• Collecting Stories Page
  • About the Story Tent
• Indiana Disability History Project

The Story Tent

Tent dimensions and accommodations: Our tent is about 12 feet at the peak and about 10’ x 10’. Typically one person is interviewed at a time but we can easily film two people as well.


Tent accessories provided: In addition to the tent, we bring the lighting system, the backdrop, the camera equipment, and microphones as well as a skilled videographer and interviewer. We also bring release forms and, if there's enough space, a laptop streaming stories previously collected.

Developing interview questions: Once contacted by a host site, we discuss the goals or purpose of the stories the host wants collected. A wide range of past topics include employment, relationships, history, memories, opinions, testimonials, dreams and what the future holds. When a theme is determined, we develop a series of questions to put the interviewee at ease and collect the requested information.


Day of the Story Tent event: We require a registration table and provide a sign-up sheet with time slots available (if needed), as well as a release form, which all interviewees must sign prior to interview. If we're afforded a second table, we bring a laptop and show previously collected stories to provide interviewees with an idea of how their story will appear. Occasionally, we add words or phrases outside and around the tent that relate to the topic to help generate ideas and create enthusiasm.

During the interview: We start with some easy questions to help the person feel at ease and then move into the planned topic questions. We also ask the interviewees to share a story about the topic if they have one. Typically, interviews run 20 minutes.


After the Story Tent Event: Once all the stories are collected we either give all recordings to the host agency or we edit the interviews and add closed captions to create a product for the host or to add to our CACVOICES YouTube channel. For examples of our work visit our channel.

Story Tent Fees: Our fees vary by what we are requested to offer at a Story Tent event and/or to produce from the collected material. Travel reimbursement might also need to be negotiated, depending on the scope and distance of your event. Our work begins with preparing and interviewing with the tent and could continue through post production work such as editing and DVD production.

Event Logistics - If you want us to attend your event and collect stories, you should consider the following logistics:


Interested in making arrangements for a Story Tent visit? Contact jeptodd@indiana.edu with your ideas and timeframe.