How to give the people what they want

This past weekend, as a way to unwind after a stressful week of travel (I flew out of Reagan airport just over an hour before the tragic crash), my girlfriend and I got tickets to & Juliet. I've seen it several times before, but I was very excited to see it again for two reasons. First, it was her first time seeing it. And second, there were two cast members that I was dying to see.

The Broadway production of?& Juliet?is making waves with its latest stunt casting choices, bringing in Joey Fatone and Charli D’Amelio to capitalize on nostalgia and social media influence. Fatone, best known as a member of?NSYNC, steps into the role of Lance, adding a boy band icon to a show already built on pop hits. Meanwhile, TikTok star Charli D’Amelio joins the ensemble as Charmion, a dance-heavy role that plays to her strengths as a viral dance sensation. While Fatone has previous Broadway experience, D’Amelio’s casting marks a significant crossover from social media to the stage, sparking debate about whether online fame translates to live theater credibility. While these choices will likely draw new audiences, they also highlight Broadway’s increasing reliance on celebrity-driven marketing strategies to fill seats.

Stunt casting has long been a divisive topic among Broadway purists, with longtime fans arguing that bringing in celebrities—especially those without significant stage experience—can undermine the artistry of theater and take opportunities away from trained performers. However, in the case of?& Juliet, I see it as a savvy marketing move that plays directly to the show’s audience while strengthening its brand loyalty. Joey Fatone is a perfect fit—not only does he bring the nostalgia factor for Gen X and older Millennials who grew up with?NSYNC (like me), but he also has legitimate Broadway experience, having previously starred in?Rent. Meanwhile, Charli D’Amelio may be a social media star first, but she’s also an exceptionally talented dancer, and her casting encourages a younger demographic to engage with Broadway.?& Juliet knows exactly who its audience is, and by blending pop culture icons from different generations, it’s ensuring both short-term buzz and long-term ticket sales—a smart play for a show that thrives on the intersection of nostalgia and modern reinvention.

Both Charli D'Amelio and Joey Fatone were fantastic. Charli tripped and fell during the first act, causing a pause in the first act, and then she tapped out during intermission and a swing went on in the second act in her place. Much of what I have to say is about Joey's performance, both because I got to see more of him, and because he had a principal role.

My favorite moment in the show? Several of the principals sing Everybody by the Backstreet Boys, led by the character that Joey Fatone plays. Fatone was clearly having so much fun during the number, and it was a true showstopper—there was a standing ovation in the middle of the show. There was a slight bit of irony to it that made it all the more perfect—an NSYNC star singing a Backstreet Boys song.

But truly, Fatone absolutely stole the show. He improvised a line, doing the Bye Bye Bye dance in the middle of it. His acting chops absolutely shone through. My final verdict on the show's decision to stunt cast is that it was the right call.

How to give your audience what they want

Here's the thing about stunt casting. It's a good move—if the performer is right for the role. The show's producers chose people who not only have the star power they wanted, but they also chose people who had well-rounded enough experience and talents to rise to the challenge.

If the role is well-cast, it's an especially good marketing move, because it meets your audience where they are with something that surprises and delights them. A successful stunt casting means getting inside the minds of your audience, so when they hear of the celebrity engagement, they're left saying, "Oh, that's perfect."

The same should be true of your brand and marketing efforts. The more you can surprise and delight your audience, and leave them saying, "Oh, that's perfect," the better. The more opportunities you have for them to feel like you've taught them something valuable, the more likely they are to buy from you.

How I've been surprising and delighting my audience

If you've been following me, you know that I've been doing a weekly webinar. I've committed to this for at least Q1, and so far, it's been successful. My own weekly webinars, which were on the topic of 5 ways to grow your revenue in 2025, netted me an additional $40,000 in revenue in January alone. And that's from my relatively small list and my LinkedIn presence alone.

Last week, I had the additional opportunity to do a webinar for Small Business Expo 's Small Business University. I believe in talking about numbers, so I'll share the value of doing this presentation: 247 registrants, 92 live attendees, and 22 calls booked. Not bad for a 45-minute presentation at lunchtime on a Tuesday!

This month, my weekly webinar will be on my webinar framework. (How's that for meta?!) This one-to-many online format is something that works and should be a part of your speaking and marketing strategy. It'll grow your business fast as it's a chance for your audience to engage with you and learn how you can provide value to them.

Please register now for this week's webinar, One-to-many online: Scaling your business fast with live webinars This Thursday at 3pm EST. I'll walk you through how I show my audience the value I provide in a webinar, and how I invite them into next steps with me. I won't record it, so please join live and bring your biggest questions about speaking to your online audience.

(I'll also be creating an evergreen version of 5 ways to grow your revenue in 2025 webinar soon, so if you missed it live, you'll be able to watch it.)

And lastly, if you're ready to dive deeper, you can always book a call with me.