Can a musical speaker make a corporate event better? Yes, definitely. Is using music just fluff, a non-important add on? No, definitely not. Those are two strong statements. And I’m making them with the hope that you’ll read on to learn the how’s and why’s of music’s role in reaching and holding an audience. What Is A Musical Speaker? A speaker who is focused on music is more than just a performer. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a great musical performer at a corporate event. But a speaker brings something extra. He or she will deliver compelling content; a message with a beginning, middle and end. When music is the medium used to deliver a message, it’s powerful, emotional and engaging because music is powerful, emotional and engaging…. Read more »
The Importance Of Music For Work
As I got off the phone after a conversation with the CEO of a Fortune 100 company I was both surprised and pleased. Surprised that this busy executive would spend thirty minutes talking to me about songwriting, and pleased that he understood the importance of music in corporate life. Music is such an integral part of all of our lives. Most of us have favorite playlists or songs we turn to when we want to re-connect with something, when we’re happy or when we’re sad. Music can put us in the mood to create. It can make repetitive tasks more fun and make time pass quickly. So it really makes sense to acknowledge the importance of music in the work place and to invite… Read more »
Songs About Team Work
I was just reading a list of Top 10 songs about team work and I hadn’t heard any of the songs on the list. Then I checked another list and found titles I knew, but the songs weren’t really about team work. It occurs to me that when people come up with their ideas for songs about team work, they’re first and foremost looking for songs that will inspire them and resonate with them emotionally. While not necessarily about team work, these songs may get a team working together better by creating mutual connections. When you share a favorite song with friends, it becomes part of your bond and your shared language. The same is true with work friends or teams. Think about getting… Read more »
Finding a Conference Keynote Speaker Who Won’t Put You To Sleep
I snuck in the back of a ballroom to hear a conference keynote speaker yesterday and noticed that most of the people in the room were restless. Those who weren’t restless seemed to be focused on their smart phones, rather than the speaker. I was at the conference getting ready to lead an interactive song session and even my client, who had hired the speaker, was complaining about the yawns in the room. I asked my client why she’d hired this particular speaker. She told me that the speaker had expertise and that the speakers’s topic was relevant to the content of the conference. My client learned the hard way that you shouldn’t hire a conference keynote speaker based solely on subject matter expertise. When… Read more »
Executive Team Building
Should executive team building be different than team building for other members of your workforce? I don’t think it should be different in the sense that one is better than the other. But, a team building program for your executives should be tailored to the attributes and goals that leaders generally share. We’re typically asked to facilitate executive team building when something is changing at company. This could mean a merger or acquisition, a bold new initiative; or a looming challenge due to change from new technology or market pressures. It’s rewarding to facilitate our team building through song program in this context because we’re allowed to spend quality time on vision, mission and message. Keys To Successful Executive Team Building… Read more »
Leading A Team
My daughter just accepted a new opportunity and she’s really excited about it. She’s leading a team for a six month project that involves event planning, creativity, media and more; culminating in a large public event. Of all the candidates who interviewed to be part of this project team, my daughter was chosen to lead because she has a combination of necessary skill, self-motivation and clearly displays signs of being an alpha. While those attributes may make for a good leader, they also create challenges. If you’re leading a team that’s newly formed, it’s vital to think intentionally about your leadership style, about the styles of your team members and do some initial planning around how you’ll all work together. Before you… Read more »
The Pain of Change Initiatives
Sometimes change initiatives are voluntary and sometimes they’re forced upon us. But either way they’re hard. I’m in the middle right now, of a change I initiated myself and even though it’s at my own doing, I’m stressed and off my game. My company is small and making change is hard – so I can only imagine and further empathize with the clients I work with who bring us in during their large change initiatives. When companies reach out to us, it’s to get help with culture. We’re brought in to help people acknowledge their company’s story as it is, and acknowledge how change is…changing things. Through story and songwriting we’re able to provide emotional reinforcement and we bring often needed fun or levity… Read more »
How to Deliver a Strong Effective Speech
Our guest article author, Tessie Barnett, works as lead writer for GigSalad, the marketplace for booking bands, performers, speakers and services for events, parties, and productions of all types and sizes. In any business or relationship, good communication is essential. The more developed your skills are, the easier it is to connect, inspire, and exchange ideas. So a healthy, well-planned approach to public speaking will not only help your presentation, but it will also improve your articulation altogether. Whether you’re preparing a speech or simply wanting to refine your rhetoric, these tips will help you deliver your message in a strong, effective way. Accept the Nervousness If the thought of speaking in public puts you in panic mode, you are not… Read more »
Music and Memory
I’m not great at memorizing a speech. In fact, it’s really hard for me. But I can sing the lyrics to hundreds of songs with ease. And if there’s a new song that I like, I’m usually able to sing the lyrics after hearing that song just a few times. I bet you can too. Music and memory have a powerful link that enables us to internalize information that would otherwise be hard to hold on to. Why is this? It’s because music taps into our emotions and when we connect with something in an emotional way it makes an impression. Allowing ourselves to feel something puts us in the moment and allows us to be present. Being present can also be stated as being… Read more »
Fun Corporate Events
You may hear the phrase fun corporate events and think it’s an oxymoron. But fun and corporate events doesn’t have to be an oxymoron. While it can be a challenge to find a program that delivers content and fun they are out there. Why should you care? Because there’s real value in sharing fun experience with your colleagues. There’s lots of stuff you can fake in life. But fun is a feeling that’s either there or it’s not. When you take part in a genuinely entertaining and enjoyable activity you’ll be engaged. You’ll be interacting naturally, without forcing it. That’s fun. Believe it or not, you’ll get ROI from the time and resources you put into creating a successful event. The ROI comes from the increased engagement,… Read more »
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