I WAS ASKED to speak to the Students in Arts Management conference at Oklahoma City University. They say two of the greatest fears in life are, flying with the Blue Angels and public speaking…hours before my presentation I was praying that the Blue Angels needed a last minute personal manager! I can't remember being so nervous.

It made me think about planning to have a baby. The thought of having a baby, the planning, the arranging, the excitement and then WOW, it's time to deliver. What was I thinking?

I entered the room, late, one of my cardinal rules in business and saw 400 eyes focused on the front of the room, center stage. My heart started pounding so hard I thought it would jump out of my chest. One of the other speakers was at the podium, there would be a lunch break and then I was on.

There was NO way I could eat so instead, I shook hands, one on one, with as many attendees as I could possibly meet. I thought maybe if they weren't total strangers and I met them by name it would calm my nerves. That clearly didn't happen. In 4, 3, 2, 1, I was on.

I had moved my reserved seating sign to the end of row one and was to approach the podium. Instead, I stood up "In the wings" and announced that most of "them" had recently spent their time down stage center and that most of my past almost 20 years as a Personal Manger was NOT spent on stage but back stage, in the wings, and in the audience. I confessed, "If it's OK with all of you, I'll just stay right here! It's much more comfortable for me."

I explained that I had prepared 9 pages of notes for my hour presentation but I felt like I just wanted to throw them away. This hour was theirs, they gave up their Saturday, they spent their money to attend and asked, "What do you want to take home with you? What experience can I share? What specifically will quench your curiosity?"*#133;and we were off!

Within minutes I was center stage and LOVING IT! The hour flew. There was tons of interaction, questions, illustrations, video demos, Web site reviews and lots of laughter. The students were so thirsty for stories, my personal stories, my hands on experience with my growth, my bumps, my sense of common, throughout my career in the Business of Show. They were bright young adults, eager to listen and learn. Clearly they had been guided and lead by daily educators that successfully got through to them. Many of the students came up to me with business cards after the presentation, wanting to stay in touch. What a rush! I hadn't had my soul feel so satisfied since my show opened at the Flamingo in 2000.

I opened my first "in home" dance studio at the age of 13 and the journey throughout these past 37 years has been nothing short of blessed and amazing. The brief one-hour recap was refreshing and fun as well as humorous and challenging. I of course, can't wait to do it again and better. My nerves served a purpose. They made me think on my toes and appear to be very real and honest. If ever there was a story reporting from "in the wings" this was it. I'm just not sure if I'll stay there.