There's Another Way

I was attending a conference in Las Vegas once when I recognized a man standing across the room. He was overdressed with an ill-fitting pinstriped suit and shiny shoes. I knew him because he was a booking agent for performers and we had briefly corresponded in the past. So, I took a business card out of my pocket and worked my way across the room to introduce myself.

From what I had read about this guy online, he was everything I’m not. He was always in “sales mode”, like a character in “Glengarry Glen Ross”. Everything he did, everything he said, everything he wrote, and everything he shared was designed for one thing: to close the sale and make him more money.

I’m the exact opposite. I cringe at the thought of always closing and networking makes me want to crawl into a hole and die. My approach has always been to simply be good at what I do and let my work speak for itself. I’ve always thought that all I need is one shot in front of a person to convince them that I’m worth working with.

That approach has worked well for me so far. Even during the pandemic I’ve been fortunate enough to get myself in front of people and use that opportunity to win them over. For example, back in July I did an event for Zoom. (Yes, THAT Zoom.) It was one of their regional events with a small team and I knew that I was one of many performers that they had been working with. So I prepared a special performance just for them, in hopes of setting myself apart from any of the other acts they had seen.

It’s the same mentality I have when I do a cabaret show with 4 or 5 other performers on the line-up. I always try to raise my level so that people will remember my performance long after the show. I’ll spend weeks writing and rehearsing new material just so I can blow the competition out of the water. I use those moments as personal motivation, like Michael Jordan in The Last Dance, taking everything personally and using it as ammo to destroy my rivals in the next game. I love it when people come up after those shows and say, “Everyone was awesome tonight but you were the best!” That’s what I’m going for.

I guess the show went over well back in July because it led to several other events with them, including an appearance at their annual user conference in October alongside the CEO. All it took was one time for me to convince them to work with me for good.

As I approached that booking agent in Vegas those were the thoughts that were running through my mind. Convince him to give you one opportunity and you can prove your value forever. I waited for a lull in conversation then calmly walked up and introduced myself.

You know when people are so rude that they won’t even give you the time of day? That’s what this guy was like. He was inconsiderate from the get-go, dismissive of my introduction and hardly listening to what I was saying. I told him that I knew who he was and thought we could work together. He asked what materials I had and I gestured to my card saying “it’s all on my website.” But he was barely listening.

“Listen,” he said, “You’re probably not ready. You need a lot of experience to do this. Do you have my course?”

The fucking audacity of this guy, to try to sell he his freaking course when I was just trying to introduce myself! I knew this guy had put out a $1000 marketing course with general guidance on how to book shows and work with clients, but I’d been too busy actually doing shows to have time to watch a course tell me things I already know. Plus, the reviews were lackluster so I wasn’t about to waste money on something that was already being taught better in other places.

“I don’t need your course,” I said firmly, “I’m already doing it. I just thought it’d be good for us to work together sometime."

“Take the course,” he said, “Then we can talk.”

“I’m good,” I said, “But now you have my card in case you want to do business together sometime.”

I never heard from him, but that’s okay because things kept getting busier for me. Every year since then has been busier than the year before. And I never even took his course! It’s almost like he was completely full of shit.

The problem with people like that is that they seem to think that they’ve found the only way to achieve success. The truth is, there are multiple ways to be successful. You can be the pushy salesman wearing customers out with your pitch until, completely exhausted, they finally work with you. Or, you can go the more fulfilling route and just be really good at your craft so people will remember you and always want to work with you. Either way, you already have everything you need to get to where you want to be.

I just saved you a thousand bucks!

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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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Another Reason To Get Off Social Media

One of my best friends is one of the most likable people I know. Everyone loves him. He’s a good dad, a good husband, a good friend — you get it. He goes above and beyond to put other people first and make anyone he meets feel special along the way.

Something he loves to do is send unsolicited messages on social media to let people know he’s excited for them. He doesn’t just click “like”, he actually takes the time to craft a thoughtful message and congratulate someone on their big moment.

Recently he told me that he’d seen a post from a guy he knew on facebook about a new job. That guy had been his best friend his entire freshman year of college. They’d done everything together. They went to class, partied, and hung out nonstop. So, when my buddy saw him being successful he wanted to send him a congratulatory message.

He wrote a private message to say that he was really happy to see his success, always knew he’d turn his passion into a career, and was really excited to watch his progress. He put a lot of thought into it. (Knowing my friend he probably spent longer on it than he should have. But that’s what makes him a great guy.) Then, he fired it off and went back to his day.

Later that afternoon he heard a ping and saw that he’d gotten a response. His old college friend responded:

“Thanks so much, I really appreciate! But, by the way…how do we know each other?”

When he told me that story I lost my mind. I laughed for five minutes straight. (Add storytelling to the list of things he’s great at.)

Here was my friend just trying to be nice and turned out this guy, whom he had spent many important moments with during college, didn’t even remember him.

He sent back “We went to college together! Keep crushing it!” then removed him as a friend.

That story made me laugh, but it also made me sad. Not only because the relationships in our life can be fleeting, but also that we’ve chosen to shrink those friendships down to lines on a screen. Everyone we meet gets added to our friends list, without a second thought, and they all get the same amount of space on the screen. The stranger you met at college orientation gets the same amount of space that your co-worker or best man gets, and before long it’s hard to distinguish between who matters and who doesn’t. When everything is the same, nothing is special.

Yet another reason to delete your social media and never look back.

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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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A Ruined Experience

Here’s my latest story of someone ruining The Experience™:

We decided to go to the suburbs this week to browse some book stores. Shopping in the city during the pandemic has been a nightmare, mainly because the stores aren’t designed for people to space themselves out comfortably.

So, we were pleasantly surprised that the shopping experience in the ‘burbs was much more enjoyable. The stores were more spacious, everyone was keeping to themselves, and we were actually able to find what we were looking for.

Everything was going so smoothly that we started store-hopping. We went from a used book store to a craft store to a hardware store and finally to a well-known book store. (I don’t want name them here so we’ll call them Barnes & Noble.)

99% of The Experience™ at Barnes & Noble was good. There was plenty of space to browse, we weren’t constantly getting bumped into by other customers, and their inventory was on point. I was even able to find several books I’d been looking for. But then, I headed to the register to check out and everything went off the rails.

“Hello! How are you today?” I said, as I stepped to the counter smiling beneath my mask.

The clerk responded politely, scanned my books, then turned to look at me.

“Do you have a Barnes & Noble account?” he asked.

I explained that I did not but thanked him for asking. But he pressed further…

“Well, if you signed up today you would actually make money. It’s only $25 but you’d save $27, so even if you never used it again it will have been worth it.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” I said calmly, hoping that was the end of it.

“All I need is your phone number and name and that’s it!” he said. He stood there frozen, as if he couldn’t proceed until I gave him my personal information.

“I think I’m okay,” I repeated.

“I wish I could turn down free money! That must be nice,” he said rudely.

I’d had enough. “Nothing’s free!” I said. “Last time I had an account it was impossible to cancel and you guys wouldn’t stop e-mailing me.”

He muttered to himself, dropped the receipt in the bag, and slid it to me without saying a word.

“Thanks so much,” I said, resorting to my well-practiced midwestern faux-kindness. “Have a great rest of your day.”

I left Barnes & Noble in a foul mood. Everything up to that point had been wonderful. In fact, our entire trip to the suburbs was fantastic. But then, in a few short minutes, The Experience™ had been clouded by my conversation at check out. What a bummer.

But, what can learn from this? At least two things…

First off, the cashier had tried to say that giving my phone number was no big deal. But that’s not true. Giving away your phone number is yet another invasion of privacy and a way for corporations to know more about you. I have a lot of friends who always say, “Who cares? They already have all the information about you!” To which I say, “That doesn’t make it right. And that doesn’t mean I’m going to hand over my information willingly.” I’m willing to pay two dollars more to make it as hard on them as possible.

And second, my experience — The Experience™ — should matter more to a company than my personal information or meeting a quota for member sign-ups. If you give me the best experience possible — from the moment I arrive at your establishment to the moment I leave — I’ll be your customer for life. No fucking phone number required.

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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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Follow Your Dreams*

Follow Your Dreams*

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*Recently a friend of mine told me he was going to finally take the plunge and start performing full-time. I was stoked to hear it. I congratulated him and asked him what had caused him to make that decision.

“I just want more time to be creative and work on my act and stuff,” he said.

I died laughing.

“If you want more time to spend on your passion,” I said, “then don’t turn it into your job.”

I was only partially kidding. The truth is, when you decide to turn your passion into a career you often end up not having much time to spend on the things you’re actually passionate about. In order to make money from your creative skills you’re going to have to work on dozens of other things instead.

I’m not saying this to discourage you, I’m just trying to be pragmatic. If you’re going to chase your dreams you might as well know what it’s going to take.

Something I really enjoy doing is speaking at career days for Chicago area public schools. My job is really outside of the box, so students are interested to hear what I have to say and see that there are other ways to make a living than just your typical 9-to-5.

I always try to ask the students what they hope to do when they get older and the responses (particularly from the elementary and middle schoolers) are overwhelmingly “I want to be a YouTuber!”, “I want to play video games!”, or something similar. When I was growing up those aspirations weren’t even an option but today they are. A lot of people make their living online and it’s easy from afar to see the fun they’re having and believe that’s all that goes into their success.

Social media has exacerbated this problem. Everywhere you look you see people jet-setting around the world, in perfect shape, living a lavish lifestyle and spouting off worn-out quotes that give their followers the wrong idea. One of the worst ones is “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life!”

That sentiment couldn’t be farther from the truth. The reality is that if you want to make a career out of your passion you’re going to work all the time. You’re going to work early mornings, late nights, and weekend. You’re going to work when your friends are out having fun. You have to work all the time on things that you don’t care about, because that’s what it takes to get to do what you love for a living. Being self-employed means you work 80 hours a week so you don’t have to work 40.

I rarely have time to work on my show. I have to fit in those moments sporadically, when I have a few minutes to spare. It’s not nearly as often as I’d like, but that’s how it goes. Most of my time is spent booking shows, tracking down payments, invoicing clients, and marketing my services. But, as I joke often, “I don’t have any other skills.” So, I do the work every single day without complaint (mostly!), because that’s what it takes so I can do what I do best.

If you’ve read this far and you’re thinking, “I don’t have any other skills either. I have to follow my passion!” — then great! Do it. Just be prepared to spend an overwhelming amount of time on other, less exciting things so you can occasionally do what you’re most passionate about.

“Follow Your Dreams” is a great caption on Instagram but I think it needs an asterisk, like Barry Bonds’ home run record or the Houston Astros. Don’t be disheartened — be encouraged and inspired. If it was easy everyone would be doing it. It just means that you’ve got what it takes and all the work will be worth it in the end.

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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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The Experience

I was watching a random YouTube video the other day and the creator said something I really appreciated.

“I’ve turned off all the mid-roll ads,” he said, speaking directly into the camera. “I feel like it ruins your experience and I don’t like that.”

If you aren’t familiar, mid-roll ads are those commercials that play halfway through a video, right when it's starting to get good. They’re incredibly annoying, but they’re also an important part of a YouTube Channel’s revenue.

Basically, this creator was saying that he was willing to sacrifice some of his income in order to improve the viewer’s experience. How refreshing!

Usually it seems that brands care more about my money than they care about my experience. It drives me crazy.

I’ve been watching the NBA Bubble games since they returned and they’ve started showing commercials between free throws! It’s insane. Here I am getting into the sports drama unfolding before me and suddenly the game goes silent on half the screen while I have to watch a promo for a video game on the other.

When I’m reading an article on The New York Times subscription I’M PAYING FOR, I still have to scroll past lingerie and real estate ads after every other paragraph. It’s infuriating.

Sometimes I do gigs alongside other performers and they insist on promoting their services during the show we’re already doing. It always makes me uncomfortable. The audience already paid for tickets, can’t we stop selling to them and give them a killer show?

Yes, I know I could use an ad blocker for the online content but sometimes they don’t work. Also, I try to keep ads turned on for creators I care about so they can continue to earn revenue. I don’t blame the creators for the annoying ads - they’re just working within a system that doesn’t give a shit prioritizes money over my enjoyment of the platform.

I also have turned off all of my ad preferences. That means I get served really random ads that aren’t specific to me in any way. As a result, I constantly notice them and get pulled out of what I’m doing. I think when you let the ads become tailored to you that you grow numb to them. You start seeing ads for things that you may enjoy, but grow numb to how miserable the experience around those ads has become.

(As for the NBA…well, they only care about the bag. But my fellow performers should know better…)

I was so grateful to that YouTuber for turning off his mid-roll ads. It made me so aware of how much better my experience was when I wasn’t being constantly inundated with advertisements and interruptions. As a result, he gained a new subscriber.

If you value my experience with your product you’ll get a fan for life. I’ll join your mailing list, subscribe to your channel, and buy tickets to your show. From start to finish, give me the best experience possible, then leave me alone. Don’t try to up-sell me, don’t solicit reviews, don’t spam me with future promos. Just blow me away and l promise I’ll be more than happy to spread the word for you for years to come.

Moving On and Getting Older

I turned 33 this week.

33 is my favorite number, so this is destined to be a good year. (It was my basketball jersey number when I was younger…I was a big fan of Larry Bird.)

I spent my birthday doing a show in Tennessee. I woke up at 3am to catch a flight, drove through the mountains to get to Chattanooga and worked from 4pm-1am. It was a pretty typical work day and that’s okay. Some of my favorite birthdays as an adult have just been typical days performing or being at home.

Every time I see an “it’s my birthday” blog post online it seems that people list out all of their huge career accomplishments from the previous year and goals for the year ahead. I’m sure I’ve been guilty of that before myself…but I’m approaching this year differently.

This past year I’ve made some big changes in my life. I stopped using my phone as much, limited my social media use, and prioritized myself. I’ve been doing more of what I enjoy - running, writing, reading, filmmaking - and it’s really improved my daily outlook.

Instead of worrying about my professional goals for the year ahead I’m going to keep putting myself first. Sure, I still have big ambitions for my show and career, but those are mostly out of my control. I need to be content with where I end up, whether I fully achieve those goals or not.

My personal goals are another story. So, while I’m 33 I plan on focusing on me, including the following:

That’s a lot of hardware!

• HEALTH: This year I’ve lost 25 pounds just by committing to healthy eating and going to the gym. I’m lucky to be tall and carry my weight well, so you probably couldn’t even tell I’d gotten a little overweight. But I was.

  After I fractured my ankle and broke a toe in the same week last summer I was unable to do any physical activity. So, I hibernated last winter and ate whatever I wanted. But, once the sun came out in the spring I got my head on straight and went back to running. I set my sights on a half marathon and spent all summer training. I ran a myriad of races - 5Ks, 10Ks, 10 milers - to keep myself motivated. I haven’t missed a run all year. And last Sunday I finished my first half marathon - 5 minutes under my goal pace. I was PUMPED.

  Over the next year I plan on logging more miles and running even more races. I want to run a couple more half marathons next year and maybe even attempt a triathlon. I’m fortunate that I recovered from my injuries and feel stronger than ever. And now I plan on getting in the best shape of my life.

• CREATIVITY: I want to write a book. And a screenplay. And a TV series and a stage play and a children’s story. I want to make short films and start a podcast. I want to give stand-up comedy a shot. Anytime I think up an idea I want to turn it into a reality.

  I’m working on transforming my home office into a creative paradise. I’m removing distractions like the Internet, social media, Netflix, my phone, television, etc. from the space and only having creative tools within arm’s reach. There’s a computer for editing video, my typewriter for writing, microphones for podcast, my books for research, and my props for rehearsal. I have everything I need.

  The final step is to focus on what matters most. I’m going to have to say “NO” to friends and family that want my time. I’m going to turn down work that I don’t want to do so I can focus on the work I want to be doing. I want to reengineer my life so I can do as much “deep work” as possible.

• LEARNING: I’ve spent so much time the past decade searching for work and traveling to gigs that for a while I stopped learning new things. I was too exhausted to read or study, so I’d binge a Netflix show instead or scroll Twitter instead. Enough is enough.

  Now that I’m a little more established, I can actually step away from work sometimes and do other things. And this year, I’ve been trying to educate myself more. I’ve been working on video editing, studying the courses on Masterclass, and reading like crazy. There’s nothing better.

  My goal for the next year is to learn more. I used to be able to juggle 5 balls but I can’t any more. So I’m going to teach myself all over again. I’m working on some new video projects so I can practice my FCPX skills. I’ve been getting better at chess and think I might join the club here in the city. And, of course, I plan on reading even more.

  Next year I hope to read 66 books. That’s 33 non-fiction and 33 fiction. I have a list of some must-reads already, but I’d love your recommendations. Comment below or drop me a line here.

• TRAVEL: My final endeavor while I’m 33 is to see more of the world. I went to a ton of amazing places last year but they were all for work. This year I want to do more personal trips. Either I’ll extend work trips into a personal visit or I’ll take a few days off every few months so I can see new places.

  I want to take three main trips, which I just randomly chose right now. A road trip around Lake Michigan, Sequioa National Park, and somewhere in the Caribbean. I want them all to be getaways so I have some time away from work to read, unplug, and relax. (Stephanie, if you’re reading this…you’re invited, too.)

So that’s it. Those are my hopes for the next twelve months. For now, I’m happy to be alive, healthy, and inspired.

It’s going to be a good year.

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Other Thoughts:

• Here’s a fun video from a recent show in Chicago:

• Are you subscribed to my YouTube Channel?

• I’ve really been enjoying this book lately. And, I plan on making the strategies in it part of my every day life.

The Best Writing Process Ever

It took a while, but I’ve found the best writing process. I do it every day as part of my morning routine. It goes something like this:

6:00am - Wake up.

6:10am - Coffee.

6:20am - Head out for a run along the lake. (I think about my current writing project while I’m running.)

7:00am - Shower, eat breakfast, and get ready for the day.

7:30am - Sit down at my desk. (The top is clean, except for my typewriter. All other devices are turned off. The door is closed and the only light in the room comes from the south-facing windows.) I start writing and don’t stop until I hit roughly 1,500-2,000 words.

10:00am - After reaching my word count I start the rest of my day: e-mails, video editing, etc.

That’s how I write every single day, no matter what. After years of trial and error I genuinely believe that this is the single best writing process. It’s the only real way to get better and keep finishing writing projects in a timely manner.

If you’re looking to be a good writer or have always wanted to write a book, this how to do it. Or, maybe you’re like me and you just really enjoy writing for the sake of it. This is the best way to do it.

Trust me.

Okay…not really. I’m full of crap. I don’t believe any of that at all. What kind of pretentious, self-aggrandizing person would say “My process is the best and you need to be doing it, too!”

My writing process is more like this:

I wake up early (or late) and get right to work (or don’t). I write as many words as possible (hopefully 0-100 if I’m lucky) without any devices on (or sometimes while watching Netflix or listening to music).

I usually write on my typewriter (unless I’m using my computer) unless I’m on the road and have to resort to writing by hand in a notebook - always a moleskine (or whatever else I can find like a yellow legal pad, composition notebook, hotel stationary, or back of a napkin).

I always write in the morning (except when it’s more convenient to write at a different time) at the same place (not a chance) in the same way (yeah, right).

It’s a simple process. (Not true.)

I’ve read a ton of books on writing. (If you’re interested, start with this one. Also, check out this one or this one. For creative inspiration, you can’t beat this one. And then you can get into niche territory with books like this, that, this one, or maybe even this one.) They all talk about writing processes, word counts, your general writing environment, and more. They give you bench marks for word counts or total number of pages or a timeframe in which to finish your book. I’ve experimented with many of these approaches.

I tried Morning Pages and stuck with it for maybe two months.

I tried 10 pages a day and made it two or three days.

I’ve tried writing in the morning, writing late at night, phone reminders, timers, typewriters, computers, iPad apps, storyboards, notebooks - you name it - but I was never able to stick with any single approach for very long.

Over time, I started to get discouraged that maybe I wasn’t meant to be a writer. Since I didn’t have a process like the writers I admired I was worried that my ideas would never amount to anything.

See, I’m not necessarily trying to write a novel or a feature-length film or a memoir. For me writing is almost like therapy. It’s a way to confront my ideas and transmit them to you. It’s a way to get thoughts out of my head so I can understand them and make room for more. When I write it’s to work on my show or brainstorm new ideas or finish one of these essays. Sometimes I work on a screenplay, other times I write poetry. It’s just one more way to express myself, even if most of it will never be published.

But I still want to be better. That’s why I read those books and study my favorite authors. That’s why I watch TED Talks and take classes. That’s why I keep trying to find a writing process that I can stick with. I just haven’t found something that works for me.

I told my wife once, “I should work harder. I don’t really write or rehearse. Am I being lazy? Or, is it just not something I’m good at?” I expected her to agree with me and encourage me to make changes to my daily routine. But that’s not what happened at all.

She surprised me with, as usual, a thoughtful observation, “That’s not true at all. I think you work really hard. You’re always writing. Every time I wake up or come home or get back from the studio, you’re working on a project. And I always hear you working on your show - on the phone, in the shower, in the car. You’re always working on something new.”

The more I thought about it, the more I realized she was absolutely right. I am constantly working on something new. It could be a script or a show or a blog post or a book, but I’m always hard at work trying to create something. I just don’t have a set way of doing it.

My writing process is never the same. And that’s okay.

Sometimes I write out loud in the shower, sometimes I write in my head on a run. Sometimes I talk out loud in the car and other times I need it to be perfectly quiet so I can get it just right. Sometimes I’ll sit at my desk all day and other times (like writing this post) I’ll move around constantly and sit on every chair/stool/couch in my apartment. It always changes.

Thinking you can study someone’s process and copy it exactly is ridiculous. What works for someone else will never work perfectly for you. You’ll try it on and it’ll fit as well as a hand-me-down outfit you found at the GoodWill. So you take the elements that suit you and discard the rest. Then you repeat, ad nauseam, until you find the right combination for your style and your life.

My writing process is a little sporadic. Sometimes I write these essays on a Friday afternoon and schedule them for the following Thursday. Other times, I write them Thursday morning and post them soon after. It doesn’t matter, I just try to fit them in when I can.

I really don’t rehearse my show in the traditional sense, but I think about it constantly. I outline it in my notebook, storyboard it, write a few parts out in full, but mainly I just say it out loud. Then I go onstage and pay close attention to what works and what doesn’t. I learn from my mistakes, get better, and keep improving show to show. That’s the best process - for me.

When I got back from spending six weeks in Pittsburgh this summer I flipped through my notebook from the start of the year. I had diagrammed out a show and never really gone back to it. But everything was there: the intention, the message, the character development, the goals, the peaks and valleys, the dramatic structure. I had accomplished everything I had set out to months ago, without even realizing it.

Here’s the best tips I’ve found, no matter what you want to do:

• Consistency - If you want to get better at something you need to do it a lot. I may not write at the same time every day but I do think about it all the time. And I try to write as much as possible. Whatever you want to do, do it as much as you possibly can.

• Self-Imposed Deadlines - Posting every Thursday helps me stay on track. I’m always thinking about ideas and trying to turn them into blog posts. Give yourself a timeframe so you have to keep making progress.

• Prioritize - Remove other distractions from your life so you can focus on what matters. Making time for your dreams will help you find a way to turn them into a reality.

You may not want to be a writer or a mind reader or anything that even remotely resembles that. But, whatever you want to do, today’s world is full of people constantly telling you that they have it all figured out and if you would only do it exactly how they do it, then you could have a perfectly happy existence just like they do!

I’m here to tell you the opposite. What works for those people, won’t work for you. No one can tell you how to be the next great so-and-so. No one’s process will be 100% perfect for you. So, why waste your time trying to do something the way someone else does?

Go out and experiment. Make mistakes and learn from them. Try all the ways to do something until you find your favorite. There are a million ways to do something but the best process is the one that works for you.

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Other Thoughts:

• Summer is nearly over - can you believe it? That means it’s time for college shows around the country. Check out this cool 360 pic from my first college of the semester - California State University, East Bay:

• Sign up so you never miss a Thursday Thoughts post.

• I’m coming back to headline at the Chicago Magic Lounge next month. See here for all upcoming shows and ticket info!