Don McMillan
Aptly named the #1 corporate comedian by CBS BNET in 2010
Topic Categories:
Fee Range: Contact Speaker Exchange Agency
Don combines his unique background (as a computer chip designer), years of engineering experience, and a mastery of PowerPoint, to develop a different customized comedy show for each client.
*Fee ranges are presented as a guideline only. Speaker fees are subject to change without notice. For an exact quote, please contact your Speaker Exchange Agency representative.
Don McMillan graduated from Stanford University with a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1982. (He has a BSEE from Lehigh University) He went to work for AT&T Bell Laboratories where he worked as part of the team that designed the world’s first 32-bit Microprocessor. He then moved to the Silicon Valley (San Jose, California) where he worked at VLSI Technology as a computer chip designer. During his 6 years at VLSI he designed more than 25 Standard and ASIC Designs some of which are still in systems today.
Don has performed at over 500 corporate, private events in the last 15 years for major corporations around the world including: IBM, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Genentech, and ExxonMobil. His range of clientele spans a variety of industries from Technology (Dell) to Pharmaceuticals (Novo Nordisk) to Oil & Gas (Conoco Philips) to Food (Kraft) to Trucking (Eaton) to Chemicals (Dupont) to Insurance (Liberty Mutual). Don combines his unique background (as a computer chip designer), years of engineering experience, and a mastery of PowerPoint, to develop a different customized comedy show for each client. He was aptly named the #1 corporate comedian by CBS BNET in 2010.
McMillan is also known for his popular YouTube hits: “Life After Death by PowerPoint” and “Live from My Cubicle.” “Life After Death by PowerPoint” is used in classes, training courses, and seminars around the world as an effective and funny tool that teaches students how to present more effectively in PowerPoint. It is even part of the curriculum at many schools and universities.
In addition to Don’s extensive work in television commercials and series, he also regularly makes appearances on television and has been seen on “The Tonight Show” on NBC, CNN’s “The Larry King Show,” MTV’s “Half Hour Comedy Hour,” and A&E’s “Evening at the Improv.” Nowadays, you can also catch Don headlining comedy clubs from the “Improvisation” to “Catch-A-Rising Star” across the country.
Don McMillan does not just do a “standard” 45-60 minute stand-up “canned” comedy routine. In fact, he has several different 45–60 minute shows (see “Comedy Solutions” below) and also offers several “out-of-the-box” comedy solutions. That makes him the world’s first CSP (Comedy Services Provider). Don works with you to create comedy specifically for your event. He talks with you well ahead of time to write custom jokes and sketches unique to your company or event. (See the ASIC Design Flow below) Don also creates PowerPoints just for you. AND – the best part – you get to review his PowerPoints ahead of time so you get to see exactly what will be in Don’s show. This way you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show with everyone else. BUT, it doesn’t have to be just one 45-60 minute show. Because of Don’s unique background (12 years working as an engineer and manager in Silicon Valley and 18 years doing stand-up comedy), he is able to “integrate” his comedy into your event. You can read some of the reviews from Don’s very satisfied clients to the left.Don can break his show into a number of shorter segments spread throughout the day. Recently, Don did 10 minutes to open an event, 10 minutes after the morning break, 10 minutes after lunch. 10 minutes following the afternoon break, and 15 minutes to close the day’s session. This works to energize the audience and give them a break from a long day of information-intense speakers.
Don will “pretend” to be an author and/or consultant giving a serious talk on “Improving Communication Skills”, “The 3 Keys to Leadership”, “The Future of Technology”, or a topic that you and he develop just for your event. Don starts out serious and slowly gets funnier and funnier – but always with a focus on his “serious” topic. After some time, he lets the group know that he is NOT a serious speaker but just there to entertain and/or provide a change of pace, a shot of energy, or just a break. Below are three “Experts” that Don has portrayed before
Don can interview your executives or key management folks. This is particularly effective when you’re tired of hearing a long parade of executive speeches. For example, Don recently did “Good Morning Beckman Coulter!” where he did an opening monologue and then interviewed 5 different VP’s who included their messaging in a lighter, more entertaining format.
Don can function as your event host or emcee. He can interject comedy where appropriate and keep the sessions moving along. Don is excellent at reading a crowd, so he can adjust his performance to speed up a session or add comedy when the group is sagging and in need of a refreshing “comedy break”. Also, because of his technical background, he actually understands your subject matter – he’s not just reading a canned introduction like a spokes-model.
Don can help write and create video segments for your event. Don has acted as the interviewer in “Man on the Street” style video segments with event attendees many times. The clip to the left is Don as the roving floor reporter at the SUN Network conference. He has also created funny videos and sketches with company executives and managers.
Don has worked with groups to develop, create and perform many brand new comedy bits. He has “pretended” to be the new VP of Sales. Don has hosted an “American Idol” type show during a sales conference and he’s even rode in on a horse dressed as a Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman to give a parking ticket to a CEO in Toronto. Don will go a long way to make you laugh.
Want to bring Don McMillan to your next event? Please tell us a little about your event, and we will get back to you shortly!