Entrepreneur & Small Business Academy, Keynote Mastery LIVE Event in Oakland, CA 6/13 June 13, 2012

Register Here: http://www.meetup.com/academy/events/63665822/

Okay, everybody. This will be another great event! It will be held on Wednesday, June 13, at the Oakland Scottish Rite by Lake Merritt. Let me give you some background …



Back on February 21, I held an event in Berkeley. It was called “Keynote Changes Everything” and focused on how you can become a professional keynote speaker.



We had over 175 people at that event. It was awesome!



Anyway, during my presentation, I told you about a 2-day intensive workshop entitled “Keynote Mastery” that took place on March 17 and 18. There were 8 people in that program and one of the primary messages was that VIDEO is the most important tool you need to market yourself as a keynote speaker.



The Short Version …



So NOW, we’re holding a made-for-media event called “Keynote Mastery LIVE!” where all 7 speakers plus me (so 8 in total) will be giving short speeches (8 minutes or less) for the purposes of creating a killer demo video.



This will be no ordinary event. First, we need to PACK the house. Second, we’ll have a full video crew there (probably 4 different cameras recording from different angles). Third, we’ll have photographers running around, taking as many pictures of these speakers as possible. And fourth, you will all get testimonial forms where you can fill in quotes for any speaker you like.



The Long Version …



Below is a HUGE description of the event (over 2500 words!). It’s the longest description I have ever posted for an event. If possible, read through it all. It will help you understand how this event will function.



Pack the House



We’re holding this event at the Oakland Scottish Rite by Lake Merritt. Those of you who have been inside know that it is an incredible building. It looks like a museum.



Wait until you see the room! It’s awesome. Tall ceilings. Chandeliers. Two screens, one on either side of the raised stage. It’s sick.



We’re setting up the room for 400 attendees. That might seem like a lot but keep in mind that we’ll have 9 different people promoting the event. We’ll hit that number for sure.



And on the off chance that we come up short, we’ll be removing the extra chairs before we begin. When we get started, every single chair will be filled, theater style.



Suggested $10 Donation



This is a free event, but we are encouraging attendees to contribute $10 to a charity selected by the Oakland Scottish Rite. All of the money will be passed along to them, primarily because they are giving us the room at a substantial discount.



You are welcome to donate as much or as little as you like, but we feel that $10 is a nice amount without representing any undue hardship on our membership.



Camera Angles



We plan to have 3 stationary camera angles: one at the back, one on the balcony (!!) and one on the stage behind the speaker. The 4th camera will be mobile, getting more dynamic “action shots” of each speaker.



Anyway, that last stationary camera – the one on the stage – will be taking footage of the BACK of the speaker with the audience in front of him or her. That means that YOU will end up being recorded as well.



We will have forms at the registration table that authorize us to keep any and all footage we get from the event, including possible shots of you. Everyone will have to sign that authorization form before being allowed into the ballroom.



B-Roll Video Footage



We will also be taking footage of the building, reception area, people arriving and networking with each other. During the speeches, we will be getting shots of people laughing, crying (who knows; it’s possible) or taking notes. These types of shots add a lot to the final sizzle reel.



Please understand: this is a made-for-media event. We are setting everything up to harvest good quality footage. If you have any problem with that arrangement, this probably isn’t the right event for you to attend. If you come, please know that it will be crawling with video cameras!



Dress Code: Business



No, don’t worry. You don’t have to wear suits and dresses. But we’re all going to end up on video that night, so it probably makes sense to take a shower and comb your hair. Look like you’re attending a conference. That’s the environment we’re trying to create.



The fun part of this is that the speakers (described below) are all going to be looking their best. The women have already discussed hair and make-up arrangements. And they’re going to be wearing their best duds too! For me, I plan to wear my black suit and a blue tie. Yeah, baby!



Audience Laughter



One of the most important elements of a good demo video is audience laughter. The people who hire speakers want to know that you will get a reaction from their attendees. And by reaction, they mean laughter.



So here’s the deal: we’re not asking you to laugh at jokes that aren’t funny, but if you hear something that sounds even remotely humorous, don’t hold back! We’re obviously not looking for silly exaggerated laughter or cat calls from the audience, but we ARE looking for a robust and engaged audience. We’re hoping you can help us with that!



Testimonial Forms



Another important thing speakers need is testimonials. And in order for the testimonial to mean anything, it has to be accompanied by your full name, job title and business name. So the testimonial forms will have that information right on the front page.



After every speaker, we will take 3 minutes break so you can fill out your testimonial forms. Now, if you decide to write something bad, we’re obviously not going to use it. So this is one of those situations where your mother’s advice comes in handy. If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.



Food and Drinks



Sorry, everyone. We got nothing here. We tried but the cost was prohibitive. As you can probably imagine, this whole production is costing us a fair bit of mullah and we’re splitting the cost evenly between all the speakers. Nobody is making any profit on this event.



Anyway, we won’t have any food or drinks at the event. That’s one of the reasons it’s only starting at 6:30. It should give some time to get some chow before you arrive. Otherwise, bring a snack along with you.



Speeches Start at 7:15



The first 45 minutes will be reserved for networking. We can’t have a bunch of people walking in DURING the speeches, so that initial time buffer should also help ensure everyone has arrived by the time we start the program.



If you arrive during a speech, you will be asked to wait outside of the ballroom until that speech is finished. Keep in mind that each speech will only be 7 or 8 minutes long. You’ll be let in as soon as the speech is finished.



Also, we should be done right around 9:00 PM. If the average speaker speaks for 7 minutes and we take 3 minutes between each speaker (for the testimonials), it will take 10 minutes per speaker or 90 minutes in total. I will be fairly strict with the timing so we should be good for a 9:00 finish time.



No Flash Photography



Unfortunately, we can’t allow any flash photography during the event. It will cause problems with the video footage. So please do NOT bring your cameras with you.



Keep in mind that we’ll have professional photographers at the event, so we will end up with hundreds of photos by the end of the evening. If you are coming to support one particular speaker, please know that he or she will end up with plenty of professional photographs to share.



By the way, the professional photographers will be setting their cameras to NO flash as well, but their cameras can adjust for that. With any luck, we should see no flashes go off during the entire evening.



Video Testimonials



We will have a video station set up outside the ballroom at the end of the event. If you would like to do a short video testimonial for any of the speakers, you will be able to do it immediately following the last speech.



The video station will consist of a backdrop, two lighting stands, a tripod with a camera and someone to operate the camera. Your comments should be short; perhaps just 15 or 20 seconds. If you have comments for more than one speaker, you can record one testimonial and then immediately record the second one (and third?) afterward.



ZERO Continuity



Please note that every speaker will be speaking about their own topic. That means there will be zero continuity from one speaker to the next. Some speakers will be targeting the college market. Others will be targeting corporate. Still others will be targeting associations. So don’t expect a consistent theme throughout the evening. Instead, expect a wide variety of speaking topics and speaking styles.



Order of the Speakers



The speakers will be drawing straws to determine the order of their speeches. I’m not yet sure if we will determine the order that night or a few days before, but at this point, I have no idea who will be first, second or third. We’ll let you know that evening.



As you might imagine, I can’t pass up an opportunity to get another video made, so I’ll be speaking as well. My speech will be no longer or shorter than anyone else’s and I’ll be drawing straws along with the other 8 speakers.



However, during the evening, in between the other speakers, I will be making a few announcements to answer questions and keep things moving along.



The descriptions below are ordered in alphabetical order by first name. These are the speech titles and descriptions you will hear on June 13:



Alicia Dunams



TITLE: Jump - Why Doing it Now Matters!



DESCRIPTION: Why listening to our "Fight or Flight" gut response in business is what matters in the creation of great products and services.





Beth Barany



TITLE: Creativity Pays - No More Starving Artists or Authors



DESCRIPTION: Many authors think that art and business have nothing to do with each other. But actually we creative writers—yes, you too novelists!—are well suited to apply our creative skills to the art of building a successful business. If you just uncover how sales and marketing are all about sharing your stories with those who want them, then you'll create the successful and sustainable career you desire.



Josh Zerkel



TITLE: Minutes Matter



DESCRIPTION: Being in business can be overwhelming. It's so easy to get lost in the tornado of tasks, lists, goals - and of course, the fires that you need to put out NOW - in addition to the bigger goals you're trying to accomplish. But are these day-to-day tasks helping you, or are they getting in the way of what's important? Are you making your time - your minutes - matter, or is time slipping away from you? By the end of this presentation, you'll be inspired to take purposeful action to make every moment count.



Lydia Snider



TITLE: Coming soon …



DESCRIPTION: Coming soon …



Kristine Carey



TITLE: Can Your Business Turn You On?



DESCRIPTION: If you’ve been in business a while you’re familiar with the ebb and flow of it. Sometimes you feel unmotivated and let opportunities pass you by. Other times you coast and don’t give your business what it wants or needs. There is a way of working with your business that feeds you, financially and on a deeper level. This inspirational presentation helps you reignite the spark you once had for your business so that it can turn you on again!



Mark Holman



TITLE: Getting High - Why Altitude is Everything in Your Business, Work and Life.



DESCRIPTION: Sales stagnant? Performance plummeting? Looking for a lift? Entrepreneurs, business owners, and managers must see the big picture clearly! Come get motivated and inspired to get high enough to see what needs to be done, determine the best path to get there, and help your team overcome all the obstacles.



Patrick Schwerdtfeger



TITLE: Go BIG! Deconstructing Explosive Growth



DESCRIPTION: Thinking BIG is the fastest path to success. It’s fun, it’s exciting and you encounter far less competition along the way. The vast majority of small businesses and self-employed professionals work their tails off for “realistic” goals, competing amongst each other at every turn. Meanwhile, a few set blatantly audacious ones and stroll towards them virtually unimpeded. This motivational keynote will entertain attendees with a fresh perspective, energize them with ambitious opportunities, and empower them with a simple action plan.



Stacy Roach



TITLE: Be the Game Changer in Sales



DESCRIPTION: Conventional approaches to sales often rely on slick techniques and trickery to close deals. Taking the wisdom imparted to her by her football coach father, Stacy dissects those approaches and shows you how being authentic and real, in short, being you, is the game changer in sales.



Closing Words



This isn’t a normal event. It’s more of an experience. I doubt any of you have ever gone to an event like this before and it probably won’t happen again. So please help us spread the word. Tell your friends. Tell your colleagues.



For the speakers involved, this is a HUGE opportunity. I only WISH something like this existed 4 years ago when I first got started, but it didn’t. It would’ve saved me at least 2 years. Anyway, for the speakers, this event is very important (and not cheap either). They will appreciate your support. I promise.



I’m sure you know at least one of the speakers listed above. Please come support these people. They’re going to be nervous like crazy. Trust me. So if we can all throw some warm welcoming energy at them while they’re on stage, I’m hoping they will reward us with some great inspiring speeches.



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Official Website: http://www.meetup.com/academy/events/63665822/