The ghost story has been part of daily life ever since Victoria was on the throne and Scrooge received his first visit from Jacob Marley. But never has it been quite so popular. Urban myths, or “friend of a friend” stories, are everywhere – tales of the paranormal and supernatural that can never quite be proved and often not disproved…” reports Alasdair Stuart for the guardian.co.uk.
“What’s the appeal? Ghost stories show us our limits, as well as whispering in our ear, persuading us to push our luck just a little too much until we realise, too late, that “it’s not a prank call”, that the house “really is built on a graveyard”. They’re stereotypical, certainly – but done right, few types of fiction can entertain and frighten us as much,” reports Stuart.
“All of which makes for perfect entertainment as the nights draw in. For the best possible effect, all you have to do is take control of four elements: your environment, your audience, your story and yourself,” reports Stuart.
“Atmosphere is vital for any performance, especially ghost stories, so your first job is to make sure your audience are only paying attention to you. With that in mind, make sure you work indoors, because it will cut down on any distractions, and you can tailor the lighting in the room to your needs,” reports Stuart.
“If you can, get a single source of light in the room and place it centrally or near you. The mind and the eyes focus on what they can see, so if you’re the only point of light in the room you’re also going to be the only thing anyone looks at. If this isn’t possible, then candles spread around a room will give you a different but no less impressive effect, lowering the light and heightening the atmosphere,” reports Stuart.
“Arrange the room so you’re either at the tip of a wedge of seats or standing at the centre of a semi-circle, ensuring that everyone is pointing towards you and subconsciously concentrating on you before you even speak. Asking people to turn off their mobile phones before you begin is also well worth doing,” reports Stuart.
Read the rest of Stuart’s great tips here
