With over 32,000 subscribers on our YouTube Channel, we get a lot of questions each week.
About half of them are about particular aspects of being an MC, while the other half are about the Tools, Apps and Equipment we use to run both my own MC Business and the ExpertMC Project.

So, I’ve started putting together this Rolodex of Recommendations. I will add to it over time.

It includes a Recommended Reading List! I browsed my own bookshelf and picked a bunch of books that have helped me over the years!

Categories

• Online Presence
• Running a Business
• Audio Visual Gear
• The Books We Recommend
• Tools for MCs

Once you’ve had a look through, be sure to also check out our curated Amazon Store. See the link at the bottom.

Some of the listings are Free while others do require a payment.

Note – A few of these links are Affiliate Links, and we may receive a small commission or subscription benefit if you purchase via , but you only pay the same price.

Note – We only list Recommendations that we actually Use, Test & Trust here in our business!

Are You Ready to Level Up Your Game?
Here are the Resources we use!

Online Presence

⚫ Our favourite Business Growth Tool

Testimonials! They have been the life blood of our business for the last 40 years!

This is a great tool that we have been using over the last 12 months and really love.
Easily capture Testimonials via a number of different ways and then use them creatively in all your social channels. You’ve probably seen them here on the site, here’s an example.
My Product & Services sales have really been boosted by this great tool!

Testimonial Tool Details Here

Full Review of the Product Here

⚫ Our YouTube Secret Weapon

This is the Tool that helped us get 32,000 YouTube Subscribers!
It’s actually a whole suite of Tools that allow you to really power up your own YouTube Channel.
Its used by every big name YouTuber and will give you amazing insights and research to help you Manage, Optimise and Run your own channel. There is a FREE level which has a few really good tools and the paid level is currently only a few dollars a month and well worth it particularly if you are just starting out on your YouTube journey. Its an extension to your browser. Info via this link.
https://expertmc.com/TB

⚫ Our Website Host

Fast, Secure, Competitively Priced with Massive Support.
I’ve tried all the big name Web Hosts over the years, Blue Host, GoDaddy etc, but I would never go anywhere else now. I have 7 websites listed with them! The support is amazing.
https://expertmc.com/SG

Running a Business

⚫ Mail List

Every MC, Speaker or Entertainer needs to start and grow a Mail List. We have tried many over the years including MailChimp and ActiveCampaign but this is our pick. Send bulk emails, set up automations and gather contacts from your website with forms. It’s not too complicated but still has many of the features of the bigger offerings. It also has a completely free level so you can try it out! The free version may be all you need, especially if you have a very targeted niche group of contacts.
https://expertmc.com/ML

⚫ International Money Service

Doing business online and internationally sometimes requires you to have international bank accounts. For instance some larger affiliate programs will only pay into local accounts in their own country. And sometimes if you are selling coaching, products or online courses, the ability for a client or customer to do a direct transfer into a local bank makes it far easier and results in more sales.
I’ve been using this online service for the last 12 months and it works very well. I have a central account with them, which enables me to create local accounts in over 20 countries. My clients pay in their country and I have access to the money straight away. I then just transfer the $ out into my local bank every couple of weeks. There are plenty of other great features as well!
Note – This is not Financial Advice. Just a service I use and have been happy with so far.
Check out the full details here.

⚫ Convert Your Viewers

This is an excellent product that we backed very early on in it’s development. It provides many options to display messages and different dynamic forms on any website. Use these to direct the attention of viewers to different pages, videos or offers, to get their details so you can add them to a mailing list etc. It works seamlessly with both the Shopping Cart and Mailer Programs also detailed in this list
https://expertmc.com/CB

⚫ Shopping Cart

Creating and selling products has been an integral part of our business for many years. You probably already own one or more of these – “The Modern MC,” “BWC by Timothy Hyde,” “The Expert MC Toolkit and Resource Manual” or “The Mega Training and Success Bundle.” As well as selling those I have a range of ebooks for Magicians and use a shopping cart to sell some of my wifes Limited Edition Prints.

Over the years I’ve used many different services including the big brands like 1ShoppingCart and SamCart, but for the last 10 years I’ve exclusively used this one. If you’ve bought from me, you know it’s fast, reliable and has great options.

And the best feature of it, it’s a One Time Fee. Yep, pay once and you can use it forever. Most other Shopping Carts are a Yearly or Monthly fee. So, what seem seems like a fairly expensive One Off Payment, will actually be much cheaper in the long run. It will pay for itself fairly quickly and then that expense is gone.

It also includes an Online Course/Membership platform! We use it to host the Mega Bundle components. This is just a good as others on offer for large monthly fees. You get it at no extra cost

Have a look at the Features Included here. There is a Pro level upgrade, but frankly what’s included in the entry level will probably be fine for most people. You can Upgrade at a later date and Yes there is a Refund available if you find the Cart is not for you.
https://expertmc.com/TC

The Gear We Use – Audio Visual

⚫ Microphone – Rode Video Mic Pro

I prefer using a Shotgun Microphone when I’m filming, I think they give a better sound and allow a lot more movement than a lavalier. This model from Rode is great and captures great clean sound. It has a couple of settings that allow you to boost the signal if you need to and there are several power options. I have mine mounted on a Mic Stand alongside the Camera. It’s a great microphone. There are a couple of smaller alternatives if the price is too high, it’s a very good brand.
https://amzn.to/4bmp397 (Amazon Link)

⚫ Audio Interface – Focusrite

An Audio USB Interface is a brilliant addition to any Home Studio, allowing you to use Pro Quality Microphones and Sound Equipment and connect to your Computer via USB. Perfect for Streaming, Online Meetings, Video Production, Voiceovers etc. Focusrite have a large range with different input capabilities and often have great bundle deals. I’ve used the Focusrite Solo for quite a few years.
https://amzn.to/3V69eO5 (Amazon Link)

The Books We Are Reading

⚫ Create Something Awesome – Roberto Blake

Roberto is one of the YouTubers I follow and this book is a great insight into his thinking on The Creator Economy. It’s mostly Big Picture rather than the Nuts and Bolts of creating content, you can get that from his Channel.
https://amzn.to/4dJVtfg (Amazon Link)

⚫ Comedy Writing Secrets – Mel Hilitzer

This is great and I reread it every now and then. It has some excellent exercises to brainstorm ideas for Speeches, Introductions, Openings etc.
https://amzn.to/4dOyYGa (Amazon Link)

⚫ Learned Optimism – Martin Saligman

Life always has it’s ups and downs! This book has helped millions!
https://amzn.to/466uWqK (Amazon Link)

⚫ Change Your Thinking – Sarah Edelman

A highly practical guide for taking charge of your negative emotions through cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), the evidence-based treatment used by clinical psychologists worldwide

https://amzn.to/4pqEcxv (Amazon Link)

I will be adding to this book list over coming weeks. If you would like to visit an older reading list I put together, you can find it here

Tools for MCs & Speakers

⚫ Artificial Intelligence

I wouldn’t say I was slow to jump on the AI revolution, I published my first video on using AI in 2023 and since then have explored it quite a lot. ChatGPT is an awesome tool, is free to use at the basic level and just keeps getting better and better.

Over the last 2 years I have been using it in many ways and recently wrote extensively about it in this new mini eBook. You get a rundown of 40 different ways I’ve been using it, a full tutorial on writing “Great Prompts” so you get “Great Results”, a tutorial on how to use it to Improve your Scripts and a whole lot more.

It’s an instant Download and currently 35 pages!

Full Details Here.

⚫ Panel Design Cards

I was contacted a few years ago by someone who wanted to use a couple of ideas of mine in a book she was writing about running panels. I then found out she was “the” expert in the field and had already published several books on the topic! Last year she asked me to help Beta Test a product she had designed, specifically on preparing a Panel. It’s 170 cards in different categories.
It takes you through – Initial Desicions, Welcomes, Segement Starters, Transitions, Q&A, Closings and Checklists. I think its fantastic and I have been using it a lot with my major client. I’ll be doing a Video about it soon. If you want your next panel to be more engaging and creative, check it out!

https://geni.us/PanelDesignCards (Full Details – Amazon Link)

Our Curated Amazon Collection

We have been slowly been adding to our Curated Amazon Store and currently have 40 or so Highly Recommended items listed. These are all items I use in our business and they include Tech Tools and Books.

You’ll also find some links to other things I recommend, a range of interesting Art Supplies, Hobby Tools and a few interesting games!

https://expertmc.com/amz