Comments on: Getting The Ball Rolling http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/2008/11/03/getting-the-ball-rolling/ The 7-Day Training Course - and anything else about Corporate Entertainment. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:28:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Brian http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/2008/11/03/getting-the-ball-rolling/comment-page-2/#comment-299 Brian Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:40:42 +0000 http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/?p=30#comment-299 Dec. 8th 2011 Okay I have been listening to this course and I am just going to bite the bullet and be honest. I am a decent entertainer, and I have experience but I have been out of the business for several years. I never considered myself a full time professional, but I can do a "decent" show. Several years ago I priced myself out of my local market and I never really wanted to travel, now I look at acts that I consider less than what I had to offer,, and they are getting what I was asking for and much more. --I never really broke that semi-pro entertainer wall, but now I am thinking about starting over, my entire resume is outdated, and I feel like I am going to have to start at the bottom with my only advantage being I am a little wiser. Recently I started to occasionally do a couple of shows just to see if I still could, they seem to go okay, but they were only brief appearances. Can you please tell me what I need to hear. - Thanks. Dec. 8th 2011

Okay I have been listening to this course and I am just going to bite the bullet and be honest. I am a decent entertainer, and I have experience but I have been out of the business for several years. I never considered myself a full time professional, but I can do a “decent” show.

Several years ago I priced myself out of my local market and I never really wanted to travel, now I look at acts that I consider less than what I had to offer,, and they are getting what I was asking for and much more. –I never really broke that semi-pro entertainer wall, but now I am thinking about starting over, my entire resume is outdated, and I feel like I am going to have to start at the bottom with my only advantage being I am a little wiser. Recently I started to occasionally do a couple of shows just to see if I still could, they seem to go okay, but they were only brief appearances. Can you please tell me what I need to hear. – Thanks.

]]> By: Barry http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/2008/11/03/getting-the-ball-rolling/comment-page-2/#comment-289 Barry Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:47:54 +0000 http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/?p=30#comment-289 Wow Greg... you certainly tested the character limit :) Welcome... dig in. Come join us in the GMCG community. The lessons are changing lives - going on 3 years now! Sounds like you have a remarkable niche up there and I hope you use your skills and smarts to maximize it - and then go bigger if/when that time comes. Barry Wow Greg… you certainly tested the character limit :)

Welcome… dig in. Come join us in the GMCG community. The lessons are changing lives – going on 3 years now!

Sounds like you have a remarkable niche up there and I hope you use your skills and smarts to maximize it – and then go bigger if/when that time comes.

Barry

]]> By: Greg Porter http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/2008/11/03/getting-the-ball-rolling/comment-page-2/#comment-288 Greg Porter Fri, 05 Aug 2011 06:11:34 +0000 http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/?p=30#comment-288 Barry, (may I call you Barry?) I will truly appreciate any guidance you can give. I'm into just about everything a corporate gig could need, but out of necessity. I have no idea how many characters this comment box will take, but let's test its limits shall we? Here goes: I currently do a number of corporate gigs each year. Out of about 100 shows per year, 25% of them are for corporate clients. See, I live in Alaska. It's an awesome place, and I'm a lifelong Alaskan, which has produced great connections. I've been doing standup comedy, mostly in an improv vein, for pay since I was 16. (30 years now) Big Corporate money has always been hotly contested here, and just hiring an act to do one thing has left most acts with not enough gigs to keep their acts sharp. I started agreeing to emcee events 15 years ago if they hired me to do comedy. It worked better. I've been a musician all my life, played professionally for 27 years. I began offering live music too... then DJ-ing was a snap to add... I'm a trained sound technician, so now I own a small sound and light company... It was working better all the time. Then I booked a corporate fundraiser and watched an auctioneer walk away with the same amount of money I charged, and he only did about 45 minutes, and I provided everything else. So, (you guessed it) I went to auctioneering school and became an auctioneer. I've delivered keynotes for corporate functions, I've done the motivational keynotes with comedy, and I love love love every minute of it! Many of my corporate clients call me "The people whisperer", as I usually deliver a great experience for their guests. (To my neigbors I'm know as "The Dog Yeller.") Sounds great so far, yes? Alaska has 600,000 people spread over an area almost 3 times the size of Texas. Half of those people live here in Anchorage. That's really just a small town by America's standards. However, there are still plenty of corporate gigs, especially around the holidays and traditional fundraising times. I have several repeat clients (I love those folks!) but am I fooling myself that I can become this catch-all and do-all guy and increase my client base? When outside (from the States) organizations come in, they don't know me from Adam, and often will go with a local radio personality. (Is that standard somewhere? I don't know why they do that.) There have been disasters that way, one very recently at the Governor's Ball (or it might have been at the Governor's OTHER ball) where the out-of-state event company had to issue official apologies to many of the oil and telecom companies present. Because of less-than-effective shows, some events then end up being a "one time only" thing, and I can't get in the next year. Okay, so the question I have for you is this: How do I increase the number of Corporate shows I do, without falling off ONE side of the mountain into the pit of "Let's look for someone else, lots of people have seen HIM" (believe me there a LOTS of people who have never seen me before), or falling off the other side of the mountain, into the pit where I come across as the guy who seems to be saying "hire me, I do ALL the big shows here..." I just want them to know that I'm good, perhaps actually call some of my references, and that I am truly interested in helping them. (which helps me too of course.) I am looking forward to taking your course like you wouldn't believe. I'm glad I found you. Greg Barry, (may I call you Barry?) I will truly appreciate any guidance you can give. I’m into just about everything a corporate gig could need, but out of necessity. I have no idea how many characters this comment box will take, but let’s test its limits shall we? Here goes: I currently do a number of corporate gigs each year. Out of about 100 shows per year, 25% of them are for corporate clients. See, I live in Alaska. It’s an awesome place, and I’m a lifelong Alaskan, which has produced great connections. I’ve been doing standup comedy, mostly in an improv vein, for pay since I was 16. (30 years now) Big Corporate money has always been hotly contested here, and just hiring an act to do one thing has left most acts with not enough gigs to keep their acts sharp. I started agreeing to emcee events 15 years ago if they hired me to do comedy. It worked better. I’ve been a musician all my life, played professionally for 27 years. I began offering live music too… then DJ-ing was a snap to add… I’m a trained sound technician, so now I own a small sound and light company… It was working better all the time. Then I booked a corporate fundraiser and watched an auctioneer walk away with the same amount of money I charged, and he only did about 45 minutes, and I provided everything else. So, (you guessed it) I went to auctioneering school and became an auctioneer. I’ve delivered keynotes for corporate functions, I’ve done the motivational keynotes with comedy, and I love love love every minute of it! Many of my corporate clients call me “The people whisperer”, as I usually deliver a great experience for their guests. (To my neigbors I’m know as “The Dog Yeller.”) Sounds great so far, yes? Alaska has 600,000 people spread over an area almost 3 times the size of Texas. Half of those people live here in Anchorage. That’s really just a small town by America’s standards. However, there are still plenty of corporate gigs, especially around the holidays and traditional fundraising times. I have several repeat clients (I love those folks!) but am I fooling myself that I can become this catch-all and do-all guy and increase my client base? When outside (from the States) organizations come in, they don’t know me from Adam, and often will go with a local radio personality. (Is that standard somewhere? I don’t know why they do that.) There have been disasters that way, one very recently at the Governor’s Ball (or it might have been at the Governor’s OTHER ball) where the out-of-state event company had to issue official apologies to many of the oil and telecom companies present. Because of less-than-effective shows, some events then end up being a “one time only” thing, and I can’t get in the next year. Okay, so the question I have for you is this: How do I increase the number of Corporate shows I do, without falling off ONE side of the mountain into the pit of “Let’s look for someone else, lots of people have seen HIM” (believe me there a LOTS of people who have never seen me before), or falling off the other side of the mountain, into the pit where I come across as the guy who seems to be saying “hire me, I do ALL the big shows here…”
I just want them to know that I’m good, perhaps actually call some of my references, and that I am truly interested in helping them. (which helps me too of course.)
I am looking forward to taking your course like you wouldn’t believe. I’m glad I found you.
Greg

]]> By: Thomas http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/2008/11/03/getting-the-ball-rolling/comment-page-2/#comment-279 Thomas Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:08:36 +0000 http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/?p=30#comment-279 Hi Barry, Nice work.. So far i am quite impressed.. Been doing clubs, festivals, libraries, theatrical one man shows, etc, but have not tapped into the corporate markets.. Two big questions: How does one without any corporate experience get their first bookings? Then of course i need the experience to create a great show for this particular market. thanks -th Hi Barry,

Nice work.. So far i am quite impressed..

Been doing clubs, festivals, libraries, theatrical one man shows, etc, but have not tapped into the corporate markets.. Two big questions: How does one without any corporate experience get their first bookings? Then of course i need the experience to create a great show for this particular market.

thanks
-th

]]> By: Barry http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/2008/11/03/getting-the-ball-rolling/comment-page-2/#comment-265 Barry Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:12:35 +0000 http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/?p=30#comment-265 Hi Oliver, I can't claim to have any insight for booking gigs in France. I've done shows there but was hired by American producers for private events. I hope you can use all of what you learn here. Barry Hi Oliver,

I can’t claim to have any insight for booking gigs in France. I’ve done shows there but was hired by American producers for private events.

I hope you can use all of what you learn here.

Barry

]]> By: Olivier http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/2008/11/03/getting-the-ball-rolling/comment-page-2/#comment-261 Olivier Sun, 10 Oct 2010 00:55:07 +0000 http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/?p=30#comment-261 Hi Barry, I'm a juggler too. I'm quite moved by the expectations your videos offer. I'm a juggler from France, and that's it, I have a show, now i need to sell it. My big question is do you know how it works in other countries ? Cheers Oli Hi Barry,

I’m a juggler too. I’m quite moved by the expectations your videos offer.
I’m a juggler from France, and that’s it, I have a show, now i need to sell it. My big question is do you know how it works in other countries ?
Cheers
Oli

]]> By: Barry http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/2008/11/03/getting-the-ball-rolling/comment-page-2/#comment-253 Barry Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:08:18 +0000 http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/?p=30#comment-253 Hi David, Welcome to the Training Course. Your question raises a really good point and let me address it right here. Theme/Niche - yeah, you hit on gold right here. It's much easier for a producer to book you if you tell them who you are! Right? A good looking guy who makes jokes at Award Banquets? There are hundreds of those acts available. A cover band? Yeah, take your pick from the million you can find online. Now take your act - perfect Western act. Focused. They don't have to guess where they'd use you. Your job is to let them know you exist, that you are professional, you can be counted upon, and you are available. Don't waver from your focused message to them. Once you start to sound like you can do everything you lose your place. Keep doing the International Fairs and Festivals - sure, but also start marketing to meeting planners in your region and see if you can do a slow and steady cross-fade into corporate and association shows. Keep working the program... those videos aren't for watching! Barry Hi David,

Welcome to the Training Course. Your question raises a really good point and let me address it right here.

Theme/Niche – yeah, you hit on gold right here.

It’s much easier for a producer to book you if you tell them who you are! Right? A good looking guy who makes jokes at Award Banquets? There are hundreds of those acts available. A cover band? Yeah, take your pick from the million you can find online.

Now take your act – perfect Western act. Focused. They don’t have to guess where they’d use you. Your job is to let them know you exist, that you are professional, you can be counted upon, and you are available.

Don’t waver from your focused message to them. Once you start to sound like you can do everything you lose your place. Keep doing the International Fairs and Festivals – sure, but also start marketing to meeting planners in your region and see if you can do a slow and steady cross-fade into corporate and association shows.

Keep working the program… those videos aren’t for watching!

Barry

]]> By: David Lichtenstein http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/2008/11/03/getting-the-ball-rolling/comment-page-2/#comment-252 David Lichtenstein Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:05:01 +0000 http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/?p=30#comment-252 Hello Barry, I'm amazed you've put so much effort into this site. Thanks, it looks great. I'm not quite ready to go after the corporate seriously. I need to get my promo and website modernized and up to snuff for the work I'm already doing regularly: international festivals and fairs. I'm going to follow your 7 day course for help with that. First up is simplifying and improving my website. I think my entry into corporate will be my western theme. So my question: How do I pursue a theme-niche? How do I find those trickle of corporates that have a western theme? Hello Barry,
I’m amazed you’ve put so much effort into this site. Thanks, it looks great.

I’m not quite ready to go after the corporate seriously. I need to get my promo and website modernized and up to snuff for the work I’m already doing regularly: international festivals and fairs. I’m going to follow your 7 day course for help with that. First up is simplifying and improving my website.

I think my entry into corporate will be my western theme. So my question: How do I pursue a theme-niche? How do I find those trickle of corporates that have a western theme?

]]> By: Barry http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/2008/11/03/getting-the-ball-rolling/comment-page-2/#comment-251 Barry Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:36:44 +0000 http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/?p=30#comment-251 Hi Mark, 10 questions and an SASE? My friend, you're making them work way too hard. After you pack up your props their lives go on. If you're lucky they'll remember you for a few days. As important as we feel we are in the lives of a client and an audience, the truth is that we are a blip on a very crowded radar. In Day 2 you'll learn how to make this easier for them, and up your response rate by hundreds of percent. Stay tuned and follow up once you see that lesson. Best, Barry Hi Mark,

10 questions and an SASE? My friend, you’re making them work way too hard.

After you pack up your props their lives go on. If you’re lucky they’ll remember you for a few days. As important as we feel we are in the lives of a client and an audience, the truth is that we are a blip on a very crowded radar.

In Day 2 you’ll learn how to make this easier for them, and up your response rate by hundreds of percent. Stay tuned and follow up once you see that lesson.

Best,

Barry

]]> By: Mark Boody http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/2008/11/03/getting-the-ball-rolling/comment-page-2/#comment-250 Mark Boody Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:48:56 +0000 http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/?p=30#comment-250 Barry, My question is this: I'm a christian illusionist & I'm looking to get feedback from my clients (ie: what spiritual message did you like best, favorite illusion etc.) I've given them a survey sheet w/ only 10 questions in a S.A.S.E, but getting the responses back is like pulling teeth! I want their feedback to improve my show. Thanks Mark Barry,
My question is this: I’m a christian illusionist & I’m looking to get feedback from my clients (ie: what spiritual message did you like best, favorite illusion etc.) I’ve given them a survey sheet w/ only 10 questions in a S.A.S.E, but getting the responses back is like pulling teeth!
I want their feedback to improve my show.
Thanks
Mark

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