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I’ve already got one review.. thank you, GJM in VT!!

An amazing entertainer – by GJM in VT

I’ve seen Jeff Civillico several times now and he never fails to entertain. My company recently hired him for a night of comedy at a meeting of our professional association and he was amazing. The goodwill and fun he generated has set the bar high for future events. This app provides a fantastic way to stay in touch with this gifted comedian, and track the success that is guaranteed him. I’m looking forward to saying that I saw him “when…”.

Since now apparently.  Busch Gardens Tampa asked me to help represent the park entertainment for this year’s “Summer Nights” program.  I was incredibly honored to be asked, and so very grateful for this opportunity.  Thank you again to everybody in the entertainment office.

To answer the #1 question I’ve received most since that night– “ball.”  I want to lie, but unfortunately I was high.  I’ll take it, though, since they asked me to juggle 5 baseballs on the mound before throwing… and THAT went great.

To answer the #2 question, I will absolutely be posting the footage the Rays took for me when I get access to it..

Hangin with Raymond before the game. Apparently I was a little nervous.. look at those pit stains baby! Niiice..

The very lovely Robyn Martin who sang the National Anthem, and the very lovely Brian LeRiche, Sr. Production Manager at Busch Gardens Tampa

As many of you know, several months back I moved home base out to Vegas predominantly to be a part of the show “Amazed” at Planet Hollywood. We enjoyed a wonderful run at “The V Theater” I will never forget, and I made lifelong friendships with performers Mike Rayburn, Tim Gabrielson, Ivan Pecel, Shimshi, Kier, and producer Josh Wainright. But to make a long story short, “Amazed” will not be continuing at a new venue as I originally indicated.

When I moved to Vegas, I did so knowing full-well that shows on The Strip come and go.  I felt that regardless of what happened with “Amazed,” it made sense as a variety entertainer to base myself in Vegas.  I stand by this decision now.  I am currently working a lot in FL this summer, but Vegas will remain my home base.  I look forward to the many other exciting opportunities out there for me, including:

1) National Speakers Association – I have recently been elected “Director of Marketing” for the Las Vegas chapter of the National Speakers Association.

2) Georgetown Club of Las Vegas – I have recently been elected President of the Georgetown Club of Las Vegas, of which I helped rejuvenate in the Spring.

3) Other shows – I will continue to jump in various shows when in town, including V: The Ultimate Variety Show (Planet Hollywood), Nathan Burton: Comedy Magic (Flamingo), and The Improv (Harrah’s).

I’ve never come across a professional organization so openly giving of advice, information, and resources as The National Speakers Association.  When thoughts of my “Branding Your Passion” keynote started brewing back in 2008, I joined the Central Florida Chapter of this group and met lifelong friends including David Glickman, Donna Cutting, and Rick DiBiasio.

Now I find myself serving on the board for our Las Vegas Chapter as the Director of Marketing.  I am looking forward to a fantastic year under the leadership of our wonderful President, Judi Moreo.

If you are a professional speaker living in Las Vegas, I encourage you to become active with our chapter.  We meet the 3rd Saturday of every month for a dynamic, inspiring program.  For all info, please visit our website: http://www.nsalasvegas.com/.

Our lineup of speakers this year includes:

Lynette Chappell, First Lady of Siegfried and Roy

Darren LaCroix, 2001 World Champion of Public Speaking, Creator of The Humor Institute & The Humor Bootcamp

Don Boyer, Producer of The Journey movie and The Power of Mentorship book series

I’ve been working on rejuvenating the Georgetown Alumni Club of Las Vegas for the last few months.  Many emails, phone calls, and lunches culminated in a kickoff event last Saturday 5/22 at the Spanish Oaks Country Club.  We had a great turnout and a great time– it was a huge success!  I was elected club President, and I’m really looking forward to planning the year’s events.

Our list of Vegas Hoyas now stands at 60+.  Any alumni passing through town?  Give me a shout.

Check us out online here: http://www.georgetowncluboflasvegas.org.

Chris Condie (CC): I spent 15 years on the client side of corporate events, working in marketing for Fortune 500 and small entrepreneurial companies.  At the same time, I was performing as a professional musician for over 10 years.  I saw events from both the client and talent perspective. I wondered why someone wasn’t taking care of the issues that repeatedly came up as a result of this perspective gap.  Eventually I realized I could solve those problems since I spoke the language of both the client and the talent.

JC: Can you elaborate on that phrase “speak the language of both the client and the talent?”

CC: Well for example, on the talent side, let’s use the example of a tech rider.  With my background, I understand what exactly an act is looking for when they ask for specific points in that rider.  I often know what will meet the act’s needs for less cost.  So I’m able to modify the tech rider to stay on budget for the client, while still giving the talent what they need.  On the other side, I know what my clients are looking for.  I understand the pressure to deliver a top-notch event that will top last year’s because I’ve been in their shoes.  I can often help talent modify what they do to provide a customized experience that will make them look like superstars to the client… without the talent having to alter much of their program.  Promo materials are just like performances—keep the audience wanting more.

JC: What’s the #1 thing you look for in promotional materials?

CC: Video is everything—a compelling, short and sweet, agent-friendly, electronically-delivered video.  I’ve found speakers and entertainers often want to show 10-15 minutes of video to tell their whole story.  If we aren’t enthralled 30-seconds into a promo video, we’ll move on. If a client or producer is interested, we’ll dig to learn more about you.  We’ll even fly out to see you.  But we won’t watch 15 minutes of lack-luster video.

JC: How has the current economic climate changed what types of speakers / entertainers are getting booked today?

CC: Speakers and entertainers play an enormous role in helping the client achieve what they want to accomplish with the event.  You need to understand that.  I believe many speakers and entertainers today are too eager to lower their price.  You are worth what your worth—hold your ground.  Instead of reducing your price, focus instead on adding more value to your program.  Some of my clients have actually increased their budgets for speakers and entertainers in an attempt to book bigger names, so they can draw more attendees to the event.  They know budgets are tight at home, so they need to increase the size of the carrot to get people to attend.  They now often cut back in other areas like media placement, dessert options, etc.

JC: Any horror stories?

CC: I booked a big name country singer to perform at a beautiful hall that was home to the city’s symphony.  Just before we dimmed the lights, her tour manager said that he needed to set her glass of water on stage.  I informed him that we would take care of it, and provide a table or stool for the glass of water.  He was adamant that he needed to set it, because he knew just where to place it.  He walked on stage and set the glass down on the symphony’s $250,000 grand piano!  Of course, the headsets instantly blew up with chatter.  The symphony house manager ran out and removed the glass right as the band took the stage.  The tour manager proceeded to blow up at the entire tech crew backstage, making a scene.  I don’t remember how the singer performed.  I only remember the incident, and I won’t work with that act again because of it.  That’s the way it works.

JC: How important is how a speaker / entertainer conducts him or herself off stage at your events?

CC: To me that is paramount.  Anyone who doesn’t understand that we all (producers, speakers, vendors) start “working” the moment we arrive on-site, and not simply when the mic is on, is missing the big picture.  This is a relationship business.  If you’re not conducting yourself appropriately off-stage, you’re not building a relationship.  Lastly, as a producer, I want to produce shows, not babysit.  The easier you make my job, the more professional and personal you are, the more you focus on satisfying the client at every turn, the more work you will get from me, and the more my clients will refer you to their friends at other companies.

A natural-born problem solver, Chris Condie started Condie Entertainment to provide entertainment solutions in the corporate event world. With a degree in marketing from the University of Utah and nearly two decades of production experience on both the client and talent side, Condie provides corporate clients a unique set of skills which ensures their events are engaging, strategically-focused, and stress-free, while saving them valuable time and money. http://www.condieentertainment.com/

As an entertainer, Jeff Civillico – “Comedy in Action” – provides stage entertainment and MC services for corporations nationwide.  As a speaker, Jeff delivers his keynote – “Branding Your Passion” – to illuminate the unparalleled access and professional opportunity that exist today.  By using his career as an entertainer and employing his signature interactive physical comedy routines, Jeff illustrates exactly why and how to pursue your life’s passion.  http://www.jeffcivillico.com

I joggled as a member of TEAM ASK (Athletes for Special Kids).  Special Kids is a non-profit organization in Tennessee that provides skilled nursing for special needs children, as well as speech, physical, and occupational therapy.  My goal was to raise $5000 for these children, and I’m happy to report that because of the wonderful support I received, we did it.  My first performances were in high school for special needs children at the Don Guanella School outside Philadelphia.  It felt great to give back.

I finished with a time of 4:24.. a bit longer than my 3:45 finish the previous year without juggling, but I’ll take it   I plan on joggling another marathon for charity again down the line – bigger and better – with a finish time of under 4 hours.

This is the “call to action” video I put together while I was training that explained what I was trying to do, and why.