An Interview With Fotis Georgiadis
You must have one powerful theme throughout your presentation.
At some point in our lives, many of us will have to give a talk to a large group of people. What does it take to be a highly effective public speaker? How can you improve your public speaking skills? How can you overcome a fear of speaking in public? What does it take to give a very interesting and engaging public talk? In this interview series called “5 Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Public Speaker” we are talking to successful and effective public speakers to share insights and stories from their experience. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Sage Communications’ Bruce Merrin.
It was none other than Johnny Carson who encouraged Bruce Merrin to formally create his Celebrity Speakers and Entertainment Bureau in 1973 — since then, Merrin has been providing Fortune 500 companies with high-energy, inspiring and entertaining keynote speakers, tailoring speakers for each event based on budget, location and theme. Based in Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, Merrin’s personal contacts are unparalleled. Now celebrating almost 50 years in the business, Bruce Merrin’s Celebrity Speakers Bureau represents authors, athletes, entrepreneurs, futurists, television and radio personalities, doctors and many more.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?
Growing up I was, of course, impacted by my mom and dad. Both were graduates from the prestigious Journalism School at the University of Missouri. They encouraged me to take my first journalism class in junior high, and when I moved on to Grant High School in Van Nuys, California, I became the sports editor of the school newspaper, The Odyssey, and then later a features writer at the Daily Bruin, based at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In the Army, I served as the editor of Army News Features in Washington, D.C., and the 18th MP Brigade newspaper in Vietnam. My mother, Leona Merrin, was the biggest inspiration of my life. She was the best writer I have ever met, and I’m not inflating her abilities just because I’m her son — she has the Pulitzer to prove it.
Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?
My mom encouraged me to attend the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, and, after I’d graduated, it was my mom who suggested I look for a job at MGM Studios. I obtained a prestigious job in the Thalberg Building at MGM, and my first assignment was handling public relations for Elvis Presley and his new film “Elvis on Tour.” When I met Elvis and we had lunch in the MGM commissary, we hit it off because he and I were both mama’s boys. I am eternally grateful to my beloved mom. She made it all happen.
Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
My first two sports clients were Muhammad Ali and Jackie Robinson, and my first two entertainment clients were Michael Landon and Johnny Carson. In 1973, I booked Michael Landon on “The Tonight Show,” and after the show Johnny invited Michael and me to his Malibu home for dinner. Johnny toasted us with a glass of his favorite cabernet sauvignon, and he said, “Bruce, I think you should begin a celebrity speakers bureau. You already have a successful public relations company. I will become your first client.” Michael Landon then said, “I will be your second client.” Ed McMahon and Johnny’s famous producer, Freddie de Cordova, soon jumped on board as well. That’s how Bruce Merrin’s Celebrity Speakers Bureau was born, so many years ago.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
President Ronald Reagan was the first president I ever booked for paid speaking engagements. Working with him was an absolute delight. He introduced me to his son Michael Reagan and Michael’s beautiful wife, Colleen. As Thanksgiving approached, the Reagans were planning a festive Thanksgiving dinner at their beautiful estate. Nancy Reagan was adamant that Michael and Colleen not attend. I intervened with President Reagan, begging that Michael and his wife be included for Thanksgiving. I got a tongue lashing from President Reagan, “Bruce, never interfere with my family affairs.” He was right — I should have remained quiet. I learned it is not wise to get involved with any client’s family business.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
As I noted earlier, I am a proud graduate from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. When I attended, Coach John Wooden was leading the UCLA Bruins to many NCAA championship wins — he garnered a total of 10! Though I was not on the team, I got to know Coach Wooden and he became my mentor while I was in college. Later on, he signed at my public relations agency, and I booked him for dozens of paid engagements. Coach Wooden is world famous for his Pyramid of Success, a concept he taught to all of his gifted players. Learning from him totally impacted my life.
You have been blessed with great success in a career path that can be challenging and intimidating. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?
My tagline for over four decades has been “positive persistence.” I am a firm believer in never giving up on achieving your ultimate goal. Every day plant seeds for harvesting.
What drives you to get up every day and give your talks? What is the main empowering message that you aim to share with the world?
I am motivated and inspired to give my talks worldwide because I know that every time I step on the stage, I am empowering lives with new, exciting ideas. Sometimes this helps people reach their full potential, and it’s deeply rewarding for me when I have even a small hand in the success of people who hear me. I was the keynote speaker at the Public Relations Society of America world convention in Omaha, Nebraska, 15 years ago, and there was a gentleman in the audience who had just graduated from Harvard University. He was moved by my talk and began writing to me. He is now an award-winning journalist, and he says that my talk launched his career.
You have such impressive work. What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Where do you see yourself heading from here?
It’s immensely satisfying to help bring diverse voices to wider audiences through public speaking. One of our newest clients is Apa Sherpa. He is the Michael Jordan of mountain climbing — he has scaled Mt. Everest 21 times, making him the world champion and holder of 13 world records. His powerful story is mesmerizing, as he is a leader who must make life-or-death decisions in the harshest of conditions. Yet he is also a community-minded advocate for education, climate change and conservation. I look forward to booking him for dozens of paid speaking engagements in the future.
As for where I see myself heading, one thing that’s certain is that I will never retire! My life’s passion is my work.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
“Never Ever Give Up!” In my first year working in public relations, my big goal was to sign Michael Landon as a client. That took me an entire year of meticulous efforts, but I succeeded. He agreed to have lunch with me and told me about a new project he was working on, “Little House on the Prairie.” Later, when I moved from public relations to organizing my speakers bureau, he became not only my first client in that endeavor, but also a lifelong client.
Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Public Speaker?” Please share a story or example for each.
Working with public speakers has been my life for the past four decades, and I have learned a tremendous amount about what will work and what won’t work in front of an audience. I have boiled things down to a few rules of thumb, basic advice that any speaker — beginner or longtime pro — should keep in mind when they prepare a talk.
1. You must have a story that impacts the audience.
2. You must make the audience laugh.
3. You must touch their hearts early.
4. You must have one powerful theme throughout your presentation.
5. You must create an everlasting memory from your presentation that will stay with every person in the audience.
As you know, many people are terrified of speaking in public. Can you give some of your advice about how to overcome this fear?
Practice, practice, practice. More practice. Perform in front of a mirror. Videotape your talk. Book yourself at Rotary clubs and other civic organization meetings. Relax and meditate before your talks. Get a mentor who is already a professional speaker. Join a speaker’s organization like the National Speakers Association. And last of all, don’t forget to practice!
You are a person of huge influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
My mantra has become “impact lives!” Any movement I’d inspire would encourage people every day to do something special that will impact other people’s lives.
Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has truly revolutionized the business world internationally. I am impressed with his vision.
Are you on social media? How can our readers follow you online?
@BruceMerrinSpeakers on Instagram
Bruce Merrin’s Celebrity Speakers Bureau and Bruce Merrin on Facebook
@Celebspkrs4U on Twitter
@Bruce Merrin on LinkedIn
This was so informative, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!
Bruce Merrin On The 5 Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Public Speaker was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
