Before starting ‘Speechless’ a-one-of-a-kind public speaking and improvisational experience training company, Wegent was like many aspiring comedians. “I aspired to what seems to be the traditional route to success in stand-up comedy entertainment,” said Wegent. “Get to LA, get up on stage at the comedy clubs, do some acting, or perhaps go to New York and hopefully get a job on Saturday Night Live, or a late night talk show.” And, then the big breakthrough.
This usually is the dream of most people seeking a career in comedy or live-on-stage performing. But as Wegent explained, “I kept trying different things,” he said. Over the years, Wegent has done stand up, acting and script writing, along with some directing and producing a web series. “I like to ‘think outside the box’ as the saying goes. I did not follow everyone else, I much rather invent new paths and approaches to comedy and performing.” Wegent is not only much more gratified but more empowered establishing his own way.
At a time when technology and this thing called ‘the Digital Revolution’ has changed just about everything, Wegent like many of his fellow comedians and actors knew instinctively that he had to not only find venues, but make them.
And, that opportunity came to him back in 2013 when he got the idea for Speechless, in the form of doing a ‘PowerPoint’ or slide presentation. “Everyone has had to sit through a presentation, at meetings and especially at work,” he said. “It’s common for a presenter to stumble, fumble or have technical difficulties, like when the pictures or slides get mixed up. I saw the humor in this and it just lends itself to improvisational comedy situations.”
That PowerPoint improvisation skit was a hit and Wegent ironically was faced with a familiar but unusual dilemma. “I was suddenly faced with a need around protecting myself from ‘copycat’ shows.” This was brought directly to him, though in ironic way.
“A man in Dubai contacted me to apologize for using my concept that was posted on YouTube. He then said he would like to pay for licensing fees and urged me to have my show format/concept licensed. The young man in Dubai also contacted me,” noted Wegent, “because he wanted help in how to do this improvisation style presentation.”
Wegent recognized the unusual and unique situation before him and with the help of fellow comedian-performers Scott Lifton and Anthony Veneziale as co-founders ‘Speechless’ the business and company was formed.
In just three years time since formally getting licenced and becoming a company, Wegent and his group have traveled as far as India. They have ‘done gigs’ as close to home as Moscone Convention Center — not far from his office in the South of Market Area of San Francisco.
In a very short time, ‘Speechless’ has worked with some very impressive corporations and companies. “This year was our third at hosting/training for the Google IO event,” said Scott Lifton. Previous years, Google had their event at Moscone, this year it was at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View. The amphitheater has a capacity of over 22,000.
The way the ‘Speechless’ format and improvisational training style has touched so many lives is because of its versatility. “It can be used for any topic or theme,” said Wegent. And, it really encourages audience participation. It is an experience for both the presenter/speaker and a varied audience.
The applications of it vary. Yet as both Wegent and Lifton point out, it uses improvisation in a way that helps everyone. “I think of it like ‘social bungee cord jumping,'” said Lifton. “People just get up there and do it. And it is really exhilarating. We work with people who have never even step up upon a stage before. Even if they stumble, it helps them to participate. I see the ‘speechless’ format as a way for people to tap into what is unique within themselves and helps them to shine.”
Some people have told Wegent that ‘Speechless’ reminds them of Toastmasters. But that is mostly about public speaking and it’s a club. “What we offer is more than a public speaking opportunity. We make use of improvisation to its fullest.”
With all the traveling Wegent noted, “In all the places I have been with ‘Speechless’ it is slightly different. In San Francisco it is about tech stuff. In LA it is about the entertainment industry, in New York it is about the art world or the fashion industry. Our format can be fitted to any type of industry or business culture.”
Yet, most of all as Lifton points out, “Our format is fun, inspiring and effective.”
This coming Sept. 17 ‘Speechless’ will be having a Marathon at the HERE Collective in The Mission District. The 24-hour marathon will run all weekend long to Sunday, Sept. 18 to feature comedians using PowerPoint to highlight the current presidential election as the humor-theme for the event.
“I would be there to perform,” said San Francisco-based comedian Paco Romane. “But I will be on the road that weekend with my own show. I have performed at previous ‘Speechless’ shows (but not a marathon). And all I can say is they are a lot of fun. I have known Sammy for 10-years now,” Romane said. “And, I am really proud of him and happy for him in this new venture.”
Sponsored by The San Francisco Improv Festival, the ‘Speechless’ Marathon begins at 8 PM on Saturday Sept. 17 and concludes on Sunday at eight p.m. The HERE Collective is located at 930 Alabama Street. Visit the ‘Speechless’ ticket page on the Eventbright web site.
Also, visit the ‘Speechless’ page on Facebook and visit the ‘Speechless page on Twitter.
