Some of you, at some point, will have to give a presentation, pitch an idea, or get up in front of a group of people. One of the greatest fears most propel have is public speaking. 

Some of the best magicians realize that the stage extends far beyond the platform they stand on. A magician just doesn’t show up to the venue and perform then go home. They get there early to check the sight lines, audio, lighting, the views and sound from sitting in the back row versus sitting in the front row versus how things look sitting on the side. How many of you, whenever you get ready to give a presentation or a training class, get there early and make sure the lighting is OK, or see how the presentation would look?

The stage extends far beyond more than just the platform the performer stands on. To enhance the performance of the entertainer on stage, the experience begins as you enter the theater or the boardroom. It begins when you buy your tickets to the show or in your case, when you email out requesting a meeting, or when you send out the calendar invite. If you were to go see a Metallica concert or a Norah Jones concert, you would automatically tell that there’s a difference just by the way the stage is set. When people are getting ready to see your presentation or to hear your pitch, can they tell what kind of presentation this is going to be?

Before Apple’s WWDC it sends out invintations to a select few. There is press about what could possibly be in the keynote. And when you watch it, you see a well rehearsed keynote with the audio visual having been meticulously rehearsed.

While you may not be giving an Apple Keynote are you still giving your participants the same experience and level of dedication and attention. Set the stage to have them expect the type of meeting, training, or pitch you want them to have.

Abracadabra.