Feb. 16, 2012, Vol. 10 Issue 3

Celebrity Speakers…What’s in a Name?

I’m starting a series in this issue, called The Meeting Planner’s Hot Sheet, and I plan to address meeting planner issues in every other issue of For Your Well Being. If you have a topic you’d like to hear about, please send me an email at barbara@speakwellbeing.com. In this issue, we’re looking at the pro’s and con’s of celebrity speakers.

And, since it’s February, it’s time for Day of Dance for Your Health® events around the country. I find dancing to be a great release, physically, emotionally and spiritually, whether I’m dancing around my living room, dancing in a Nia class, or best of all, dancing with my husband. Whenever I get a booking, we do the gig jig, and, Bella, our beagle, feeling the energy, usually comes running to join in the revelry with a howl or two…or three. She can be very enthusiastic.

Now here’s some really good news. Not only is dancing good for your heart health, stress relief and as exercise in general, it’s good for your mental health too . . . i.e. frequent dancing can actually make you smarter.  A major study is adding to growing evidence that dancing stimulates one’s mind — as in creating new neural pathways — because of the split-second, rapid-fire decision-making. Isn’t that cool? This cognitive activity can ward off Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia in the same way that exercise keeps the body fit. If you’d like to read about the science, here’s the link to the study as reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Meantime, Spirit of Women has the right idea — their neural pathways are very clear — with their Day of Dance activities aimed at teaching women about heart disease, and the power of getting active. Hospitals around the country have been putting these events on for eight years. Most are happening Saturday, Feb. 25.

DAY OF DANCE
For Your Health®

There’s an old Chinese proverb that says, “You hear you forget; you see you remember; you participate you act.” Spirit of Women’s Day of Dance is a brilliant concept because it brings together dancing, learning, fun, free screenings, and even cooking demos — all aimed at participation and action.

It’s also a healthy living event that’s designed for the whole family. According to data collected as a result of 2011 Day of Dance activities, 43% of consumers surveyed that said they will see a healthcare provider as a result of something they learned at Day of Dance, and 88% of consumers felt more familiar with the services offered by their local hospital as a result of Day of Dance.

Coronary heart disease, which causes heart attack, is the single leading cause of death for American women. Many women believe that cancer is the number one cause of death, but they’re wrong: nearly twice as many women in the U.S. die of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases as from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer.

Spirit of Women® focuses on dance as a way to take steps (pardon the pun) for a healthier life because dancing can burn as many calories as swimming, walking, or riding a bike (as many as 200-400 calories per hour). Many health benefits may result from dancing regularly, as a form of exercise, including weight maintenance or loss, blood pressure and cholesterol management, increased energy, decreased sadness and depression, increased coordination and muscle strength, and an overall sense of well-being.

Day of Dance for Your Health® is powered by Spirit of Women®, a national network of hospitals and healthcare providers across the United States that ascribe to the highest standards of excellence in women’s health, education, and community outreach.

Meeting Planner Hot Sheet
Celebrity Speakers…What’s in a Name?

I was talking with another bureau owner recently and we got on the topic of celebrities. It was nice to hear someone who had the same philosophy that I do, and that is that I’m not interested in looking (or being) like so many other speaker bureaus who list a lot of celebrity names and often don’t know any more about them than what they get from People magazine — if that.

Celebrities can be appealing (or tempting) for their name/personality draw, not necessarily their speaking skills, and I’ve talked with many a disappointed meeting planner who wasn’t happy with the outcome. On the other hand, I’ve heard about others who were satisfied and happy with their celebrity experience. Happily, I often get the inside track because our motivational speakers are on the agenda with celebrities and give me firsthand feedback about what they’re like both backstage and onstage.

I certainly understand when a client is interested in looking at celebrities to draw attendees to their event. In fact, I’m constantly monitoring (thanks to the internet and my own curiosity) the marketplace for women’s events and events sponsored by hospitals, and make a note of celebrity appearances. Besides professional speakers and healthcare speakers whom I recognize as tops in their fields, I see Women’s Expo’s featuring soap opera stars, makeover mavens, matchmakers, and reality TV show celebrities. I know why they’re booking headliners — for a draw — but I also know that they’re not necessarily getting good speakers.

I especially pay attention to who is out there speaking or involved in a health issue or cause. For instance, here’s a link to celebrities and heart health, including Barbara Walters, Regis Philbin, and Larry King. Now, please note that this does not say or imply that any individual featured in this article is a speaker on heart health — i.e. although a health (or disease) condition may qualify someone, celebrity or not, as having first-hand experience, it does not qualify someone to be a speaker on the topic. On the other hand, there are certainly some celebrity speakers who are knowledgeable and passionate, and know how to use their magnetism to further their cause. Celebrities can be a draw, but so can an expert on the topic.

Our speakers, like Joe Piscatella, Eliz Greene, Ginger Zimmerman, and Rudy Wilson Galdonik are survivors of heart conditions who have chosen to become professional speakers (and authors), and combine their personal experiences with carefully researched information — and they advocate effectively for heart health, healthy lifestyles and prevention. For me, being a great speaker, and a great person, on and off the platform is my strongest criteria when evaluating a speaker.  And, I apply the same criteria, when I’m asked to recommend a celebrity speaker.

What are your thoughts about celebrity speakers? Any success stories you’d like to share? Questions? I’m always happy to discuss ideas.  Please give me a call anytime at 503-699-5031 or email me barbara@speakwellbeing.com

3 CHEERS FOR YOGA
Traveling to the East coast last week for a seminar, I arrived at my hotel after midnight and it didn’t take me long to fall into the big, cushy bed. Yet when I woke up, I felt like a truck had run over me — time zone, travel shock, to be sure. Fortunately, anticipating alone time, I had packed a yoga CD that has a short routine. I had no idea how transformative that would be (now I know why it’s called restorative yoga). I popped it into my laptop, grabbed a towel as a mat, and went right into downward dog, cat, cow, child’s pose and warrior one and two. Afterward, I felt totally energized and ready to go — in just 15 minutes. I’m going to remember that for anytime I’m feeling bogged down — possibly even for an afternoon pick-me-up in the office. And I’m always going to remember to slip that CD in my bag when I’m on the road.

Until next time, take care of yourself for your well being and those you love.

Yours truly,
Barbara

PLEASE NOTE: The information shared in this e-news is designed to help you make informed decisions about speakers and the programs they offer. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment prescribed by a doctor. If you suspect you have a medical problem, seek competent medical help.