Reasons To Use a Microphone

Always Use the Microphone Planners, speakers, networkers, on behalf of your audiences and attendees, I beg you: if there is a microphone in the room where your event is happening, use it and make sure everyone else does, too. Plan for it, use it, enforce it, and remember that it’s not just for the others […]

Costume, Character, and Respect

Costume, Character, and Respect Much has been written on subjects of professional attire, costuming, image, and character. Whether you’re a professional making a business presentation, a performer on a stage, or even a member of a crowd, your choice of attire speaks to the people who see you. Your costume speaks to your audience. What […]

Protecting Your Brand or Industry Image in the Media – Part 2

Protecting Your Brand or Industry Image in the Media, Part 2 More Lessons Learned Last time we discussed some important questions about being ready to join a media conversation when your brand or your industry is under attack or scrutiny. Sometimes that scrutiny is warranted, even if it’s unwelcome. Sometimes it is based on a […]

Protecting Your Brand or Industry Image in the Media – Part 1

Protecting Your Brand or Industry Image in the Media, Part 1 A Brief Case Study, Plus Some Lessons Learned Several weeks ago an online video of a magician doing a levitation stunt in London went viral. After a brief flurry of activity, an opinion piece appeared on a targeted-audience news site in which one of […]

Five Kinds of Amazing, Part 2: Science

Five Kinds of Amazing, Part 2: Science In a previous article we outlined the framework of the Five Kinds of Amazing model for understanding what makes an experience “amazing” for an audience. Later, we examined the first category of such experiences, those based on overt demonstrations of talent or deep expertise. Now we’ll turn our […]

4 Guidelines for Maximizing Attention and Retention at Meetings

4 Guidelines for Maximizing Attention and Retention at Meetings Okay, I’ll be the one to say it. If you want your meetings to be as effective, engaging, and memorable as they can be, then yes, there should be elements of creativity and fun in the mix! Whether you’re a corporation, association, or even a government […]

When Scrutiny Becomes Prejudice

When Scrutiny Becomes Prejudice Recently I heard a local radio personality – a man with whom I usually agree – engage in such intense scrutiny of a news story that his objectivity audibly turned into prejudice. He discussed wasteful, extravagant government spending and pointed to numerous government conferences as the source of some of his […]

Five Kinds of Amazing, Part 1: Talent

Five Kinds of Amazing, Part 1: Talent Last time, we discussed the “Five Kinds of Amazing” model for increasing brand engagement. This week, we examine the first category in more detail. Further, we will begin to tie those experiences to business competencies. Within the genre of theatrical magic, there exists a branch of performance related […]

Five Kinds of Amazing – The Framework

Five Kinds of Amazing – The Framework “Five Kinds of Amazing” is a useful model for understanding, evaluating, and increasing audience engagement, typically as it relates to retail or corporate brands and their associated audiences. It has relevance not just for marketing professionals and brand managers, but also for event producers, team or organization leaders, […]

What Anne Frank Taught Me About Patience

What Anne Frank Taught Me About Patience We all have those streaks where our patience is tested. Challenge, inconvenience, and delay attack us from all sides. Some of these things are part of daily life – traffic, auto repairs, broken air conditioners. Others are part of our personal interests – after years of fruitless wandering, […]