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Rating: 
Summary: Valuable Toolbox
Review: As an international consultant, facilitator and trainer I've find Showbiz Training a highly valuable tool, rich in information and practical skills to utilise with world-class learners. My audiences are mainly highly analytical and logical executives of corporations for whom it is very important to first understand how and why these techniques work before they will take ownership of these ideas and techniques. In this regard I have used many techniques from this book to enhance the effectiveness of my training interventions and to validate some learning techniques. I can therefore highly recommend this book to any person who facilitates learning as a powerful tool to enhance the quality of their learning interventions and increase their understanding of the value of using entertainment in training.
Rating:
Summary: A Huge Company Asset
Review: I bought this book and I must say that it is money well spent. I was given the daunting task of conducting the orientations and meetings at our company. I was challenged to keep people interested on what could very well be boring subject matter, so I bought this book. It has taught me so many techniques on how to keep the new employees interested at the meetings. When I first took the job, I thought that teaching was just another thing, that it really didn't matter how it was done. This book proved me wrong, it showed me what teaching was about and I appreciate it for that. I would have to recommend it to anyone. This book has been highly effective and is now an asset to the training program at our company.
Rating:
Summary: An Important Contribution
Review: I just finished reading Show Biz Training. I am very impressed. In this book Millbower not only reveals what teaching is all about, but impressed me with the breadth of his knowledge. Just reading the footnote references tells me the author has thoroughly researched his subject. This is an important contribution to those whose goal is aid people to learn.
Rating:
Summary: A great resource for trainers and educators
Review: I liked this book! Mr. Millbower does a very competent job of giving trainers many anecdotes and real-world examples of how the human brain functions and processes information. All of which can be directly extrapolated and used in making any trainer's programs more effective. While many of the ideas are akin to training tips I have written about in my own books, I learned quite a few things about how comedy, props, music and many other tools can be integrated to stimulate learners. There are literally hundreds of examples of tools that can be used (e.g. lists of songs that can be tied to training topics)included in the book. In looking at the author's background of entertainment, magic, music and being a long-time Disney employee, I can see where he gets his wealth of knowledge on the subject. This book is helpful to any trainer, especially newer ones. A definite source for any bookshelf!
Rating: 
Summary: Show Biz and Training = Learning and Fun
Review: Lenn Millbower will explain show biz techniques to you and how to use them in training. What this means is that you can become a more effective trainer while your participants actually enjoy being trained. By learning the techniques you will be able to develop trainings that are fun and enjoyable for you and your trainees but most importantly that will be remembered by the participants. It is a comprehensive book that covers all aspects of a training session. Filled with examples and resources this is a book that should be in every trainer's library.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Show Biz Training. Fun and Effective Business Training Techniques from the Worlds of State, Screen, and Song. Wow! An 8.5 X 11 trade paperback. Thick. I'll bet this volume is packed full of great ideas-lots of how-tos to add pizzazz to training programs. What I got was page after page after page of theory, show biz history, anecdotes, and the author's cartoons. I was almost 130 pages into this book before I found something that looked like useful techniques. See what you think: "Face Off. The action: Learners pair off and face each other. The learners turn away from each other briefly. On the instructor's signal, they turn back around and make funny faces at each other. The task repeats three times. Suggested Use: introductions, reenergizing activity. Parameters: May be used in other contexts by directing the type of faces learners should make: angry faces for customer complaints or conflict resolution." Page 127 Am I missing something here? Wait till you get to the section on microphones that begins on page 311. It's well written for someone who's never seen a mike before. Experienced trainers, who might be interested in a well-done book with this title, will feel talked down to. With the author's background as an instructional designer and "former Disney University and Disney Institute employee" (doing...?), I expected more. For people who are new to the field of education and training or studying the field in school, this book has some value. If you're interested in a lot of learning theory, this book has something to offer. If you're a professional trainer looking to gain a lot of new techniques from a strong how-to book, this isn't it. I was hoping for more, so I'm disappointed that this book didn't grab me... Alternatives: Books by Ed Scannell on training
Rating:
Summary: Thoroughly understand how and why to showbiz your training
Review: This book does a number of things well, which adds to the reason for its volume. In fact, Part I ought to be required reading by marketing classes, it does such a good job at explaining the whys and history behind marketing, advertising, and entertainment. That sets the stage for Part II, which provides great how tos for people to create showbiz style training, especially those who may not be naturally creative in this light. The exercises are simple, and the process very regimented for the most left-brained, process-oriented person (or DiSC type C or MBTI type ISTJ). Millbower shares the secrets of some of Disney's success in a four step model that makes fundamental sense. This model is one that can be used by educators of all kinds, not just trainers. All in all, I would highly recommend this book because of the wealth that it brings and the research behind it that many others don't.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent comprehensive guide to make training more enjoy
Review: This book is an outstanding resource for all trainers, rookies and veterans alike. The reader is given numerous tips for improving training sessions, yet also learns about the underlying theories for why the techniques work. The concept of learnertainment brings a new perspective on the emerging expectations of workshop participants. I especially liked the product resources, including examples of how to use them in a meaningful way.
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