In a suit, on a stage, in the spotlight. Typical.
Your conference attendees, awards recipients, gala dinner diners and graduation ceremony goers deserve an emcee who does more than declare your event the “night of nights.” Audiences want more than a frocked up autocue reader with little understanding of your sector and even less of how to make people laugh. See the latest feedback.
Master of ceremonies, facilitator, host – whatever you call it – Brett de Hoedt is a little less conventional, a little less predictable and 72% less boring* than the emcee you used last year. That’s why Brett was chosen to share the bill with former U.S Vice President Al Gore at the 2014 Climate Reality training event in Melbourne. He keynoted to 520+ passionate environmentalists from 21 countries. Was his 60 minutes thought to worthwhile? In showbiz parlance: he killed.
60 minutes. 520 people. 1 D.I.Y graphic.
“Thankyou for sharing your wealth of experience. The new new Climate Leaders now have capacity and confidence. The media they’ve been getting is inspired!” Climate Reality Australian manager Adam Macher.
As emcee he’s hosted blue-blooded Lady Mayoress’ Balls and global conferences for United Way. He’s introduced and interrogated more cabinet ministers, celebrity ambassadors and local mayors than you can point a roving microphone at. The Communities in Control conference has used him 11 years running, Disability Employment Australia for eight years and counting. You get the drift.
He’s hosted community expos for young people in Launceston, older people in Goulbourn Valley and homeless youth in Sydney. He’s facilitated staff in-service days, panel discussions, cooking displays and AGMs. He emcees conferences, business breakfasts – anywhere he can take to the stage and bask in the limelight.
Emceeing and speaking clients include: Commonwealth Bank, Fire New Zealand, Our Community, Optometrists Association Australia, WorkFocus Group, Sustainability Victoria, Perpetual, Australian Sports Technology Network, Department of Human Services Victoria, Department of Community Services NSW, Key Employment, United Way, Orica, City of Melbourne, Ballarat, Benalla and dozens more LGAs, Youth Projects, VLGA, LG Pro, Rotary, Heart Foundation, Fundraising Institute of Australia and many more.
Event organisers – Read the rest of the testimonials.
Brett gets a lot of repeat business – in 2014 he’ll host his seventh consecutive Disability Employment Australia national conference and his 10th consecutive Communities in Control Conference.
His years as a live talk radio host gives him an ability to improvise, his years as a journalist give him the ability to cut to the heart of an issue and ask the curly questions that generate debate among your audience. He treats audiences as intelligent, skeptical and eager for stimulation.
He doesn’t have a gimmick – he isn’t a magician emcee, stand-up comedian emcee, singing, dancing or (thankfully) miming emcee.
Yet to meet a microphone he doesn’t like.
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Every public presentation Brett makes is aimed to provoke, entertain and provide practical advice. He utilises current real-life experiences and examples. He constantly involves his audience. Some of his presentations are more akin to a conversation.
Brett is funny – his testimonials testify to that. He also treats his audiences as intelligent adults who wish to be informed and challenged. He is less predictable than most, never sticks to a script but will try to your schedule. He’s low-maintenance, refreshingly free of contemporary speaker jargon and weird exaggerated choreography.
Here’s what he won’t talk about:
- innovation,
- brain plasticity,
- secrets of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg et al,
- Native American wisdom,
- his book which is available for sale,
- body language,
- Gen-Y vs Gen X in the workplace,
- breaking into the Chinese market.
Not being a celebrity means that Brett understands he needs to do more than show up, read a speech and pose for selfies. He works hard to leave audiences savvier than they arrived. He may use a PowerPoint presentation but it will be text-free, instead featuring an array of rather cryptic images to help make his point.
Brett often researches your issues by talking to the audience by phone or email beforehand, customising his presentations so he’s more relevant, more often.
Brett put his skills to the test on ABC-TV recently.
So what does Brett speak about?
More through marketing
Marketing is easy to scoff at. It’s all social media and cocktails right? But marketing is key to gaining more customers, job candidates, members, donors, volunteers and influence. Better marketing assists every part of the business from sales to HR. It’s part culture part practice. This presentation looks at how any organisation can dramatically improve its marketing using a combination of high and low-tech, free and paid options.
The Internet: not just a phase we’re going through.
How many organisations are making the most of websites, eMarketing and social media? Almost none; including yours. This presentation aims to set you on a path to digital domination. Minimal jargon and delivered from a communications – not technical – perspective. As delivered to Australian School Business Administrators, City of Mitchell Shire, Local Government Executives conference 2014. Delivered in 45 – 75m. Also available: Online Savvy 101 workshop.
Discovering your inner media tart.
As delivered at Al Gore’s Climate Reality event. 520 people from 21 countries.
The meek shall not inherit the Earth – nor will they gain significant media coverage. Gaining media coverage is still the best boost you can give your organisation or career – but how does it happen? Whether as an organisation, sector or individual, Brett de Hoedt will tell you what it takes to gain your share of the media spotlight.
He looks at the culture you’ll need to cultivate and the many ways you can ensure the media come knocking on your door. As delivered at Al Gore’s Climate Reality event. Delivered in 45m to 90m. Also available: Media Savvy 101 workshop.
Industry Makeover
Does your company or sector suffer from an undeserved lack of respect, understanding and adoration? Brett can help with that. Let him talk you through understanding your audiences, their perceptions and how to market yourself to a place in the hearts and minds of the many. As delivered to LG Pro and Victorian Local Government Association. Delivered in 45m to 90m. Also available: Marketing Savvy 101 workshop.
And Now for the Good News: This is a little different. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with the world’s problems. Takes your audience’s mind off the day-to-day with this ad-hoc selection of positive developments big and small, scientific and social. It will leave your audience more-than-a-little pleasantly surprised. Some of the good news will be vaguely familiar, most won’t. A presentation that will make you laugh, think and glad you came. Delivered in 30m – 60m format.
So you Want to Break into the Nonprofit Sector. The Australian nonprofit sector is worth billions and continues to attract more private sector businesses and consultants keen to service the sector and make a profit in doing so.
Brett’s consultancy Hootville Communications has successfully worked exclusively with the nonprofit sector since 1999 and understands NFP culture. Newcomers to the sector – recruiters, accountants, investment advisors and the like can benefit from Brett’s experience with 500+ clients. Delivered in 30m – 60m format.
Beautiful & Talented Ain’t Enough. It’s not a level playing field. Performance is key but reputation matters. This presentation looks at building personal brands in relation to your career. Agenda:
- the ingredients required to be considered a person with presence;
- dealing with self-inflicted barriers to a more prominent profile;
- practical behaviours to adopt immediately;
- Q&A on the group’s networking road blocks.
Advice and techniques for: introductions, meetings, presenting and networking. Delivered in 45 to 60m format.
*Wholly unsubstantiated.