Having run lots of events I know how hard it is to pull a successful ‘do’ together. Booking performers, managing ticket sales, bringing in catering and often sweeping up afterwards. It’s a stressful business. Today, I’m fortunate that all I have to worry about is performing but experience has taught me a successful event doesn’t…
Category archives: Compering
Man Up? Time to talk about Mental Health
“Man up, sit downChin up, pipe downSocks up, don’t cryDrink up, just lieGrow some balls he said,Grow some balls..” Powerful lyrics by IDLES on the topic of toxic masculinity. They make me think about the impact that language like this has and it’s why I’m supporting Emma-Jane Taylor by compering her event on male mental…
What does a compere do?
Comperes just rock up and introduce people right? Wrong! A big part of making sure everyone gets value out of an event (and a sign that you’ve got a great compere) is to interview people beforehand. Today I had the pleasure of quizzing Health & Hart Founder and nutritionist, Joanne Hart, and CEO & Founder…
A Question of Courage
“Love the ultra-local stand up – that takes a double serving of courage!” This is what my coach said to me when she heard I’d performed stand up at a beer festival in a local village….
The Value of Vulnerability
Vulnerability in the tech industry is dirty word. Firewalls must be robust, infrastructure must be secure, and if you’ve not got a handle on your data, you might as well write your own headline for The Register. In the past eight years I have written enough whitepapers and thought leadership pieces for vendors, developers and…
Yes, Yes, Oh Yes!
There are times when you’re offered a gig and you don’t have to think twice about it. The same goes for a piece of work or a project – something in your gut that tells you it’s the right thing to do. This time, the call came from the incredible Aduke Onafowokan. Aduke is a…
The Power of the Truth
How many times have you been to an event and been disappointed with the keynote speakers? Perhaps you’ve sat through five presentations and only one has stood out. Feels like a waste of time eh? On Saturday, I had the rare experience of compering an event where every speaker was first class. It was the…