Tales from a Motivational Humorist: Before, During and After the Fall
Online, March 2, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Who would have thought that a corporate comedian could be considered a reliable economic indicator and financial prognosticator? Corporate entertainer Tim Clue advises: just ask him.
"In just one day in October of 2008, I had a major tech company, a national food maker, and an energy company all call and tell me they'd decided they had to cancel their events. This was our Black Tuesday.
Black Shoot Indicators
"Our business-corporate entertainment-probably not surprisingly, has always been an indicator of the general health of business. So when my phone stopped ringing, I knew companies were in trouble. And not just a few of them - all of them."
The psychology of recovery is fairly ethereal, but when it comes to a downturn, the consumer confidence index doesn't lie. If the people aren't feeling it, the corporate speaker's telephone shows it.
"We've all heard the adage about humor being 'tragedy plus time,'" says Clue. "Well, the hiring of a motivational or humorous speaker equals consumer confidence; it's as much feeling as fact.
"When you hire a motivational speaker, it's because you want your people to perceive the company as a fun place - an inspirational place - to work. It says, 'We're ready to grow.' But during the Recession, we were stuck in this intense period of imbalance, the unknown... absolute paralysis. There's no laughing in professional paralysis. The banks were paralyzed, business was paralyzed, and so was the corporate entertainment market. CEOs just didn't know what to say during the downturn, other than 'hold your breath and wait - we're paddling - we'll see if we can make it to land.' And in the words of Barry Manilow, looks like we made it," adds Clue.
A Recalibration of Humor and Motivation: No "Topic Handcuffs" - Sign of a Company's Health
"Humor is health on all levels," says Clue. "The answer to, 'How are you today?' has to do with how you are feeling physically, emotionally, financially. I've always said that the success of the motivational humor business is one of the surest Ben Bernanke 'green shoot indicators' out there. We knew the economy was turning around even before The Economy knew it was turning around."
Clue even goes as far as to assert that when performing, he can feel the health - or lack thereof - of a company, just by the way they respond to his comedy. Or even the preparation of it.
"I write original material for every performance based on the culture of the company, or to help drive home the messages of a conference. Some companies want me to address their 'pain points' and - through humor - facilitate a frank but playful dialogue, either because they already have a solution, or because the problems are at least being tackled and the proverbial pain is on its way out.
"But some companies are more sensitive because the pain is still too real," says Clue. "And they create these no-fly zones around certain topics. If I'm told I can't mention the new automated ordering system that's not been working the way it's supposed to - telling me "it's too fresh, too sensitive, the CEO won't think that's funny" - then I know that company isn't healing, it's still hurting. And often it's actually the upper management that's smarting, but the 'people' of the company are crying out for a release. They're begging, 'Please, let us acknowledge it - let us laugh away the pain!'"
Now, however, Clue is feeling the percolating health of the economy through the companies that are calling again.
"There is this tremor of a subconscious relaxation," he says. "We're in a 'sigh' moment; there's wiggle room again. I can feel it during the performances, and I can even feel it even in the pre-show conversations I have with HR or PR or the CEO. As I learn about each company, I'm hearing that they're ready to invest in their culture again. It's a terrific feeling - not just because I'm getting work - but because literally, companies are ready to laugh again. And that's great for everyone. And from this, you can identify which companies have gotten out in front and want to play a part in expediting this financial u-turn."
Take-Aways?
Most people have at least a macro understanding of how and why the economy imploded, but the science of recovery is a mystery that we're all still trying to figure out.
"And I believe that my business plays a part in that science," says Clue. "The corporate entertainment business falls into the category of attitude; the psychology of the health of business. We're obviously not a hardcore data point; it's more like, 'Yeah, we're feeling like maybe we could go to a party tonight.' And that's good news for the American worker and our culture."
When companies use motivational humor for their event, it's a sign of reward, health and growth, says Clue.
"Humor is catharsis and creates an open dialogue that reverberates and creates more important conversations within the company long after I've left the stage. My humor is often the springboard to a new, healthier atmosphere within the company."
Tim Clue is a corporate entertainer, motivational speaker, writer and humorist from Chicago who studies the culture and ethos of each company and includes that material in his shows, using his toolbox of observational humor to find the core of his performance.
Clue's comedy about "Debt" is a viral hit on YouTube.
Please contact Kathryn Lake at Self-Promotion, Inc. at klake@selfpromoinc.com or 773-271-3011 for more information or to set up an interview with Tim Clue.