What is a facilitator and why do I need one?

A facilitator will facilitate a more interesting, energised and inclusive conference.  One that delegates will remember for the right reasons.   If you are about to prepare for a conference for your organisation, you should consider a facilitator to take all the stress out of the event.  The facilitator will take control of all the things that distract you from writing the best possible presentation for what is a critical opportunity to invigorate your audience – eg, housekeeping, timekeeping, introductions, etc.  A facilitator will energise the event generally and keep the delegates enthused and interested in the information that you and the other speakers are trying to impart.

How can you make my work conference not FEEL LIKE a total drag?

If I am able to spend some time with the speakers and their material, it is easy to be on ‘speaking terms’ with the messages and outputs for the event.  This means I can knowingly discuss things with the speakers where possible.  Often, also, it is the speakers’ nerves that cause the energy to dissipate from a conference.  If they are nervous, the delegates become nervous on their behalf.  The speaker then senses the tension and gets more nervous.  It’s a vicious cycle.  I would work with the speaker in question to help them deliver the best possible presentation.  This is often best done in an ‘interview-style’ approach.  I would work with the presenter to carve the presentation into short paragraphs in a conversation. That way the speaker feels they are talking to one person not 300.  They relax accordingly and the audience relax as a result.  Good news all round.  

What will I gain from working with you?

Creativity, energy, honesty and an outside pair of eyes – and, in corporate terms, I mean an ‘outside the organisation’ pair of eyes.  It is so easy to be so bound up in your content that you forget that you are talking to an audience who are hearing what you have to say for the first time. Of course it is clear to you because you know it inside out and have been thinking about it for a while now.  But is it clear to them? I’ll make sure the messages are clear and that you present them in the clearest possible way. 

What type of people do you work with?

Anyone who’ll have me.  I like to work with people who are open to creative ideas and solutions; people who are keen to learn and build the best possible impact for their presentation, project, screenplay, whatever. Sometimes people think they want to find something creative, but the reality is it might take them some way out of their comfort zone.  This can be very exciting and surprising.  For everyone involved as well as the audience!

Can you work with clients worldwide?

Absolutely.  I have worked in the US, South Africa, Turkey, Mexico, all over Europe and the UK as well as a cruise ship travelling between the two!

How does the process work?

All depends on the project and how the protagonists want to work.  I’m very flexible and will fit around the availability of those I’ve been asked to work with.  In corporate circles, rehearsal time tends to be somewhat restricted so I will temper the workload accordingly to try and maintain the improvement we are after without compromising.

How does pricing work?

To quote the last answer, “all depends on the project and how the protagonists want to work.”  This is very complex as different demands demand different fees.  Probably best to work out what you want from me, then let’s have a discussion about how the work would breakdown and the build-up to the event and, finally, let him work out the fee and get back to you.  How does that sound?