Speaking Engagements

jill Jill Badonsky, M.Ed. is the author of The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard): 10 Guides to Creative Inspiration for Artists, Poets, Lovers, and Other Mortals Wanting to Live a Dazzling Existence (Gotham Books, 2003). She is an award winning speaker who has presented creative and writing workshops since 1985. Jill is a creativity coach, columnist, performance poet, corporate drop-out and founder of The Muse Is In, a firm offering workshops to enhance creativity for joy, prosperity and the occasional miracle.

To schedule Jill Badonsky for a workshop,seminar, lecture or keynote address:
Email info@themuseisin.com

Photo © Ron Kofron

UNLEASHING CREATIVITY FOR TEAM BUILDING AND INGENUITY

This is a dynamic, fun, and interactive three hour presentation for businesses wanting to elicit more creativity, ingenuity and team cooperation from its employees. A creative atmosphere at work can lead to greater productivity, enhanced problem solving and new ideas that create distinction and a competitive advantage. 10 tools are provided that can be implemented for long lasting creative potential long after the seminar is over.

CREATIVE THINKING AND PASSIONATE MANIFESTATION

This dynamic, practical, and entertaining talk will introduce ten distinctive ways to use the power of creative thought. Practical tools in the innovative guise of nine Muses (and a Bodyguard) will inspire and empower your imagination and ingenuity as well as your ability to overcome creative blocks to authentic self expression including procrastination, overwhelm, fear, difficulty getting started and perfectionism. Accompanies a hands-on workshop where the creative principles are experienced and a product is manifested.

Approach the world with resourcefulness, motivated imagination and reinforced confidence to express in your true potential. Based on her book I Get to Live on the Planet Another Day and The Nine Modern Day Muses and a Bodyguard: 10 Guides to Creative Inspiration for Artists, Poets, Lovers and Other Mortals Wanting to Live a Dazzling Existence. Called "Brilliant, dazzling, informative, and entertaining!"

THE ENLIGHTENED PATH OF LAUGHTER

Explore the use of laughter and play to beat life's daily frustrations, increase creativity, and improve health and relationships. Discover how to build the powerful and joy filled coping strategy of humor into your everyday life. Jill augments this presentation with her performance story telling designed to inspire, educate and entertain at the same time. For workshops, Jill provides experiential improvisation comedy games for all level of participant comfort.

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Keynotes:

The Grove Creativi-tea, March 2008
Spirit Fire Retreat, Massachusetts, 2007
Women of the Golden Isle, St. Simons Island, GA 2007
Art Unraveled, Phoenix 2006
Sophia Mountain Center’s Women’s Retreat, Hot Springs, Montana 2006
National Expressive Therapy Association, St. Petersburg, FL 2006
Carlsbad Score Breakfast Conference, 2005
Artella Retreat, November 2004, October 2005
National Association of Women Writers, Dallas 2004
San Diego Creativity Club, 2004
National Organization of Team Spirit, San Diego 2003

Weekend Workshops & Retreats

Agelessness Retreat, Octber 2007
Dreamboard Workshop, Ramona, CA 2006
Society for Arts in Health Care Annual International Conferences, Chicago, 2006 and Alexandria VA 2004
Prairie Woods Retreat Center, Hiawatha, Iowa 2004, 2005, 2006
Lee Art Center, Arlington, VA 2005
Art Unraveled Conference, Phoenix, AZ 2005

Guest Lecturer:

Golden Fleece Storytelling, Washington, DC 2005
American Business Women’s Association, Escondido
Unnamed Writer’s Group, Reno, NV
Learning Annex, San Diego
National Speakers Association, Palm Springs
Orange County For You Women's Networking Group
Silicon Valley Singles Group
Romance Writers of America, San Diego 2003
National University, San Diego
Team Building: County of San Diego Mental Health Services
St Elizabeth Hospice
Ruben H. Fleet Science Museum
Fallbrook Writers Conference
Psychiatric Institutes of America Team Building: Kansas City, Milwaukee, Chicago, Washington D.C, San Diego, Ontario, CA
Shand's Teaching Hospital: Gainesville,
The Golden Door Health Spa, Escondido, CA
Ongoing San Diego Girls , Newcomers, and La Jolla Garden Club

Spiritual Workshops:

Annual Seaside Weekend Retreats
Religious Science Eastern Conference, Atlanta 2004
Religious Science Conference at Asilomar 2003

Sunday Message and Afternoon Workshop:

Religious Science Churches: Seaside, Encinitas, Long Lakes, Minnesota, Riverside, San Jose Center for Spiritual Living, Chatsworth, Cypress Unity Churches: Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, Cedar Rapids, Unity of Melbourne, FL, Sierra Center for Positive Living, Nevada City, CA, Order of the Ascended Rose Fellowship, Encinitas, Unity of Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Bookstore Workshops:

Monthly Third Thursdays Book Works, Del Mar
The Grove, San Diego
Barnes and Nobles ,Minneapolis, St. Louis, Irvine, Long Beach, L.A.
Peppertree Bookstore, Palm Springs
Piece of Mind Bookstore Edwardsville, Ill.
Transitions Chicago
Changing Hands Phoenix
Earth Song Del Mar
Heaven on Earth and Bridge Way Book Encinitas
The Grove San Diego, L.A.
Monterey, CA, Orlando
Great Southern Occupational Therapy Conference

Improv/Comedy Workshops

Encinitas 2003- 2006
Seaside Church, Encinidas 2004

"Jill's keynote presentation at the Artella Retreat absolutely dazzled and delighted me. One of Jill's many unique gifts is her uncanny ability to dynamically handle the energy of an entire group, yet also create meaningful individual connections with each and every person in the audience. Because of those connections, the participants are still talking about her presentation and what it meant to them on a deeply personal level. Motivation and movement, performance and poetry, wisdom and wit—Jill expertly combined them all, drawing us into a world where we are all geniuses. When I typically see a skilled speaker, I walk away thinking how talented the speaker is. But with Jill there's something more . . . she makes you walk away thinking about how talented you are."
—Marney K. Makridakis, Artella Magazine and Creativity Network

"She creates the magic in speaking. When she speaks, people listen—her creative ideas are beyond belief."
—Rita Kahn, International Speaker and Former TV Host

"I love her presentations because they are so full of humor combined with useful information."
—Deborah Swann, CFO Rick Engineering

"As a serious adult, I thought "play" was a four-letter word until I met the Nine Modern Day Muses. These funny, insightful and inspirational muses coaxed me to have fun being creative in ways I never believed was possible for a 50-year old attorney. The Nine Modern Day Muses took me on a fun-filled journey of creative self-expression with easy to understand explanations of the creative process, simple ways to overcome my initial resistance and lots of interesting exercises to get me started on my way. Jill's book made me realize that you don't have to be a professional artist, writer or performer to enjoy being creative. And the muses taught me how to play without being real serious about it."
—Ira Paull, Attorney

"I needed a push in the right direction and Jill gave me that push. Through her workshops I discovered the courage to become what I've always wanted to be. A writer."
—Lisa Dearen, Computer Programmer turned writer

"Every therapist in the country needs to have a copy of this book. Send it straight to Oprah."
—Colleen Turner, Management Consultant, Workshop Leader

"You are so cool and I love you for writing this book and being so audacious and lighting the way and showing the way for me. Thank you!!! It was you who sparked the desire to be an audacious woman. I've been doing well in my practice of being audacious but I want to go so much further and I know I will."
—Karen Anderson, Freelance Photographer

"I am well read and I think your book is amazing and ingenious. It's hilarious, yet enlightening at the same time. I find myself laughing out loud as I read it."
—Gail, Interior Decorator

"The Spills chapter changed my life. Thank you again, you are a genius, your book is so amazing. Every time I have a bad day or something horrible happens I just read some of it and I feel good."
—Sue Segovia, Registered Nurse

"I've been enjoying your book as I use it as a tool to enhance the experience within the Sacred Circle I joined. The concept of taking baby steps was really important for me to hear. I find the exercises to be very effective."
—Joyce Crawshaw, Saleswoman

"When I don't know what comes next in my writing, Jill's Modern Day Muses invariably have some advice. "Take a nap!" says Lull, "Take a walk" says Muse Song, "Just write for five minutes" says Marge. But best of all, the Bodyguard stands there looking as menacing as Arnold Schwarzenager, daunting away those pesky inner (and outer!) critics. It helps. Try it."
—Terri Trainor, Engineer and Writer

"I haven't been able to put your book down since last night! It's fantabulous!! Great work!"
—Rebecca Minehart, Massage Therapist

"...you do have a way of bringing out more of the eccentric in me, as you have worked diligently to express you own uniqueness, and thus, without effort or even consciousness, you instantly give permission to everyone in front of you to dare to be creative. I do the same thing. It's fun, isn't it? I wish you a Happy book, and a happy you."
—Scott Kalechstein, International Song Writer and Musician

"Just wanted to let you know that I bought your book and am enjoying it! You really jam-packed it full of great stuff. I really like your Muse barometers to see where on the scale I fit—you've got a great sense of absurd humor and it's a fun journey, reading/thinking/writing with your guidance. Thanks for having the patience, perseverance, stick-to-it-ness, and whatever else it took, to get it all down on paper. I wish you LOTS of success with it."
—Dana Bristol, Speaking Coach