Ten Marketing "To-Do's" for Keynote Speakers and Comedians

Keynote Speaker and Clean Comedian Sally Edwards

There is always something to do as a keynote speaker or corporate comedian.  If you are not speaking or performing, it is important to take task to desk work which will continue to propel your bookings even when not on stage.

1.  Write a new ten minutes.  Don't get stagnant in your information or your comedy.

2.  Start a newsletter.  Try Constant Contact, Mailchimp or a similar format.

3.  Send out postcards or brochures.  I particularly like Vistaprint and their services.

4.  Keep social media current - Twitter, Facebook, Stumble Upon, Reddit, Digg, Tumbler,  Squidoo, etc.

5.  Videotape all shows - review them, edit them, post them on YouTube.

6.  Blog regularly - Try Wordpress or Blogger

7.  Submit press releases.  You can start with a free press release and work your way up.  See Free-Press-Release.com.

8.  Write a book, record a CD or DVD.  See Lulu.com for self-publishing.

9.  Update your site regularly - maintain a professional look.  Hostmonster is very reasonable and you can have multiple domains listed for no extra charge.

10.  Promote, promote, promote!


http://humorousspeakersbureau.com Sally Edwards is the president of The Humorous Speakers Bureau marketing corporate comedians and funny keynote motivational speakers.
http://sallyedwards.org - Laugh to Good Health
http://comedybysally.com - Clean Corporate Comedy

How To Deliver Clean Stand Up Comedy

Comedian Sally Edwards at The Raue Theater

Many comedians take to the stage intending to deliver a clean show. They take the showcase stage at comedy clubs like Zanies Comedy Club, The Laugh Factory, Up Comedy Club or The Improv and attempt to deliver clean and non-offensive comedy. By performing clean humor, whether they be funny female comedians or male clean comedians they are then able to pursue the goal of being a corporate performer.

1)  The word "clean" as it pertains to comedy means there should be no use of swear words, no offensive set-ups and no offensive punchlines.  It is important not to embarrass or offend as a corporate comedian.  An offended audience leads to complaints to human resources. Repetitive complaints may develop into real problems for the company hosting the corporate event.  Violating the rules of "clean" will result in loss of trust, reputation and bookings.

2)   "Clean" should not be a product of your own subjective interpretation. New talent today takes its direction from Comedy Central where there are no limits on topics and vocabulary. A new comic often believes if he simply "cleans up his act" by cleaning up his four letter words, the goal of clean comedy has been accomplished. I've seen club owners shaking their heads in dismay as they watch a new talent use every word but the "f" bomb and think they've achieved clean.

Subject matter that is truly "clean" is a topic that you could deliver one-on-one to your Aunt Ella as she stops by for a sandwich on the way to the community center. Topics involving family, sports, dating, children, husbands, wives and corporate life are all fair game. Any talk of sex must be approached with extreme caution. After all, would you feel comfortable talking about sex to your Aunt Ella?

3)  "Customized humor" is a good way to go if you want strong laughs that hit close to home for a corporate audience. Customizing humor involves researching the company's background and core interests prior to taking the stage. Although individuals can also be singled out as fodder, it is very effective to read from the company's handbook or muse over their graphs and charts. Where there has been pain, there is gain in the laugh department.

Writing clean material is a very difficult challenge when creating a new routine but taking the high road will lead to respect among your peers and admiration from you corporate audience.

http://humorousspeakersbureau.com Sally Edwards is the president of The Humorous Speakers Bureau marketing corporate comedians and funny keynote motivational speakers.
http://sallyedwards.org - Laugh to Good Health
http://comedybysally.com - Clean Corporate Comedy

How to Maintain Focus as a Keynote Speaker

Keynote Humorist Sally Edwards

How is it possible to stay happy and focused in a speaking without encountering a lifelong roller coaster ride of ups and downs?  I now see the answer with complete clarity.

First, ask yourself, "What is a speaker?"  The answer most people give is quite obvious. "A speaker is someone who imparts knowledge."

It is not complicated.  A speaker is not described as a "star"; a speaker is not described as someone who has their own television show or cable channel; a speaker is not described as someone who has the most YouTube hits or followers on Twitter.

A speaker is someone who informs people to improve their knowledge base on a particular topic.  If you take your own ego out of the equation and appreciate the fact that you were given the awesome gift of sharing knowledge, you will learn to appreciate and love your craft regardless of ups and downs.  A speaker changes a person's life for the better.  How fortunate we are as speakers to be given this gift.  Speaking is about your audience.  They are the true stars of your own show.  If a speaker can appreciate this very basic concept, they will always feel successful and blessed and no longer be a victim of their endless internal struggle.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to speak and share my knowledge of the benefits of laughter with a very talented and positive multi-talented comedian named Taylor Mason.  Performing at the Metropolis Theater in Arlington Heights did not make me a star.  It was the audience who made my night, and they do, each and every time.

http://humorousspeakersbureau.com Sally Edwards is the president of The Humorous Speakers Bureau marketing corporate comedians and funny keynote motivational speakers.
http://sallyedwards.org - Laugh to Good Health
http://comedybysally.com - Clean Corporate Comedy

Jay Leno and The Tonight Show - A Study of Comedy and Evisceration

Removing "The Tonight Show" Sign From Building

I watched the last Tonight Show and I saw a man in pain.  It reminded me of how cruel the comedy business can be no matter what level of success your talent has reached.  To put it quite plainly, Jay Leno had his guts ripped out.  The Tonight Show was his baby and his life and I watched NBC grab it right out of his arms with no apparent remorse.  His mission was to smile and accept it. Considering the magnitude of the moment, he did the very best he could.

Being a comedian myself, I've seen this occur repeatedly to many comedy careers but not quite at the same level.  Many comedians experience the disappointment of not getting a gig, a show or a week's booking.  It all hurts.  Some comics make it to a prominent level in show business at a young age and never regain that status.  Careers can take a roller coaster path of perpetually heading down.  Comedians reaching retirement age wince as they realize how "old" they have grown in comedy clubs.  A cut in pay usually triggers this realization.  Again, it all hurts.

When I listened to Jay reflecting on how many awesome and famous people he had met and engaged with, I realized how short my list of accomplishments was in comparison.  I was aghast that he was retiring and I am not even making a dent in such a huge arsenal of success.

And then I remembered.  Life is a matter of choices.  What Jay Leno doesn't have is my three beautiful children who are my own reason for living.  When it came time to make a choice as a young woman between career ambitions and family, I chose the latter.  I've never had any regrets.  I am the richest person I know and not even NBC can take that away from me.


http://humorousspeakersbureau.com Sally Edwards is the president of The Humorous Speakers Bureau marketing corporate comedians and funny keynote motivational speakers.
http://sallyedwards.org - Laugh to Good Health
http://comedybysally.com - Clean Corporate Comedy

Christian Community Fold Laundry for Comedian

Female Christian Comedian Hands Out Laundry at Christian Life Center

http://humorousspeakersbureau.com Sally Edwards is the president of The Humorous Speakers Bureau marketing corporate comedians and funny keynote motivational speakers.
http://sallyedwards.org - Laugh to Good Health
http://comedybysally.com - Clean Corporate Comedy

Christian Comedian Sally Edwards Interprets "Mother Goose"

Sally Edwards at Christian Life Center

What are you really saying when you're reading "Mother Goose?"

http://humorousspeakersbureau.com Sally Edwards is the president of The Humorous Speakers Bureau marketing corporate comedians and funny keynote motivational speakers.

http://sallyedwards.org - Laugh to Good Health

http://comedybysally.com - Clean Corporate Comedy

Christian Comedian Sally Edwards jokes about moms and their babies.

http://humorousspeakersbureau.com Sally Edwards is the president of The Humorous Speakers Bureau marketing corporate comedians and funny keynote motivational speakers.

http://sallyedwards.org - Laugh to Good Health

http://comedybysally.com - Clean Corporate Comedy