Your Best Life

The Summer of Deliveries

A Summer For The Books

As we soak in the last few weeks of summer, I can honestly say this was one for the books. My gigs slowed down as I prepared for two very important, and potentially life-altering deliveries. One being a TEDx talk.  But I need to first take you back to January of 2017, which kicked things off in an unexpected way. I was laid off from my corporate job. Living in Manhattan with big bills, a baby, and a partner who was out of work, it was a less than ideal time to be filing unemployment! Still, I took the cards I was dealt and decided I would find a way to prevail. Within days I began marketing myself as a professional emcee, and within days of that, I booked my first gig. Talk about a good sign! Since then it has been a lesson in business, craft, and humility. 

Unleash the Speaker Within

Over the next 1.5 years I would establish my business, which provides emcee and media production services to clients. I produced a TV series, worked with some of the most reputable companies in America, and found myself fully enjoying the ride. Still, something was amiss.  I knew that there was more I could offer. Throughout my life’s journey I have not only paid attention to the patterns that worked, but I also confronted the ones that didn’t. I wanted to inspire people the same way I inspired my own spirit on a daily basis. My desire was to walk into conferences and ignite motivation in the hearts of those struggling to find their truth, strike their balance, and fulfill their dreams.

If You Build It…

I began to work on a talk, and then a workshop. I was ready! But, I didn’t have reference material to deliver to clients who were interested in booking me. How could I convince them that I was the answer to their ‘corporate lunch and learns’ and ‘annual conference keynote’ needs? I decided to continue watering my business where I saw the most growth: in the emcee sector. I also decided to continue honing my speaking craft by keeping up with Toastmasters and writing talks that would make an impact. In my heart I knew the time would come where these skills would be put to the test. And then it happened. I was asked to speak at a TEDx conference in Ohio. Without a moment’s hesitation, I accepted. Was I prepared? No. Was I walking into this with a wealth of experience speaking for long periods to large audiences? No. Did I even have a topic? No. Was I going to be 8 months pregnant when I delivered this talk? YES! Was going to make it work at all costs? Absolutely.

And So It Began…

This opportunity excited and frightened me at the same time. And that’s why I took it. For several months I took every spare moment I had (and as a mom, full time employee, and business owner, I don’t have many) and I invested them into developing my TEDx talk. This talk was about so much more than me. It was about an idea that I felt was so completely worth spreading, that I put my own personal trials and tribulations into it to demonstrate my point.

Focus On The Prize

With all the distractions and FOMO that come with summer, I had to stay focused. I knew these were my last few months before I would be plunged into the chaos that is the first year of motherhood, but I stayed on course. I put in the work, did the research, and rehearsed my heart out. Things don’t always happen the way we plan them to but, as it turns out, my first motivational talk was delivered on a TEDx stage, and is now available on the TEDx youtube channel (hello, 20 million subscribers!!!). I could have made a million excuses to not take this opportunity, but I knew that this was as it was meant to be. Go hard, or go home. I went hard. The summer of 2019 is one for the books. And it’s not over yet…
Watch my talk HERE
1, 2, Speak

Riding The High After A Successful Gig

The best kind of gigs are the ones where I don’t feel like I am working at all.  The ones where I feel like I am part of the client’s organization, committed to making the event a success.  I had such an experience this past Saturday, when I emcee’d an annual conference for a high-profile organization in Washington DC.  I am still riding the high after a successful event, and want to take the opportunity to capture this feeling in a blog post.  This will enable you, the reader, to understand why I do this, and what helps make an event a success.

My recent client was more organized than most.  Whilst he thought sharing a minute-by-minute agenda would aggravate me, it did just the opposite.  It made my life so much more easier.  When a client knows what they want and can convey that to an emcee with such granularity, the emcee can then work towards bringing that vision to life.  I had the agenda weeks ahead of the event, which afforded me ample time to prepare.  Clients like him are a pleasure to work with, and I was already being set up for success.

Although the attendee list for this event consisted of successful leaders in their respective industries, everyone was friendly and accessible.  The theme of the event was ‘Building a Better Community Through Better Business’, and as such opened the doors for some good old-fashioned networking.  It is always easier to lead and motivate a friendly crowd, and I had just that with with event.

With every event that I work I gain a new level of confidence.  No two events are alike, but my delivery and stage presence are perfected with each one.  Also, I am not afraid.  This is an important point as I believe there are several effective communicators amongst us, but they are too afraid to get up in front of a crowd.  Having overcome this fear long ago, I have created a niche for myself as a Corporate Emcee.  I am not only not afraid of taking charge of the stage in front of a large audience, but I am motivated to energize them and keep them engaged throughout an event.  The fear component is no longer an issue for me, so I can now focus on delivering consistent value when I am speaking.  This is a powerful skill that draws opportunities to me, and I am glad to be booking them!

Another reason this past event was a massive success was because I crafted a strong opening.  One of my personal goals as a speaker has been to interact more with the audience.  I recently began exercising this in my Toastmasters club, as well as with my new speaking coach.  He helped me to get out of my head and care less about what the audience is thinking.  I had not previously realized that I needed to do this, but that is why we hire coaches, right?  A strong opening at any event, at least for me, ensures that the rest of the event will go smoothly.  It gives me a burst of confidence that fuels me throughout the day.  This was a game changer for me.

Finally, what I appreciated the most about this client was his insistence on me being myself.  This is also something my speaking coach has suggested on many occasions.  I, like many people, am constantly re-engineering my thoughts, habits, and dialog.  Being a better person is a daily goal that I never lose sight of.  When I carry my myself as I am, staying genuine to the person I have become, I draw people towards me.  During this event I was nothing but myself.  I could not walk more than 5 steps without someone from the audience paying me a compliment.  It was encouraging and motivating.

In conclusion, I continue to do this because I fill an important gap for my clients.  When we work synergistically, it not only elevates the status of my client’s organization, but it delivers promised value to all who attend.  I feel accomplished, motivated, and purposeful.  It doesn’t get much better than that!

 

1, 2, Speak

Why Your Event Needs a Professional MC

 

Whether you are throwing a sweet 16 party or organizing a corporate conference, you should consider hiring a Master of Ceremonies, otherwise known as an MC.  I’m not just saying this because I think I’m the creme de la creme of MC’s (though I am pretty darn good), but because they pack a lot more than just a witty introduction.  MC’s today are working professionals, stand-up comedians, motivational speakers, and more.  This means you are bringing high caliber talent to the helm of your event and transforming the entire experience.  Here are my top three reasons why your event needs a professional MC.

KISS…Keep It Smooth Silly

Carlos Santana and Rob Thomas dedicated a song to the one attribute that could make or break your event:  Smooth! You have your event space, your speakers, and your run of show all set.  The caterer has been hired and decorations are on their way.  Now what?  While you’re busy balancing all of these various elements of an event, who is keeping your audience engaged and ensuring the program runs smoothly?

Enter the MC.  They will oftentimes work with you prior to the event to help you organize the agenda.  In a recent gig I not only helped complete the run of show, but I shortened the bio’s of each speaker to help us stay on schedule.  It might be the first time you are throwing an event but it’s likely not your MC’s first gig.  Professional MC’s come with experience which could be instrumental in conceptualizing how a program should run.  Also, what better way to ensure that your MC knows what is expected of them than to involve them in the planning process?  Keep in mind that not all MC’s will do this, but it’s worth finding out if it’s included in the cost.

Once the run of show has been set and the event kicks off the MC will be the person to bring the crowd together and grab their attention.  From then on it’s up to the MC to keep the program on schedule.  If a speaker is running late or there is a mistake in the program, what happens?  These scenarios typically result in a group of people pulling their hair out wondering how to fill in the gap.  MC’s are professionals who can tell an interesting story or a funny joke, on demand, so that the audience’s attention doesn’t waiver.

A Strong Introduction

The introduction of the program sets the tone for the evening.  If you have someone on stage who seems nervous or unprepared the audience will take notice.  It’s an uncomfortable feeling for everyone involved.  On the other hand, if your MC is poised to perfection, confident, and witty, you have already won over your crowd.  This is equally important for anyone they are introducing.  If the introduction is on point then they are walking up to an audience that is enthusiastic and ready.

Prestige Status

Hiring an MC lets your audience know that you value their time and attendance.  It shows that, instead of making do with someone in your organization, you sought out a professional to create the ultimate experience.  The right professional will uplift the crowd and oftentimes entertain them when an opportunity arises.  When you have already spent a fortune putting together an event don’t skimp on the person everyone will be following.  You can bank on getting more than you bargained for with a professional MC.  If your event is being filmed then you can enjoy their performance time and time again!

Events are meant to create experiences.  Whether its to gain information from speakers or be entertained by performers, MC’s are the glue that hold them together.  It’s a small investment that yields a great impact.  I have hosted events where I introduced speakers, but at the end the compliments were directed towards me.  A good MC will fill in the gaps when things aren’t running on time, maintain a strong connection with the audience, and bring an element of prestige to your event.