Owning Your "Red Carpet" Spark with Erin Brown

Jenn: 00:00:03

Welcome to Virtual Summit Success.

Jenn: 00:00:04

I'm Jenn, founder of Virtual Summit Search, and you're in the right place

Jenn: 00:00:07

if you want to make the most of your virtual summit experience, whether

Jenn: 00:00:10

you're a host or virtual summit speaker.

Jenn: 00:00:13

Let's get going with your next step to virtual summit success.

Jenn: 00:00:18

You're listening to a snippet from a session from Sell With

a Summit: 00:00:20

Speaker Edition.

a Summit: 00:00:22

The hilarious Erin Brown is sharing her strategies for getting

a Summit: 00:00:24

your red carpet confidence on and you're not gonna want to miss this.

Erin Brown: 00:00:28

Hey there.

Erin Brown: 00:00:29

Welcome.

Erin Brown: 00:00:30

My name is Erin Brown.

Erin Brown: 00:00:32

I am the CEO and founder of Hot Red Carpet.

Erin Brown: 00:00:36

Today, I'm going to talk about having more red carpet confidence

Erin Brown: 00:00:40

on video calls and presentations.

Erin Brown: 00:00:44

My company got its name Hot Red Carpet because many years ago, when I was a

Erin Brown: 00:00:49

hustler in Hollywood doing comedy and acting and writing and anything else

Erin Brown: 00:00:54

I can do to try to get myself hired, I had the silly idea to sort of poke

Erin Brown: 00:01:01

fun at Hollywood and the whole notion of award shows and the red carpet,

Erin Brown: 00:01:08

because there were so many award shows.

Erin Brown: 00:01:10

And then there were so many shows talking about the shows, and there were even

Erin Brown: 00:01:14

shows about the shows about the shows.

Erin Brown: 00:01:18

So I called my friend who was a videographer and I said, "Hey, Monday

Erin Brown: 00:01:22

afternoon, let's go to Hollywood Boulevard where they shoot the Oscars" at the time.

Erin Brown: 00:01:26

And I had my own little red carpet.

Erin Brown: 00:01:29

Technically it was a bathmat, but it served its purpose because the

Erin Brown: 00:01:33

thought behind it was don't we all deserve to walk the red carpet?

Erin Brown: 00:01:39

I mean, do I really have to be an A-list movie star or make a movie or write the

Erin Brown: 00:01:45

bestselling novel to walk a red carpet?

Erin Brown: 00:01:48

I mean, I don't know, do novelists get red carpets these days?

Erin Brown: 00:01:52

Hm I'll have to make a note of that one.

Erin Brown: 00:01:56

Anyway, this one-note joke kind of took off and it it's been playing a

Erin Brown: 00:02:01

symphony for years and it parlayed into not only a web series, Hot on

Erin Brown: 00:02:07

the Red Carpet, but people started to ask me to show up at their events with

Erin Brown: 00:02:13

my tiny little red carpet as sort of an entertaining welcoming committee.

Erin Brown: 00:02:17

So I thought, "wow."

Erin Brown: 00:02:19

At first, I thought they were nuts having me on a red carpet at their wedding.

Erin Brown: 00:02:24

But then after I did it a few times and they paid me, I thought this

Erin Brown: 00:02:28

is a really good business idea.

Erin Brown: 00:02:30

So I would emcee people, welcome them to my red carpet at weddings and

Erin Brown: 00:02:35

corporations and launches - you name it, we were there - and it was really fun.

Erin Brown: 00:02:40

It was a great way for people to capture themselves on film in a very fun way,

Erin Brown: 00:02:47

create memories in a cheeky unique way.

Erin Brown: 00:02:51

So that's the part of my company.

Erin Brown: 00:02:55

And when the world closed its doors, so to speak last year during 2020, and we

Erin Brown: 00:03:01

are still going through that now in 2021, like everybody else, I had to parlay

Erin Brown: 00:03:07

my business to the virtual space and I began emceeing virtual events, which was

Erin Brown: 00:03:13

definitely in my wheelhouse, being a host.

Erin Brown: 00:03:15

And then I started doing a virtual game show virtual game show called

Erin Brown: 00:03:19

Survey Says, which is basically an online version of the classic game show

Erin Brown: 00:03:24

on TV, which rhymes with Mamly Mood.

Erin Brown: 00:03:28

Copyright purposes, you get it.

Erin Brown: 00:03:31

It's been a wonderful blessing, a really cool way to showcase my gifts to

Erin Brown: 00:03:36

corporate, mostly and other networking type of organizations, where they get

Erin Brown: 00:03:40

to play a game together - remotely - they bond with their teammates.

Erin Brown: 00:03:44

They get to maybe meet coworkers from other parts of the world and

Erin Brown: 00:03:48

let their guard down and create these new kind of relationships with work

Erin Brown: 00:03:54

people or professional colleagues, but not centered around business.

Erin Brown: 00:04:00

So having said all that, you're like, what is this workshop?

Erin Brown: 00:04:05

How to Have Hot Red Carpet Confidence on video calls and

Erin Brown: 00:04:09

presentations both live and in person.

Erin Brown: 00:04:12

Which...

Erin Brown: 00:04:12

it's kind of one and the same, but I mean, live online and live in-person - in

Erin Brown: 00:04:17

the same room, breathing the same air.

Erin Brown: 00:04:19

I have 20 years of improv comedy experience that I'm going to pull from, as

Erin Brown: 00:04:23

well as my own experience in the business world, and so I'm hoping that after this

Erin Brown: 00:04:29

talk, which will be probably about 12 more minutes - buckle up - you'll walk

Erin Brown: 00:04:35

away with a tool or two or three that you can apply to your next video call.

Erin Brown: 00:04:41

Alright?

Erin Brown: 00:04:42

Sound good?

Erin Brown: 00:04:44

Oh, why do I coach confidence?

Erin Brown: 00:04:46

Right.

Erin Brown: 00:04:47

Back to that.

Erin Brown: 00:04:48

Because after I was hosting so many calls, I noticed some people

Erin Brown: 00:04:51

were uncomfortable on video camera.

Erin Brown: 00:04:53

I get it.

Erin Brown: 00:04:54

They weren't trained this isn't really natural or normal.

But guess what: 00:04:57

it is now the new norm, it's not going

But guess what: 00:05:01

anywhere, it's only going to grow.

But guess what: 00:05:03

And rather than being negative about it, why not see the positive of, "wow,

But guess what: 00:05:07

I can reach a whole other audience.

But guess what: 00:05:08

I can reach all these other people," or "I don't have to sit in traffic

But guess what: 00:05:11

and drive to my office or drive to my clients, say, I can do it right

But guess what: 00:05:15

here in the comfort of my home."

But guess what: 00:05:17

But I noticed during a lot of those calls, people didn't want to turn their cameras

But guess what: 00:05:20

on or they just, again were uncomfortable.

But guess what: 00:05:23

Also, professionals I knew who were superstars in their did not

But guess what: 00:05:28

like the video camera option.

But guess what: 00:05:30

When I asked my friend who is in sales what the deal was, she was like, "I'm

But guess what: 00:05:34

so good in person, but once I see that camera, it just, I feel different.

But guess what: 00:05:39

And I'm, I, don't, I don't know what to do and I freeze up."

But guess what: 00:05:42

So I'm here to give you some ways to deal with that, to find your comfort level on

But guess what: 00:05:48

camera and realize that this device that I'm looking at you through - the camera?

But guess what: 00:05:54

It's just a device.

But guess what: 00:05:56

So I like to tell people this little synonym or little

But guess what: 00:06:01

phrase - it's not a synonym....

But guess what: 00:06:03

it's an acronym.

But guess what: 00:06:08

WWYP...

But guess what: 00:06:09

nope.

But guess what: 00:06:10

That's not it.

But guess what: 00:06:11

WWYDIP, WWYDIP!

But guess what: 00:06:13

See, it rolls right off the tongue.

But guess what: 00:06:17

All those years of comedy.

But guess what: 00:06:18

It doesn't really roll off the tongue, but it will stick.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:21

what would you do in person?

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:26

Simple as that.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:27

Would you wear the negligee to your meeting in person?

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:31

Probably not.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:33

Unless you're in a soap opera.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:35

So why are you doing that on a video call?

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:37

So that is definitely number one basic I want to give you is the

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:40

"what would you do in person?"

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:42

Apply it all to the video space.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:46

Okay.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:46

There's three areas where you can improve the confidence and success rates of

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:51

your video calls and presentations, whether they're in front of one person

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:54

or 10 people or thousands of people.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:06:57

Know that you're only really talking to you one person.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:00

Focus on that key person - even when you're in a group of 10, you might be

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:04

talking to the group, but like who, who are you making eye contact with?

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:08

Try to think of the camera as that.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:10

Know that on the other side of the camera, there's a human being who literally just

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:14

wants to - hopefully - hear what you have to say, receive your information,

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:17

and bounce something back at you.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:19

It's just another way of connecting.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:21

So I'm going to give you ways to boost your routine, things you can do before the

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:29

call, during the call, and after the call.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:32

Or, as I also like to call it, the three P's, which is

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:36

Preparation, Presence, and Practice.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:40

I like to keep things really simple and attainable so that you will use it.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:45

You're more prone to do something that seems simple.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:48

It might not always be easy, but I'd like to try to keep it simple.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:51

So Preparation is the first P.

It is a rule of thumb: 00:07:54

There is so much you can do before you even turn on your camera, before

It is a rule of thumb: 00:08:00

you turn on Zoom or Google Meets or WebEx - whatever video platform

It is a rule of thumb: 00:08:05

you're using - to set yourself up for success, lots of success, and to feel

It is a rule of thumb: 00:08:12

comfortable and confident in your skin.

Alright, so Preparation: 00:08:14

we're going to talk about the physical prep

Alright, so Preparation: 00:08:18

of your environment, your space, your physical prep of you, what

Alright, so Preparation: 00:08:22

you look like, what you're wearing.

Alright, so Preparation: 00:08:23

And then also I'm going to give you some mental preparation, okay?

Alright, so Preparation: 00:08:27

I'm going to go relatively quick since I don't have a lot of time.

Physical prep: 00:08:30

lights, camera, action!

Physical prep: 00:08:33

Don't get all crazy about it.

Physical prep: 00:08:34

If you're not a total techie, don't worry about it.

Physical prep: 00:08:36

I'm really not either, but because I'm doing it all the time, I had to

Physical prep: 00:08:39

invest a little bit of effort into it.

Physical prep: 00:08:42

So I have a webcam.

Physical prep: 00:08:44

You don't have to have a webcam.

Physical prep: 00:08:46

You could just use the camera right off of your computer.

Physical prep: 00:08:48

But the placement of the camera is critical.

Physical prep: 00:08:51

You want the camera to be placed at eye level or a little bit above

Physical prep: 00:08:55

so that you are looking through the camera, looking and connecting with

Physical prep: 00:08:58

the person who's watching this video, which would you be you in this case.

Physical prep: 00:09:03

Alright, you want to be lit.

Physical prep: 00:09:06

Why do you want to be lit?

Physical prep: 00:09:07

So you can be seen.

Physical prep: 00:09:08

My favorite light is natural light and tonight I am filming after hours.

Physical prep: 00:09:14

So I had to actually put artificial light on.

Physical prep: 00:09:17

I do have a ring light.

Physical prep: 00:09:18

It's 18 inches.

Physical prep: 00:09:20

It serves its purpose, but normally I sit right in front of my window and have the

Physical prep: 00:09:24

daylight on me and it lights up my face.

Physical prep: 00:09:27

So I would recommend finding a window in your house or wherever

Physical prep: 00:09:30

you're at, facing the windows so that the light is shining on you.

Physical prep: 00:09:35

Why?

Physical prep: 00:09:36

When the light shining on you, yes, you can be seen.

Physical prep: 00:09:39

And what does that mean?

Physical prep: 00:09:41

It seems like you're approachable.

Physical prep: 00:09:42

You can have a resting face, a smile.

Physical prep: 00:09:44

"Oh, I want to talk to that person."

Physical prep: 00:09:46

We've all been in those Zoom meetings where somebody doesn't have their

Physical prep: 00:09:50

camera on or they're back lit and you don't really necessarily

Physical prep: 00:09:54

want to talk to that person.

Physical prep: 00:09:55

For example, if you have the window behind you, that's what's called being backlit.

Physical prep: 00:10:01

So you look like a shadow or it looks like you're on one of those

Physical prep: 00:10:04

true crime shows as a witness.

Physical prep: 00:10:06

And you're like, "it was April, there was blood on the ground, I was driving

Physical prep: 00:10:12

a bus," you know, like I don't, I don't really want to converse with that person.

Physical prep: 00:10:18

But if they just literally turned their self around and had the light

Physical prep: 00:10:23

from the window bouncing on them - voila, I might want to talk to them.

Physical prep: 00:10:29

Maybe.

Physical prep: 00:10:30

Alright, so lighting.

Physical prep: 00:10:31

Sound!

Physical prep: 00:10:32

If you want to invest in a microphone, go for it.

Physical prep: 00:10:34

If you're on these all the time, I would say, yeah, a good quality sound

Physical prep: 00:10:38

always looks better, sounds better and more professional, but again,

Physical prep: 00:10:43

you don't have to break the bank.

Physical prep: 00:10:45

Everyone is on Zoom, so there is that forgiveness factor, but if you are a

Physical prep: 00:10:49

professional speaker, I would highly recommend getting a simple microphone.

Physical prep: 00:10:54

Other space-wise, you want to make sure your background is desirable

Physical prep: 00:10:59

to look at, meaning it's clean.

Physical prep: 00:11:02

It's not distracting.

Physical prep: 00:11:05

Pardon me.

Physical prep: 00:11:07

You might, that might even happen in a, in a real life situation,

Physical prep: 00:11:10

so have some water, be prepared.

Physical prep: 00:11:13

A lot of people use virtual backgrounds these days on the video platforms - not

Physical prep: 00:11:18

my favorite, personally; I don't like the fact that you can disappear into them.

Physical prep: 00:11:22

Sometimes people can get away with it, but for the most

Physical prep: 00:11:25

part, I wouldn't recommend it.

Physical prep: 00:11:27

Unless you do the blurred version on zoom, which I find fairly attractive.

Physical prep: 00:11:32

I would recommend getting a simple screen, which this I got in downtown LA - it

Physical prep: 00:11:39

folds up, it's portable, it's super easy.

Physical prep: 00:11:42

Because we don't want to see what's behind my screen.

Physical prep: 00:11:46

Basically you want to be in front of a neat space.

Physical prep: 00:11:48

So even if you're in your office, just something that doesn't have distractions.

Physical prep: 00:11:51

We don't want to see your pile of laundry or the pile of dishes, or, you know, the

Physical prep: 00:11:57

spaghetti that was thrown against the wall last night because of the drama that

Physical prep: 00:12:01

happened that we really don't want to know about, cause this is a professional talk.

Physical prep: 00:12:05

So simple fix is the screen or just keep it neat.

Physical prep: 00:12:10

Don't have a lot of clutter.

Physical prep: 00:12:11

Go in front of just a simple wall.

Physical prep: 00:12:13

Paint it.

Physical prep: 00:12:14

You can also order like a fake wallpaper online, like it's

Physical prep: 00:12:19

just almost like a fake wall.

Physical prep: 00:12:21

People have done that too.

Bottom line: 00:12:22

keep it clean, keep it neat.

And here's the thing: 00:12:24

the most important thing you can do is to tap into your

And here's the thing: 00:12:30

unique red carpet-ness, as I call it - your gifts, your sparkle, we all have it.

And here's the thing: 00:12:35

We all are worthy of the red carpet because we are humans

And here's the thing: 00:12:39

and we are here to thrive.

And here's the thing: 00:12:41

Tap into that.

And here's the thing: 00:12:44

It's going to look different on a daily basis.

And here's the thing: 00:12:47

Always do your best, as they say in The Four Agreements - that's a great

And here's the thing: 00:12:51

book; check it out - your best is going to vary, but as long as you show

And here's the thing: 00:12:55

up, you're already ahead of the game.

And here's the thing: 00:12:57

'Cause guess what?

And here's the thing: 00:12:58

If you don't show up, then someone else might be missing out on something they

And here's the thing: 00:13:02

needed to experience that only you can give with your red carpet uniqueness.

And here's the thing: 00:13:08

So please, never underestimate the impact that you could have on someone.

And here's the thing: 00:13:12

So turn those cameras on, turn those lights on and radiate.

And here's the thing: 00:13:17

My name is Erin Brown.

And here's the thing: 00:13:18

It has been a pleasure to be here.

And here's the thing: 00:13:19

Thank you so much to Jenn and the virtual summit, and I look forward

And here's the thing: 00:13:23

to seeing you all live soon.

Jenn: 00:13:26

Okay, seriously.

Jenn: 00:13:26

Did you love Erin as much as I did?

Jenn: 00:13:28

I don't think I've ever laughed as much through summit presentation - in

Jenn: 00:13:31

a good way - as I did through hers.

Jenn: 00:13:33

You have to get the rest of Erin's presentation tips, along with the

Jenn: 00:13:36

other two P's, because not only are they super helpful, but she's

Jenn: 00:13:40

just a joy to watch and learn from.

Jenn: 00:13:41

Just try not to fall out of your seat laughing.

Jenn: 00:13:44

Go to sellwithasummit.com/speakeredition to get access to Erin's

Jenn: 00:13:47

full presentation and more.

Jenn: 00:13:51

Thanks for listening to Virtual Summit Success.

Jenn: 00:13:53

Don't forget to leave a review and let others know your biggest

Jenn: 00:13:56

takeaways from this episode.

Jenn: 00:13:58

Every review helps others find us, and the more successful virtual

Jenn: 00:14:01

summits there are, the more tips we'll have to share with you.

Jenn: 00:14:04

For show notes, links, and other resources, go to virtualsummitsuccess.live