Life on Stage An Interview with Comedian David Siegel - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Life on Stage An Interview with Comedian David Siegel - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career David Siegel Recently, I had the privilege of sitting down with comedian David Siegel. David is an improvisational comedian based in New York City, and an instructor at the Upright Citizens Brigade. David is also a political impersonator, whos impression of John McCain won Dennys national Vote For Real competition in 2008.  I was fortunate enough to have him as my Level 1 instructor and have learned a tremendous amount about comedic theory and performance through his lessons. He agreed to an interview so that I could share his story and insight with people outside of the class. Like you! We spoke about how he got involved in comedy, why performing is like a drug, and his top comedic lessons for non-comedians. How did you get involved with comedy? I got my start with improv when I was in college, that would be the formal time. I had seen short-form, I had seen ComedySportz in high school, and I had done improv in drama class. I really liked that, and when I got to college at UNC [University of North Carolina], they had, and still do have, an excellent improv group called Chips, the Chapel Hill Players. And I saw some of their shows and thought it was just awesome. They would do shows in an auditorium for 300 people, and I really wanted to do that. But I didnt get in, I didnt get in a couple of times. I kept auditioning every semester and never made it. Then my sophomore year, a little over years ago, a guy named Zach Ward started what became Dirty South Improv, which is still an active theater. He started teaching classes there, and I got involved in the first round of classes they offered. I was very lucky because a lot of the coaches who started the program with him had done a lot of stuff up here [in New York]. One of my f irst coaches was a guy named Scott Jennings who had done a Harold team here at UCB. So I was doing DSI, mostly long-form but also some short-form as well. I also then eventually did get into Chips in my Junior year, so the second half of my college experience was spent doing a lot of improv, much to the detriment of other things, my GPA included. When I graduated I was doing improv all of the time, and I thought, “Well, I don’t want to stop, I want to see what else I can do with it.” I had spent a summer up in New York City for an internship, but Chicago I didnt know at all. So I came here, and that’s what brought me to New York, in September of 2006. I started taking classes right away and have been at it in some capacity ever since. How would you define your personal brand as a comedian? Thats a very self-reflective question. Ive really not pursued, possibly to my own detriment, too many opportunities outside of improv. For example I don’t go on many commercial auditions, I have a day job I’m also pretty committed to. I think that is a bit of a myth, that improv can be a path to fame or to a real comedic career, that’s a bit of a red herring. No one is going to get famous just for doing improv. Improv is still very esoteric, in the way we are talking about it, to really study it, it’s still extremely esoteric. So I don’t even know if I’m known in the comedy community outside of the UCB world, and I don’t even know everyone here at UCB. I would say in the context of UCB, you want to be known as someone who is easy to play with. The best I can do is think of the improvisers I think highly of, and it’s the ones who are easy to play with, who you get on stage with and it doesnt feel like hard work. I hope I’m thought of that way. What are the differences between New York improv and Chicago improv? Well, I can only really give a broad answer to that because I don’t know the Chicago scene well enough to speak authoritatively on it at all. But the general answer to that is that I think most of it is the same style. But of course there have to be some differences because New York is just such a different place than Chicago. I think the way that manifests itself is that New York improv, which is a term I would even hesitate to use, because when I say “improv” I’m only talking about at this theater. They are doing different things at The Magnet Theater and The PIT [People’s Improv Theater]. In terms of here, I’d say it’s a little faster, it’s a little more aggressive, it matches the city that it’s in. There is a “get to it” mentality, and that is a lot of what our curriculum is based on, getting to what is funny, getting to the point. The general feeling is that in Chicago it’s geared more toward a slow-burn, it seems to be tilted more towards the acting at t imes than necessarily the comedy. And we want you to be great actors up there, but we are more focused on it being funny. Again, that is a very uninformed perspective. What do you enjoy about teaching comedy and performing it? I like seeing what an inherent ability it is in most people. It’s remarkable how much the average person has to say about the world. Just by virtue of them not having died, that they made it from Point A to whatever point they are at. The first thing we do in every Level 1 that I teach is a monologue, and real people’s lives are tremendously funny, tremendously compelling and engaging. And I like showing people that they can present that, and it can connect with audiences. You can make people laugh without going out on stage and doing whatever they would usually associate with comedy. It’s a very empowering feeling, and I remember being empowered when I was a student. And I still am a student, I take classes here. I remember being really surprised when I realized that just my life is enough to engage an audience. So it’s really fun for me to be in the room when other people experience that for the first time. It’s also really funny, in class I’m laughing for real. That’ s the biggest part I like about teaching it. In terms of performing it, it’s a junkie rush. It very much is, it has a very illicit feel to it. It’s a certain kind of rush, a certain kind of buzz, and Ive obviously been hooked on it for long enough that it’s become a pretty big part of my life. When it’s working there is nothing better. Ive always been a procrastinator, I like when I have to pull something off by the seat of my pants. I enjoy things when they are a little bit chaotic, rather than planned and thought out. I was always the guy who would wait until the night before and bang out a 20 page paper. Also, the audience is always more supportive for improv. No one goes to improv to see a bad show. By definition, someone who is there wants you to do well. The audience expectations are so drastically different for improv than for stand-up or sketch. That one basic concept that it’s being made up on the spot changes the entire equation. I can get away with things in an improv context that would never work in a sket ch. For improv you have to be in the same room for it. You have to be breathing the same air as the audience for it to work. What comedic lessons have you learned that could benefit anyone? I think in improv it’s very important to understand why someone else, a character, thinks the way that they do. You don’t have to agree with it, but you have to understand it. When you’re dealing with the “crazy guy” in the scene, you can’t just dismiss him as the “crazy guy” you have to have some sense of where they are coming from. Usually, from their perspective they arent crazy, to them it makes sense. So the ability to think inside someone else’s skull is an important skill that can translate well into real life. I’d also say, just listening and reacting is important. To hear something before you respond to it. To let something sink in and effect you before you say your piece. Even broader, I guess a sense that whatever happens you can handle it when it comes up. Not individually, improv is a very ensemble based thing, but the idea that you shouldnt worry ahead, to wait for whatever happens and respond to it. Thank you to David for taking the time to share his expertise with me. I also would recommend his class at the UCB Theater in New York City. Or you can go see him perform on Harold Night, as he is currently a member of the team Sherlock Cookies. I am a better improviser because of him!

Get a Better Career Success Through Resume Writing Services

Get a Better Career Success Through Resume Writing ServicesThere are many people who prefer to use resume writing services in order to help them in building their professional future. Why should they? Resume writing services in Florida are there to help you get a better career success as well as start the journey of your professional life.Resume writing services in Florida are the best place to start when you want to find an experienced and professional writer for your job interview. The professionals that you hire for the job can do the job perfectly. They know the language and the conventions of the job description. With the help of these professionals, you can improve your credibility by writing resumes that will prove that you are the best candidate for the job.The professional writers in Florida have experience in the field of recruiting and interviewing job seekers. The job description is usually divided into subcategories. Each of these sub categories has a specific job profil e. You will find that some of the job profiles require technical skills while others are suited for academic jobs. The job specifications vary from one area to another.A good resume, written in accordance with the job specification will not only impress the employer but also get the attention of the job seeker. A formal resume with all the details should be prepared for every position. It is always better to get assistance from the professional resume writing services in Florida in case you need to impress the employer with a personal resume.The resume writing services in Florida will write and prepare the resume according to the job specifications and specification. They will prepare the resume according to the job specification or criteria. You can take help from the professionals for a professional job search.If you want to learn more about resume writing services, you can go to websites that offer information about resume writing. You can find a list of skilled writers, who can write resumes with professionalism and attention to detail. In the Internet, you can also get your resume in no time.The resume should be as accurate as possible so that it gives the appropriate details to the recruiter. Most of the resume writing services in Florida have several writers who can be called upon to prepare your resume. They will take your resume and format it according to the specific job specification.If you want to find resume writing services in Florida, you can even look for the professionals online. You can find details of the service providers on the web. You can get your resume written in less than 24 hours, as these professional writers can send the written work immediately to the employer.

5 Tips to Help You Interact in Your Workplace - Hire Imaging

5 Tips to Help You Interact in Your Workplace - Hire Imaging I love catching up on research that speaks to interactions and relationships. At the root of these relationships, is your own situation, as well as your unique emotions, fears, challenges, strengths, and more. For our purposes here, I hone in on the workplace, with tips from psychology resources that are of course, applicable to life relationships as well.   Mistakes have a plus side. Do you get frustrated and self-critical while struggling to learn a new skill? Cut yourself some slack and adopt the mindset that each mistake takes you closer to mastery. In a recent study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, subjects who had this kind of optimistic attitude, called a “growth mindset,” were better able to learn from missed items on a multiple-choice test than their peers, who were not as open to the possibility of evolving after a setback or error. The research revealed that believing your abilities can adapt and improve makes challenges feel less threatening, so you’re able to take setbacks in stride and improve on the next try. Smart way to avert angry outbreaks. Perhaps you feel you’ve been snubbed or offended. Calm down by drafting an email to the person you’re mad at. But don’t send it! This suggestion comes from scientists in the journal, Scientific Reports.  In their study, people played a game in which they could withhold money from others who dealt with their anger by taking a time-out, distracting themselves, or drafting a complaint. The results? Letter writers showed the most composure, even when the note wasn’t sent. That’s because expressing their anger in words helps people get closure and distance.   Four words that enhance persuasiveness. Getting an underperforming â€" or perhaps shy team member to voluntarily serve on a task force or committee, could be as simple as starting your request with, “You will probably refuse …” In a recent study, French researchers collected donations for a non-profit group by either cutting right to the chase or opening with those four magic words. They found that being less direct led to a 56 percent increase in donors. The reason? By giving others an “out,” you show respect for their freedom to choose, making them more receptive to your appeal. Quick-trick fix for embarrassment. If a faux pas a workplace party or a heated discussion by the water-cooler leave you feeling awkward, head through the nearest doorway to another room. In a new study in The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, researchers had participants work their way through a virtual space made up of various rooms and doorways. The surprising discovery: People had weaker memories for details in rooms they’d just left. Called the “doorway effect,” crossing the threshold from one space to another prompts the brain to store memories related to the room they just left. This consolidation process creates a mental boundary, so the specifics are no longer top of mind, making recall more difficult. Speedy spark for creative thinking. Before tackling a tough to-do, take a brief time-out to chat with a colleague. According to new research in the journal, Social Psychological Personality Science, doing so will sharpen your thinking. In the study, people who socialized for 10 minutes in a friendly, supportive way, benefited from an increase in mental acuity, focus, and memory equivalent to the boost one gets from doing a crossword puzzle. The reason? Chitchat gets you to empathize with other people and enter fresh viewpoints, stretching your mind to think in w ways. What experiences or ideas do you have regarding improved interactions and relationships in in the workplace? Especially if they’re backed by science? I’d love to hear from you! Please comment below.

Addressing Work Gaps During the Interview

Addressing Work Gaps During the Interview 37 Flares 37 Flares Tom Gimbel is the President and CEO of  LaSalle Network,  a Chicago-based staffing firm. Founded in 1998, LaSalle has served thousands of clients and candidates, placing job seekers in temporary, temporary-to-permanent and permanent positions. LaSalle is the only Illinois-based staffing firm named on the Inc. 500/5000 list for the last seven consecutive years. ReadTom’s latest on his blog,  Past Five,  or tweet him  @TomGimbel. During an interview, candidates have a limited amount of time to convince a hiring manager that they are the best person for the role.   That being said, it’s common (and understandable) that a candidate focuses the conversation only on the impressive points of their resume and doesn’t address any areas of concern that a hiring manager may or may not bring up. This is the biggest avoidable mistake they can make.   Gaps on a resume are seen as red flags. Period.   It’s the candidate’s job to address them and be upfront and honest. Here are a few things to be candid about in an interview: Gaps in work history: Taking time off to deal with a personal issue is acceptable. Taking time off to redirect your career path and reinvest in learning a new industry is commendable. Share the reasons for gaps in work history. Not all, but many hiring manager’s will appreciate candidness and disregard the lapse of time spent unemployed…as long as it wasn’t spent watching TV. Job-hopping: Hiring managers don’t want to hear that a candidate stayed at a job for only three months, or that they have held three, four, five positions in 1-2 years…it shows lack of commitment. Why would a company invest in someone who is a flight risk? At the end of the day, candidates need to be prepared for these objections and ready to answer the question: What did you do to try and make it work? Reasons for quitting. Hiring managers have heard it all â€" Not challenged, long hours, no room for growth, culture fit…and of course, not getting along with a past employer…yes, it’s okay to mention this too, but use judgment.  Badmouthing a previous employer is never a good idea, but diplomatically stating there was a conflict of interests and maturely explaining it is ok. Remember, the ultimate goal during the job hunt is to find the right company for you, candidly sharing why previous employers weren’t right won’t help you find this. Laid off. If you were laid off because of staff cuts, be upfront about it. Tenured professionals who worked through the recession were affected by layoffs in one way or another, whether they were laid off themselves or knew someone who was.  Layoffs happen…what matters is how a candidate responds. Fired. The fact of the matter is, people are embarrassed to say they were fired. No one wants to admit they failed in a role, but it has happened to a lot of people through their careers. Have reasons to explain what went wrong, what was a learned from each experience, and how you’ve grown as a professional because of it.

30 Ideas - The Ideas of Successful Job Search -

30 Ideas - The Ideas of Successful Job Search - Job seekers dont have to look very far to find advice. Book stores and the Internet are filled with ideas about strategies, tools and tips to help people find jobs. What is different about my colleague Tim Tyrell-Smiths book, 30 Ideas: The Ideas of Successful Job Search, is his perspective as a hiring manager and a former job seeker. He was inspired to share his 30 ideas based on his own experiences. He explains his job search focus is on working with a purpose throughout the processtheres little room for impulse decision-making. It is about efficiency and structure. A bonus? His background is in consumer marketing (22 years). In case you didnt already know finding a job is all about marketing, branding and communicating, so Tims experience is invaluable. 30 Ideas offers both practical advice and important reminders. For example, we know its difficult to maintain a positive mindset while job hunting. We also know how invaluable it can be to face the challenge with an optimistic attitude. Tim empathetically provides numerous suggestions to help job seekers keep an upbeat focus, including: ideas to create an actionable strategy reminders to embrace some of your free time to recharge your batteries specifics to consider, even on the worst days tips to overcome irrational fears how to avoid the out of work stigma In addition to these important reminders, Tim takes his readers through practical job search networking steps, offering advice about: how to tell your network what you want whom to target for networking how to handle networking events when to readjust your pitch and how what NOT to do when you network (which could be as important as what TO do) Tims book is a great resource for job seekers who need a boost and some real-life, honest-to-goodness advice to remind them they can make a difference in their job hunts. Be sure to also visit Tims website/blog, where he offers frequent insights for job seekers extending the advice in the book and interacting with his readers. You may also be interested in Tims LinkedIn group, Tims Strategy Ideas For Job Search, Career And Life, where a community of job seekers and advisors share ideas and suggestions. Learn more about 30 Ideas on Tims site and order it HERE via AMAZON or HERE for Kindle. Tim generously offered to send a copy of his book to one of my readers! Comment below with a tip for job seekers based on your experience or a question!

How to Write a Resume For Chicago Theological Seminary

How to Write a Resume For Chicago Theological SeminaryWriting a resume for Chicago theological seminary is a good way to get a quality resume for an online college. A resume is the first thing that a person is sent by an employer when they interview for a job. Your resume will stand out among the rest of the resumes. Read on to find out how you can write a resume for Chicago theological seminary.What is a resume? A resume is the record of the skills, experiences, and educational background that the person in question possesses. This record is called a resume. A resume is nothing but a document that should not be a one-page-resume.A one-page-resume is all you need. Writing a resume for Chicago theological seminary is simply a job for a one-page resume. Try not to clutter up your resume with many details. Try to focus on your skills and your qualifications as you fill the resume with your educational background and other relevant details.Be honest. You should not exaggerate or over exa ggerate your experiences, accomplishments, and academic achievements. Avoid listing yourself as the director of a college, or, the senior to all the other professors in the college. Include the company you worked for. Accidents and illnesses should not be given as references.Here is how to write a resume for Chicago theological seminary. Be professional. Try to write your resume in a logical format. Keep your resume organized. Use bullet points where appropriate.Narrow your resume by focusing on a specific qualification, position, or job. Include the dates of the positions that you have held. Write your education details about your awards and accolades. Don't forget to list your references, as they can be crucial for a future employer.Writing a resume for Chicago theological seminary is the first step to get a quality resume for an online college. It is good to look at resumes that you are familiar with, even if they are from the past. Try to avoid them if possible.

The War Against Resume Writing Services near Oyster Bay New York

The War Against Resume Writing Services near Oyster Bay New York Hiring managers meet with lots of individuals. Businesses are looking online to find out when you have the appropriate qualifications. I used ton't know the best places to get started with my resume. Here's What I Know About Resume Writing Services near Oyster Bay New York Our objective is to learn where you are, where you would like to go and to secure you there. Getting you the job you desire is our joy and our organization. There are many different services out there you may use that will charge left. Career opportunities abound in New York, but only for those that are ready to make the most of them. It is essential for you to be aware of your risk level first so that you can best know your requirements, including whether an injury forgiveness policy is appropriate for you. Roosevelt inpatient facilities have the benefits of providing a protected atmosphere for patients seeking treatment, although costs are generally greater. To begin with, it's important that you be aware of how much coverage you require. There are many elements to be cautiously considered as a member of your small business program. Yes, I am speaking about your LinkedIn Profile and social networking standpoints here. In addition, we minimize the visual effect of background aspects that may damage your candidacy. Our resume writing services can help you acquire the interview and land the job you need and deserve. Some companies do need cover letters as a way to apply. It's the very first impression an upcoming employer has of you. To locate a specific school district, and the way it relates to a particular apartment, please contact the apartment manager. A History of Resume Writing Services near Oyster Bay New York Refuted With preparation comes confidence and the ability to display your skills and how you'll add value to this new firm. Also, it is going to be useful to get some idea of organizations y ou prefer to work with. Resume Strategists will guarantee you get a strong personal brand to produce that happen! When you're at the mid-advanced point in your career, odds are you own a LOT of experience, perhaps in 1 form of company or one sort of field. Facts, Fiction and Resume Writing Services near Oyster Bay New York Resume writing requires critical thinking and a great deal of creativity concerning the way the info should flow, what the messaging ought to be and the way the resume ought to be designed from modest to modern. So many questions to answer before getting started. It's vital that you understand how much you are able to afford before settling on a policy. It offers a user-friendly format and other elements critical to getting noticed in the current competitive job marketplace. We use several procedures to conduct a great analysis and offer an objective opinion on every one of the firm. Attempt to learn the way the firm will probably treat you. You will ne ed to understand how well each provider is equipped to respond to any claim you might need to file. It is possible to think of us as your private advertising company because we understand how to package people.