What I tweeted yesterday: (follow me at http://twitter.com/todmaffin )
- Just got back from a great coffee with @gillianshaw of the #VancouverSun. I picked up that mini-projector from her; will do a review soon. #
- Beware buying #Shaw’s digital phone service. *82 does not work. Sorry #HotDelivery Chinese food place, I CAN’T unblock my number. No $ for u #
- Sad day in Vancouver — A&B Sound goes under. http://tinyurl.com/5jzauy #
ProSpeaking: The “3-3-3″ Pre-Event Client Calls
I always make three phone calls to my speaking clients prior to the event:
Immediately upon booking (three min): Introduce myself, thank them for booking me, etc. This is just a touch-point to say hi and answer any basic questions they have. I let them know I’ll be calling closer to the event to get the specifics of the day from them (depending on how far out you’re booked, they may not know some of the details like venue and agenda yet).
.- Three weeks prior to event: This is the main and most important call. Book at least an hour for this call, though usually run only about 20-30 minutes. This is where you’ll walk through your checklist of information. The template I use, which you’re welcome to use, is below.
. - Three days prior to the event: This is a brief call just before the day to find out if there have been any changes to the venue and/or room, your speaking time, and so on. This is also when you should give them your preferred introduction (see “Writing The Perfect Introduction For Yourself,” chapter 5) and get the phone number of the person introducing you so you can briefly call them as well to say hi.
The Pre-Event Checklist
(with example details)
THE CONFERENCE
Conference theme/topic: Innovation: “Innovate or Die — Our Shared Future”
Graphics/imagery used for theme: Three interlocked blue gears (image at http://appliedinc.com/images/3gearsLarge.JPG)
Conference length: Three days
Other keynote speakers, dates/times, and their topics:
- Bill Clinton: “Monica, Cigars, and Me”
- Oprah Winfrey: “I’m Not Gay, And So Is My Best Friend Gail”
- Steve Jobs: “Why I Secretly Use a Windows PC At Work”
- 120 concurrent sessions: Topics include creative workplaces, Sustainability / Corp Social Resp., Leadership - Be Authentic With Yourself, Futurist talking about creativity, future applications and issues hitting the workplace
Demographics - what are some talent management issues
THE AUDIENCE
How many people in the audience? 2400
What kind of jobs do they have?
- manufacturing to gov’t to not for profits
- there are agencies and consultants attending as well
- most are generalists — recruiting is a core resp. but may not be the whole
How much technology do they interact with each day? Almost none.
Gender split: 70/30 women
Age distribution: 75% are boomers aged 45-55, remainder mostly 30s
THE PRESENTATION
Type: Keynote Plenary | Keynote Sessional | Luncheon | Over Dinner/Reception
Time to arrive: 7:30 a.m. for a/v check
Exact schedule prior to speech:
- 8:00 a.m. doors open
- 8:15 a.m. housekeeping
- 8:25 a.m. introduction
Exact schedule after speech:
- 10:00 a.m. announcements
- 10:05 a.m. break and book signing
- 10:30 a.m. concurrent sessions
Topic, as presented to attendees: “Recruiting the Facebook Generation: Winning the New Race for Talent”
Sponsor: Apple Inc. Introducer: Steve Jobs (5 min)
Length: 60 min presentation, 30 min Q&A
FINAL NOTES
- Did you receive my a/v requirements from the agency?
- Confirm I require VGA and audio right at the lectern
- Confirm no audio or video recording permitted
- Ask for PDFs of all conference promotional material to date
Posted in Professional Speaking Tips 1 Comment
ProSpeaking: Tod’s Secret Card-Tab Technique
You’ve just gotten off the podium and, naturally, there’s an enormous lineup forming to meet you. In many cases, people just want to thank you for the presentation or ask you a question or two.
Well-intentioned as they may be, this is not the time for you to answer any more than the most basic of questions — some people’s enthusiasm get in the way of noticing that other people are waiting to speak with you as well.
Most commonly, people will want you to email them your slides (something I never do — if they want to see it again or show it to another group in their company, they should pay me to give the presentation again, in my opinion) or have you get back to them on something.
Since I’m a crappy note-taker, I’ve developed this system of folding the corners of business cards so I can remember what each person wants when I get back to my hotel room. Here are my hints; feel free to invent your own:
- Top-Left: Potential client (I always ask their preference and have the corner point at either their email address or phone number, depending on how they prefer I contact them.)
- Top-Right: They want more info/stats/references from my points
- Bottom-Left: Potential client — Tell agent to call them
- Bottom-Right: “Friend” them on Facebook
If you need more tabs, don’t forget you can fold the corners over backward and you’ve got four more. You can get another four by folding horizontally or vertically, either toward or away from the printed side. I’ve found, though, that four positions is more than sufficient.
Regardless of what they talk to you about, hand them your business card and ask for theirs if you don’t have it yet. You want to put your card in the hands of as many people as possible. It’s just good marketing.
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Contact Tod
For booking or other inquiries, feel free to contact Tod directly.
Tod Maffin is exclusively represented by The Lavin Agency, with offices in the United States and Canada.
Tod Maffin is exclusively represented by The Lavin Agency, with offices in the United States and Canada.
