If you had to tell your story in just 30 seconds, what would you say?

That was my dilemma yesterday when all participants at the Sponsor Secrets Seminar (a three day event I’ve been attending) were invited to pitch their story and vision in just 30 seconds. I’ve been trying to narrow mine down to under three minutes, and that itself is tough.

I gave it my best shot, incorporating all the training I’ve received over the past five months from a sponsor concierge Double Keyed hired to help us find sponsorships to fund our dream.

We are well into phase one of our plan: finding funding to have eleven songs arranged and orchestrated for our upcoming second Christmas album featuring Double Keyed and guess who?… (In case you haven’t heard)… The London Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of our producer, Phillip Keveren.

We currently have the backbone of four songs with arrangements, mockups, and what Phillip calls ‘rough’ parts completed. This gives us time to get comfortable with each song, hear what the orchestra parts sounds like and master each piece on our respective instruments—Kirstin on the oboe/English horn and Frances on the piano—long before anyone hits the record button. Three of the songs are fully funded; we’re waiting for funds for song number 4 before moving on to the next song.

In the midst of juggling all this, we are constantly learning how to pitch our vision. It’s a process of continuous tweaking. Our skill sets are growing by leaps and bounds. Some days, my brain feels like it’s going to explode, leaving dinner time with Tom quite silent. Sorry, Tom. Fortunately, Tom’s pretty tired at the end of the day too so we just sit and enjoy the birds singing outside while we eat.

Yesterday, in the seminar, we had to cut our pitch down to 30 seconds. I’ll confess, I sort of stumbled. How do you tell complete strangers who you are, what you do and what your vision is–in just 30 seconds. I’ve been working at it for 24 years. LOL!

As a performer, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to think on my feet and be flexible in challenging circumstances—like during the second Portraits of White concert at a lovely performing arts center when a breaker blew in the middle of the first song, killing the lights and audio. I had to entertain the crowd while someone fixed the problem.

These experiences prepare me for new challenges, so you’d think with all this practice, I’d nail the 30-second pitch. Instead, I floundered. Fortunately, it was a safe environment meant to help us fine-tune our pitches, not discourage us.

I had hoped for three minutes or less and a chance to share my story using media. So I spent most of my morning tripping over cords, setting up lights, recording myself telling my story, playing the piano and adjusting cameras, all in an effort to create a short video.

When I learned I only had 30 seconds, I was paralyzed. I made quick notes, adjusted my pitch, and bombed. If you want to experience it, set up your phone, go live on Facebook in front of professionals, set a timer for 30 seconds, and tell your life story and vision. 😉

Fortunately, I was in a safe environment and those who critiqued our pitches were very helpful. I made some good connections and planted more seeds. I continually hear that our idea is fabulous. Now we just need to find sponsors who agree.

I have one day left of the seminar. Who knows what lesson I’ll learn today, but I’m sure it will help me tell my story in less than 30 seconds.

I did get to post my video in the private Facebook group for attendees. Here ya go…

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P.S. Dear Dan, I will respond to you soon. I’ve been delayed by attending the Sponsor Secrets Seminar this week, which I am blessed to attend all because I met you and was granted the opportunity to first pitch the London Symphony Orchestra project to you and other Eagles in Sarasota, Florida last August. What I did then continues to be great preparation for all that I’m experiencing now.

I did receive some helpful feedback about the Virtual Assistant job description that I shared in my last blog post and I know what my next steps need to be.