Have you ever seen a photo of a speaker in a conference booklet or program, then observed the same speaker at the conference in person…and the resemblance is, well, not even close? And you realize that this person hasn’t updated their promotional photos since 2012? Or worse, since 1912! Well, professional speakers/performers are sometimes the…
A Billing Tip As a speaker, performer, presenter and you may be responsible for your billing management. It is indeed important to get paid…and on time! But you may need to improve your technique in this arena. As creative types, many of us struggle with the business side of the show. But, those two…
I went to a graduation event the other day. It was in a nice room, with what looked like great stage lighting. But, I wasn’t sure…because they never turned them on! The result? It was hard to see the graduates clearly on the stage. If you are on a proper stage or platform, and…
Once you’ve begun your talk, speech, or performance, be sure you intentionally make eye to eye contact with some folks. Acknowledging them. Then, be sure to look throughout the audience, even to the back of the room. If you are in a room with proper lighting, you won’t be able to “see” people beyond…
Walk On Music If you are a performer, you may already understand how powerful music can be to your entrance on stage. Even professional baseball players have realized this…as a player’s favorite music piece is often played as he goes up to bat. If you’ve never used walk-on music when entering the stage or platform,…
Be Vulnerable The stage can be a scary place. Research has shown that public speaking is the number one fear of many people. Number five is death. So, to quote Jerry Seinfeld, “You’d rather be in the coffin than speaking at the funeral.” So, for those of us who put ourselves on stage on…
You’ve probably seen it happen, at a conference, church service, or even a live show; There’s nothing more awkward to a performer, speaker OR to the audience, than when the presenter’s mic goes out. And, if you are on stage for your part-time or full-time profession, it will happen to you at some point….
It seems silly at first—but if part of being “onstage” for you is wearing dress clothes, then you need to know this tip. Collar stays are those little arrow-looking things that help hold your collar down. Those plastic ones that come with dress shirts are meant to be replaced. Below are some links to some better solutions…
One of the best ways to build a good reputation in life is to keep your word. Fulfill your promises. This same timeless ideal also holds truthful in your on-stage career. In this week’s tip, we’ll look at respecting the client that hired you, and the audience that is watching/listening to you. It’s vital insight in building…
If you’ve ever seen any using an iPad while they are speaking, you may have noticed the brightness of the screen being reflected in their glasses, or on their face. From the audience point of view, it is distracting—and it’s not necessary. Here’s a way to “invert” the colors so that won’t happen to you….