Waiting in the wings with no help from AI

WAITING IN THE WINGS at an event..

…can be boring, nerve-racking and downright draining for even the most experienced EmCees, Moderators and Speakers. All you have is you, a cold, lonely stage and your Personal Brand to keep you going. AI can never replace our speaking and stage presence in this instance.

It doesn’t always have to be that way, so below I share some tips and tricks I employ to keep me focused, energised and always ready for showtime:

Mental Preparation:

• Sleep well the day before: I don’t compromise on my sleep on a good day, so I block my 7 or so hours in advance and engage in sleep hygiene such as turning off my phone and laptop hours before bedtime. I still watch rubbish telly though and then catch up on the news in the morning. Current affairs can provide good fodder for any event.
• Avoid distractions: While keeping an eye on surroundings, it's important to have boundaries on what is mine to manage. Anything else is spare change, so keeping my mind on the present is important and I try not to get drawn into other people's drama. Don't get me wrong, I'll try and point people in the right direction as a gesture of goodwill, because I'm nice like that. After all, behind the scenes at events can be chaotic.
• Review the Script: A quick refresher can help solidify my lines or update as necessary. This always boosts my confidence by being flexible with what I’m going to say. Sometimes being too wedded to the script can make us feel like we are in a straight jacket and that's no good for audience engagement. Standing in our power involves going with the flow and working with the crowd.

Physical Well-being

• Hydration: Being hydrated with room temperature water or herbal tea is my thing. I avoid sugary drinks that can lead to energy crashes and I save the champagne for the after party. As they say lose tongues can sink ships, so staying off the fizz when working is a no-brainer for me. I've been known to ask for lemon with hot water before an event and the venue host then asked someone to ran to the shops to get me fresh lemon. Diva Lily? No! I want to do a good job and a keeping my throat in top shape is a must.
• Light Snack: A small, healthy snack can provide sustained energy. I avoid heavy meals that might make me feel sluggish. I often carry my overnight oats with me to snack on - it releases energy slowly, it's comforting and keeps the hunger pangs at bay so, I can concentrate on what I'm supposed to be delivering. Oh, the waistline holds its own too if we just snack.
• Movement and motion: Gentle stretching or walking helps improve circulation and prevent stiffness plus I can’t sit for long periods of time, anyway. I often find a gap in the event to stand, pace, and wriggle my toes & hands if sitting. There is nothing worse than being expected to stand and a cramp stops you in your tracks. Oh, whenever possible, I go for a quick jog in the morning of the event to get my sweat on too.

So now you have my know-how about what I do to get my grove on for a gig.

Of course, there may be the odd AI assistance with scripts, music and other auto ques. The heavy lifting, however is all done by this human, named Lily, the quirky mistress of ceremonies ;-)

What other tips & tricks do you employ as an #EmCee or #Speaker?

About Me -- according to the LinkedIn AI Bot??

Lily Naadu Mensah is a multifaceted professional with over 30 years of international experience in branding and communication. She currently serves as the Director of Development, Event Host, and Moderator at Lyncs Media. Lily is also an author and specializes in image consulting, job coaching, presentation coaching, and small business management. Her career has been marked by a commitment to helping others work their quirks and embrace their unique qualities.

If you need any support or have questions about how your personal brand can face-off the AI bot, make friends with it and anything in-between, send me a message via [email protected]