$85 / hrBoard and card games + 1 more
Chess
Marcus Bell
4.8(16)Neighborhood and family life stories
Livingston
Mon · Wed · ThuBackground checked
Life story recording at home in West Orange, NJ
The stories a parent tells at the dinner table are easy to lose. Home Happenings storytelling pros visit older adults at home in West Orange, guide a long conversation about their life, and record it for the family as audio, a short film, or a printed book.
A guided conversation about your life, recorded for your family. Old photos welcome.
Friendly people serving West Orange
$85 / hr
$110 / hrPersonal storytelling
Daniel Brennan
4.8(9)Wartime and work-life memories
West Orange
Tue · Wed · ThuBackground checked
$120 / hrPersonal storytelling
Jonah Weiss
4.7(7)Filmed life stories with camera and lights
Montclair
Tue · Thu · SatBackground checked
A conversation, not an interview
The pro starts with easy ground: childhood homes, first jobs, school friends. Then they follow the stories that clearly matter. Was there a first apartment in the city? A wedding at a hall that no longer exists? A move to West Orange to raise kids? The best stories usually come out sideways.
Some pros bring a video camera and lights and help make a short film. Others record audio, and some help turn the conversations into a printed book. Profiles say which.
The pro prepares by asking the family a few questions first, like where the person grew up and which stories always get told at holidays. That way the first session starts on familiar ground and moves into new stories from there.
Sessions are relaxed. If the person tires, the pro wraps up and picks up the thread next time. Nothing has to be finished in one day.
Prompts that come from town
Long-time West Orange residents often have stories tied to local places: picnics in South Mountain Reservation, the first visit to Turtle Back Zoo with their own children, the view from Eagle Rock, or memories of the Edison buildings on Main Street before they became a national park. Mentioning one place can open up an hour of memories.
Old photos, letters and even recipe cards help a lot. Leave a box out where the pro can see it.
Recipes and family sayings deserve a place too. Some families ask the pro to record a parent explaining how they make a holiday dish, or the story behind a nickname everyone uses.
Booking from out of state
Grown children far away often arrange this. You can message the pro with topics you want covered and names to ask about, and read their short note after each session. You do not need to be in the room for it to work, and many parents talk more freely without the family listening.
Contact details stay private in messages until you choose otherwise.
How long it takes and what it costs
Most life stories need several sessions. Families usually start with four weekly visits. Pros set an hourly rate between $50 and $150, and sessions run 1, 1.5 or 2 hours. A $2.50 booking fee and a 10% service fee are added at checkout. Cancellation is free up to 3 days ahead.
Gift cards from $50 can be a good way for several siblings to chip in together.
How visits work
Choose a one hour, 1.5 hour or two hour visit. Each visit adds a $2.50 booking fee and a 10% service fee. You pay when you book. Refunds follow our cancellation policy: free up to 3 days before. Every published professional completes an online search, a real conversation with our team, a signed provider agreement, a criminal background check through a screening vendor and a national sex offender registry check. The home address stays private until a visit is confirmed. Read profiles, compare open times and reviews, then book an open time straight from the calendar. Use Message to discuss your first visit.
Popular activities in West Orange
Questions seniors and families ask
Can we choose between a film and a book?
It depends on the pro. Some make short films with a camera and lights, others record audio, and some help produce a printed book. Pick a pro whose profile offers the format you want.
What if my mother gets emotional during a session?
That happens, and good pros are comfortable pausing or changing topic. Your mother can skip any subject. Many families say the emotional moments are the stories they treasure most later.
Should I send questions ahead of time?
Yes, it helps. Send the pro a few topics or family names by message. The pro will work them into the conversation naturally rather than reading a list.
How long is each storytelling session?
Most sessions are 1 to 1.5 hours, since talking for longer can be tiring. You can book up to 2 hours if your parent enjoys longer conversations.
Nearby towns
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