Expert Speaking Seminar at The World Series of Comedy !

If you follow my blog you already know that my usual topic for my posts have to do with how some of the famous comedians I have worked with in the past made me a better speaker and communicator by giving me priceless advice while I was working with them. As a matter of fact I wrote a book about this very topic called "Secrets from the Greenroom" A comedian's inside techniques for effective speaking. This post deals with several up and coming professional comedians who have inspired me with their performance and their participation in the World Series of Comedy held in Las Vegas in late September.

Expert Speaker David Michael in Las Vegas

I was invited by executive producer of the event Joe Lowers to give a seminar on my book to the comedians and attendees of this event as well as attend some of the shows and elimination rounds of the contest itself. The contest starts at the beginning of the year and has several rounds across the country in an effort to find the funniest comedians. In September, all the finalists gather in Las Vegas for a week of competition and to eventually crown a winner. It is the premier comedy competition in the country. My seminar was greeted by several comedians anxious to get into the corporate world as expert speakers on such topics as wellness, corporate speaking, punch up writers for script and several other topics. I focused mainly on the sweeping movement in the corporate world of using professional comedians as public speaking coaches and their expertise as communication experts for presentations. After the seminar I had a chance to get to know some of the comedians and was blown away by some of the fantastic stories of some of these young, middle aged and retired people who have entered the world of stand up. I was immediately energized by sharing stories with my fellow comedians and was inspired by the comradery that still exists among people who communicate at the highest level of public speaking. The sacrifices some of these performers made just to be able to do this craft for a living were truly inspiring. I met dozens of comics and it would take me forever to tell you all the stories from these budding stars. So I will instead list some of the names of the comedians I met and you can go to their Facebook page or website and enjoy their stories and videos and hopefully hire them! A few of these up and coming stars are Ken Garr, Rachel McDowell, Brad Stewart, Heather Jones, Joe Dungan, Anthony De Guzman Jr., Steve Lee, P.J. McGuire, Phil Johnson, Dave Williamson, Ken Townsend, Eric Shantz, David Tobey, Luke Soin, Lauren Kirshner, Cory Michaelis, Jerry Corley, Garry Roy, Myke Herlihy, Skyler Payne, Joe Eberle, Ray Love, Sandra Risser, Dave DeLuca, Jason Dudey, Greg Willett, Dougie Almeida, Jason London, Cheryl Anderson, Hollie Himmelman, Michael Beers, Matt McClowry and eventual winner Thai Rivera !

How Lewis Black Made Me A Better Speaker !

Being a professional comedian is a roller coaster ride at best. It is a difficult business surrounded by incredible highs and lows and that's if you’re lucky. A comedian’s success is defined by his or her success in winning over a room full of people. Speaking in front of an audience in business is very similar. The queries of will they listen to me, how will I do, will I forget anything and, ultimately, I hope I don't bomb are shared major concerns of both endeavors. The underlying premise of both is that if you can effectively communicate your message to an audience then you will most assuredly be successful. Now while all these concerns are important, most speakers overlook a very important factor when presenting and that is how to connect with the audience. Comedians are experts at this technique because it is essential. We have to relate with the audience within the first 15 to 30 seconds. If we don't, it’s going to be a long night. If you’re thinking that this is a relatively short time, you’re right. However, it is possible to achieve this by immediately becoming someone with whom your audience can identify. Being a comedian, you also find out a lot about the audience. How they will react, what they want to hear and how they want their material or information delivered. Audiences want to listen to speakers with whom they can identify. Comedians know that when someone starts speaking behind a microphone the audience members immediately start to assimilate in their minds that they are either like this person or not. If they feel they are like you, they will immediately begin connecting with you. Without this connection, it can be a long uphill battle for the comedian. During the first few minutes, comedians will usually craft a few jokes about what we think everyone in the audience has experienced. Some of the most popular topics for us are local destinations in the area of the venue we are performing that are likely to be familiar to the audience. For instance, when we perform in Pittsburgh it’s the Primanti’s sandwich with coleslaw and fries on it or the mention of one of the sports teams. If you are speaking in Pittsburgh and you open with I am from (anywhere usa) but I am a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan and I can't wait to eat a Primanti’s sandwich you will have full attention and support of the group. By saying you are a Steeler’s fan you immediately elicit an emotional and prideful feeling in the audience and they will immediately identify with you. Steeler’s fans stick together. Therefore, in a matter of seconds you have created excitement, comradery and a bond all within a few moments. You can use this technique for any city applying any positive aspect applicable to that particular area. This technique also works in reverse. For instance, sometimes when a Pittsburgh comedian is in Cleveland or a vice versa we sometimes tell the emcee to omit where we are from to avoid a negative response. The last thing you want is for someone to boo you before you speak a word! After we get them laughing we sometimes tell them and in some instances never at all.

Lewis Black...Old  Yeller

Lewis Black is probably one of the best comedians to implement this technique. I had a few opportunities to work with Lewis, learned, and laughed a lot with him behind the Greenroom door. To be able to work with big stars in this business is such a big kick but when you get to work with such an intelligent and creative mind like Lewis’s it’s icing on the cake. He did something that I think is just genius. He took the frustrations of everyman and put them so brilliantly into a character that all audiences can identify with and enjoy. He cleverly presents what so many people want to hear and say about social issues, politics and world affairs. These are all serious topics that are taboo for most comedians but he is able to deliver them through the eyes of a guy who is on the brink of insanity because he just can’t take it anymore. People identify with his character because they are frustrated over the same issues. The audience sympathizes with him as well as being thoroughly entertained. He also shows the absurdity of some of our common beliefs and how ridiculous they are when verbalized. It is a particularly useful tool for a speaker if you are able to talk about serious subjects and entertain your audience while making significant points. To be able to communicate regarding a serious subject is imperative to success in business presentations. Moreover, of course, being able to do it while your audience is identifying, sympathizing and laughing with you is priceless. I once asked Lewis in the midst of his rising fame how he came up with such a brilliant character and how satisfying it was to be able to take such serious subjects and make the masses laugh and he just looked at me with those squinting eyes and said, “What?” A typical response from a humble superstar who has transformed communication from the stage and has become so popular that on August 24 he will be the first stand up comedian to perform a live pay per view event from Atlantic City called Old Yeller- Live from the Borgata.

How Seinfeld And Tim Allen Made Me A Better Speaker !

                                                                

 

The Callback !

The technique and definition of the call back as described in Wikipedia is extremely accurate. It states, "A callback, in terms of Comedy, is a joke which refers to one previously told in the set. The second joke is often presented in a different context than the one used in the initial joke. Callbacks are usually used near or at the end of a set, as the aim is to create the biggest laugh at the end of a comic set. The main principle behind the callback is to make the audience feel a sense of familiarity with the subject matter, as well as the comedian. It helps create audience rapport. When the second joke is told, it induces a feeling similar to that of being told a personal or in-joke".

Now if you have seen a live comedy show you know what this definition is referring to and if you haven't, watch Seinfeld. Jerry is a comedian who uses his call backs in his television show to wrap up almost every show in the series. The last line of the show is usually a culmination of the entire show with just a few lines or a simple look. As one of the most successful television series in history, Jerry took the most powerful techniques comedians use and transferred it to television. Lines such as, "yada yada yada", "not that there’s anything wrong with that", " that's it for me thank you good night" and "no soup for you" have all been used to close his shows. The callbacks are so popular that these phrases are considered a pop culture phenomenon. People around the world use these on a daily basis with no need to reference the show.  The callback is a truly powerful tool to have at your disposal.

Can you imagine in business, when conducting a meeting or presenting a sales pitch, to be able to make your point and then later on in the presentation close by reiterating your original point utilizing a callback. An action or a few words can communicate volumes in just seconds. This technique will not only make you a more effective speaker but also more interesting to your clients. Comedians have known for years that this technique works like magic on an audience but Jerry Seinfeld took it to incredibly new heights when he incorporated into his television show.

Tim Allen, who has always been one of my favorite comedians, is also responsible for showing me the effective use of the callback. When I worked with Tim he was quickly becoming one of the biggest names on the comedy circuit. His act was based on his “Men Are Pigs” theme that all males are inherently apes. He would go into detail about the typical complaints woman had about men, such as, messy, football watching, beer drinking, and tool loving Neanderthals. He would imitate men communicating not with words but rather with guttural sounds of a caveman. Now a day’s everyone familiar with Tim and his two sitcoms and many movies are familiar with his act and that famous sound.

 When Tim Allen was working he used the callback repeatedly through his set with incredible success. His callback was the caveman guttural sound. Even though he spoke not a word, he was be able to communicate quite effectively by using inflections of the sound by keeping it low to voice displeasure, high to voice excitement and from low to high to voice a question or surprised. Of course, Tim went on to become one of the biggest comedians of our generation with his caveman routine and even though Tim doesn't perform as one of the first men on earth anymore, he is still “The Last Man Standing”. 

 

 

 

 

How Drew Carey Made Me A Better Speaker !

                                          
 
   I used to work with Drew Carey a lot and he taught me several things that have helped me in my career as a stand up comedian and a speaker. The most  significant was his overwhelming confidence while he was onstage and off. In the world of show business this is a rare trait. Yes believe it or not most performers are  racked with insecure feelings and thoughts that torture them most of their careers. Especially in stand up comedy where you have to prove yourself on a nightly basis. It doesn't matter how well your show went last night you have to prove yourself each night. This is what draws a lot of people to this profession and yours truly is just one of many.

Drew and I started working together just before he started to get national exposure as a comedian. We worked cities like Pittsburgh ,Cleveland ,Virginia Beach and several others up and down the eastern seaboard. He was fun to be on the road with and had a great attitude about what was going to happen to him moving forward in his career.  He had a unique ability to put things  into perspective in the crazy nomadic road life that we were leading. We did a lot of shows to packed houses and to sometimes unruly audiences. I remember on one  occasion  in particular where we had problems with several members of the audience who were chatting away and who distracted  others who were trying to enjoy the show. Finally Drew had to address these folks before they totally destroyed the show. He asked to have their attention so he could speak to them and actually walked toward them trying to single out the loudest ones and separate them by asking their names. Getting even closer he asked one particular woman what she did for a living and she answered as she sank in her seat while her face became beet red. Another man totally oblivious to what was going on was still talking with his back turned until Drew  put his microphone to his mouth and he heard his voice echo throughout the room. The man was stunned to say the least. Within seconds these disruptive audience members were quiet and sitting up straight. The closer he got and the more pointed questions he asked these people actually started to get embarrassed only now realizing that they had infringed on not only Drew's act but the others who paid to see the show. Drew was able to finish his show and in fact got a standing ovation.
    
Now this  may not seem like a big deal to most but let me explain what happened as compared to what could have happened. First of all Drew was in a situation where he could have done what a lot of other comedians  have done. That is, he could have made fun of them or made crude remarks to them or simply have security throw them out. Comedians usually choose one of these options  because idle chatter is a killer to a comedians act.  Comedians and speakers alike need   intimacy with the audience and anything that interferes with that needs to be eliminated. Throwing people out of a show is usually a last resort but sometimes a necessity however it brings the audience down and is often extremely ugly event. Moving on with show is often a tough road to hoe. Making fun of the trouble makers works for a little bit but if they continue to talk or heckle moving on is impossible. Crude comments may work for some audiences but it sets a tone for which unfortunately there is no return.                 
  
Drew's choice not only preserved the entire audience as participants in the show but also the shows integrity. In a very civilized manner  and without making fun of anyone he had the confidence to approach the disruptive audience members and politely moved on with his show. As a speaker in business this is something that parallels the comedy world. In my experience in the past 25 years I have seen several audience members who ignore and chat while someone is presenting. What's worse some spend the entire time working on their cellphone. Comedians and speakers alike have an obligation to their audience to ensure that they can receive the intended message free of interference. Now in business it is highly unheard of having security throw people out and is not an option to make fun of people or make crude remarks. However if you ever find yourself in a situation where the professionals are acting anything but maybe you should try the subtle and highly effective technique  that Drew taught me.  I was so impressed with this I have used it many times since and  I have come to realize that  in this situation if you approach people who are disrupting a presentation they will usually hang themselves.   I haven't seen the Price is Right recently but I wonder if Drew has any plans for a current edition of Hangman !


             
                           

How A Clown Made Me A Better Speaker !

                                          T.C. Hatter and Marcianne              

I have been a stand-up comedian my entire adult life. I have been fortunate to have had a variety of experiences with respect to the most effective ways to entertain and communicate with an audience. I have worked with many of the biggest names in show business and on occasion been fortunate to receive advice from them. However, most surprising to me was what I learned many years ago from an ex circus clown.

His name was TC Hatter and his wife, Marcianne, accompanied him as part of his show. To be honest, I wasn't exactly crazy about working with a clown. I actually thought that as a comedian working with a clown was beneath me. I certainly did not expect to get advice that I could use to improve my craft and advance my career. What was I going to be able to use from a guy who used to work in a Circus? I thought that observing him would be a waste of my time. I couldn't have been more wrong.

The first time I worked with TC I really had no idea what to expect. Before the show I had met with him and his wife who were both very friendly. Marcianne was warming up her clarinet and TC, half dressed, was stretching and loosening up. As we got closer to show time, I saw TC on stage arranging his props. He had everything from bowling balls to fishnet stockings to crazy gadgets I had never seen before. There was also a trunk which was yet to be opened that piqued my interest. I actually found myself wondering what was in the trunk and just how was he planning to use those props!
I finished my set and headed towards the bar to grab something to eat and watch the show. TC and Marcianne hit the stage to applause and never looked back. Marcianne sat on a stool and played the background music for TC's madcap antics. He was in full makeup and costume and was very animated in his presentation. He jumped around the stage and mimicked audience members, did magic tricks and juggled various, sometimes mismatched objects. He included audience members who were reluctant by grabbing their hand and leading them to the stage. His facial expressions were priceless along with the well coordinated clarinet playing of Marcianne. He told various stories including one of a great fishing trip. I sat in the back of the room in awe. He was killing. Everything he did was working. He had complete control of the room! I looked at my watch and noticed that he had been up there for 45 minutes and it suddenly occurred to me, like a ton of bricks, he never spoke....he never said a word....his whole act was pantomime! What? Are you kidding? I was in shock because comedians and speakers are primarily judged on their spoken words. This is the basis for connecting with their audience. I just saw a guy tell stories, relate jokes, do magic tricks and interact with the audience without speaking a word. What an incredible revelation it was to me and it still is today.

When I speak or consult with people today on effective ways to relate to their audience, I always mention TC Hatter and Marcianne to demonstrate the importance of facial expression and body movement as powerful tools that can be utilized to communicate your message.

Years later, I had the opportunity to meet Red Skelton, one of the best, all time Comedians. He was accepting an award and was quite ill at the time and confined to a wheelchair. I asked him one question, “Red, I mean sir, I am a comedian from Pittsburgh and would like to know what advice you would have for a young man in comedy.” He looked at me, tipped his hat down low over his eyes and raised it by leaning back on his chair and then took his tie and fiddled it with both hands and tossed it slightly into the air and it gently let it drop to his chest and said, “PROPS! “. And then he smiled and was whisked away. From that day on I realized there are many ways to communicate with an audience even if you never say a word!

How Rocky LaPorte Made Me A Better Speaker !

                                                Rocky LaPorte        

Most of the comedians I write about on my blog are professional acquaintances but a few have become good friends. One such person is Rocky LaPorte. I met Rocky in the late eighties in a small room in Indiana . It was a bar that evolved into a comedy club during the comedy boom in that era.

Rocky seemed like a nice guy and I was generally happy to meet him, as well as work with him, that is, until we both found out that we had to stay in the same room. Now, on the road as a comic, this is usually a big deal because most comedians want their own room. There are several reasons for this, privacy being one, but also smoking, late night partying and just generally wanting to be alone to relax and prepare for the show. After the initial disappointment, we both accepted our fate and headed to the hotel.

This was going to be an experience I thought to myself as we arrived at the hotel separately. Rocky and I seemed to be two totally different types of guys with little in common. Rocky was an ex-truck driver who worked in the toughest part of Chicago who had been badly beaten, shot and stabbed all in the course of doing his job. I, on the other hand, had grown up in a small town south of Pittsburgh, attended catholic school and whose job prior to doing standup was a shoe salesman at JC Penney’s.

We settled into the room and began to prepare for the show. Rocky began to talk about his background and proceeded to show me his battle wounds and scars as though they were trophies. Feeling competitive, I tried to think of the nastiest customer I had encountered as a shoe salesmen but I held back because the challenge of dealing with old ladies with gigantic bunions really didn’t compare to getting shot on the job! Our conversation was very enlightening, as well as interesting, because inherent in all the stories that he told one thing became evident to me and that was how genuine this guy was. In spite of all the difficulties he had endured, he possessed a gentle demeanor and a natural ability to be truly funny. He could deliver a simple phrase and it would become quite funny because of his accent and the manner in which he delivered the words. His genuineness was evident.
What I learned from Rocky with respect to being a better speaker and communicator is to capitalize on the authenticity of your character. Be yourself. This isn’t easy because most performers can't identify what their genuine qualities are in addition to making those qualities appealing and funny. Rocky has mastered it. When he walks onstage and looks at the audience his first words are, "Hey, how ya doin", and the audience goes nuts. Within seconds, the people listening to him identify with what he represents and get on board for the ride. It is an extremely powerful sight to see Rocky perform. He has had many highlights in his career but I think the most impressive example of his ability as a comedian would be when he appeared on the Tonight Show for the first time. By the time he finished his set the audience was giving him a standing ovation. This is an unbelievable feat for a comedian and as of today it is unprecedented. A few years ago Comedy Central asked the viewers to vote on their favorite comedians that have ever appeared on the channel. Rocky finished second. Not bad for ex-truck driver from the southside of Chicago and in my opinion the funniest guy working today! I’m proud to call him my friend!

How Howie Mandel Made Me A Better Speaker !

 Years ago, I had the honor of opening for Howie Mandel at the  
Amphitheater in Pittsburgh’s Station Square. This amphitheater
is probably the most difficult outdoor venue to work in the
country. Usually these types of venues are located in quiet areas
that are conducive to concerts. Not in Pittsburgh. The place is
sandwiched between the Monongahela River and a cliff face. It
gets worse. There’s a busy highway at the foot of the cliff,  and running parallel to the river are two sets of railroad tracks. About every twenty minutes a train rumbles past the stage, maybe fifty feet away at best! Soon after Howie’s limo dropped him off, we were backstage
exchanging pleasantries when a train passed by. I wish I
had had a camera with me to catch the expression on his face.
He looked at me and asked, “These trains will stop, right?” I
shrugged my shoulders. “Not unless there’s a wreck!” Howie
shook his head and said, “You’ve got to be kidding me. That’s
going to be going on all night?”So we put our heads together and started tossing ideas around about how we could pull off a show under these circumstances.
We had to go through our material and figure out what
jokes would work and, more importantly, prepare for the pauses
we would have to build into our act whenever a train passed by.
It’s not like you get interrupted for a few seconds—some of the
trains take a minute or two to pass. This will ruin any flow or
momentum you have established as a performer.
Howie, true professional that he is, took what looked like
an impossible situation and made it work. The first time a train
passed, Howie made fun of his agent for booking him in a railyard.
He then went on to poke fun at the engineer and used the
down time to do his trademark rubber glove bit. The show could
have been a disaster, but we focused on adapting our material,
anticipated the problems that would arise, made light of our
predicament, and like the trains, moved on.  Another show comes to mind that illustrates how you cannot prepare for every situation. I was asked to emcee a student-faculty basketball game. My job was to provide running commentary during the game and perform a comedy show at
halftime. I was a few minutes into the halftime program when
a loud buzzer sounded. I didn’t think anything about it until it
happened again. And then again. It was then that I realized that
the student running the scoreboard had taken it upon himself
to sound the buzzer any time he didn’t approve of one of my
jokes. The audience thought it was hilarious. I wanted to choke
the kid. Suppressing the urge to run over and knock him off
his chair, I just went with the flow. The next time he hit the
buzzer, I said, “It’s pretty sad when a buzzer gets more laughs
than the comedian.”
You can control a lot of things, but you can’t control everything.
Be as prepared as you can by expecting the unexpected. Comedians always get the unexpected thats why we prepare for it.  As a speaker you need to prepare for it too. Before you address an audience, imagine some of things that could go wrong and  write some humorous lines around that topic. That way you are ready for the worst that could happen and your response to it will appear confident , witty and spontaneous!                 

Public Speaking Expert....Comedian David Michael...Releases Secrets !

Finally! For the very first time, a professional comedian has written a book that will help you develop public speaking skills, and apply them to your personal communication needs.Jerry Seinfeld said most studies show people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death.This means to the average person, at a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy. With this in mind, David Michael wrote his book because he just can’t take it any more. I have seen so many…important executives who are unable to address an audience effectively, and it drives me nuts! Comedians work at the highest level of public speaking. These skilled communicators must engage their audience within seconds. The feedback is immediate, and when you lose an audience’s attention everyone in the room knows it. David Michael, who majored in Communications at the University of Pittsburgh, takes you inside the greenroom and reveals the techniques that comedians use to communicate, and then demonstrates how to apply them to corporate and public speaking, sales presentations and for other communication functions. Throughout the book, Michael weaves his experiences working with a few of the greatest comedians of our generation and how their advice has helped him to become a more skilled communicator. He relates his encounters with comedians such as Jay Leno, Howie Mandel, Drew Carey, Steve Harvey, Ray Romano, Dennis Miller, Lewis Black, and Tim Allen. Michael’s anecdotes will entertain you as he presents the “secrets of the trade” including: how to focus on the audience, how to work the room, implementing improvisation, the effective use of props, the theory of “less is more” and the MOST IMPORTANT SECRET relating to how the audience was conditioned to learn. Michael is definitely on to something since experts tell us that the current generation likes their learning packaged as entertainment. Some of these techniques are so powerful and so effective that some comedy purists think it’s cheating. For this number one fear that takes control over most of us, Michael prescribes, his number one cure......buy and read   "Secrets from the Greenroom" !



How Jay Leno Made Me a Better Speaker !

                                    Jay's advice......work everywhere !
         
            In the stand up comedy world few things are more prestigious than being on the Tonight Show. In the heyday of the comedy boom it was the barometer that made stars out of countless comedians. Jay Leno was one of those stars.

Jay has always been known to comics as a workaholic.  He continued to do up to 300 dates a year, working every weekend, while he was guest hosting the Tonight Show.  An amazing feat when you consider most comedians hosting a show, such as the Tonight Show, usually give up their road gigs and concentrate on the very difficult task of getting ratings. Jay continued to work in an effort to hone his comedic skills which explains why he claims he hasn’t touched his Tonight Show money.
I have always admired Jay and had met him several times on the road in passing but a few years after he took over the show I had an opportunity to ask him for some sage advice.  A friend of mine and fellow comedian, Billy Martin, was appearing on the Tonight show and asked if I wanted to go along. As a young comedian I was certainly going to take him up on it. The lineup was a good one including Raquel Welch, Chazz Palminteri and my buddy, Billy.

The night was filled with surreal moments.  The two that stand out to me happened just about an hour before show time.  The legendary director, Fred de Cordova who stayed with Jay a few years after Johnny retired was looking for Raquel and spotted her on the couch conversing with Jay. He looked at Jimmy Brogan, a fellow comic who  booked the comedic talent for the show, and asked, “Where is Raquel”.  Jimmy pointed to the couch and Fred squinted as he looked through his trademark glasses and said, “Is that her or her mother, get her to makeup".   I have to tell you that I had been a big Raquel fan since first grade and she looked fantastic as she always did. I’m not sure if Fred was trying to be intentionally funny but it certainly was.

The second incident was that my friend Billy was not able to appear on the show because of the interruption of the OJ Simpson Bronco chase!  Right before they got to his slot in the show the network cut to the chase. What a weird twist. I remember him telling me jokingly that his family and friends back east were skeptical that he was on the Tonight Show and this incident would only reinforce their concerns.   It all worked out for him because he was rebooked for the show and now he is the Executive Producer of real time with Bill Maher on HBO.

 Just before the show, Jay stopped by to greet Billy and I had an opportunity to ask him what advice he could give a young comic and fan.  He said, “The most important thing I can tell you is to get on stage as much as you can wherever you can”. This was sage advice because a lot of comics and performers reach a level and think that they don’t have to work as hard at developing their skills.  They feel that if they are headlining they do not have to do small rooms or more difficult gigs.  That is a very foolish attitude to assume because when you stop performing in places you think will be challenging and only putting yourself in situations where you know you will succeed, you stop growing and developing your skills.

To be honest I really didn't like the advice Jay gave me at the time. I was just off a national television appearance and was in Hollywood auditioning for roles and other TV shows. I felt that I had put in my time and was now a national headline act and I felt that the small jobs were beneath me.    I couldn't have been more wrong. You see I was too young to realize that most of the audiences I had been working the previous seven years were all comedy club audiences in a controlled atmosphere. I was one of those guys who felt that if the audience didn't laugh at my jokes it was on them and certainly not my performance.   However, I began to contemplate what Jay told me.   I slowly started to take gigs that I thought were risky or beneath me.  Since then I have performed at a rest home, a hospital, nudist colony, basement of a frat house, college cafeteria at lunch time, country club, yacht club, casino, birthday party, almost every business and corporate function imaginable, bar, wedding, rock band opening,(I opened for Michael Bolton in front of 16,000 people) and the most challenging performance to date that I did was 10 state prisons in a row!   That’s right, prisons!

I was recently asked in an interview what I thought was my biggest accomplishment in my 25 years in show business and without a doubt I answered the prison tour.  It was the most powerful and scariest thing I have ever done as a performer. I remember all my Hollywood friends telling me how crazy I was and after the first gig I couldn't disagree with them more!  In those ten days I grew tenfold as a performer and speaker. I can honestly say that I will never be afraid of speaking or have stage fright again. As a performer, it was the test of a lifetime of pure survival. I was able to get through by relying on my experience and intestinal fortitude. Because of the experience I am a more experienced and well rounded performer and speaker. Following Jay’s advice enhanced my career considerably

You have to work consistently to get better at your craft regardless of your pursuit.   I think Tony Robbins said it best when he stated that repetition is the mother of skill. Who gets the ball when the games on the line….Michael Jordan, Eli Manning, Sidney Crosby. Why, because they have been there before and have succeeded by continually  practicing and honing their skills in many different situations. In business, when it’s on the line, don't you want to be the one who gets the ball?  Challenge yourself.  If Jay Leno can continue to go on the road and perform after getting the gig of a lifetime there has to be something to it. He continues to take himself out of the controlled atmosphere of the studio audience with applause signs.  To be an effective speaker you must heed this advice. In business you will have to speak to many audiences who may not agree with you and you will need to make an impact on them. Putting yourself in situations that make you uncomfortable will give you the experience not only to be able to confidently address the audience but also to be able to influence them as well.

So when the opportunity presents itself for me to provide advice to a speaker or performer, I always pass on Jay's word and also a bit of my own.  Try to work everywhere you can so you can experience every type of audience imaginable in every situation imaginable. That keeps you growing as performer and developing skills that will make you a stronger comedian or speaker. The next time your offered a gig or a speaking engagement think about it before you turn it down. Are you passing up something that may be the best experience of your career?   

How Steve Harvey made me a better Speaker !

                   Steve Harvey...behind the podium... working the room !  

  Years ago, I had the opportunity to work with Steve Harvey while on the road as a stand up comic. I was a young comedian and Steve was already a growing name on the circuit. He gave me some advice that has helped me become a successful comedian,  speaker and an effective business communicator



 He taught me the importance of working the room! Actually he was so bold as to bring me up in the middle of his show and say, “Folks this my friend David Michael and he is a young comedian and I am going to show him how to work the room”.  Then he proceeded to identify members of the audience by asking them their names and commenting on their responses with funny quips while working in his prepared material as well.  At the time, I didn't realize what an incredibly powerful tool this was.  He was able to get his audience to listen and focus before he delivered his message.  Can you imagine how many times you could have used this tool in business meetings? Giving a business presentation is critically important for the presenter.  The primary focus, of course, is for the content of the presentation to be absorbed by the audience. Now I know that statement may seem obvious but so often, in business and in public speaking,  most individuals focus on their performance instead of their target, the audience.



Comedians are constantly engaging their audience and they do that by working the room. It almost never fails!  The success rate is so high that some comedy purists think its cheating. Now when I say cheating, I don't mean in an ethical manner  but rather,  that is so easy that anyone can learn to do it. Some believe that you should be able to go onstage, and solely, on the basis of your delivery, get laughs. That works when you have a receptive audience but as we know in real life that is not always the case.



 In business every presentation looks like the next with very little difference. People are so used to attending business functions with the idea they can get a lot of work done on their phone. When you work the room the audience has to pay attention.  They have to stay on their toes. They don’t want to look stupid or caught off guard if you call on them and they aren't paying attention! Using this technique actually creates excitement and spontaneity.  You will notice that people will focus on you and not on their cell phone. You will have the full attention of your audience and you will be able to deliver your message and have the audience retain it!  As a speaker, you will achieve your ultimate goal to effectively communicate your message to the audience.



When I wrote my book I used a quote by Steve that I thought kind of summed up this technique in typical Steve Harvey fashion. "Comedians walk out, get a feel for the crowd and if it’s not going well, we change directions and if we have to drag your momma into this thing we will, whatever we got to do”.  Enough said!

Laughter Heals, Reduces Stress and Increases Productivity: Isn't it time you "Shared It" with your Employees !

For years now research has shown that laughter has incredible  effects on the human immune system. Among many health institutions  both Johns Hopkins and the Mayo clinic have done studies that have revealed the healing effects of  laughter that include reduced stress ,increased productivity and creativity as well as increased memory and learning. Really its no joke! Being a comedian I have never under estimated these effects on a audience. Over the years after shows some members of the audience are so moved that they want to share their feelings and personal stories with the comedian or comedians who performed. I can recount many stories from audience members who just want to say "thank you" or  "I needed that" and then they would go on to tell me some of the most inspiring stories about loss,tragedy ,incredible stress and everyday human troubles that we all at some point have to deal with. As a comedian I have been hugged,kissed,squeezed,given drinks, dinner,invited to homes,marriage proposals and in some cases a shoulder to cry on. From my experience I can actually see the powerful effects of laughter  up close. 

Wellness Speaker...David Michael 

In todays corporate  world the stress seems to be over whelming  with downsizing,layoffs,mergers,and a shrinking work force. Employees seem to be facing an uphill battle for wellness and sanity. I honestly believe more and more companies are in need of some enlightenment. For most of my corporate career as a comedian I have been mostly used as entertainer and speaker and  as an emcee for larger events . In the last ten years a slow change has taken place. More and more of my clients have been inquiring about the possibility of using me as a wellness tool. Considering how powerful laughter is ... its something that has grown and taken on a life of its own. When I speak about my new book  I always point out that when you use humor in your presentation the audience will have a higher tendency to retain your message. But when I am featured as a wellness speaker the only objective I have  is for everybody to laugh and have a good time. What's that! You mean your going to have a presentation for your employees in the middle of the work day and all they have to do is laugh and  have a good time ! The anticipation of getting a break in the middle of the work day is sweet enough but when you add the fact that there will be nothing to learn or remember ...well now you've got something my friend. Can you imagine your employees all laughing  at the same time or leaving a meeting all with a smile on their face !  And if that's not appealing enough think of the stress relief and increased productivity your company as well as the bonding between management and employees that will benefit from this wellness activity. So with all the sharing that is done with all of social media in business today why don't we share something that is as old as the hills and has the natural  healing effects of a modern day fountain of youth! .  If this trend continues to grow the jokes of the future might start something like this....a CEO,a manager and an employee all walk into a meeting...an hour later they walk out laughing ....together.

The Biggest Fear Public Speakers Face Using Humor !

 Speakers face myriad of fears when they attempt to use humor to connect with their audience.  How does one get their material, how to intro the jokes or how much humor to inject are all valid concerns.  However, the biggest fear is what if they don’t laugh!  As a professional comedian and speaker for twenty-five years, I can fully sympathize with this plight. In our business there's an old saying  " Dying is easy. Comedy is hard" !

Telling a joke or relating a humorous observation that receives little or no response can throw a speaker or a comedian into a tailspin from which they might not recover. There is one simple technique you can use that works like magic when your material is not hitting the mark.  Most comedians write jokes with the expectation that people will laugh at them.  I do that but I take it one step further.  I write another joke that can be waiting in the wings.  It’s called a throw away line in our business.  It is effective because if your audience doesn’t laugh at the initial joke, you have a second joke that makes fun of how bad the initial joke was or you can make fun of the audience for not laughing at the joke.  If you have a backup line or several backup lines you will have the confidence to try your funny material with the benefit of a safety net, thus taking the fear out of attempting humor in your presentation.

Let me give you an example of a throw away line.  I was speaking at a corporation in the very early morning and my material didn’t seem to be working so I just paused and said to the audience, “You know what folks, I don’t care if you laugh, or not.  I’m not even your scheduled speaker today, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!  Most of the audience got the reference to the Holiday Inn commercial where seemingly unqualified people were doing extraordinary jobs just by sleeping at their hotel chain.  It broke the ice and more importantly signaled the audience that I would be interjecting humor along with my content so they were inclined to pay attention. 

Years ago a comedian and good friend of mine, Auggie Cook, said to me after a particularly challenging show, You know what Buddy, you are great with a difficult audience”,  It was because of my throw away lines.  The audience hung on my every word just waiting to see if the preceding sentence was a bad joke or part of my message.  What a powerful effect to have on an audience!  So remember, the next time you’re hesitant to incorporate humor into your speech or presentation, do what comedians do and use a throw away  line.  

Jim Krenn: "Giving them what they want"

David Michael and Jim Krenn

Most people in Pittsburgh know Jim Krenn. For those of you who don’t, he is the versatile comedian and disc jockey who until recently spent the better part of the last quarter century as part of the morning show on WDVE radio. At this point no one knows what will happen between WDVE and Krenn but it seems as though he will not be a part of the morning show.

As sudden and abrupt as it was, Krenn has no need to worry. He will be in demand. How do I know you ask... well it goes back a few years. I met him when I was a young comedian just beginning my career and he was an established headliner. This was prior to his radio days. Jim was kind enough to ask me to open for him at some local corporate events. This was a nice break for a young comedian in two respects. First, it was nice to be working and getting experience and secondly, and more importantly, was the advice I received from a real professional comedian. Jim was very generous when it came to this and I’m not the only comedian who has benefited from his kindness and expert advice.

However, Jimmy gave me some of the most important advice I have ever received as a comedian, entertainer and corporate speaker that I implement in every performance. As a matter of fact, I put a chapter about it in my book. When Jim would open his show, he would nonchalantly talk to the crowd and even relay some joke jokes (i.e. three guys walk into a bar) to the audience before he would go into his material. I asked him later why he did this because most comedians would just begin with their material. He told me quite simply. “Because Dave that’s what they wanted ". He said you have to give the audience what they want first and then they will give you what you want. He was right. At the time if you told someone you were a comedian, the first line out of their mouth was, "tell me a joke" and they expected one.

Today comedians are so mainstream people realize we do material instead of joke jokes. Over the years through while listening to him on the radio and working with him in person, I have seen Jim repeat this technique hundreds of times in different formats. He no longer uses joke jokes, of course, but will implement several other funny bits that he has written and it never fails. We had our national television debut on the same show and I saw him use it there.

Jim Krenn has become one of the most beloved entertainers in Pittsburgh. He spent almost 25 years on the same radio station in the same position which is almost 3 lifetimes in the radio biz. A good portion of that time he was number one in the ratings. When he performs live, it is usually a sold out event. So when I say that Jim Krenn has no need to worry, I simply mean that wherever he lands and whatever he decides to do, he will be a success because in my 25 years in the entertainment industry working with everyone from Jay Leno to Chris Rock and Howie Mandel to Drew Carey, I have never seen an entertainer give them what thay want better than Jimmy Krenn. Good Luck Pal. I’ll see ya at your next gig!


David Michael
Comedian
Corporate Speaker
Author

www.davidmichaellive.com

@DavidMichaeLive • Twitter

Welcome To David Michael Live Blog

Learn Public Speaking With Humor

In this blog I will share the secrets and techniques used by professional comedians to communicate with their audience and I will demonstrate how you can apply them to your own speaking communication needs. Comedians have always been considered natural public speakers who work at the highest level of the art form. We not only need the audience to listen to and retain our message, but, in addition,  we also need a physical response out of them...laughter. 

I will share stories and experiences that have shaped my stand up career in show business and corporate speaking. In addition, I will share my personal story of how a somewhat shy kid with big dreams became a national headlining comedian who went from performing in front of his sister in his bedroom to performing on national television and sold out arenas while working with some of the biggest comedy names of our generation. 

 Using these techniques and the advice I offer will make you a more effective communicator whether you are speaking in front of large group or doing a sales presentation to one individual.  I will share my interactions with the famous to not so famous performers whose insight can be extremely helpful to anyone from the novice speaker just beginning his career to the more experienced corporate speaker.   

My recently released book,  "Secrets from the Greenroom", is quite unique because never before have these specific techniques been made available to the public.   This book will make you a better speaker and is like no other public speaking book ever released.

My blog will cover some of these techniques in addition to many others.  Please join me while I share my experiences that will benefit your varied communication needs.