Keynote
StageBusiness™ Ken Richters, principal and founder of the International Production Company based in Connecticut, is known throughout the entertainment industry for his versatility and style. As a corporate motivational speaker he understands both the art and business of show business with insightful detail -- successfully surviving "self-unemployment" for nearly than 30 years.
"What can I say. You bring the
house down every time you
speak for us." --Lloyds of London
StageBusiness™ is unique, funny and inspiring motivational
and keynote address. A successful actor and businessman,
Richters is on the outside looking in. He knows how to stay
motivated in a profession with a 98% unemployment rate. A career
where the average worker makes less than $1000 a year. He
knows how to make cold calls and how to pitch pros who pride
themselves on being hard sells. He knows success is all
about talent, dedication, and determination.
StageBusiness™ is a dynamic and inspirational presentation with
an excitement that only veteran actor Ken Richters can bring to
the stage:
"Talent is subjective. When you
sell a product -- whether it's a dramatic role, a comedy bit or
a commercial pitching soap -- with your subjective value, you
get used to hearing NO! "Very nice, we'll be in touch ... Is
your phone number on the resume? Thanks, it was good of you to
stop in. We should be making a decision in a couple of
weeks. ... You're certainly under consideration." And the
most painful of all replies can happen half-way through
your audition piece (your sales pitch) ... a loud, clear,
startling, and non-ambiguous Thank you." There is no comeback to
the dreaded 'thank you' (although I've been known to ask, "Was
it something I said?") Selling is, after all, a game
of numbers. If you want to enjoy the overwhelming pleasure that
comes from hearing the word Yes, be prepared to accept the pain
of No. No matter what the sales-to-close ratio for your
industry, it's usually a lot of No's before you hear Yes. The
trick is to remember that every time you hear No, it's one less
No to go before the big Yes. It's all a game of numbers."
Educational Workshops
PERFORMING ARTS: Ken Richters takes a common sense approach
to the business of performing, with this knowledgeable and
pragmatic examination of the problems faced by today's
performing artist. In a statement-question and answer format, he
speaks to the creative and financial aspects of professional
performing. The well-paced lecture and workshop is punctuated
with behind-the-scenes anecdotes on auditions, rehearsals, and
personalities in television, film, Broadway, and touring
companies.
AMERICAN LITERATURE: After more than 1000 performances as “Mark
Twain”, and spending close to two years researching the author,
Ken Richters brings a new perspective to the works of this truly
American treasure. This humorous and poignant lecture questions
the accepted notion that “Mark Twain’s writings directly
paralleled the major events of his personal life,” providing
chapter and verse arguments to the theory that Twain was an
atheist, and that in later life stopped caring for the world he
so loved in his youth. Included in this lecture are readings
from the author's lesser known works - some of which were
published after his death.
