Look in the mirror – How do people perceive you?

As you stare into beveled mirror glass what do you see? Describe the adjectives that come to mind? Professional, fun, creative, inventive, sharp, magical, bright, cheery?  Do you see these qualities reflected in you?  As entertainers, professional speakers and small business owners,  we all have different styles, but for the most of us, we need to communicate these particular aspects through our appearance. If you do not see these qualities in the mirror, then you are not maximizing your “Return On Image.”  Money is sitting on the table and isn’t making it to your pocket.

People have a 3 second attention span and processing speeds are very fast these days. To get hired by better, bigger companies for higher fees you need to look worth the investment.

If you want others to perceive you as cutting edge or at least in this decade, then look like it. Show time is different than your everyday wear, but you should be recognizable (unless your painting your face).  You don’t need to be a fashion icon, but when they see you in a baggy flannel shirt or your bum equipment sweathshirt and acid wash jeans, you are not with the times. The comb over hair, Mister Rogers style or the big eighties hair, is not the mark of a person who is current. As a client, I don’t believe this person will know how to connect with the audience.

When I see an entertainer roll up in their Pacer (car) with their backseat full of junk, a raggedy jacket on top of their good looking costume and a worn out  bag half open with  supplies spilling out, I lose confidence and credibility for them to perform their duties.  They can be a top notch performer, but they don’t look like it. You should always be aware and on your game. Think about all the people who will see you in the parking lot as you enter and exit the building. You should be “on” from the moment you step outside your home to the moment you return.

Look at these pictures.

Give your audience as obvious choice. Make it easy for them to choose you. When it looks like you take care of yourself, you send the clear message that you will also take care of your audience.  Your potential clients are evaluating your work ethic and reliability.

Have you seen the “What not to wear show?” How about the thousands of makeover and before and after shows? These are important aspects of our lives. Are you looking clean cut? Does it look like you take pride in what you do? If you are wearing your favorite shirt you have had for 25 years and your lucky tennis shoes, your potential client may assume you can’t afford more appropriate clothes.  You won’t command a higher fee with this lack of attention.

Certainly, this is obvious information, but I commonly see this scenario with entertainers. Your appearance speaks loudly.   You want your message to say that you are worth your fee.  If you want the corporate events, you need to be able communicate your professionalism through every aspect including what you wear and how you groom yourself.  Look in the mirror!