: How did you feel while performing in China because I have never even been to China. I am really interested to see how this story turns out.
ReplyDeletea. Almost all of your questions are open ended, which is really good considering it will help you get more information easier.
ReplyDeleteb. How did you first get involved with music? What were some of your highs and lows while performing in China?
c. Did music bring you and Grandma closer? How so?
d. You could interview any friends of your grandparents that witnessed them performing or any of the other band members if they are reachable.
e. The audience is anyone who is involved in music and is interested in how it plays a role in others' lives. I saw the writer's main point to inform the reader how music in China affected her grandma. One of the most interesting questions to me was was it was like to preform in a different country because I know how much music can vary from place to place. The questions were very clear. Good job!
a- I se that a lot of your questions are open ended which is really good, but a few cold be better.
ReplyDeleteb- How did you learn to play/ who taught you?
What are some differences from american to Chinese music?
c- What is the craziest thing you experienced while playing music?
d- Your mom/dad any one else from the band if possible
1.The audience is people who are interested in music and what it is like. They main purpose is to show the Journey of her grandmother.
2.Her main point is to really understand what all her grandmother had gone through.
3.I like the questions on how she learned how to play music
4.I do think you could use a little more detail all around.
5. I think everything was pretty clear and developed.