Communications Expert, Mark Grimm, on What Makes a Good Event Speaker
Podcast speakers: Savannah McIntosh (Purplepass Marketing Director) and Mark Grimm (founder of Mark Grimm Communications, keynote speaker or seminar host). Jump to the show notes below.
The EventBuzz podcast: Mark Grimm
presented by Purplepass
Show Notes
Topic markers:
08:36 - Tips for public speakers
15:02 - What to look for when hiring keynote speakers
18:44 - Tips for managing multiple speakers
20:43 - Speaker collaboration
Links:
Podcast Transcript: Purplepass + Mark Grimm
Savannah (Purplepass):
Welcome to another episode of The EventBuzz podcast presented by Purplepass. Today's guest has been a highly rated keynote speaker at conferences and corporate training events for 20 years. His topics include Why Public Speaking as a Superpower, The Secrets for Embracing Change, and Why Better Communication Means Better Leadership.
Mark Grimm, our special guests for the day also served for 10 years on the conference planning committee for the Regional Chapter of the Association for Talent Development. The committee was responsible for arranging every aspect of its annual conference. We definitely have a lot to talk about today, from planning conferences to finding keynote speakers.
So let's get started. Hey, Mark, how are you doing today?
Mark Grimm:
Very good. It's great to be here. Thanks.
Savannah:
Yes. Let's start with having you just briefly introduce yourself to the listeners. And a little bit about your background and how you kind of got it got started in the event and speaking space.
Mark:
Well, I'm a professional speaker and speaking coach. And I've been doing presentations for for 20 years now. And I've dealt with a lot of events, obviously. And I also I worked on the conference planning committee for this the Association for Talent Development, which is a training of trade group. And so I come at it from both sides, both as someone who appears advanced and also someone who has planned advance. So that's why I thought it would be exciting to be able to speak to some event planners today, as with the perspective of coming from both sides of the equation.
I was a TV Anchorman for 12 years, in several markets, including Denver, and Portland. And I was a radio interview host for 14 years doing my show here in the Albany, New York market. And I also was an adjunct media and communications professor at a couple of colleges for 11 years.
And I'm also elected official on my county legislature.
Savannah:
Wow, busy!
Mark:
Well, so I know you're kind of interested in kind of a very interest on different things. And, and that's what's so fascinating about the events, because every event is different, and every audience is different. And part of what we talked about today is delivering value to the audience. Most people when they have to speak, they say what am I going to wear? What am I going to say? And those are the wrong questions.
The questions are, who's my audience? And I can happen? How can I help them that day? Yes, markgrim.com has a lot more resources, there's a lot more on what I do.
Savannah:
Yes. And I will be linking all that information, when I share this as well. So people can easily find your resources, because there was a lot on their back to your background. I'm just curious, what did you like better TV or radio?
Mark:
I love them both. You know, I just love the both they both have interesting characteristics. Radio, you really have to understand the power of the voice and words. And then, and it's exciting, it's at least something to your imagination. With TV, you're able to show visuals, you know, the idea a picture's worth 1000 words. Images can very, very powerful if you match your storytelling to your images. And that's that's really what being good broadcasting is about and podcast. And speaking, it's understanding that you're telling a story. It's not a collection of data. It's a story. And the story is this is how I'm going to interest my audience that day. And that's the way every media engagement should be is what is my audience talking about? How can I entertain them or interest them, or give them value that's going to make their life better. But I really love doing both and I still I've done a lot of I do a lot of media appearances. People interview me as an expert, so and I've done a lot of radio and TV, hundreds of appearances on TV and radio.
Savannah:
Yeah, I gotta tell you public speaking or even what we're doing now. Is is hard. I am not the best at it when it comes to practice. But I remember when I first started doing this, and I've improved, but I'm still working on it is I would listen back and I caught myself being like, um, and like and it's really hard. You have to really focus on what you're saying. While also, you know, focusing on who you're talking to and stuff like that. So I give props to everyone that can stand up and be a public speaker or a presenter at these events and do it flawlessly in my eyes.
Mark:
Ya know, it's interesting, because I hear what you say up here I hear a lot of course, a lot of one on one coaching. That's another thing that I mentioned but I started I ran for student senate in college. And when it was my I was sweating like a dog I had a we had a public forum, you know, candidates night kind of thing. And my hands were so sweating. It was like a great lake and so I hidden measurable. Five minutes before it's my turn to speak. Because I was so nervous. I didn't go out. And I remember sitting in there hiding in the men's room saying am I going to live the rest of my life this way? You missing opportunities. Now, it seems silly to be concerned about a student senate race, but it wasn't so suddenly then.
Savannah:
No it’s scary.
Mark:
So it is scary. And I said, I'm not going to live my life that way is as scary as public speaking is, it's worse to spend a lifetime with missed opportunity. Because the way to gain opportunities to speak up. And the way to move people is to speak up. And the way to help people is to speak up. So I started a path, one step at a time at becoming a better speaker and I wrote a book on it … Everyone Can Be a Dynamic Speaker, Yes, I Mean You. And the reason I say that is most people think they they can't be that dynamic speaker that you know, Mark and do it because he's a communication. I spent my whole life communications probably me, I started out with the same fears that everyone has. And there's a way of beating this not worrying, a lot of coaches will say, oh, you said oh, seven times, or is the stylistic points are not really the key, the key is understanding that you're in there to help people. So find out what your audience needs, and figure that out ahead of time, and then deliver that value. And if you do, it's amazing how much time how dynamic you can become.
Savannah:
Yeah, definitely send me any links to your books where people can purchase it, I might be a customer, because I definitely need to work on my public speaking skills, as well as it's just such a powerful tool to have that knowledge and be able to share it. And like you said, help people and present it in a way where they connect with you.
Mark:
It’s funny, one client called me up one day, and he said, Mark, I can't believe how much you helped me. Public speaking is a superpower. And I never forgot that statement. Because now I do you know, blogs and stuff and topics. Now I when I do a public presentation, public speaking thing I say why public speaking is a superpower. And it really is it can change your life, it changed my life. And it can change everyone's lives and the beauty is, it's not one of these, I want to be the shortstop for the Yankees when I was a kid, but I can't hit a 95 mile an hour pitch that breaks at the last minute. And I’m never gonna be able to do that. But public speakers, you don't have to be six, seven, and 240 pounds or one 109. It's open to everyone. Everyone can do it. You just have to believe you can do it. And you have to and they have to have the right coaching. But because I get better every time I speak, because I'm always asking for feedback too you know. Because most people they lie, we’ve all been in speeches that someone speaks and they ask you how you did after he says oh, you were fine.
You know, they were terrible. We lie more than anything else. We lie about public speaking to people because we don't hurt their feelings. That doesn't make them any better. I've sat the CEO speaking to a group of 300 people at a dinner and I'm there with the communications director for a company we're rolling our eyes. But when a boss says How did I do it?
Oh you were great boss, you’re never going to be the one to tell the boss, oh you were terrible.
Savannah:
Yeah, exactly, exactly.
Mark:
You know, I have a sheet whenever I speak and says rate me 0-4, I get an actual number of what they thought of me. And I like to say, what one takeaway did you get today that's going to make your career better or your life better? And if I give vague answers to that question, I wasn't that good. And they tell. You told me this. I'm going to do this tomorrow, because this is going to help me. And that's all it's about is helping people. And that's what we hope to do today is to help our audience gain some insight that's going to make them a better event planner, or are better in their personal dealings.
Savannah:
So do you think for any speakers listening for public speaking and improving it? I know there's a lot you could do, but for I mean, advice. Wow, I sound great. I know there's a lot you could do. But would you say practice feedback and probably coaching would be the most helpful?
Mark:
What I try to do is because a lot of people say, oh, you say a red tie or a blue tie or a red blouse. That's that stuff's a bunch of…the fact of the matter is, take a new approach to speaking and say, it's not about me, it's about the audience. And don't be so afraid of fear. A fear is one of the ways I deal with fears. And I did this myself, I did this myself, I wrote down on paper, what my fear was, and that crystallizes the fear, which any kind of fear if you're able to crystallize it, you’re able to deal with it more. So and I know what the common fears are, well, I'm gonna freeze in the middle the speech, okay.
Have a talking PowerPoints online, right there at the table or at your podium. So when you lose your space, please go right to the next point. That's what I do. I've been doing that for since I've started speaking. What do you think some will ask you a question. You won't know the answer. I know these are common fears, because I hear from my clients all the time. Well, don't feel like you have to know every answer. I will often say just anyone in the audience have an answer to that question because usually it's a trade group and somebody else, you know has that answer. And you know, so great, they don't care that didn't come from me. They, they know they got the answer from the audience. But if they don't, then I'll say, let me get your contact information and I'll get back to you within 24 hours with an answer.
So nobody thinks less than me, because I didn't happen to know everything. So you don't have the biggest one of the biggest mistakes people think that speech coming up, they're gonna learn 50 things. And no, I'd be nervous. If I had to learn 50 things too. You don’t you have to say, what are the 2 to 3 big things I can give my audience today? I know, I know them inside out, you don't really know your two or three topics inside out that's on you. You didn't do your homework. Think you have to know everything, nobody expects that. And one of the big things people think one of the biggest fears is they're going to think less of you. Because you didn't perform that well. And the truth is, people are pulling for you because they get nervous when we speak to. You also want to get something positive out of the presentation, particularly when I do get trainings that are a day long, two day trainings, that they are for a reason they're missing more if they want to learn something, so they want to get something positive.
So it's in their interest that you do well. And that's so that's why the training, that's how you should confront fears and the way I just outlined them. And if you do, you're a little more confident, if you feel like you've got a plan in place for dealing with your fears, because that's what makes you nervous, is that the fears are gonna eat you up.
Savannah:
Yeah, I feel like confidence is definitely one of the biggest points to public speaking. If you don't have confidence going into it, I can definitely see how it would go down.
Mark:
Yeah, no, I know this, because I wish I did. I sort of speak and I know what the comps are. Now I'm very confident because I do my homework. And I know I'm going to help people that day. I can't wait to speak, because I know I'm going to help people that day, I'm not nervous about it, I'm anxious that I get this opportunity to really deliver. And I'm going to ask him how I do at the end. So I'm going to get suggestions on how I can I can get even better the next time. And that's the key with speaking is, don’t ever beat yourself up. Just learned from the experience. If it doesn't go well and just get better than next time. And then and then get the kind of feedback you need. It's gonna make it better. And that’s what makes you confident by the way, if you feel like you're better prepared, people say where do I buy confidence I want this competence store. The better prepared you are, the more competent you become. And then the better your feedback is the feedback grows, and the constructive criticism is useful. You become more confident. And that's where confidence lives and it's a beautiful thing. Because once you get to the point where you have a superpower, you could change the world.
Savannah:
Exactly. What do you think about virtual presentations? Like if you're a speaker, do you think it's more challenging to give or present to a virtual audience versus an in person or the other way around?
Mark:
Absolutely. I'm not wild about virtual but that’s where the world is going because virtual is good. In this sense, you can reach a lot more people. You don't have to travel and people do more of it with assume all the other platforms. But the reality is the virtual as good as in person. No. And it never will be. Because when I go to an event, I like to get there early. And if I can I like to get flesh, we like to say I'd like to shake hands with everybody in the room. Because I'm making I'm making a personal connection ahead of time and building relationships. Because that's what this is a speech is a relationship between you and your audience. And I also get feedback. I'll ask him, hey, what would you like to get away? What would you like to come away with today? Or they'll tell me a story. And I'll say to you, that's really interesting. Can I use that in my speech? You know, if it's any, I always ask him for permission first, because sometimes the stories that your audience can tells, tells is really powerful, particularly if you're in a group, which you know, there's similar interest. It’s same corporation or its, you know, it's all event planners or something like that.
So I find that if you do it properly, there's also that interpersonal dynamic, when you're in the room and you're connecting with your audience, you cannot get that virtually. So that's where I am there. I'm I think there's a role for virtual but if you can do it in person, I think it's a better thing to do it that way.
Savannah:
I agree. I think the world is on the move. And it's yes, easier to see more speakers and events, virtually, 100%. But I feel in person just affects you differently. It has a greater impact in person.
Mark:
Yeah. And power. And people come up to me afterwards and we can chat a little bit. It's good to for business too. Because, you know, the one of the best things for about speaking is that's how you get more speaking events. Likely so sometimes I'll have some interaction. I'll definitely have the chance to develop more speaking engagements, if I'm in person.
Savannah:
Yes, exactly. Now from the perspective have an event planner? Is there any advice you would give say if I was an event planner looking for a keynote speaker or presenter, if they were going through like speaker applications, or watching them? What would you say to look for?
Mark:
First thing, and this is where it's interesting. As I said, I was on the planning committee. So I learned it was I'm so glad I did this because I learned so much about how to put together a conference or an event by being on the planning committee. And you know, because we have a team, you know, we had, there's so much there's logistics of the building, there's the food. There's the speakers, security, there's, it's really fascinating event planners, I just admire them so much, because there's so much that they have to do and if you, you know, I was I worked at as I was in TV news a long time I worked as an Assignment Manager one time because the assignment man, and they are quick, and we just got so frustrated with the news director.
He's just oh, why did you get that story? Why did you get that story? He got so mad. He said, He slammed on the table and said, that's it. I quit. And he just picked up his coat on the book and walked out the door. So then the news director said, okay, Grim, you're the you're the assignment and editor, you have to put all the assignments together. And I didn't like it. I did it for a week. And I realized, if you there's 10 stories, you get nine of them, they want to know why you missed the 10. You know?
So the event planners, the same thing, if one thing goes wrong, they're not talking about the nine you got, right. You know, so it's really detail oriented. But I think when you're trying to get a good speaker, I think it's clear in your literature on the on the invite is make it clear what's in it for them. Now, it may be a good size fee, but a lot of them are low fees, it's really more about the opportunity, from a speaker standpoint, get in front of people that you can do business with.
But be very clear to them, why this would be a good idea for you to speak at this conference. Because there's a lot of conferences looking for speakers. So that's the first thing to do is make sure you know what you're offering. And then when you're taking, be clear about what you want to send them because we got bombarded with information. And you know what, most of these committees are pumping tears, we don't want to go through all this junk. You know, so if you can create a platform, where here are the here are the things we want to know about you? Can you put them in there here? Why should we pick you in a box? Where have you spoken before?
There's links to video, absolutely expect video from the people who have speaking, it's crazy to pick somebody if they don't have any video without any video, they're not that professional. That's the bottom line. So you make sure you get a chance to check them out who wherever they spoken before, you know. I have a huge list of places where I've spoken and those people they want they can call them up and say How was this guy? So in what do they have reviews, testimonials, have a long list of reviews. So that's really what you should have in the application. And you don't want it, you know, six page application. You want one page and saying, Okay, why in a nutshell. So do you think you should speak at this conference? Where's the tape that shows you who really can get the job done? Where have you spoken before? And what have people said about you. And that's pretty much it, it's just making sure you make it easier for you to be able to review the applications, otherwise, you're going to miss somebody. And that's key, make it easier for you to have a thorough review and also make it appealing to people so you get really good applicants because you want to expand the pool of applicants. So you have a really good choice.
Savannah:
Yeah. And you said that you worked on the conference planning committee? Most conferences include multiple speakers and presenters. Do you have any advice to go with that as well for when it comes to speaker management and just making sure that it all goes off smoothly?
Mark:
Yeah, I think for event planners know this, but this is really key. What's the purpose? What's the purpose of your event? What are you trying to accomplish? You really have to have that clear mind in your own idea. What do you at the end of the conference? What do you want people to say, you know, and then oh, by the way, always get feedback as an event planner, make sure the people who attend your event, tell you what they think, because that will help craft, craft the plan. But if you're having a bunch of speakers there, you want to say okay, there's X, Y, and Z we really want to cover we really want to deliver on X topics X, Y, and Z. Well make sure your speakers are really experts in XY and Z.
So you can have a different flair. But if you know a keynote speaker, usually it's the beginning speaker or the ending speaker, you want to start with the bang or you want to send them home with a bang. Look for energy. Make sure somebody's energetic and passionate, because you know, that's how you want to start it. That first opening presentation. You want somebody who's going to jazz up the crowd. And as a speaker, I have one role, and that is to do everything I can to make At that event success for the event planner, that's the way I look at things.
So I talked to them about yeah, here's my topic. This is why it's interesting, this is what the value I'm going to deliver. But I'm going to bring a little pizzazz and little entertainment and little energy to the show. And that's what this is, it's the showtime, the you know, so you really get it off on the right foot. Because the momentum that begins with a good keynote, can really carry the day throughout the day or a couple of days, depending on how long the event is. Or even if it's, you know, a dinner, I've spoken at dinner, you want somebody who's going to say, that guy had some energy and passion, but also had us in mind. And really wanted to give us some value?
Savannah:
And do you have any suggestions for events in ways they might be able to capitalize on their speaker or when it comes to marketing, do some collaborations with their speakers?
Mark:
Oh, absolutely. Part of my job is to promote the conference. If somebody hires me, then I'm going to say hey, and I have thousands of people on my social media network, I'm going to tell them about my upcoming event. And that can be that that doesn't cost the event planner, anything. So everyone who's at the conference, by the way, even the attendees shouldn't be saying, hey, I'm going to a conference on May 6, about xx, they should be putting that out there. So it's amazing how much help you can get if you ask for it. Or you should ask everyone involved with the event to help promote it.
Because they all have followings. Particularly if you're a speaker, if you don't have any kind of following, you're probably not much of a speaker. So, you know, we want, the goal is to make the event a success. Everyone there one has has an interest in making the event a success. So part of making that success is having people come. So as the event planners should say here, would you please circulate this message about the event? And give them, give them some help there with cert you know, the mess some people don't don't know what to say. So, you know, create a message that says this is why this event is worth attending, and ask everyone involved to circulate that. And that can be really helpful because they can ask them to share that information with all their people. And particularly if it's a trade group, and you know, a number of people in that in the trade business, that can be really helpful. And everybody wins when the event goes. Well, everybody wins.
Savannah:
Yes. And you mentioned, you're talking about a speaker not really being a speaker if they don't have a following. But I think about there's so much competition in the world today. How would one start to build that following if they're just getting into this?
Mark:
Oh yeah, just starting, that’s a good question, I get that question a lot. I think there's a lot of free events you can speak at. Very whenever you run a club and you have somebody to speak to everybody hides under the table. There's every club, you're like, you know, I've been a soccer and lacrosse dad my whole life. So they all have their soccer clubs and lacrosse clubs and he just, you know, you can be willing to speak up at every opportunity, because you have something valuable to say. And that's once people start to hear you speak sounds pretty good.
But you know, there's, there's lots of clubs like the Kiwanis and the Lions Club, there's all kinds of service organizations, they're always looking for somebody to speak. So the speakers, you want to be a speaker, if you think you have something to say, alright, so try to articulate what value you can give to an audience. And then you approach these different audiences. And so I think the key is just to be persistent by approaching audiences, and also be focused on value.
It's not about you, it's not what you care about. It's not what you think about as a speaker. It's about who is that audience? And what is it about me that can deliver value to that audience? Because I had one guy come up after I spoke, he said, Mark your advice is great, but I don't really need speaking coaching. I've always been able to just wing it. And I said, Yeah, I've seen you speak, it looks like you're winging it. I was making the point is, if you don't take the time to research your audience and care, learn what they care about. You can't be great. You can't do it. You just can't go to an audience and give the same old speech. I never give the same presentation twice. I want to know my audience is and that's why I was really kind of trying to organize my thoughts about event planners, because I'm talking we're talking to event planners today. And you and I have the same goal. We want to help them and that's and that's what we hope to do today is help the people that are listening and if I don't help them, then I didn't do a very good job in the podcast.
Savannah:
Well, I definitely help them. You're helping me right now. learning so much.
Mark:
I love your energy. You're interesting. You're a good host.
Savannah:
Really? Okay.
Mark:
You’re earnest and you’re genuine. Anyway, and that the first thing that speaker has to be is genuine. Okay? I've seen really slick speakers with $700 suits just think the world of themselves. It's funny, the audience didn't think that way. So the most important thing is being earnest and genuine and saying, I'm here to help people, I'll do the best I can. And you know, if you do, people are more than willing to give you helpful advice, because they believe in you. And the real goal of the speaker, is, is to say, how do you grab the audience. And when the audience believes you are their champion, then you've connected with your audience. And that's my attitude. I am the audience's champion, and I will do whatever I can to help them. Because you know what? Helping people never gets old.
Savannah:
Yeah, exactly. Never does. Well, I, honestly, that's everything I wanted to kind of touch on and talk to you about. And again, like I said, I've already, for me, taken away so much. And I mean, I recognize I know what you're saying, when it comes to confidence, and, you know, researching and really understanding your audience before you go up there that really does make a great speaker. And speakers are powerful, they're very powerful thing to have at your event and can attract a lot of people.
Mark:
I think I would just say the event planners who are listening, please feel free to contact me because I really believe down to my socks that I can help your event. And I will work with you to come up with a plan to help your event grow. And it's exciting because it's great to be part of the team. As long as every minute, everybody's focused on the same goal. And there's just so many different topics that I speak on, not just public speaking, leadership, how to run a good meeting, all those kinds of things. They all involve communication, right?
Communication my whole life, I have a master's from the Newhouse School of Syracuse. And I've been in really pretty much several decades. It's an exciting thing to be part of the team that when the some of the best feelings I get is the conference is over the event is over. And everybody's smiling, because everybody felt like when both the attendees felt like they got something and the people running the show. And for event planners, they need help. It's a really difficult job.
And so my attitude is, you know, there's so many as little trouble as possible. And one of the things I haven't mentioned is always put in writing, what the expectations are. Okay, you hired me, this is what I'm going to do. This is what the expectations are, oh, by the way, you provide the laptop and the cord and the screen and the audio speakers.
All that is I mean, I've gotten to events where because I really rely on video clips and audio, to really add to my presentation and nothing was set up when I got there. Well, I got there an hour earlier, which I like to do. And the person running the thing was not the person who hired me for the event. She wasn't there that day. So I got it in writing, isn't it, this is what the expectations more he agreed and done, then she got somebody, some tech guy at the hotel, put it all together.
But it was a good thing. I get it in writing what the exceptions are. So make sure the speaker the the presenter puts in writing what they're going to deliver. And you put in writing what your expectation Yes. Like, sometimes I get there, I really say well, how long you go, well go as long as you want. Well, it’s your plan. Often in the plan, you tell me, you want me 15 minutes, you're gonna get 15 minutes, you want an hour and a half, they're gonna get an hour and a half. I will do whatever helps you fit into your plan, because that's what you are. As a presenter, you're a piece of the puzzle and you want that puzzle to sing. And that's what event planners for look should look for somebody who wants to help them. Not that willing to help find somebody else.
Savannah:
Exactly. Yeah. 100%. Well, I appreciate everything you've added to this conversation. Again, I've learned a lot and I know it's going to help not just our event planners, but also speakers that might be listening to this podcast as well. And all of our conference and convention planners because we have a lot of people that use us in that industry.
Mark:
So yeah, I gotta be a salesman, Mr. Grimm, that comes with website. We'll put a link up there. But my book is like $15. It's a paperback. I wrote it, just because I wanted to share my story with everyone else. And yearly, I'll make money on $15 book. But it's a great outline of how you start from hiding in the men's room to professional speaker where people are willing to pay you a lot of money, which is kind of exciting. But it's only because they think they're getting the value and they don't throw the money away. They expect money. They expect something in return. And you have to be able to say what that return is. And that's why this collaboration is so exciting, and it's really been wonderful with you today. I appreciate your organization. I'm sure it has a lot. It's your a lot of helps event planners.
Savannah:
Oh, yeah. Well, we've had our ups and downs these past few years. So we're finally starting to see you know, finally having some steady normal events again.
Mark:
Year, COVID is was a pain in the event speaker and they canceled all the events. Yeah, that’s not good. So we're coming back with a vengeance. All of us.
Savannah:
Yes, we all are. So we're excited.
