How often can you offer a presentation by someone who is in the Guinness Book of World Records as a performer? Brace yourself, Justin Locke is not your usual corporate speaker/ trainer.
A professional orchestra is an unusual workplace. You are required to openly express intense emotions, everyone knows exactly what everyone else is doing every moment, you must match your co-workers' actions within milliseconds, thousands of customers are silently staring while you do your work, the "performance review" process never stops, and you change bosses every week. If you are that one of a thousand applicants who makes it in, it is an environment that offers a marvelous window onto human nature, team dynamics, and what kinds of leadership bring out the best performance.
Justin Locke spent 18 years playing the bass with the Boston Pops. He is also a playwright, and his creations are performed all over the world. Justin provides first-hand insight into the fundamentals that distinguish top musical performers from their competition, and how you can apply them to your business.
Justin's presentations are based on his books: Real Men Don't Rehearse (a collection of amusing musical tales) and Principles of Applied Stupidity. This latter title may sound a bit flippant at first, but this is actually a pragmatic look at how the best performers counter the constant pressure to follow the conventional wisdom. Most people believe they are being "smart" by avoiding risk and following standard procedure, but that inevitably leads them into ruts of conformity. People at the top are willing to risk failure and don't worry about "looking stupid." It's a serious topic, but humor is often the best way to deal with the fear and hesitation that get in the way so much of the time.
Justin's book was recently the focus of an entire episode of Chronicle HD.
"Justin Locke . . . borders on genius I think." -- Mary Richardson, WCVB-TV, Boston
A 5-minute sample video from a recent presentation:
The Principles of Applied Stupidity are appropriate for any group of professionals.
All presentations are tailored to your group. Every client is different, so feel free to inquire. There are 60-90 minute presentations, custom designed seminars, and individual consulting.
"Read the book, then book the speaker! Justin Locke’s hilarious presentation made me look like a marketing genius. Just one word of caution when scheduling Justin - he’s a hard act to follow!" -- Madeleine Crouch, Executive Director, Retail Print Music Dealers Association
David Meerman Scott, bestselling author of The New Rules of Marketing & PR (now published in 24 languages) says: “I run across so-called ‘marketing experts’ who spend months of time and millions of dollars producing slick television commercials that nobody remembers. So why is it that “stupid people” can make a homemade video and put it onto YouTube for free and get a million hits? The well-paid smarty-pants trumped by the unschooled? What the heck is going on here? Justin Locke knows about the enormous power of stupidity. He’ll open your eyes to a new way of thinking, and he does it in an engaging style with tons of examples. I love 'Principles of Applied Stupidity'.”
Justin Locke has a unique, and massive, performance resume. As a professional musician he played over 3,000 concerts, including the Boston Pops Bicentennial concert that is still in the Guinness Book of World Records. His musical comedies are performed all over the world, he is the author of one of the funniest books ever written on classical music, and you will find that he is one of the most engaging storytellers you will find anywhere.
Re: audience response, you needn't take our word for it. You can read some actual audience evaluations.
Justin also offers a comedic presentation titled "Real Men Don't Rehearse." Taken from Justin's popular book of the same title, these tales of concert meltdowns, cannon mishaps, and wild backstage goings-on at Boston Pops concerts will have your audience rolling on the floor laughing. If you can't manage to book the Boston Pops for your event, this is the next best thing.
Again, Principles of Applied Stupidity was the focus of an entire episode of Chronicle HD, WCVB-TV's popular New England magazine show. View excerpts from the broadcast
Justin Locke grew up on a farm in Ohio, and, despite the supposed disadvantage of being largely self-taught, at age 20 he began the first of 18 seasons of playing the double bass with the Boston Pops. He worked with many of the greatest conductors of our time, including Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Fiedler, Henry Mancini, and John Williams. He is no stranger to the limelight; the thousands of concerts he played include the 1976 Bicentennial Concert with Arthur Fiedler, which is in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the largest audience ever at a classical music concert.
Justin Locke is now an author. Along with “Real Men Don’t Rehearse,” a humorous memoir of his playing days with the Pops, he also wrote “Peter VS the Wolf” and "The Phantom of the Orchestra." These musical plays for family concerts have been performed for hundreds of thousands of children on four continents, in six languages. His latest book, “Principles of Applied Stupidity,” is a most unique approach to management, leadership, and innovation. Justin still keeps his hand in the music biz here and there; he has been a “score reader” for live television broadcasts of the Boston Pops, and he was the creator and manager of the Bose Philharmonic, one of the most widely heard orchestras in the world. He speaks, blogs, and consults extensively about applying performance techniques to other fields.
Having worked “in the trenches” of the bass sections of major orchestras, as well as being the only person who exports family concert programming around the globe, Justin brings a refreshingly down to earth, and often laugh-out-loud, look at the world of professional performance, and how the culture and lessons of that world can be used in your life and your organization.
“Justin, our attendees’ evaluation of your presentation was the highest of all the speakers for the two
days. In fact you received the same score as the celebration we had the night before with open bar,
shrimp, etc.! People are still talking about you.” – Ron Ponte, Director, Partners Healthcare / Newton-Wellesley Hospital Leadership Institute
"I would highly recommend Justin's lectures . . . a very entertaining and comedic insight into the world of classical music!"
-- Ellen Silverman, Chief Concierge/Event Manager,
Marriott's Custom House, Boston
To book Mr. Locke as your next guest speaker, or just to chat about possibilities, please call 781 577 0169, or
justinlocke@juno.com
Publications:
REAL MEN DON'T REHEARSE is a humorous book about the world of professional orchestras. It was featured on WCVB's Chronicle, the Paul Sullivan Show on CBS Radio, and on Greater Boston on WGBH with Emily Rooney, also in The International Musician, American Harp Journal, Strings Magazine, Classical Music Magazine, and Stringendo Magazine in Australia.
Mr. Locke's newest book, Principles of Applied Stupidity, is an intriguing and amusing look at some unorthodox yet highly effective management techniques that no one ever talks about, at least not until now.
Mr. Locke's Peter VS the Wolf and The Phantom of the Orchestra have been performed on four continents and two island nations, and have been translated into German, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, and Chinese.
