Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Everyone!
I have a present for you!
It’s not green. And it’s not Irish. But it’s still a great present 🙂
Remember on Friday I promised a guest post on a very interesting topic?
Ta-da!
Allow me to introduce the multi-talented and delightful Iza Trapani!
 |
| Author/Illustrator Iza Trapani |
Hi Iza!
Thank you so much for joining us today!
I personally am very interested in the topic of Skype school visits. I think they’re a wonderful alternative to in-person visits for many schools, allowing authors and illustrators to visit classrooms without the expense associated with in-person visits. Having never done one myself, I was curious to know the details of how one goes about it, and I thought you guys might like to know too! So I asked Iza (who is a pro :)) to elucidate, and she very kindly did (VERY kindly because not only did I ask her for a guest post, it was on short notice!)
Take it away, Iza!
While an in-person school visit is always better, a Skype session is a nice alternative for schools struggling with tight budgets and/or for schools wanting to invite an out-of-state author. Most authors charge travel expenses in addition to their presentation fees, so it can get expensive. Skype visits are a convenient and affordable option. They are also great for authors and illustrators who are often up against deadlines. Cutting out the travel leaves more time for the works in progress.
I’ve been doing skype visits for a couple of years now, and I’m glad to share my experience.
Getting Skype Visits
Advertising for Skype visits is no different than for in-person visits. On my website I have a link with information on my school visits. It includes a description of my presentation, a short video of me presenting to a class, my fees, list of my titles, short bio, feedback on my presentations and more. When a school contacts me, I also have a school visit PDF that includes all the relevant info plus references. A few years ago we added a blurb that I am now available for Skype visits as well. When I started doing Skype, I sent out an e-mail announcement to all my school contacts, teacher friends, and fans. A few years ago I’d also sent out a flyer to numerous schools within a 50 mile radius. The flyer had a brief bio, description of my presentation and contact info. I am also listed in Arts in Ed directories in several counties. Mostly, the schools find me either via my website or by word of mouth. Because my writing and illustrations (especially) are so time consuming, I can not do too many school visits. But that is a personal choice. Some authors do lots of school visits and I am sure they promote much more aggressively than I do.
Setting up the Session
I set up right in my studio which has good, glare-free northern light and overhead track lights. My laptop will rest on a small table. I’ll have a stool to sit on and my materials (illustration samples, books I’ll be using etc.) will be within reach on top of my flat file cabinets on the left. To my right will be an easel with an 18×24 pad on which I’ll do drawing demonstrations. Behind me, a low bookshelf will showcase some of my books face out. It makes a nice backdrop.
Before doing my first school visit I did a test with my sister (in Poland!) to make sure the light was good, that the books behind me were well arranged and that the easel was at the right height. When I first started I was worried that the class wouldn’t see me well, but I soon learned that the image I see of me in the little window on the bottom right in Skype is what they are seeing. I can tilt the computer screen to adjust the view as needed.
Makeup? Attire?
One of the advantages of a Skype visit is that I don’t have to fuss over my appearance. First of all, it’s never a crystal clear image-at least not on my end. I rarely wear make-up but I will wash my hair and wear a nice, casual top for the session. It doesn’t matter what’s on my bottom half- clown pants or a tutu- they won’t see it 🙂
Interruptions?
I turn off the phone and leave a note on the front door. If it’s UPS or FedEx, they can drop off in our front foyer. My big Mastiff, Jambo, might stay in my husband’s shop- but I have had requests from some schools that the kids wanted to see my pets, so in those cases I will leave him with me. Part of the attraction of Skype is seeing the author at home.
Technical Problems
Sometimes there are technical problems – usually no sound. So far, the problems were on the school’s end and were quickly fixed. A quick test Skype with the teacher ahead of time is always a good idea. I also do a test Skype with a friend or relative beforehand.
Sound can be a bit problematic. When the children join me in singing there is a slight delay. Also, I don’t always hear the children when they ask me questions; the teachers usually have to repeat them, and I can hear the teachers just fine. They say they can hear me very clearly, so I am glad about that.
My Presentation
My Skype presentations are the same as my in-person visits. I start off with a short intro, telling a little bit about me- how I was born in Poland and came to the U.S. when I was seven and went right into first grade not speaking any English, and then how my dream of making books for children came true. Then I sing/read one of my nursery rhyme books, and I’ll have the kids sing at least the first verse along with me. Then I will discuss the bookmaking process, talk a bit about getting ideas and turning them into stories, and then the many revisions that are needed. I will show samples of my storyboards, dummy sketches, color studies and final art. I will also show some of my rejected works- paintings I had started but wasn’t happy with. And I have some press sheets to show them so they can understand the printing process. After that I will do Q+A then go on to a drawing demonstration. I’ll choose a character from one of my books and have the kids think of some ideas of what the character could be doing and I will draw it for them. Then I’ll ask the kids to help me add details to the drawing and I will put them in. A typical scene might be a bear riding on a skateboard and juggling. For details they will ask me to put in the sun, birds, bunnies, flowers, ladybugs, etc. I love that! There are so many edgy books out there and it’s reassuring to me to know that kids are still charmed by the beauty and wonder of nature.
My books are ideal for preK to 1st grade, but I will also present to older kids. I will adjust my presentations- doing more singing and reading with the little ones and more bookmaking discussions with the older kids.
Fee
I charge $150 for a 45 minute to 1 hr session. My in-person visits are $250 per session plus travel expenses beyond 50 miles. I will do up to 4 presentations in one day. In both cases, the school will send me a check after the visit.
And that’s all there is to it! 🙂
Thank you, Susanna, for featuring me. I hope this info is helpful to your many wonderful readers!
Thank YOU, Iza! I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say it was very interesting and enlightening!
Iza is the author and illustrator of 20 lovely picture books for children, including Itsy Bitsy Spider (a favorite in our house), Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Bear Went Over The Mountain, Little Miss Muffet and many more. She is also the illustrator of 4 books written by other authors.
Teachers, you can learn all about Iza’s school visits here:
and everyone – teachers, parents, readers, writers, homeschoolers, librarians, kids etc. – you can find Iza around the web here:
www.izatrapani.com
http://izatrapani.com/blog
Like me on Facebook
Follow me on twitter
I hope you enjoyed learning about Skype visits (I know I did! :)) and if you have any questions, I think Iza will be happy to answer in the comments!
Have a marvelous Monday, everyone, and once again, Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 🙂
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Thanks, Susanna! It's always nice to be on your blog, and I do hope the info is helpful- and yes, I am happy to answer any other questions!
THANK YOU!!! I am hoping to get into some Skype visits in the coming year and really had no idea how to go about it, especially how to contact schools. Being in Italy, Skype is my only option, so I need to figure it out. Oh — of course the big thing to figure out is CONTENT. What do I do with kids for 45 minutes? This gives me lots to think about… Grazie mille, Iza and Susanna!
What a WONDERFUL gift! I'm in the process of researching doing Skype visits right now!
Hope this goes really well, Erik!
This is a super post and I am going to bookmark it. Thank you both so much.
Wow! That is so cool, Erik! Hope the visit goes really well!
You're very welcome, Joanna. I'm so glad it it's helpful!
I'm glad you found the post helpful, Cecilia! I think school visits are like anything else – they take practice! I know I had to learn as I went for in-person visits – I'm still learning! – and Skype will be no different I'm sure.
I'm glad it was timely, Laura! There's a lot to learn, and I find Iza's experience so helpful!
I know. 45 on Skype sounds long to me! Iza has an advantage – she can draw 🙂 I wish I could!
It's VERY helpful, Iza! Thank you so much for sharing with all of us! And I do have a stupid question – very basic. Where do you look while you're talking? At the dot in the center of the top of your screen? I find that so hard to do because I want to look at people's faces, and then it looks like you're looking down… I think… but I can't tell because I'm looking down 🙂
What a nice St Patrick's Day treat to hear from Iza! Lucky are the kiddos who receive a Skype visit in their classrooms from her. Thank you for sharing those tips with us. For the Irish and Irish at heart today: May your hearts be light and your pockets be heavy!
They are lucky indeed! Iza is wonderful! Thanks for the blessing, Cathy – have a lovely day! 🙂
Loved this post! Thanks, Iza, for sharing all your great tips for using Skype, as well as the content you include on your author visits. I am not yet published, but hope to be one day, and will keep this tucked away for future use. Happy St. Patty's Day!
Erik, that's fantastic! I am sure you'll do a great job! Have a happy St. Patty's Day too!
Thank you, Karen and good luck on your journey!
Thanks, Cathy. I love the light hearts and heavy pockets expression- and same to you!
I am glad, Joanna!
Yay! I am glad to help, Laura!
So glad it was helpful, Cecilia!
Oh, Renee, you have tons of content to work with. They will LOVE you!
Excellent interview! Thanks for sharing your expertise, Iza! Good point to practice ahead of time w/the teacher and work out all the kinks. I'll remember this post if I ever have to do one. Susanna, you'll do great w/these visits as well. If u ever wanna practice using Skype to someone overseas, let me know 🙂
Ditto! What a good suggestion for practice, Tina! I am always up for a Skype visit. 🙂
There are no stupid questions- and, in fact, these are great! I tend to look both directly at the center of the screen where the class is, and also at the little window, not because I am vain (though I am :-), but because I want to make sure they are seeing what I am seeing. This is especially important when I am reading a book and showing the pages. Normally, I sit about a foot and a half from the computer screen. As I read I move the book closer for one page and further back for the whole spread- using the little window to guide me. When I draw, again I check in the little window to make sure the drawing pad on the easel is visible. And I ask the class from time to time if they can see and hear me ok, and they always say yes. Basically, the back drop behind me is partly visible. As I move my head or step back a bit to work on the easel, the view shifts. They may see some books that were directly behind me then. It's really not as tricky as it seems 🙂
Tina and Renee – it would be so fun to practice! I was just thinking that practice would be the way to work out the kinks and wondering who I might subject to it 🙂
Thanks for the insights! I'd like to start skyping with classrooms and this is helpful!
Isn't Iza the best? We will all be so much better prepared thanks to her! Happy St. P's day to you too, and good luck with your writing!
So glad you liked it, Kirsti! There's a lot to learn and it's nice to get the skinny form someone who's done it!
Great information! Also, love another reason to stay in my jammies. 🙂 Happy St. Patty's Day!
Susanna, Renee…We could also do a Google Hangout, that way all 3 of us could see and hear each other with all of our kiddos, and Susanna could read to our kids or do her author visit for practice!
That sounds very fun! Except for the part where I do my author visit. I would probably die of embarrassment doing it in front of you guys! 🙂
No make up you are funny Eric! Luck of the Irish to you!
What a fabulous post, I shall definitely print this out when i can get the printer working 😉 I'm getting the impression that schools in Canada would find it odd to pay for an author visit. I must speak with a local author about what he did. Skype visits are the way forward for sure. Thanks so much ladies!
Hope it went well Erik! And thanks for sharing all the great info Iza.
To you too, Coleen! Loved your pretty post 🙂
It's interesting, Catherine. Some people clearly charge for Skype visits and others do them for free. I think it's fairly common for authors to do free 15 minutes visits, but I know of at least one author who does free 45 minute visits (in the US)
What a great post! Thank you, Susanna and Iza. I am not in this place in my writing career, but I'm going to pass it along to a friend who is.
Iza is the cat's pajamas, isn't she Lauri? 🙂
You will be soon, Debbie 🙂 Meantime, thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you for being nice and saying there are no stupid questions and also for answering them so helpfully 🙂
One less mystery to be uncovered for down the road Thanks Susanna and Iza. 🙂
You're welcome, Michelle 🙂
Fantastic post! I've been contemplating the Skype thing for some time now. Thanks for the tips Iza!
Glad you liked it, Mike! I think what we've all decided is that we should all practice on each other 🙂
What a helpful and informative post. I haven't done any Skype visits but I've been curious about them. Thanks so much for sharing your experience and tips, Iza (and thank you, Susanna, for hosting!). By the way, I'd definitely want to see Jambo (and your tutu)!
Those were really good questions! Thank you for asking them! And thank you, Iza, for explaining everything so well. I'm definitely bookmarking this page. 🙂
Oh what a wonderful post, BBF. I MIGHT need it someday. If I do, I won't forget this valuable info. I guess I never thought about the connection problems for others. O the farm here, it would be horrendous. Not sure what I'd do about that. Go to the coffee shop? Thanks Sus, for having Iza over. I learned a lot. 🙂 xoxo
What a fantastic, practical guide! Love the pets and singing–and really hope there's a tutu on-screen too!
I know, really! The tutu is the best part 🙂
Glad you liked it, Rob! Connection problems are serious for me… we have terrible internet! But we're hoping maybe there might be a fix on the horizon… we'll see… And who are you fooling'? You'll be doing Skype visit of your own before long! 🙂