What Really Happens Before a Speaking Gig – Behind the Scenes

This behind-the-scenes look follows Darren Martin’s journey from preparing for his “From YouTuber to Head of Creative” talk to delivering it at the Aspiration Digital event for sixth-form students interested in digital careers.

You can watch Darrens full talk *here*

The preparation process:

• Selecting the perfect headshot with the team
• Recording a podcast episode at The Drum Labs in Shoreditch
• Finalizing presentation slides and rehearsing with colleagues
• Navigating London solo while forgetting his camera (phone to the rescue!)

Despite being Head of Creative at Evergreen Agency with over 10 years of experience in video production, the journey reveals Darren’s authentic preparation process – complete with forgotten equipment, early morning starts, and pre-speech jitters.

The main event experience:

• Early 6am departure to travel over 100 miles to Bluewater Shopping Center
• Delivering the same talk twice to different groups of students
• Showcasing his evolution from YouTuber to creative professional
• Connecting with students who approached with questions afterward

The cinema venue added a unique dimension to the presentation, with Darren’s content displayed on a massive screen to theater-packed audiences of sixth form students considering careers in digital marketing and creative fields.

Networking opportunities:

• Meeting Grace Andrews from Flight Story (who works with Steven Bartlett)
• Speaking with entrepreneur Daniel Priestley
• Connecting with other industry professionals
• Building relationships for potential future collaborations

One personal challenge Darren set for himself was asking Daniel Priestley to appear on the Evergreen podcast – a mission he successfully accomplished during a brief meeting between sessions.

The impact of sharing knowledge:

• Providing career insights to students at a critical decision-making age
• Demonstrating that professional journeys aren’t always linear
• Showing how past creative experiences contribute to current success
• Creating connections between industry professionals and students

The event, organized by Aspiration Digital, brought together various speakers to inspire the next generation of digital talent – something both Darren and Archie both agreed would have been “monumental” for them at that age.

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