Writing and Speaking - Improvisation and Impersonation, Why Not Throw in a Little Innovation?

Hey, you know what? Good speakers and writers are hard to come by. Oh sure, there are 10s of millions of writers in the world it seems and with the Internet there are more and more every day. With YouTube there are more and more speakers throwing their hat into a video as well, but it seems that there are very few "really good" writers and speakers.

If you are sitting in an audience and a speaker is making you laugh, and their timing is perfect, and you can tell they are throwing a little improvisational in from time to time, it makes you listen, and wonder what they're going to say next, and you don't want to miss anything.

You might think this is hard to do, but it really isn't, and, you may even speak this way when talking with your own friends, and not even realize it. Now you might occasionally strike a sarcastic tone, and do a little Impersonation of someone that you're making fun of behind their back, and if you do this, and you don't even realize it, you have all the skills to be a great speaker and to throw in a little improvisation, and a little Impersonation.

It's really not that difficult, and perhaps the reason that few people are able to do this, is they are too worried about what the crowd might think, or they don't feel the self-confidence they need to pull it off. Now then, I'm not suggesting that you strike a sarcastic tone, that sort of comedy isn't always good when speaking to professional groups, and yes folks who read articles, essays, other writing probably get enough of that style reading blogs and stuff on the Internet.

However, a little Impersonation can go a long way, and you shouldn't be afraid to try new things, or a little innovation here and there. Sometimes it just feels right, and you should go with it. The best way you can try new things is to try it out on an audience, and then work on and practice the timing. Over the years I've developed about 15 minutes of comedy, all original jokes, which make almost anyone laugh wherever I go, and they go over really good with large audiences.

Is it hard to impersonate people? Generally not, especially celebrities, because they have idiosyncrasies, certain phrases, and a certain voice inflection. It's not hard to impersonate them at all, but it does take practice. I would suggest to you that you should practice these things, and borrow various phrases that people use, and use them in your own writing, of course always attributing them to the person who you are impersonating; try it, it works, and the audiences love it, the readers too. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

Engage, Don't Sell at Book Signings

I'm new as an author, so I'm reluctant to give advice. I am not new, however, in professional selling. My entire career in corporations, like Xerox, involved responsibilities with customers, both as a salesman and as an executive. For the last 20 years I have offered consulting advice to large and small corporations in their sales management practices through Prodyne, Inc., a consulting firm I founded in 1991. The following observations and suggestions are rooted in that experience.

My first book signing was in a small B. Dalton store in Bemidji, MN. The longer I sat behind the table, the more people felt awkward in approaching me. I also knew that being a large man can make it harder for some people to warm up. It seemed intuitively obvious that day that the people who were "hovering" in the store wanted to talk to me, but didn't know how. Being a Rotarian and sharing that value of friendship with others helped. I didn't have to sell them the book-they knew I was selling books. I needed to engage them in the topic of reading, something we both shared as an interest.

This is where the professional selling model of listening 75% of the time comes in. But the dilemma is "How do I do that?" It starts with a smile, getting out from behind the table, shaking hands, making clear eye contact, introducing yourself and engaging them in a conversation with questions. What kinds of books do you like to read? Are you a frequent customer of the store? Have you found what you're looking for? Is that t-shirt from the college you went to? Can I help you with a recommendation? Would you like to know more about my book? You get the picture-the list goes on. Within minutes this first book signing went from a flop to a success and, more importantly, everybody had fun.

As I gained additional exposure at book signings, the concept of being paired with other authors presented itself. Many authors, by nature, are more on the introverted side of the personality spectrum. As a result, they sit there waiting. A lady next to me fit this mode at a book signing at the Sister Wolf Bookstore in Dorset, MN. It was crowded, so the prospect of getting up and wandering around wouldn't work. She asked me what to do. I suggested that if she had a broken leg and someone came to visit at her home, what would she do? She wouldn't sit there and say nothing. "Of course not," she said. Think of this as the same thing. No. 1, believe they are coming to see you. No. 2, they may, or may not, buy your book. No. 3, they will buy or refer your book based on the experience they have with you, as a person. Be welcoming, be friendly, and be inquisitive. Take the pressure off them and you by engaging, not selling. They are more likely to remember your book if they have a pleasant experience to attach it to.

She asked, "How do I get people to come to my table in the first place?"

"Let me show you." With that the next person into the store had a Michigan State University hat on. This was too easy as I am green and white clear through. I said, "Go green," just loud enough for the person to hear.

He stopped, looked in my direction and said, "Go white." He came to my table and bought a book. When I was done I admitted to the lady that it's not always that easy, but she got the point. Engage people in a friendly way.

The dark side of this method is that you will occasionally attract the person who wants to tell you their life story, or about the book they want to write. Control the discussion by offering to talk more after the book signing or by simply excusing yourself to transfer the discussion as another interested reader arrives. If my wife, Carole, is with me and senses that this is happening she'll come to my aid at the table and engage the "talker," luring them away so I can focus my attention on others. As in every case, however, the person needs to feel good about the experience through a pleasant, enjoyable dialogue.

I'm still new at this, but I don't look at book signings the same anymore. It's really an opportunity to meet a lot of nice people who share my interest in books. Sales of your book will be an enjoyable byproduct.

Prices for Prestige Properties Have Risen More in Paris Than Anywhere Else

Sixty eight million euros. This is the price for which the Bourbon-Conde hotel located in the 7th district of Paris sold 2 years ago. Today, it still holds the world record for the highest transaction. And since then the ratings for Paris in the luxury real estate market has grown and grown. According to a network of agencies in the premium housing market, it's in Paris that the prices of this section grew the most (+21%) in 2010.

The other "world-towns" which attract the wealthier people coming from the four corners of the globe have seen less spectacular progress: an almost stability in New York (+1%) and Geneva (+1.5%), and a reasonable rise in London (+8.5%).

Thus, in New York, the high standard houses cost approximately 10.1 million USD in 2010 whereas in 2009 they cost 9.7 million USD yet 11.6 million USD three years ago.

The gap gets wider again if we compare the evolution during the last 5 years: in Paris, the prices grew by about 44%, compared with only 25% in London while they remained steady in New York.

But the prices have stopped rising, the result is now here: considered for a longtime as cheaper than New York and London, Paris has pretty much managed to catch up with the other two, which is especially due to the fluctuations of the exchange rates. According to Barnes, another real estate network agency specialized in premium property, the most beautiful apartments situated on the left side of the Seine in the VI and VII district are currently worth between 14000 and 18000 euro per square meter whereas on the right side of the Seine, in the XVI and XVII districts, these properties can be negotiated between 9500 and 11500 euro per square meter.

No New-Build in Paris

Direct consequence: transactions for prestige properties have reached a new level. Therefore, a 250sqm flat with view over the Champ-de-Mars was sold a few weeks ago for 5.8 million euros, 23000 euros per square meter. "Today, the prices are 10% higher in Paris than New York for equally valued properties", estimates a local estate agent.

The experts have various explanations for the French capital's catching up. In Paris, there's fewer products because they haven't build prestige dwellings since the SRU law of 2000 which means a 20% of buildings must be kept for social housing in new developments. Although New York is a case apart in the United States (of America), the town has suffered from the subprime crisis which affected real estate. Moreover, Paris has a trick: it is more of an international city than New York. In the last 12 months, 40% of new owners of properties valued between 4 and 10 million euros were foreigners in the French capital. With a diversity of nationalities (Russian, Middle-Eastern, Chinese, American...) which protects from regional economic crisis.