Mind-blown. Perplexed. Befuddled.
IN AWE.
Those were my feelings as I watched 20,000 people file into Salt Lake City’s Delta Center yesterday to watch comedian Nate Bargatze talk for 60 minutes.
Just think about it…
Stand-up comedy is a version of talking. No dancing, no music, no flashing lights - just one man, a mic, and 20,000 people who want to laugh.
It’s an art form I have immense respect for.
This was my second time attending one of Nate’s shows, and it reminded me that two of the things people pay the most attention to are:
Stories
Jokes
Now… to say “tell more stories and make more jokes and you too will command the attention of 20,000 people” would be naive. There are other people in comedy and entertainment who tell stories and make jokes but don’t have even 1% of the influence of Nate Bargatze…
But I’m also not gonna tell you to not tell more stories and make more jokes 😅
Yet in business - where a fierce battle for attention ensues - we are the odds-on favorites to never use stories or jokes in our attempts to earn attention and, above all, trust.
As one of my clients recently told me, “we just want to sound professional, helpful, and friendly.”
🥱
Ahh yes… professional, helpful, and friendly. The holy trinity of standing for nothing and being completely invisible.
Brand Voice expert Justin Blackman makes an amazing point about trying to sound “professional, helpful, and friendly” (I’m paraphrasing):
“Professional how? Like Fortune 500 boardroom professional? Or fixing a plumbing issue professional? Friendly how? Romantic friendly or neighborly friendly?”
Nate Bargatze sold out the Delta Center four times in two days for his "Big Dumb Eyes” tour. And based on the reactions of the audience, I bet he could have done it at least two more times.
But here’s the real kicker…
About halfway through his set, I scanned the arena and noticed something extraordinary:
No phones. No bored faces glowing in the blue light of their devices.
Not only had he earned the attention of the audience, but he had us transfixed for an entire hour. I kid you not when I say I didn’t see a single phone in the entire stadium.
Just realize that people want to be entertained. Whatever your message is, wrap it in entertainment, and I bet you’ll like what happens.
❤️ Zac Garside
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