Month: May 2021

Join Andy in this episode as he chats with Brett Culp, an acclaimed filmmaker and social entrepreneur, having written, directed, produced, and edited the documentaries Legends of the Knight (2013) and Look to the Sky (2017). Brett is also a keynote speaker and is the personal cinematographer for Hollywood stars, music icons, authors, athletes, and royal families. This is his third time being on the podcast, and he joins Andy this time to talk about what it might be looking like to return to normal (whatever normal might even mean) life as we seem to finally be approaching the end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brett discusses how exhausting it was to have to reevaluate our lives after the pandemic broke out. He also makes a prediction as to what our greatest challenge will likely be coming out of the pandemic entirely and how he hopes that people will act upon the lessons that they learned about themselves and the world around them. One of the greatest challenges, after all, even for the most optimistic of us, is enduring something negative and taking something positive away from it, but all of us doing so is how we will come out of this pandemic stronger than we were before!

Andy always has a great time chatting with Brett, especially since it always seems to just so happen to take place during a profound time. If you enjoy the episode, reach out to at least three good friends who might also enjoy and benefit from it! We would also be grateful if you were to leave a good review of the podcast! (Also, be sure to check out a list of Brett’s credits over on his IMDb page!)

Have you heard about the brand new show on The Wedding Biz Network, Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don’t forget about Sean Low’s podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.

SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ

Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!

Time Stamps

[0:49] – Andy reveals this episode’s guest – Brett Culp, acclaimed filmmaker and social entrepreneur.

[2:31] – Brett discusses the spiritual and physical exhaustion that many people felt following the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic.

[4:10] – Brett predicts that one of the biggest challenges that we will face coming out of the pandemic is getting back to the excitement of living.

[5:23] – Andy explains how his life has changed since getting vaccinated.

[8:00] – Brett discusses how people are going to have to adjust to being around a large number of people again.

[9:38] – Brett reflects on how his life has changed since the pandemic broke out and the irony of how his speeches becoming virtual has made him busier.

[11:31] – Brett shares the biggest lessons that he has learned over the last year and how those lessons have changed him.

[13:38] – Andy provides feedback on Brett’s reflections, giving his own insight on the lessons that he himself has learned.

[17:03] – Andy and Brett shift the conversation toward how personal life has changed in addition to professional life.

[20:15] – Brett believes that when the world starts to return to a state of normalcy, our thought process will be similar to that of grieving.

[22:20] – Even the most hopeful of us, Brett posits, have lost some of our hope and optimism.

[25:28] – Andy discusses how professionals are saying that we might not reach herd immunity anytime soon and further explains the fog that he feels right now.

[28:04] – Andy emphasizes how important it is for us to be present no matter what that present looks like.

[30:22] – Brett reveals that his work has served as a distraction for him from insecurities and difficulties.

[33:15] – Brett questions whether or not the end of the pandemic will cause us to regress back toward old patterns.

[34:58] – Brett reflects on how it’s difficult – even for optimistic people – to see the good in difficult situations.

[37:35] – Andy shares where we can find Brett online.

RESOURCES

The Wedding Biz Podcast – Episode 119: BRETT CULP: Obstacle or Opportunity

The Wedding Biz Podcast – Episode 237: BRETT CULP: Realigning Your Heart & Soul During the Pandemic

Find Brett:

Brett’s Website

Brett’s IMDb Page

On Clubhouse, follow Andy @andykushner and join his club “The Wedding Biz” to get additional content and to get direct access to Andy.

Follow The Wedding Biz on Social:

The Wedding Biz

The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz

The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz

The Wedding Biz Network

The Music Makers

Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.

Tune in to this episode of the podcast as Andy talks with Christina Matteucci, executive director of David Beahm Experiences! Christina has actually been on the podcast before in episodes 188, 307, 346, and 214. And she joins Andy in this episode to discuss how everything that we do in business has an element of performance involved and how we can best understand and use performance when dealing with clients and giving presentations.

The main focus of Andy’s and Christina’s conversation is the importance of using storytelling – especially storytelling that employs effective imagery – when engaging in a sales pitch, corresponding with clients, and with public speaking. Storytelling is an interwoven part of what it means to be human because we love to both tell and hear stories. Stories draw us in, and, in fact, Christina even recommends starting a sales pitch with a story even if the story isn’t relevant to what you’re selling or proposing!

Christina talks about what techniques that she has learned as far as storytelling and preparation are concerned, techniques that she learned having been a student of Storytelling School. She stresses the importance of understanding who your client is and that your performance might be different depending on the demographics of your audience. She and Andy also reflect on current times and how the need for meeting virtually via tools such as Zoom has been on the rise. They discuss how to make use of the techniques upon which Christina elaborates when meeting virtually and how meeting virtually differs from meeting in person.

Performing and telling stories is not a skill with which we are all born, nor is it something that we all necessarily enjoy. Some of us are not predisposed to it, but, as Christina assures us, it’s not rocket science! You can seek help and advice and can learn. Christina says more than once that it’s important to prepare rather than plan, and she and Andy also talk about how important that it is to not only prepare practically but to also be well rested and hydrated!

Andy hopes that you will enjoy listening to his chat with Christina Matteucci as much as he enjoyed chatting with her. She offers a wealth of helpful information and tips from which listeners can definitely benefit! If you enjoy the episode, reach out to at least three really good friends who might also enjoy and benefit from it, and also be sure to leave a review!

Have you heard about the brand new show on The Wedding Biz Network, Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don’t forget about Sean Low’s podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.

SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ

Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!

Time Stamps

[2:03] – Andy announces the guest of this episode – Christina Matteucci, executive director of David Beahm Experiences.

[3:09] – Andy posits the idea that there is a level of performance involved in business situations, and Christina clarifies that the performance is authentic.

[4:50] – Christina emphasizes how important imagery and storytelling are for her when she prepares a presentation.

[7:14] – Christina recounts a couple of the storytelling techniques that she has learned.

[9:40] – Christina shares that she learned that she should start a sales pitch with a story.

[12:10] – We learn what Christina does to prepare for a sales pitch.

[14:23] – Christina discusses how she also considers choreography when she prepares for a speech, using her TED Talk as an example of when that was important.

[16:40] – It’s very important, as Christina advises, to listen to hear rather than listen to respond.

[18:00] – Christina also emphasizes the importance of making use of your team if you have a team and make use of your team members’ strengths.

[19:44] – Christina and Andy have a conversation about how we should make someone aware if they have a verbal tic.

[23:20] – Andy shifts the conversation toward an example from his own experience of how it took time for him and his team to figure their chemistry out.

[25:55] – Christina enthuses over how fun it is to enter a room before she begins a speech on stage and how she uses music to hype herself up.

[27:52] – Christina offers a concrete example of why the way that you enter a room is so important.

[29:05] – Christina provides some tips on how to engage an audience virtually using tools such as Zoom.

[31:19] – Christina and Andy talk about how with a virtual meeting, it can be difficult to make eye contact because of the positioning of the camera.

[33:40] – Christina recommends talking points over scripts.

[36:35] – Just one sentence, Christina proposes, can drop you into a pitch on Zoom.

[39:18] – Christina shares her favorite performance story from her own past.

[40:58] – We discover what technique works best for Andy.

[43:32] – Andy shares Christina’s online contact information.

RESOURCES

The Wedding Biz – “Top 10 Event Luminary Tips for Dealing with Stress”

The Wedding Biz Podcast – Episode 188: CHRISTINA MATTEUCCI, Creating the Ultimate Collaborative Relationship Between #1s and Their #2s

The Wedding Biz Podcast – Episode 307: A Conversation with DAVID BEAHM & CHRISTINA MATTEUCCI

Storytelling School – Website

Find Christina:

David Beahm Experiences – Website

Christina Matteucci – On Second Thought: Lessons from a Number 2 [TED Talk]

Christina’s Instagram Page

Christina’s LinkedIn Profile


Teucci Mama – Website

On Clubhouse, follow Andy @andykushner and join his club “The Wedding Biz” to get additional content and to get direct access to Andy.

Follow The Wedding Biz on Social:

The Wedding Biz

The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz

The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz

The Wedding Biz Network

The Music Makers

Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.

Tune in as Andy interviews Harold James, a unique French hair and makeup artist in that he prioritizes the individual beauty and personality of each and every one of his clients. Harold is a pretty prolific makeup artist, having done work for celebrities such as Bella Hadid, Amber Valetta, Angelina Jolie, Karlie Kloss, Susan Sarandon, and Kendall Jenner. He has also contributed to a number of top publications like Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair Italy, Elle Italia, Harper’s BAZAAR, Cosmopolitan, as well as many others.

When Harold was a young boy, he would often advise family members such as cousins and sisters what they should do with their hair, and it eventually got to the point at which they would approach him for recommendations! Although he didn’t really become interested in beauty magazines until he was well into his teens, he loved watching his mother do her hair and makeup. He also didn’t immediately go into a beauty profession, initially going into finance, but he was inspired to go into beauty because of a friend whom he loved to watch do it as a hobby.

He also talks about how he finds a balance between being forward with current fashion and current trends while also being aware of what is age appropriate and what is appropriate for a specific event that a client might be attending. He stresses how important that it is that, no matter what, his clients feel beautiful and confident. He also deals with a very wide range of different personalities amongst his clientele which, as he shares, is the most challenging aspect of his job but is also something that he finds exciting.

In closing, Harold is gracious enough to offer advice to anyone who might be up and coming in a similar line of work and wants to take their work to the next level, encouraging people to find their own version of perfection. He also defines success, in so far as what it means to him, saying that he feels that he has been successful when he feels happy and satisfied with his work.

Andy is a big admirer of Harold and his work and had a great time chatting with him. Be sure to check Harold out online using one of the resources mentioned, and you are also encouraged to share this episode with friends and/or colleagues who might enjoy it! A review would also be very much appreciated, as would tuning in next time on The Wedding Biz.

Have you heard about the brand new show on The Wedding Biz Network, Stop and Smell the Roses with Preston Bailey? Listen as Preston shares the secrets, tools, and technologies behind his extraordinary ability to create a theatrical environment out of any space. Also, don’t forget about Sean Low’s podcast The Business of Being Creative, where Sean discusses the power of being niched, pricing strategies, metrics of success, and so much more. You can find both shows on The Wedding Biz Network.

SUPPORTING THE WEDDING BIZ

Become a patron and support Andy and the show! If you are so inspired, contribute!

Time Stamps

[1:02] – Andy announces this episode’s guest, Harold James, and provides some of his credentials.

[2:22] – Harold reveals what aspirations that he had as a child that led to his eventual work in hair and makeup.

[5:04] – Harold details the funny story around the first time that he served a client in the beauty industry.

[7:24] – Harold discusses how he was initially working in fashion but not hair and makeup.

[9:02] – Harold explains why doing makeup in France is very different from doing makeup in the United States.

[11:00] – We discover how Harold tends to learn the specific details of each client’s needs.

[12:49] – Andy emphasizes the fact that makeup is an art, and Harold describes what inspires him as an artist.

[14:59] – Harold comments on the composition and texture aspects of his work.

[18:57] – Harold explains how he balances being fashion forward but also being age appropriate and event appropriate.

[20:34] – We hear how Harold applies nearly the same beauty principles with his celebrity clientele as he does his other clients.

[23:06] – Harold enthusiastically shares that he still feels a lot of pressure when he does work for celebrities and brides, and he explains why.

[25:44] – Harold describes how his approach is similar and different when he does work for an advertising campaign or an editorial.

[26:42] – We learn what the most difficult aspect of Harold’s job is – dealing with different personalities – and how this is also something that he loves.

[28:04] – Harold tells a story involving one of his biggest challenges and how he overcame it.

[29:19] – Harold offers advice to people who want to go down a similar path as his.

[30:52] – Harold defines success as happiness and satisfaction with your work.

RESOURCES

Find Harold:

Harold’s Website

Harold’s Instagram Page

On Clubhouse, follow Andy @andykushner and join his club “The Wedding Biz” to get additional content and to get direct access to Andy.

Follow The Wedding Biz on Social:

The Wedding Biz

The Wedding Biz on Instagram: @theweddingbiz

The Wedding Biz on Facebook: @theweddingbiz

The Wedding Biz Network

The Music Makers

Support The Wedding Biz by clicking here.