The Queen of Corporate Comedy
Liven up your next event with Shirley Best - a cut above the rest!
Click here for booking information.
There
is nothing like humour and the exuberant exaggerations of commonly held
work place stereotypes and frustrations to win over a crowd. It makes
a conference or other event memorable and helps restore people's perspective
and balance.
That's what Shirley Best, the outrageous, over-the-top alter ego of comedienne Zandra Bell of Edmonton does for "At Wit's End Customized Comedy". Bell researches, writes and then unleashes her character - the madcap Shirley - for each presentation.
Like any good performer Shirley plays to her audience. "Good evening ladies, gentlemen and engineers," she said, pausing for effect. Then Shirley added "...and architects."
This was the belated opening line at the Canadian Construction Association (CdnCA) annual conference banquet in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
It set the tone.
Everyone had a chance to laugh not just at industry colleagues but themselves during the whirlwind performance. Architects, engineers and various trades were all fair game.
Shirley always includes a few "chick jokes" in her spiel, if spouses are to be a part of the audience. Dressed in a mauve polyester suit, she fondly describes as her "little Jackie Kennedy number", and with curves all in the wrong spots, and sporting cat-eyed glasses, she is hilarious to behold.
The queen of polyester bragged: " I have the same outfit in five other fabulously flattering, fantastically flamboyant, formidable, fashion fortrel."
The next line zeroed in on the men. "Sorry, I just wanted you to feel as comfortable here tonight with me as in your work environment so I used alot of F words."
As Shirley says, she makes conventions "unconventional."
One of the wonderful things about Shirley and her less than slim figure is that she is shamelessly unafraid to share her witty takes on life and the workplace.
Shirley has started livening up award banquets. "Safety award banquets are notoriously dull," explains Bell, "unless you're getting an award. Then you have your little moment of glory."
With Shirley's many zingers, people stay tuned and have fun at the same time.
She uses comedy for training sessions as well. "Humour is an easy way to get people motivated and inspired without being preachy," Bell states.
Her research includes not only talking to office types but often going out on field visits.
She is always on the hunt for the inside view. Bell finds out what it is that people gripe about with colleagues and what and who they make fun of.
Those who attend her sessions say it is uncanny how her talks pick up the issues, pet peeves, irritations, and terminology of an industry. It is funny and pretty impressive to see someone from outside a specialized and often technical industry group take on such a task.
Often she appears to do it with "ditziness" but underneath all the silliness is a lot of research, wit, and intelligence - jokes within jokes. She piles one hilarious line or phrase on top of another in riotous fashion.
It's side splitting stuff guaranteed to entertain and target in on some real truths people experience in the workplace.
Her clients list is vast (click here to see the list) and diverse. Bell has been on the conference circuit for over 12 years. This started in her former life when she was a regional director for the federal government department. It was the bureaucracy and tedium that inspired her to look at the workplace with humour and for something else to do.
Shirley is surely one of the funniest acts around. As Bell's at Wit's End Customized Comedy answering machine puts it: "Shirley Best, a cut above the rest. Just put me to the test."
For more accolades, click here.
Booking Information
Thanks
so much for your interest in my comedy. I'm glad you're considering one
of my unique presentations for your company's upcoming event.
Let me explain about customization in terms of a budget breakdown.
First by "customization", I mean comedy that is created specifically for your organization based on research that I do in advance. Simply having "generic" comedy, we'll call it, that doesn't have anything really to do with your organization in particular, is definitely doable and very funny, but doesn't have the same "how did she know!" insider edge that you read them raving about when you click on Accolades.
Customization prices range. It's important to note that every show is a quality show, regardless of the price point. A comedy presentation that I'm sure your people will love. It's just a matter of how closely the material reflects the industry or professions involved. The more budget I have to work with, the more representatives of the "audience base" I speak to, as research facilitators, enabling me to give you a presentation that effectively zeros in more intensely on the inner workings, interrelationships, terminology, issues and other relevant details that reflect your corporate culture.
That's why it is essential we speak personally to determine your organization's goals for the presentation and the budget range you can devote to accomplishing them.
Once I have all the information I can effectively explain what I can do for you to make it all come together. It's really different for every show because every organization, every client has different needs, and every event has different goals. |
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Some of the themes I've incorporated into my presentations include:
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I've also done extensive work as a Master of Ceremonies for awards banquets, and fundraising auctions.
These highly specialized hilarious works of art can be, not only great fun and laughs, but a real morale boosters, giving the gift of comedy to your staff. Why not call for further clarification. I look forward to hearing from you.
Go on, give me the opportunity to work together with you to make your next event exceptional!
Zandra Bell
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