Cynthia Raxter

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Introduction: I am a storyteller, standup comedian, emcee and conference speaker. I perform at comedy clubs, festivals, art galleries, libraries... the Monti and the Moth. I love to do big stage performances and small group, drop-in storytelling at farmers' markets! I tell true to life, original stories. I grew up rambunctious on a dairy farm in the mountains of North Carolina, with 7 brothers and sisters. Today I live in the fun artist community of Bynum, NC. Many of my stories have classic themes: the Odyssey via a Winnebago, Aesop's Fables a la Frozen Creek. I do storytelling for grownups and children. I do standup and improv to stay fresh and enthused! At conferences I can provide lively and funny insights about community organizing, farmers markets, marketing, team building, employee motivation, project management, and/or provide fun breakout sessions with storytelling and art. In 2012 I retired from UNC's Heath Sciences Library with 21 years in Reference and public services. Prior to that, I worked 30 years in the hotel, retail and real estate industries. My stories and comedy promote a strong self-worth, acceptance and good values. In listening to a story, children and adults also hear, see, feel these qualities. For some this "ownership of who you are" is a unique experience. I enjoy reveling in everyday life - every day is special - and sharing that gift with others.

Overview

1 employee

12 years in business

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Reviews

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Laura S.

Apr 13, 2016

Cynthia is a true pro and such an asset to our community. I have worked with her in my roll as a Board Member for our local farmers market and as a conference organizer. I have booked Cindy to present a one hour workshop at our conference in our Big Ideas series, a session during our three day conference that steps back from the intensity and detail oriented workshops to allow participants to think more "Big Picture". Cynthia did a great job and was very well received by our farmer and foodie audience. She was also prompt in providing us all the information we needed to promote the workshop, filling out our online form with her program description, bio, photo, etc. As a board member for the market, we regularly tap Cindy's talents as a childrens storyteller. She just exudes fun and warmth, and the children (and adults!) flock to her tent to hear her. She is just a treasure and a delight.

Mariah W.

Apr 13, 2016

Cynthia Raxter is an excellent story teller. She really captures the audience with imagination, liveliness and stories of her own life that resonate. She also does a great job of promoting the art of story telling among the public and other story tellers.

Lauren D.

Apr 18, 2016

Cynthia performed for Durham County Library at our 3rd Annual Storytelling Festival. This is the second time she has participated in our festival and both times she has done an outstanding job. The patrons and staff loved her hilarious, personal stories. We very much enjoy having her a part of our events.

Steve T.

Mar 24, 2017

Cynthia was our featured storyteller for an event we were doing to raise money to help young women who have financial need have a great experience at prom. Cynthia told great stories, full of meaning and laughter. We loved having her at our event. Her fee was very reasonable. She was easy to work with. She even helped us connect with other storytellers in the area to fill our event. So generous. I'd highly recommend her - Steve T.

FAQs

What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
For storytelling, comedy or emceeing: $75 per hour plus expenses at cost. For a storytelling or comedy show with others the fee is $150 for coordinating the show, $75 per performer, $75 for the emcee per hour - plus expenses at cost. Equipment delivered on site and set up For $25 each: Shade tent Art supplies - coloring, watercolors, origami, pastels, drawing, crafts. 12 Chairs Small speaker system - suitable for a library or coffee shop Shure SM58 microphone, balanced XLR cable and stand Lavalier mic Mixer For $100 set of 300 amp powered speakers.and cables.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
We visit over the phone usually for 30-45 minutes. I write you with everything that we discussed. You come back to me with questions or if your event parameters change after thinking things over. We both sign-off on the finished, agreed-upon document. I'll also give you an itemized list of my fees and estimated expenses. If it is a show with others or extensive travel is involved I ask for half in advance. (Some local governments do not make advance payments.) When the quote is approved, I make hotel reservations, travel plans, line up other performers and design the show. When my details are set I let you know, who, what, when, and how much. We talk or email about a week out to touch base. We talk again a day or so before to make sure last minute details are set: Any minor set up needs we may have - when to be there so we can do a sound check, where to park... etc. Any special needs you have - mentioning birthdays or anniversaries. If I am emceeing I'll need the bands' names, sponsors' names, silent audtion donors, etc. so I can look them up and be knowledgeable about their work. I have done many events both as a planner and an entertainer. Whatever happens I am creative and a fast thinker and keep it fun. I do not hesitate to help: last year I helped arrange flowers from Whole Foods when a florist made an error with their calendar. In February we totally changed a program10 minutes out: 70 kids were in the audience when we were expecting 99% grownups. My goal is to help you make your event the best it can be. I give 100% on and off stage. Good communication is one of the keys to that relationship. Thank you for reading my materials. I look forward to talking with you soon.
How did you get started doing this type of work?
My family speaks in stories. At supper every night growing up, story overlapped story overlapped story. I grew up on a dairy farm with 5 sisters and one fiendishly clever brother. I always wanted to write and I loved telling folks stories and making them laugh. I came to school in Chapel Hill in 1976. People would come across the dining room in Lenoir Hall and say, "I'm sorry but where are you from?" I had a thick mountain drawl and molasses dripped out of my mouth. Actually it is Elizabethian speech patterns and words that work their way into Mountain-speak. My dad's family's been in Brevard, NC since 1805. My mom's12th great grandfather was a Jamestown settler - 13 years before the Mayflower. (The Pilgrims had better P.R. however!) My ancestors moved to Orange County NC (Chapel Hill) in 1715. My 5th great grandfather moved to Oconee in upstate South Carolina in 1790 - on the border with NC. I had a full-time job with the University at the Carolina Inn before I graduated. I bought a tiny 3 room house on the banks of the Haw River in 1983 - in a cotton mill town called Bynum in Chatham County, NC. I transferred to the Health Sciences Library 8 years later. I worked reference, oversaw User Services, taught people to use the Internet, designed webpages, configured and designed email and Chat Services to provide library assistance - no matter when, no matter where the student was... .I helped usher in new automated systems. I presented at conferences. I coached many student employees and interns. I was on the staff morale committee - they called me "The Cruise Director." I loved my stress-packed energy-eating on-the-bleeding-edge-of-technology-challenging job. But when I was getting ready to retire 2012 I knew what was my life's dream: being a storyteller and a writer. I told a few friends this a few months out - and word got out - and the phone started ringing. The weekend before I retired I had six shows lined up. i haven't looked back. I've been more busy than I ever was as an academic librarian. And I have loved every minute of it. Who would have ever thunk it? A "recovering librarian" becoming a comedian at the age of 54? It actually worked out better than if it had been planned! In fact - if I had tried to plan it I would have said "Oh that's crazy!" And it would have never happened! One of my favorite quotes is, "Sometimes an idea is so right my job is to just get out of the way so it can happen!" (Scratch a storyteller and you find a story. LOL!!)