First impressions are huge! http://ping.fm/Z4kjz

First Impressions

Over the years I’ve read and heard from many sources about just how important that initial first impression is. As an entertainer, I’ve certainly experienced that the first impression is super important. It’s also important from a business standpoint. We make snap judgments all the time. We certainly do it when we meet people. We decide whether we are going to like or dislike someone almost immediately. We make super fast judgments as to whether we want to do deal or do business with someone, talk to them on the phone, or even spend a few moments talking to them. From an entertainer’s perspective, the audience meets us the moment we walk onstage. Managing that initial first impression is incredibly important. I was recently working on a cruise ship and experienced something that made me realize just how important the first impression really is.


So, I was standing just offstage as the show began. I was scheduled to go on after the opening singer. The singer had just gotten onboard the cruise ship earlier that day and this was her very first time on this ship. The cruise director was standing next to me. He made a comment that was obvious to me that he didn’t love her choice of costume. He then started the show and introduced the singer to the audience. She walked out onstage and belted out the first few lyrics to her opening song. I promise you she hadn’t been on that stage for more than two seconds when he turned to me and said, “Man, it’s a good thing she can sing!” And it’s true; she could blow the place up with her powerful voice. I thought that was really interesting.

Now the truth was that her outfit wasn’t inappropriate. It just wasn’t the cruise director favorite’s costume choice. I found it interesting that all was immediately forgiven the moment that she stepped onstage and had a great, powerful voice. And I know that the audience loved her. She is a great singer and very likable performer as well. Think about how this applies to all that we do. Whether you are an entertainer, a business person, or whatever, that initial impression that we make on others is huge!

West Palm Beach here I come!

Back to FL!

Five hour drive to nowhere.

Carnival of Wonders...fantastic! If your in Vegas this weekend make your way to The Orleans and see it.

Jubilee was great fun. Had a blast! Tanya was awesome!

One show down...Absinthe=awesome. Time for next show. Jubilee in 5 minutes. Looking forward to seeing my friend Tanya do her thing:)

Absinthe at Caesars is a crazy good show. Not politically correct, but awesome!

Thought I would share my newest magic creation. I hope you enjoy Cootie Catcher Magic - http://ping.fm/tNRqq

Here's the latest news - http://ping.fm/ZrFE3

Do you ever find yourself in front of an audience? If so, you should take a look at this - http://ping.fm/07vkq

Making that Connection

Are you a speaker, presenter, or entertainer who wants to connect with your audience? I’m not talking about having your audience enjoy what you do, I’m talking about having the audience totally engaged in what you are saying or doing while you are onstage.


I’ve been watching performers and audiences for years in the hopes that I will learn from them and become a better entertainer, speaker and presenter by doing so. One of the things I’ve been paying particular attention to lately is that audiences respond (and I mean really respond!) when you can make your performance or presentation about them.

Now, you may be thinking, ‘Well, duh!” as this may sound very basic to you, but let’s explore this a little bit through an example or two.

I’ve been working quite frequently on a cruise ship over the last year. I’ve seen numerous singers, comedians, and variety acts perform for the audiences onboard. When the act that is onstage finds a way to engage the audience  and make it about them the laughs are louder and the applause they receive is longer.

One of the main comics onboard the ship makes sure that part of his act speaks directly to the shared experience that everyone onboard has had. He talks about the shock of having to adjust to the confined area of the ship, he talks about how small the bathrooms are in the cabins, he talks about the things that every person onboard has already thought to themselves. He finds a way to express through humor and comedy the shared experience of ship life and the crowd gives him huge laughs because he is connecting with them.

When I speak to groups with one of my keynote presentations, I always try to incorporate some of my interactive magic into the presentation. By incorporating something fun, like magic or humor, the speech stays fun and interesting. Furthermore, because the magic that I share is interactive and gets people from the audience directly involved, it grabs everyone’s attention. In a fun way, it forces them to be engaged and paying attention.  It becomes about them.

When you are up in front of a group with a common denominator, such as co-workers or people on a trip together, etc. you should look for every opportunity to use their commonality to personalize your performance or presentation.  It will yield a more focused audience as well as much stronger reactions from them.

So, my advice to anyone who gets up in front of a group of people is to find a way to involve and engage them. Make the presentation or performance relevant to them. Make it about them.  Speak directly to their hopes and dreams and you will have an attentive, appreciative audience. Until next time…