One Year Off Of Social Media

A few weeks ago I reached a small milestone in my personal life, a day that came and went with no fanfare or pomp and circumstance. Still, I took a minute to appreciate the positive changes I’d seen in my life.

The occasion? It had been a full year since I deleted all of my social media accounts.

At the time, everyone said, “Don’t do that - you need social media to have a career in show business! There’s no other option!” For a long time, I believe them. I thought about deleting my accounts off and on for over a year from late 2018 to late 2019, then finally pulled the plug in December 2019.

It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

So after a year, let’s debunk some of the biggest misconceptions about social media, marketing yourself, connecting with others, and building your fan base:

• Myth #1 : It’s impossible to get work without social media

This is quite simply not true. It feels weird to say this since we’re in the middle of a pandemic and life is very hard for many people right now, but 2020 was one of the most successful years of my career thus far. I was able to bring entertainment to thousands of people in a virtual format, sell tickets to online shows, and work for major clients around the world. None of that work came from social media - it came from having a great product and letting other people spread the word.

When my accounts were active I never booked a single gig from social media. Everything came from other sources, yet I clung to the idea that having a visible presence online was imperative to a successful, sustainable career as an entertainer. I was wrong. You do not need social media to get work - there’s always another option.

• Myth #2: You need to keep your social media up to date so you stay visible.

Yuck.

I can’t tell you how many hours I wasted brainstorming ideas for social media content, scheduling posts, and trying to stay current across all of my profiles. What a colossal waste of time.

If anything, social media creates the illusion of being busy. You’re updating it every day and getting constant interaction from likes, comments, retweets, and shares, so it must be helpful right? I don’t think so.

We’ve been tricked into thinking these things matter, so we spend time on our status updates instead of on our actual product. After I quit social media I suddenly found myself with a massive amount of extra time on my hands. At first I didn’t quite know how to handle it. It felt weird to not be doomscrolling at all hours of the day, but gradually my mind began to shift and I started asking myself, “What should I work on today?” I stopped consuming and started creating. Deleting social media let me reclaim my spare time for my own projects and I’ve seen a seismic shift in my creative output.

• Myth #3: You need social media to keep in touch with people.

When I deleted social media I only had a couple of people reach out to ask me about it. Other than that, no one seemed to notice or even care.

Chances are you already stay in touch offline with the people that really matter in your life. The other 99% of the people on your social media feeds don’t matter.

Seriously, those people suck. You don’t need to know what that classmate you only spoke to once during freshman year had for breakfast this morning. You don’t need to know that your high school math teacher is an expert on QAnon now or that your coworker whose name you forgot just had a baby. It’s weird to snoop on the lives of so many strangers. And, it’s weird that people feel inclined to share so much.

Our social circles are supposed to be much, much smaller. You should probably really only be friends with a handful of people. As a result, there’s no need for social media to keep in touch with the people that truly matter. Now that I’m off those platforms I find myself texting, e-mailing, or - god forbid! - even calling my friends much, much more often.

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Being off of social media has made me more productive, more creative, and just generally more happy on a daily basis. I have a lot more to say on this in the coming weeks but for now, if you’re interested in doing away with your social media, too, I highly recommend Jaron Lanier’s book “Ten Arguments For Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now”.

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About Mark Toland

Mark Toland is an award-winning mind reader and two-time TEDx Speaker. His mind blowing skills have been featured on NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, NPR, WGN, Sirius XM, and more. Mark’s blog is a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a professional entertainer, full of creative thoughts for creative people. Sign up below so you’ll never miss a post.

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2020 Year In Review

2020 is over…FINALLY.

Honestly, it started off strong for me - I had a ton of gigs in January and February all over the map. I was on track to have my best year of shows ever, along with some special projects and opportunities on the horizon. And then, in March, it all came crashing down. I’m sure it did for you, too.

Within 48 hours my entire schedule of events was gone. I refunded clients, cancelled flights, and contemplated unemployment. But then, my agent said “Send us a reel for a virtual show as soon as possible…” and I said “Okay! But what is a virtual show exactly?”

Since then I’ve performed close to 200 shows for clients from all over the world. I’ve done shows for events on three continents and 40+ states, all from the comfort of my studio here in Chicago. I worked for a bunch of major corporations including Quaker, PepsiCo, Marriott, HLTH, Podium, and even Zoom itself.

As campuses shut down across the country, many schools turned to online entertainment to give students something to look forward to. As a result I was able to give thousands of college students a momentary escape from the misery of the pandemic with my online entertainment.

Additionally, I also wrote two completely separate virtual shows and sold tickets to them through my mailing list. (If you aren’t a subscriber go here to sign up!) The show back in July had such great reviews that I worked on another one for four months which is set to debut tomorrow. It SOLD OUT within 24 hours of being announced and I’m stoked to finally share it with people this weekend.

Being stuck at home so much this year gave me time to work on other interests. I got back into drawing and piano. I watched a ton of classic films. And, I’ve been working more on my writing and filmmaking than ever before. As always, I kept up with my “One Second Every Day” video project. So, here is my annual year in review video - a second of video filmed from every long, miserable, exhausting day in 2020:

Okay, enough about 2020. Time for a new year and a fresh start. And oh yeah, the blog is back.

See you tomorrow.

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About Mark Toland

Mark Toland is an award-winning mind reader and two-time TEDx Speaker. His mind blowing skills have been featured on NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, NPR, WGN, Sirius XM, and more. Mark’s blog is a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a professional entertainer, full of creative thoughts for creative people. Sign up below so you’ll never miss a post.

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Taking My Lumps

When I first moved to Chicago I went in search of stage time. I knew that if I wanted to improve I would need to get onstage as often as possible.

Eventually I found a small bar near my apartment that did weekly cabaret shows. After a trial show there the host gave me an open invitation to perform whenever I wanted. So I started going there every single week.

Doing weekly shows allowed me to practice new things and learn how to be onstage in front of an often unruly audience. I learned how to handle being heckled and work with unwilling participants. I learned how to perform for a cynical audience and what to do when things went wrong. And, I learned how to make people care.

I remember one night I was trying a new stunt and no one would pay attention. The bar was a long, narrow space with a small stage way at the back near a few tables and chairs. There were probably 10-15 people scattered through the bar that night and everyone had been talking amongst themselves during all of the acts that had gone before me. By the time I went onstage it was clear that I would need to make a big change to my act in order to get control of the room, or I was going to bomb big time.

So, I changed gears. Without a second thought, I moved off the stage and into the house. I stood on a chair without a microphone, and shouted, “Can everyone see me okay?”

Suddenly everyone grew quiet and turned to look at me. I had momentarily gained their attention and knew that I could not relinquish it.

So, I resorted to another trick. I lowered my voice and began performing. You’d think that the best way to get an audience’s attention is to speak louder. It’s not. The best way is to lower your voice while maintaining your intensity. You want people to lean forward so they can hear you better and really pay attention. It’s counterintuitive, I know, but it really works.

“I’m going to show you something absolutely insane tonight, but I will not speak over you. I demand your attention and your respect for the next five and a half minutes.”

I slowly scanned the crowd as I excitedly whispered those words. You could have heard a pin drop in the room it was so quiet. Everyone was sitting in silent excitement, waiting to see what I would do next.

I proceeded to destroy that crowd for five minutes straight.

Without those weekly shows I wouldn’t have had the confidence to take control of the room. I wouldn’t have recognized the challenging crowd or the solution it required. I wouldn’t have known the power of silence or the “lowering my voice” trick. I needed weeks and weeks of stage time in that bar to understand how to work a room.

Before then I was lucky to have a show once a month. I’d do a show, fail miserably, then have to spend four weeks thinking about my mistakes. By the time I got the chance to perform again I had forgotten everything I’d learned and went back to making those mistakes all over again.

That’s how I feel now, doing in-person shows during the pandemic. I’ve only had five live events since March, with several weeks in between. Each show has had a different set of restrictions, a different demographic, and a different environment. The common denominator with each event is that every attendee (myself included) has worn a mask. When you do a show that relies heavily on audience reactions and feedback, the face coverings can make it quite difficult to know if it’s going well.

It’s part of the reason my virtual show has gotten so good. I’m doing several shows a week, even sometimes up to 4 in a day. Doing that many performances has allowed my script and material to get rock solid. I understand how to work the virtual elements of the show, connect with online participants, and keep momentum going during a show. And now I’m starting to do things that I do for my live shows after I perform them a hundred times, like adding in more jokes, building in extra surprises, and refining the finale. I can say, without question, that my virtual show is much, much better than my in-person socially distanced shows — all because I’ve had more time working on one than the other.

In many ways, doing in-person events right now is like being back in the early days when I was just starting out. I’m learning a bunch of things all at once and trying to retain it for long stretches of time between those events. Right now I’m just onstage taking my lumps. It’s a struggle and the progress is slow, but I’m not worried because I’ve been here before.

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About Mark Toland

Mark Toland is an award-winning mind reader and two-time TEDx Speaker. His mind blowing skills have been featured on NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, NPR, WGN, Sirius XM, and more. Mark’s blog is a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a professional entertainer, full of creative thoughts for creative people. Sign up below so you’ll never miss a post.

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Variables

Part of my job is being able to walk into literally any venue you could imagine and put on the best show I possibly can. Since I work for a wide range of clients — corporate groups, private events, universities — I end up in some pretty random locations. I’ve performed in Vegas showrooms, rooftop deck, poolside, giant theater, church basements, lecture halls, arenas, airplane hangars, and more.

Early on I remember being very nervous walking into a new location. Everything about the location was foreign to me. I didn’t know how people would be seated, what kind of microphone I’d be using, where to situate myself so everyone could have a good view, etc. During those early shows it felt like I was re-learning everything every time I did a show.

I quickly learned that I needed to eliminate as many variables as possible, just to make my life easier. I intuitively realized that there would always be things out of my control but if I could limit those things then I could give them more of my focus.

So, I started small — with only the things under my immediate control. I worked really hard to have a solid show that I knew inside and out. I had a script that never changed and worked tirelessly to make sure I knew it by heart. Once the show was solid I was able to go onstage without thinking about it. I knew it was good so I could start to enjoy myself, create memorable moments with volunteers, and pay attention to the stuff that was out of the norm.

I also had to learn my gear. I mastered my microphone, my music player, my choreography, the way I select my volunteers, the way I walk onstage, my intro, the length of my show, and more. I rehearsed everything so that there would be no surprises and every time I went onstage I would be confident with the things that were always under my control.

I also learned to deal with clients. (You can’t be afraid to ask a client for what you need. Just frame it as a benefit to them: “I want you to get your money’s worth!” Your clients will respect you for knowing what you need and helping them to have make it a success.) Now I request a certain room layout, stage stairs in certain positions, a particular kind of microphone for volunteers, and request that no service staff can be milling about during the show and that the bar must be closed or moved to another room. (You’d be surprised how many little decisions go into making a show successful!) All of these things are finalized before I arrive at the venue so I have less to worry about.

Once I took control of these things my shows improved dramatically. When I arrived at the venue I wasn’t worried about my show, the microphone, or other things. Instead, I could survey the room and say to myself “Hmm, okay not very good acoustics in here, how can we fix that?” or “Wow, that column is going to make it hard to see…I’ll have to take extra steps to make sure I keep that side of the room engaged!” Since I knew everything else was good to go, I was left to turn my attention to the one variable in my job: the room I’m performing in.

Sometimes I’ll be onstage and something will go horribly wrong, but it rarely has to do with the show itself. It’s usually something in the room. Someone broke a wineglass, the venue loses their electricity, the audience has had a lot to drink before the show, the service staff interrupts the performance….you never know what’s going to happen. But, since my show is solid and I’ve worked on the things that I can control, I’m always ready to deal with whatever surprises might present themselves.

A few years ago I saw a fantastic show on Broadway. The performer was halfway through the second act when someone called out from the back row of the orchestra, “Help me! Someone help me!” Everyone in the audience gasped and grew quiet, but the performer didn’t freak out. He calmly stepped to the edge of the stage and, almost in a whisper, asked, “Is everyone okay?”

A moment later a stagehand stepped out from the wings and whispered in his ear. He addressed the whole audience: “Someone wasn’t feeling well and had to step out. Everything is fine.” Then, he picked up where he left off and continued with the show. He never lost the attention of the audience, nor any of the momentum he had worked so hard to build. We were under his control at all times, all because he knew his act inside and out so he could give his full attention to the unique nature of that particular audience on that specific night.

Look, I’m sure some other performers will read this and say “Yeah, yeah, these are obvious things…” but that’s simply not true. No one tells you this stuff, at least no one told me. I had to figure it out step by step, show by show. I had to make mistakes and learn from them quickly. I learned it all on my own, but I’m writing it here so you won’t have to.

The point is, no matter your field, there will always be things that are out of your control. So, the goal should be to master the things that are under your control, that way you can direct your focus to the variables.

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About Mark Toland

Mark Toland is an award-winning mind reader and two-time TEDx Speaker. His mind blowing skills have been featured on NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, NPR, WGN, Sirius XM, and more. Mark’s blog is a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a professional entertainer, full of creative thoughts for creative people. Sign up below so you’ll never miss a post.

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It's Always Your Fault

My wife and I always joke around that we want to be great at what we do but we don’t have 10,000 hours to spare.

“We’re gonna have to do it in a thousand!”

As a result, we dedicated ourselves over the years to quickly learning from our mistakes and improving on each and every endeavor. For me, that meant being very self-critical and taking ownership of anything that went wrong. And man, have things gone wrong.

Here’s a brief, incomplete list of some of my biggest failures:

• • Forgot to charge the batteries for my microphone and it quit working halfway through the show.
• • Left an important prop in the car and panicked mid-show when I realized I wouldn’t be able to continue as planned.
• • Did an entire show with my pants unzipped.
• • Also, I ripped the seat of my pants onstage once.
• • Bombed on live TV.
• • Bombed in front of live audiences.
• • Got lost on the way to a gig and was over and hour late.
• • Went way over my allotted time for a show.
• • Went way under my allotted time for a show.

I could go on and on. I’ve failed more times than you can imagine. However, I’ve always held true to one personal philosophy: It’s always my fault. ALWAYS.

I should have charged the batteries and should have double or triple-checked my props. Ever since that fateful day I always check my fly now. I’ve learned to cope with bombing, always leave earlier than I need to when headed to a gig, and have learned to nail the length of my show…down to the exact minute.

I have no one to blame for those experiences except myself. But as soon as they happened, I took responsibility for my failure, fixed it, and moved on. Sometimes I only have to fix one thing and other times I have to fix several things. But that’s what it takes to get better in a hurry, especially when you don’t have 10,000 hours to spare.

The same philosophy holds true for other things that might seem out of your control, too.

Have a difficult client? You must have attracted their interest somehow or not done enough to educate them on your services. It’s your fault.

Have a frustrating venue or tech problems? It’s your responsibility to communicate to the client and prepare beforehand. Take the blame because it’s your fault.

Keep finding yourself in work environments that you don’t want to be in? Change how you do things. Be strict with what projects you take on and what clients you do business with. Or, don’t complain about the work you’re doing. Either way, it’s your fault.

The sooner you learn that it’s always your fault, the better. You can keep going around blaming other people when things go wrong, but you’ll never get better that way. If you want to get to the next level you’re going to have to start being honest with yourself and that starts by knowing that the blames rest squarely on your shoulders.

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About Mark Toland

Mark Toland is an award-winning mind reader and two-time TEDx Speaker. His mind blowing skills have been featured on NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, NPR, WGN, Sirius XM, and more. Mark’s blog is a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a professional entertainer, full of creative thoughts for creative people. Sign up below so you’ll never miss a post.

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50 Ways To Promote Yourself Without Social Media

I deleted my social media accounts almost one year ago, to the horror of some of my agents, clients, and friends.

“How will you promote yourself?” they asked, as if there was no other marketing option except to be on every social media account.

The truth is, since deleting social media I have had more work than any previous year of the past decade, not to mention I’ve been happier, calmer, less anxious, and had far more spare time to be creative, write, read, and enjoy my life.

If you choose to delete your social media accounts, too, just know that there are plenty of other options. Not everything happens online and you don’t have to rely on those networks to keep busy. I’m living proof that there’s another way forward and, just in case you don’t believe me, here are 1010 Ways To Promote Yourself Without Social Media so you can follow in my footsteps.

1. Your Personal Website - Use Squarespace, Wix, Wordpress, etc. to design a stylish website. Search for design inspiration online so it will really stand out. Remember: everything matters.
2. Search Engine Optimization - Spend time to get your site to rank high for relevant search results. Or, hire an expert to do it for you.
3. Paid Search Advertising - Set a budget aside to run online search ads and drive people to your site.
4. Start A YouTube Channel - Create topical, engaging video content to educate and entertain potential fans and clients. (I don’t think of YouTube like other social media platforms and still need videos to help promote my services.)
5. Write A Blog - Some people say blogging is dead but you’re reading mine, aren’t you?
6. Networking Events - Try an in-person or virtual meet-up event to meet other professionals.
7. Direct Mail - It may seem old school, but try sending a well-designed postcard to potential clients. It’ll stand out from the usual barrage of tweets and facebook notifications.
8. Carry Business Cards - Design an eye-catching business card and carry them everywhere. You never know when you’ll need it. (I really like Moo.com’s designs.)
9. Personal Letters - I love this one. Send a handwritten (or typewritten) note to everyone you meet. If you traded business cards like I mentioned for #8 you’ll always have someone’s contact info. They’ll be blown away when a personal note arrives at their desk.
10. Word Of Mouth - This is the number 1 way I get booked for events. When people see my show they start to imagine me at their event, too. The same goes for virtual events — online attendees can imagine how great the entertainment would be for their event and often reach out to hire me for a future date.
11. Be Consistent - Share content on a regular schedule. Whether it’s a daily blog or weekly YouTube videos your followers will come to expect a certain schedule from you. If it seems like it’s not getting anywhere that’s not the time to let up. Double down and stay consistent, it will pay off in the long run.
12. Direct E-Mails - I try to stay out of people’s inboxes as much as possible, but often the best way to get booked for a show is to contact the promoter directly. Keep those e-mails short and simple and you’ll often get a positive response.
13. Attend Trade Shows - Consider attending an expo to promote your services. I go to booking conferences to demo my services for potential audiences, so these events exist for all disciplines. Display your art proudly and be prepared with your elevator pitch so people can sense your enthusiasm for what you do.
14. Build A Mailing List - Build a list of e-mail addresses from former projects, clients, expos, networking events, and more. Be sure you have permission to e-mail those people. When you have a big project coming up you can send out an announcement. Or, you can do it more regularly:
15. Send Out E-Mail Newsletters - If you have exciting monthly updates for your work, consider sending a newsletter out each month to all of the people on your list. Give the readers something of value (a discount code, special early access, bonus content, etc.) and they’ll be your fans for life.
16. Send Thank You Notes - Along the same lines as #9, remember to always send a thank you note to clients you work for. Not an e-mail, not a text — a handwritten or typewritten note to the client with your business card enclosed. This is a great way to get future work from someone who already knows how great you are.
17. Pre-Made Graphics - Just because you aren’t on social media doesn’t mean everyone else won’t be, too. Chances are many of the people you work for will still promote your work there. If so, great! Let them do it. If you have some graphics pre-made for them, it’ll make their life a whole lot easier. I have various promo images, posters, and videos correctly sized and ready to go for my clients. They can pick which ones they want to use to promote the event on their website or social media accounts. (For images I like to use Canva, a super easy way to quickly design beautiful graphics.)
18. Create an EPK - EPK stands for Electronic Press Kit. You can have a separate page on your website for it OR create a downloadable folder that clients can access when needed. Your EPK should include the best highlights from your work: press credits, media appearances, your best videos, photos, testimonials, etc. When a client contacts you, send them to your EPK so they can have all of your important information in one place.
19. Create A Demo Reel - Hire someone to film and edit a demo reel for your services. Or do it yourself, if that’s something you’re into. Remember: you only want to cry once.
20. Have Good Quality Photos - I’m married to a phenomenal photographer. Sounds like a great business decision, right? Not true! She taught herself photography to help with my branding, then turned it into a career. We’ve invested countless hours and dollars into good photos for my website and promo. Want to stand out in your field? Find a local photographer and pay them to help you updated your current portfolio.
21. Collect Testimonials - If people can’t see you in action (Demo, #19) or see an image of your work (Photo, #20), then they’ll want to hear what other people think about your work. When a project goes well ask that client for a testimonial. Create a page on your website for testimonials and update it often. (Don’t forget to add those to your EPK, too!)
22. Request References - Another idea is to ask some of your favorite clients to be a reference for future opportunities. When someone else requests your information give them a short list (3-4) of references so they can reach out to your former clients and get an idea of what to expect.
23. Produce Your Own Event - Every year since 2012 I’ve been producing my own events across the US, both in Chicago and at numerous Fringe Festivals. Consider doing the same for your work — an art exhibition, a weekly show, a virtual event, or more. It’ll give you something to mention in your newsletter (#15). Partnering with a venue that wants you to succeed will help to get the word out, too.
24. Online Listings - A great way to promote your own event (#23) is to add it to as many local directories as possible. Most newspapers have a calendar of upcoming events, so search for those and spend part of your day adding your event to the list. Most cities usually have other options, too, so search for “Things To Do In (insert your city here)” and see what pops up. The more listings you get added to, the better.
25. Press Releases - Write a press release to announce your event (#15). Send it to as many places as possible. (PRWeb is one of many places that can help with press release distribution.)
26. Get Interviewed On A Podcast - Being a guest on a podcast is a great way to improve your credibility within your field. (Join Matchmaker so you podcast creators can find you and invite you on their shows.)
27. Start Your Own Podcast - Starting your own podcast could be really useful if you have a unique point of view that people might be interested in. It’s easy to record interviews virtually now, so there’s no excuse not to have guests on your show anytime. (It can be a bit of an investment for gear and a bit of a learning curve for promotion but start here.)
28. Get On The Radio - I’ve been on the radio 20+ times in Chicago and something great always comes out of it. If nothing else, you get a great soundbite that you can add to a demo reel (#19) or type up for your testimonials page (21).
29. Get On TV - A spot on the local news can work wonders for you. It gives you credibility and visibility in ways that you might not be able to get on your own. And, it gives you a clip that you can use to promote your services for years to come.
30. Hire A Publicist - Getting on the radio or TV on your own is possible - I’ve done it multiple times! But, sometimes it’s easier to work with an expert. Find a publicist and tell them you want some media appearances. It’ll cost you, but the exposure is well worth it.
31. Write A Book - Some of my friends do motivational speaking and have written self-help books to promote their services. It gives you something to sell on your website (#1), something to give to clients as a thank you (16), and something to talk about during a TV appearance (29). You can self-publish books easily on Amazon or even just offer a free e-book to people who sign up for your mailing list (14).
32. Work With Agents - Agents have tons of connections and can save you the trouble of finding those clients on your own. If you’re good at what you do (#50) and keep their clients happy, they’ll want to work with you for years.
33. Giveaways - At your events (#23) consider having some sort of giveaway. I’ve experimented with posters, stickers, t-shirts, buttons, and more. Giving people a memento of the experience with you will serve as a reminder when they’re searching for what you offer in the future.
34. Posters - Speaking of posters, they can be incredibly handy when used correctly. I had massive success at Fringe Festivals after I hired a designer to create a stunning graphic for my tour. If you’re promoting an event (#10).
35. Find Your True Fans - All of the things in this list so far are ways to locate your 1,000 True Fans. If you can do that, then those people will sing your praises and promote you for free everywhere you go.
36. Partner With Other Entrepreneurs - Find other like-minded people to work with. You could split the cost of an expo booth (#13), have a join podcast (27), hold events together (23), or more.
37. Hold A Virtual Event - Online events are here to stay. Put together a virtual show, seminar, workshop, class, etc. and send it to your newsletter (#15).
38. Get Creative - Sometimes the best marketing ideas are really random ideas. Think viral videos, skywriters, pop-up shops, etc. Even if you’re on a small budget, you can still find ways to get the word out.
39. Hold A Contest - Entice your followers to spread the word by holding a giveaway. (A lot of creators seem to use Gleam for their giveaways, although I don’t have any personal experience.) Just make sure the prizes you’re giving away are worth it!
40. Do A Livestream - Go live on YouTube to show off a new product, host a trivia night, give a tour of your new studio, or more.
41. Publicity Stunts - Do something extreme or exciting to promote yourself. In the past I’ve predicted the outcome of March Madness, guessed the headlines of The Chicago Tribune, and even rode a bicycle through the streets of Chicago completely blindfolded. All of those stunts landed me multiple press appearances and gig requests. It’s all about getting creative.
42. Share Your Knowledge - Nothing bad ever comes out of helping others, so always be prepared to share what you’ve learned. You could do a free online workshop, write a helpful blog posts, or make video tutorials and post the to your YouTube Channel (#4).
43. Use Pinterest - Pinterest is more of a search engine than a social platform. If your audience uses Pinterest then it can be a great way for people to discover your content.
44. Donate Your Services - I don’t think you should work for free often, but if you find a cause you believe in or a large-scale event that you can be part of then it may be worth it. Always barter for inclusion in any promotional materials, the ability to promote yourself on-site, etc.
45. Online Reviews - Honestly, I’m not a fan of online reviews. I don’t like giving random people so much control over my business. But, sites like Yelp, Angie’s List, Google Places, and others can be an important way for some businesses to be found by potential customers, so it might be worth looking into for your specific work. Just be cautious because once you join those sites it’s often impossible to remove your listing.
46. Tell Everyone You Know - Practice talking about your brand by telling everyone you know. Your family and friends can often be the best promoters when it comes to spreading the word.
47. Join A Club - Find a local club or organization to join. It could be a speaker’s bureau, an entrepreneurial group, a small business association, or more. Attend meetings and contribute so other members will remember you and want to utilize your services when the moment arises.
48. Chamber of Commerce - Get involved with your local chamber of commerce so people can put a face to your brand.
49. Traditional Advertising - There are dozens of other ways to advertise your services than just social media: TV, Radio, podcasts, newspapers, magazines, etc. Don’t be annoying and don’t go crazy, just concentrate on your niche and give people a valuable product and/or service.
50. Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You - If your product is terrible, social media can’t do anything to save you. But, if you have a great product then people will notice. Work hard to stand out in your field and keep your clients happy. The referrals will start pouring in — I promise.

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About Mark Toland

Mark Toland is an award-winning mind reader and two-time TEDx Speaker. His mind blowing skills have been featured on NBC, ABC, FOX, CBS, NPR, WGN, Sirius XM, and more. Mark’s blog is a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a professional entertainer, full of creative thoughts for creative people. Sign up below so you’ll never miss a post.

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Dig Deeper

There’s a moment that keeps popping up during a lot of the programs I enjoy. It happens on NPR, it happens on talks shows, it happens on the news.

The interviewer will ask their guest a question, wait for an answer, and then…just move on. They don’t acknowledge the answer. They don’t expand on it or get into a deeper conversation. They just cross that question off their list and ask the next one. It drives me crazy.

I also see this moment happen in live shows (remember those?) that I go to. The performer asks a volunteer a personal question, the volunteer responds, and the performer plunges ahead with their script without even responding to the volunteer’s answer.

When you ignore someone’s response you’re missing on a huge opportunity to create a memorable moment. Chances are the first answer they give isn’t going to be all that exciting, but if you’re willing to dig deeper then you’ll likely encounter something unforgettable.

This is part of the reason why I love long form podcasts like “The Joe Rogan Experience”, “Under The Skin” with Russell Brand, or “WTF” with Marc Maron. Often the conversations on those shows can go on for several hours. They’re full of tangents and interruptions but they always cover interesting, uncharted territory. If I was going to diagram traditional media I would draw a straight line from point A to point B. But a marathon conversation on a podcast? That’s more like a meandering, squiggly line. It’s messy, but ultimately it covers more ground and is much more compelling.

Much of the intoxicating appeal of those podcasts (and others) is the host’s insatiable curiosity to learn as much as possible about their guests. They want to get into the weeds. For every interesting answer they receive, they have 2 or 3 follow up questions. They get philosophical. They get deep. They want to hash things out on the air, even if it isn’t quite as polished as a late night talk show. They don’t have talking points — they’re just talking. And I can’t stop listening.

As always, everything comes down to connection. Every encounter we have is an opportunity to leave a lasting impression on another person. But that’s never going to happen if you aren’t actively listening and acknowledging what other people have to say.

No one remembers the people who barely make an attempt to hold a conversation. But everyone remembers the person who asks thoughtful questions, listens to the answers, and responds accordingly.

The next time you have a chance encounter with someone, pay attention to what you’re doing and treat that exchange like one of those squiggly lines. Don’t be in a hurry to get onto your next question or your next task. Just listen to what they have to say and see where it leads you. Be interested and inquisitive. Dig deeper.

My Favorite Travel Gear

One of the best parts about being a full-time mind reader is that I’m constantly on the go. Every week I get to travel to exciting new destinations for my shows.

I still remember the first time I walked through an airport alone, navigating security and check-in so I could make my flight on time. Hundreds of flights later, I still get excited every single trip.

After many trips around the world I’ve gotten pretty good at packing efficiently so I can make traveling enjoyable. I have a show bag full of props and a small suitcase with clothes and running gear. But it’s these essentials that matter most:

If you’re considering traveling somewhere new or pursuing a life on the road, here is a list of My Favorite Travel Gear - the stuff I never leave home without:

1) Laptop - As a self-employed entertainer and writer, my life is on my computer. I keep all of my accounting, e-mail, website, writing, and photo/editing software with me at all times. You’d think it was obvious but I still run into a lot of people who aren’t equipped to do business on the go. 

2) Bose Headphones - Tired of babies screaming on your flight? Wish you could block out those annoying Southwest Airlines announcements? These are a must-have. A little expensive, yes, but I promise they are worth it. Once you try a pair you’ll wonder how you ever flew without them.

($329 on Amazon)

3) Hard Drive - I document my travels at all times with photos and videos. I also film my shows, work on writing projects, and take movies with me to watch during flights. All of these files are stored on my hard drive so they won’t slow down my computer. It’s compact, affordable, and resistant.

($78 on Amazon)

4) Uniqlo Jacket - This is genius. A rain jacket that rolls up into a nearly weightless bundle. I slip it in my backpack for hiking outings and keep it in my carry-on for longer trips.

($40 from Uniqlo)

5) Wallet - The key with traveling is to only take what you need. The same logic applies for my wallet. This wallet has minimum pockets and a unique credit card holder. It forces me to only carry the cards I need and leave those pesky punch cards and coupons back home. Plus, everyone loves the cool trigger feature!

(Many styles available from Secrid)

6) Travel Steamer - Some days I’m short on time and need to get my suit ready in a matter of minutes. This steam is a life-saver. It’s lightweight and easy to use.

($22 from Amazon)

7) Luggage Scale - I check two bags for every trip and they have to be under 50 pounds. This scale ensures that I never get charged for extra weight. I especially like that it’s not electronic, so no batteries needed!

($7 on Amazon)

8) Portable Charger - This charger gives me about 2.5 charges for my iPhone. It’s great when I’m stuck on the tarmac or have a rental car without a charging option.

(Similar option on Amazon)

9) Outlet Adaptors - For international travel, you’ll need some outlet adaptors. This comprehensive set has you covered! I also appreciate that there’s a USB wall charger included so it will work for some of your existing devices in America, too.

($45 on Amazon)

10) Canon Powershot G7X - This is my go-to camera. It’s a compact point-and-shoot, perfect for vlogging and street photography. I take self-portraits for my blog and behind-the-scenes shots at my gigs. A phone is good for some pictures but if you want better photos/videos I highly recommend this camera. (For a more budget conscious version, try the Canon Powershot G9X.)

($679 from B&H Photo)

11) Electronic Toothbrush - I know I’m an adult now because I freaking love this toothbrush. 1 out of 1 of my dentists highly recommend it.

($190 on Amazon)

What is your must-have travel gear? Let me know in the comments!

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Real world tips, tricks, and techniques straight OUT OF MY MIND and into yours every Monday.