The Inspired Mic – Thursday February 16th!

February at The Inspired Mic is shaping up to be something special. We’ve filled all our presenter slots for February and we’re already filling slots for March and April. In Florida, we often see spring-like weather. Heck, I’ve even had pollen on my car! With the presenters building up, The Inspired Mic shows all signs of blossoming into a hot ticket event!

We welcome presenters to give us write-ups on themselves and what they’re doing so we may pass them along to the world. We also ask for a picture of some sort to go along with the write-up. The information may be as brief or as long as the presenter desires. Don’t forget to get your tickets early as sales are brisk for the February event already. You may purchase your tickets here: The Inspired Mic.

Kevin Cox

Kevin has a new police story for this month’s Inspired Mic. It, of course, is like all of his other stories, completely fictional – or not. You can decide.  Kevin has written a novella that he hasn’t decided if he will publish. He also has written a few short stories which, if he does publish the novella, he will add to it and make it a collection. He is now writing a sequel to his first book “A Year in Bushwick.” This one is titled, “Back in Bushwick.”

Here’s a link to Kevin’s book on Amazon: Kevin Cox

The Inspired Mic in December!

loglineNovember 17th Boasted an Overflow Audience!

The Inspired Mic in November garnered an overflow crowd! We had to bring in more seating and two tables! The presenters all seemed to be at the top of their game, which is not unusual, but this night was amazing! Nearly half the audience had never attended an Inspired Mic!

In three weeks, our Thursday December 15th event will kick off at 6:00pm sharp. For those who come regularly to The Inspired Mic, you know the presenters usually kick things up a notch for the holidays. This is also a great way to destress from all the hustle and bustle of the craziness that can be December. I do recommend this – get your tickets early and get to the venue as close to 6:00pm as possible!

I look forward to the December Inspired Mic every year mainly because the energy always comes out and the audiences always relish the entertainment escape. This year, our first at the New Europa, I’m thinking everything will be even more special. The owners of the New Europa are awesome and they go out of their way to make this event a huge success for people attending. From delicious food off the menu to a nice buffet to half-price mixed drinks all evening, there’s nothing left but to kick back and enjoy the entertainment.

Grab your tickets now! Plan to come out and enjoy an evening of eclectic entertainment and awesome food! Bring family and friends and enjoy what our local talented folk are putting together right now just for you! Tickets are available online here: The Inspired Mic

First Time Presenter at November’s Inspired Mic!

Thursday November 17th, The Inspired Mic welcomes Connie Helena to the stage for the first time! Every month The Inspired Mic brings in new people with various talents and messages. We look forward to what Connie delivers!

connie-helenaConnie Helena

Connie Helena is a born creative type residing in Palm Coast for over a decade.  Her writing runs the gamut from paid marketing copy and social media, to personal fiction and essays posted to her
music-focused web site, Stereogenic.com. She received her Bachelors degree in Art in 1993.

Connie is also a happy mother of two boys, a nature lover, visual artist, and experimental photographer.  Her favorite writers include Cormac McCarthy, Joyce Carol Oates, Jeffrey Eugenides, and Toni Morrison.  She is currently producing a collection of short stores to be published in 2017.

November’s Inspired Mic Event

loglineOn Thursday November 17th, The Inspired Mic will parade 14 local, talented people across our stage. Each person will show off their creativity for you, the audience. Without fail, someone, or even multiple people will blow you away with their creations.

Last month’s event nearly sold out. Seating was quite limited by 6:15, fifteen minutes before the first presenter began. With our snow birds returning, we are looking forward to a standing room only crowd. Why is this important?

A number of reasons. I’m in my fourth year of putting on this event. I can tell you from experience, when you get owners like those at the New Europa backing you, great things happen. Not just for the event, but for the individuals who overcome everything from stage fright to fears of presenting their work in front of a live audience.

I’ve seen people who once were shaking in their shoes simply attempting to get through 7 minutes of presentation, to now speaking and presenting before hundreds of people with confidence. One of these people is a rising senior at Flagler Palm Coast High School. Others are middle aged. We even have an 89 year old presenter who wow’s us every time he presents with his down-home wit and life experiences.

A large audience is also important to keep an event like this going and to give back to the owners of the New Europa. Michele and I had a wonderful dinner one evening at the New Europa and we encourage everyone to consider the New Europa when looking for a great dinner and dining experience.

The following video is from the May 2015 Inspired Mic. Ashley Flores, a junior at Flagler Palm Coast High School gave us a wonderful performance (my blundering her introduction notwithstanding..)

Get your tickets here! The Inspired Mic

The Inspired Mic Grows!

Thursday October 20th, The Inspired Mic enjoyed a full house audience and outstanding presentations from 14 local talents. From music, to cop stories, to poetry, to the fall of Saigon to introspective writings and many other styles of presentation, the evening was loaded with surprises, as usual.

Our host, the New Europa, is one of the strongest supporters of the arts in Flagler County. Abroz and Alida support writers at a grass roots level. They not only help us by supplying an outstanding venue, they serve delicious food, run drinks at half price during the event, and they help spread the word about our event. Michele and I had dinner at the New Europa last month, and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The food and atmosphere were outstanding.

Our next event will be November 17th. Please email me, Michael Ray King at Author@MichaelRayKing.com if you would like to be a presenter in November. The presenter spots will fill up quickly, so please contact me right away if you would like to participate.

John Parkes won the $50 raffle at the end of the evening which was pretty cool. I believe it was his first visit to The Inspired Mic! Tickets for November are already available here: The Inspired Mic Tickets. Purchasing advance tickets saves you $4.50 per ticket at the door, so grab them while they’re available. When you purchase your advance ticket, your name will be placed on a list and you will get your free drink ticket and admission into the event at the door.

We look forward to our November event. Every year the holidays bring out something special. Don’t miss out! Grab your ticket today!

Inspired Mic Thursday October 20th!

loglineThursday night delivers Flagler County the next Inspired Mic! The New Europa hosts this event every third Thursday of the month. The Inspired Mic is all about local talent getting on stage and showing the world the creative endeavors on which they’re working.

October brings us at least 3 first-time presenters and a number of folks who have not presented at the Mic for quite a while. There is a vibrant, creative collection of people all around us who need and desire the support of our community. Without an audience, their work goes unnoticed and unappreciated.

Creativity needs to be supported and encouraged. Civilizations throughout history have proven that ages of creative endeavor deliver positivity and ‘renaissance’ to the people. This cannot be achieved on a “mass-market” scale. Creativity springs from individuals and small collections of people who endeavor to bring something new into our lives and our world.

So please, set aside a few hours Thursday night and enjoy the delicious food at the Europa, the wonderful atmosphere of this event, as well as the work the presenters show us. Great food, wonderful atmosphere, and entertainment you won’t find anywhere else! Get your tickets here! Inspired Mic Tickets

Tickets purchased in advance online are $10.50 At the door the night of the event the cost is $15. Get your tickets now and save!

Lineup for September 29th Inspired Mic

loglineWe had a request for the projected lineup for tomorrow’s Inspired Mic. The order will be different, but here are the list of folks stepping out to deliver their creativity to us!

David Kozba
Lana Davidenko
Angelica Timothy
Tess Spearhawk
Lea Atiq
Marjorie Phoenix
Carol Fisher
John Brady
Bianca Mitchell
Cesar Romero
Byron Pleasant
Harvey Baron
Mystic Mel
Roger Duvernoy

We’re looking forward to some incredible entertainment, delicious food, and a great time! Come on out! Get your tickets today. At the door price is higher!

Supporting Community and the Arts

Please thank The New Europa for their support of writers and creative folk!

Please thank The New Europa for their support of writers and creative folk!

You hear about people supporting artists. Often, as an artist, that’s about as close as you get. I understand as a writer this scenario plays out because we do not engage others. We’re artists. The solitary endeavor-vocation.

If you put yourself out “there” enough, however, sooner or later you will find people who actually do step up and help. Make no mistake, there exist many who support us. I’ve been fortunate enough, or crazy enough – take your pick, to come across a number of people who do more than their part in supporting writers and artists. Amboz Ferr and Alida Ferrena, owners of the New Europa in the European Village have welcomed The Inspired Mic with enthusiasm. Thursday night was no exception.

We boasted a wonderful cast of local creative people. A couple excellent musicians in Tovah Janovsky and Mark Chirico. Youth (18 and under) in Alexandra King, Angelica Timothy, and David Kozba. Aged wisdom from almost-90-years-young Harvey Baron. A hilarious politician John Brady. And writers (not that some already mentioned are not writers…) Cyndi Rose, Tim Baker, Kevin Cox, Sh’mal Ellenberg, Tracey Yankee (first-time presenter!) and Bianca Mitchell.

I cannot give an overview of the evening at this moment due to time constraints, but I will say this – everyone brought their “A” game and blew us away. Cyndi Rose gave me a new ‘play on words’ concept – “response-ability” which will help me tremendously in times of stress. Mark Chirico sang an original song about his 19 year old son which could easily have been written for my 19 year old son. Check his music out at Mark Chirico.

I could go on about every person who presented. Everyone brought us something of value. Overall though, Abroz and Alida brought our community the most prized and appreciated commodity of all, their enthusiastic support. Their restaurant owns the perfect atmosphere for an event like The Inspired Mic. The warmth they show us is priceless.

Lastly, I encourage our community to support those who support creativity. Please remember the New Europa when you make dinner plans. If you have an event or a large party, think of Abroz and Alida. Their support of the arts and writers in our community is exemplary. Michele and I had a wonderful dinner there a few weeks ago. Atmosphere, good food, and great people.

I appreciate those who support creativity. People like this and many others I’ve met along the way do the same. I don’t think our businesses who support us get nearly enough recognition. If nothing else, stop by and thank them for their support. This post is one of many thanks I throw their way, and I’m looking forward to many more.

Please place on your calendar Thursday, August 25th as the next date for The Inspired Mic. I’m taking names for the lineup now, and we look forward to our next wonderful evening at the New Europa!

Inspired Mic Returns to Palm Coast Thursday, July 28th!

Downtown Beverly Hills CA

Downtown Beverly Hills CA

Hello Inspired Mic fans! Yes, in a week we will kick off our July event! We have a couple spots open, so please contact me right away if you would like to fill one! These slots will go quickly as I am advertising on social media and email. This event will be special. Check out the guidelines for presenters at: Inspired Mic Presenter Guidelines.

For those who may not know, Michele and I attended a Red Carpet event in Beverly Hills, CA this past weekend. We met actors, actresses, agents, movie producers and directors, and other movie industry related folk. The experience was exhilarating and educational. We (if I can get Michele to speak a few minutes) will recount some of our experiences out there.

Michele and I Beverly Hills July 17, 2016

Michele and I Beverly Hills July 17, 2016

If you’ve ever wondered what goes down on a red carpet event, or what it is like to be there, hopefully we will be able to fill you in on some of the ‘lowdown’ info. The experience indeed felt surreal, exciting, and optimistic. I’m including some of the photos from the event on this post.

Please get your tickets early as we do have a limited number of seats available. You may purchase them online at this link: The Inspired Mic Tickets.

It’s always exciting when we put together an Inspired Mic, and this one will be no exception. Remember, if you’d like to be a presenter, contact me right away at: Author@MichaelRayKing.com. See you there!

Patrick Williams – The Inspired Mic June 2, 2016

Patrick WilliamsDr. Patrick Williams, Ed. D., MCC

One of the early pioneers of coaching, Pat is often called the ambassador of life coaching.  Pat has been a licensed psychologist since 1980 and began executive coaching in 1990 with Hewlett Packard, IBM, Kodak and other companies along the front range of Colorado.

Most recently Pat has focused his coaching on private corporations and Federal government entities going through transitions and adaptive leadership challenges in the non profit community.

He is a member of PHI BETA KAPPA and CUM LAUDE graduate of Kansas University in 1972. He completed his masters in Humanistic Psychology in 1975 (University of West Georgia) and doctorate in Transpersonal Psychology in 1977, (University of Northern Colorado) His dissertation was Transpersonal Psychology and the Evolution of Consciousness.

Pat joined Coach U in 1996, closed his 16 year therapy practice six months later and became a full time coach. Pat was a senior trainer with Coach U from 1997-1998. He then started his own coach training school, the Institute for Life Coach Training (ILCT) which specializes in training those with a human services orientation. ILCT has trained over 3,500 helping professionals and has opened offices in Korea, Turkey, Italy, China, and the UK.

Pat is department chair of the Coaching Psychology program at the International University of Professional Studies (www.iups.edu), and has taught graduate coaching classes at Colorado State University and Denver University, Fielding University, Loyola University, City University of London and many others. He was also a curriculum consultant for the Coaching Certificate program at Fielding International University.

Pat is a past board member of the International Coach Federation (ICF), and co-chaired the ICF regulatory committee. He is past president of ACTO, the Association of Coach Training Organizations and an honorary VP of the International Society of Coaching Psychology. Pat was also honored in 2008 as the educator of the year for the New England Educational Institute.

In May of 2006 Pat was awarded the first Global Visionary Fellowship by the Foundation of Coaching for his Coaching the Global Village (www.CoachingtheGlobalVillage.org) initiative to bring coaching methodologies to villages in developing countries and to leaders of non profits and nongovernmental organizations who serve them. He is passionate about coaching and dedicated to ensuring it remains a respected profession.

Current projects have included teaching coaching to dozens of federal prisoners, speaking at their graduation ceremonies and currently working on a documentary film about the power of the coach approach for those in prison and for re-entry success back into society.

And he is a newly certified (2015) trainer for Points of You ™ an international training company with tools for inspiration and creative communication.

Pat has authored multiple articles and has co-authored the following books:

Most recently he is a contributor to The Philosophy and Practice of Coaching (Chapter 1, 2008)

Pat continues to coach, train and lead in the ever evolving field of professional, life, and wellness coaching

Pat has a new book which he will be touching on at our June 2nd event titled, Getting Naked: On Being Emotionally Transparent at the Right time, the Right Place, and with the Right Person.

(Ways to discover your Authentic Self at Work, Home, in Relationships, and Life.)

 Expert on Psychology and Life and Wellness Coaching, Patrick Williams believes that we can never live fully or optimally if we have no places in our lives where we can be naked emotionally and spiritually. And we need to choose the right people and the right time for this self-disclosure.

He will speak about those times in his life when being naked emotionally in a safe and trusting place influenced his personal and spiritual development at various stages. He will then teach you the important and necessary requirements to find places, spaces and times to be naked at the right time, with the right people, in the right way, at home, at work, at play, and in life. This book is not about physical nakedness.  It is about being emotionally naked and transparent, spiritually vulnerable, and possessing the willingness to expose one’s deepest truth. I define naked living as the ability to be vulnerable, honest, transparent, shame free, and unburdened.

Testimonials:

I’ve seen Patrick Williams naked!

(With clothes on)  What you’ll read here will be honest and true and will give you the courage to live the same way.  This book will make a case for why you’d want to do so.  Let Dr. Pat show you how covering up and hiding are doing you no favors and what to do instead.”

Laura Berman Fortgang, Author of the Little Book On Meaning and Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction and featured guest on Oprah.

 “Yes, there are books about being authentic out there, but in today’s persona-driven world where people routinely fake credentials and caring, Patrick Williams’ approach is sorely needed.  Patrick is authentic, optimistic and practical in guiding us to live comfortably in our own skin and to be vulnerable and real with others. His invitation to realness is highly recommended in this disconnected, virtual world.”

Bill O’Hanlon, featured Oprah guest, author of Do One Thing Different

 

As a millennial I can say that Pat’s focus on deepening our relationships through cultivating courage, and living more authentically is refreshing. Reminiscent of the work of Brené Brown, Getting Naked is a bold, funny, and inspirational read. This book not only challenges us to think more carefully about how to build connection into our lives, but also ultimately offers the millennial generation a roadmap for experiencing a more meaningful way of living and working.”

Joshua Steinfeldt, Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP), and Professional Certified Coach

 

Authenticity is one of the most admired and desired characteristics there is.  Yet, how often do we hold back from revealing our “true self”?  Getting Naked may be just the disarming message that allows us to loosen up and learn how to be safely ourselves.  Coaches who don’t reveal anything about their selves are not trusted.  Those who reveal indiscriminately and often are thought to be incompetent.  In this entertaining, provocative, and yet practical book, Patrick Williams helps us find the balance that can let our authentic selves flourish.

Michael Arloski, Ph.D., PCC, CWP is CEO and founder of Real Balance Global Wellness Services, Inc., a licensed psychologist and coach who has trained thousands wellness & health coaches worldwide. (www.realbalance.com)

 

Getting Naked is a must-read for everyone who wants to improve their life and their relationships — be it with partners, children, parents or friends.  Coaches and therapists will find this book enlightening, refreshing and inspirational and so will all who work on transforming their life.

Cloe Madanes, author of Relationship Breakthrough, and a world-renowned innovator and teacher of family and brief therapy.