Tag: performing tips

  • Scott Humston-Two Minute Tips-Episode 42-Update That Pic!

    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 worse about keeping their promotional pictures up-to-date. Don’t be that person. If you are full-time, part-time or just some-time—in the era of digital photography, having an up to date photo is easier than ever. My tip: have new photos taken at least every two years. And, if you always use the same photographer…try a different one next time; Try one that is a bit younger…or older than you. You might be really pleased with the result!

    Here’s To Your Success!

    Scott Humston

     

     

    Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe and review on iTunes. Also, you are looking for ways to get more bookings, you should most definitely check out The Quick Course On Booking Yourself. You can get the first lesson, free, here.
    Two Minute Tips are recorded by me, Scott Humston, and are copyright ©2018 by NDE, Inc. For more information on what I do, check out scotthumston.com and follow me on Twitter or Instagram @scotthumston and my hashtag is #sharewonder

     

  • Scott Humston-2 Minute Tips-Let There Be Light!-Episode 40

     

    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 there is specific lighting for that space, stage lighting, be sure you use it! The audience needs to see you. If you can feel the heat of the lights on your face, that’s good! However, with the advent of LED lighting, you may not find yourself standing- to quote singer Billy Joel, “in the white-hot, spotlight”….but be sure you are in the light! Check the stage beforehand, see where the lights began and end on the platform. During your speech, sermon, or performance be sure you stay in the light when all possible. Do some quick online reading on stage lighting, and what are the best colors for your presentation. If you are using the full stage for your presentation, you’ll want to take some time to create a lighting plot for your events; This is like a map for the lighting technicians. Again, a google search will provide more than you’ll ever need to know.  I recommend starting with a simple site, learnstagelighting.com.

    Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe and review on iTunes. Also, you are looking for ways to get more bookings, you should most definitely check out The Quick Course On Booking Yourself. You can get the first lesson, free, here.
    Here’s To Your Success!
    Scott Humston
    Two Minute Tips are recorded by me, Scott Humston, and are copyright ©2018 by NDE, Inc. For more information on what I do, check out scotthumston.com and follow me on Twitter or Instagram @scotthumston and my hashtag is #sharewonder

  • Scott Humston-Two Minute Tips-Walk On Music-Episode 38

    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, give it a try. If you have a large stage space to cover before you get to the spot where you’ll be speaking or performing from—this will help cover the silence, also known as “dead air” between applause and you being in position, too. Pick music that reflects your persona and sets the mood for your talk. This might be exciting, or soft. It’s up to you. Also, you’ll only need about 10-20 seconds, so some simple editing might be required. You can do this yourself in a music editing software like Garage Band. Or jump on fiver.com and have someone do it for you. Then, you can email the piece to the sound engineer for the event. I’d also have it on a flash drive that you carry with you to the event.

    Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe and review on iTunes. Also, you are looking for ways to get more bookings, you should most definitely check out The Quick Course On Booking Yourself. You can get the first lesson, free, here.
    Here’s to your success!
    Scott Humston
    Two Minute Tips are recorded by me, Scott Humston, and are copyright ©2018 by NDE, Inc. For more information on what I do, check out scotthumston.com and follow me on Twitter or Instagram @scotthumston and my hashtag is #sharewonder

  • Scott Humston-Two Minute Tips-Vulnerability on Stage – Episode 37

     

    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 a regular basis, taking the next step of being vulnerable to our audience can be intimidating, too. But, it is a way to go deeper with your audience—and create that cathartic moment. When you share a bit of your heart with your audience, in your performance or speech, you are opening yourself, and your audience, in turn, will trust you—and be more attentive to what you are saying. So, as you are crafting your speech, talk or performance be sure to be a bit vulnerable on stage with your words. And you’ll experience a much deeper connection with your audience.

    Here’s To Your Success!
    Scott Humston
    Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe and review on iTunes. Also, you are looking for ways to get more bookings, you should most definitely check out The Quick Course On Booking Yourself. You can get the first lesson, free, here.
    Two Minute Tips are recorded by me, Scott Humston, and are copyright ©2018 by NDE, Inc. For more information on what I do, check out scotthumston.com and follow me on Twitter or Instagram @scotthumston and my hashtag is #sharewonder

  • Scott Humston-2 Minute Tips-Two Mics > One. Episode 36

     

    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.

    This is a simple onstage tip that will save your bacon at some point. No matter what kind of mic you use, you always need to have a “back up”.  If you are wearing a lapel or an over the ear mic, simply ask for handheld on a stand to be placed within an easy reach. If you are using a handheld, then just ask for another, and again, have it close by.

    I’d also recommend that you have in your arrival/set-up/rider information that you’ll need that additional mic. That helps everyone.

    Here’s To Your Success!

    Scott Humston

     

     

    Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe and review on iTunes. Also, you are looking for ways to get more bookings, you should most definitely check out The Quick Course On Booking Yourself. You can get the first lesson, free, here.
    Two Minute Tips are recorded by me, Scott Humston, and are copyright ©2018 by NDE, Inc. For more information on what I do, check out scotthumston.com and follow me on Twitter or Instagram @scotthumston and my hashtag is #sharewonder

     

  • Scott Humston-2 Minute Tips-Respect Your Client & Audience-Episode 34

    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 a trusting relationship in your industry.

    Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe and review on iTunes. Also, you are looking for ways to get more bookings, you should most definitely check out The Quick Course On Booking Yourself. You can get the first lesson, free, here.
    Here’s To Your On-Stage Success!
    Scott Humston
    Two Minute Tips are recorded by me, Scott Humston, and are copyright ©2018 by NDE, Inc. For more information on what I do, check out scotthumston.com and follow me on Twitter or Instagram @scotthumston and my hashtag is #sharewonder

  • Scott Humston-2 Minute Tips-We Have Contact! Episode 28

     

    If you have a contact form on your website…you need this tip! Be sure to check out your form on a regular basis to make sure that it is functioning properly.  It should be: emailing you the information when someone fills it out; AND saving a copy of that information on your website, too.  If you can, have it also send an email to a different email address. That way you lessen the chance of a potential client slipping being ignored.

    I use WP Forms on my site.  However, Ninja Forms is very cool, too.  These are both “plug-ins” for WordPress based sites. Check with your web designer to see what might work best for you.  AND check it at least once a month.

    Here’s Mine at the moment:

    [wpforms id=”178703″ title=”true”]

    Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe and review on iTunes. Also, you are looking for ways to get more bookings, you should most definitely check out The Quick Course On Booking Yourself. You can get the first lesson, free, here.
    Here’s to your success!
    Two Minute Tips are recorded by me, Scott Humston, and are copyright ©2018 by NDE, Inc. For more information on what I do, check out scotthumston.com and follow me on Twitter or Instagram @scotthumston and my hashtag is #sharewonder

  • Scott Humston-Two Minute Tips-Episode 27-The Secret Of Voice Power

     

    Elocution? The secret is voice power.  It’s a noun and means the skill of clear and expressive speech, especially of distinct pronunciation and articulation.  So, as speakers, performers, entertainers, even preachers—those that communicate vocally—need to understand the importance of this.  But the first step to getting there is strong voice power. Not necessarily a strong commanding voice, but a powerful one.  That will only happen through proper breathing  So, in this two-minute tip, let’s look at the first step in proper breathing.  See links below for more proper breathing techniques.

    Here’s To Your Stage!

     

    Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe and review on iTunes. Also, you are looking for ways to get more bookings, you should most definitely check out The Quick Course On Booking Yourself. You can get the first lesson, free, here.
    Two Minute Tips are recorded by me, Scott Humston, and are copyright ©2018 by NDE, Inc. For more information on what I do, check out scotthumston.com and follow me on Twitter or Instagram @scotthumston and my hashtag is #sharewonder

    Here are some links to breathing exercises and techniques.

    http://erinrebeccaroberts.com/blog/2017/2/6/breathing-exercises-for-singing-and-acting

    and

    https://www.theatrefolk.com/blog/a-simple-breath-control-exercise-for-actors-singers/

     

     

  • 2 Minute Tips with Scott Humston-Episode 26-Nomenclature of the Stage

    2 Minute Tips with Scott Humston-Episode 26-Nomenclature of the Stage

    no·men·cla·ture
    ˈnōmənˌklāCHər/
    noun
    1. the devising or choosing of names for things, especially in a science or other discipline.
    the body or system of names in a particular field.
    plural noun: nomenclatures
    In this week’s tip, let’s look at the layout of the stage. If you’ll be on stage, at some point you should be familiar with these terms.  No doubt if you been around theatre at all, you’ve heard them used. But sometimes, folks that don’t have much experience with them, don’t quite understand them.  So, below is an easy chart to help you remember these basic stage directions.
    Thanks to http://asn.jesandco.org/resources/S104B4BD for the above image.
    Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe and review on iTunes. Also, you are looking for ways to get more bookings, you should most definitely check out The Quick Course On Booking Yourself. You can get the first lesson, free, here.
    Here’s to your Success!
    Two Minute Tips are recorded by me, Scott Humston, and are copyright ©2018 by NDE, Inc. For more information on what I do, check out scotthumston.com and follow me on Twitter or Instagram @scotthumston and my hashtag is #sharewonder
  • 2 Minute Tips with Scott Humston-Episode 25-100 Year-Old Applause Tips

    2 Minute Tips with Scott Humston-Episode 25-100 Year-Old Applause Tips

     

    Burling Hull. He lived more than 100 years ago. He was quite the showman. Think P.T. Barnum, with attitude! He stood on some of the most famous stages in America. He was a contemporary of Houdini. In 1914 he wrote a booklet called, The Art of the Stage. It covered a variety of topics catering to the on-stage performer.  In this tip, I look at those four applause points and how we can use them effectively when on stage, today.

    They are Securing Applause; Creating Applause; Pulling Applause and Interrupting Applause.

    And there’s more to come from this sage of the stage, Burling Hull.

    Here’s to your stage success!

    Scott Humston
    Thanks so much for listening! Please subscribe and review on iTunes. Also, you are looking for ways to get more bookings, you should most definitely check out The Quick Course On Booking Yourself. You can get the first lesson, free, here.
    Two Minute Tips are recorded by me, Scott Humston, and are copyright ©2018 by NDE, Inc. For more information on what I do, check out scotthumston.com and follow me on Twitter or Instagram @scotthumston and my hashtag is #sharewonder