Killer Workshops and Events

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”—Mahatma Gandhi

Not everyone is terrified of being on stage; some people live for it and have a special talent for sharing information (or hosting an event) that leaves a lasting impression. We have a regular slate of workshops and talks you can participate in, or you can have us do one just for you.

Imagine your audience is naked. Or don’t. Maybe don’t do that.

Professional seasoned speakers and hosts are critical when you want to have a flawless live event, or need to impart mission critical training to a special group, or simply want you and your staff to get a new perspective on something.

  • Andrew McQuiston & Kelly Demo
    Michael Dargie’s ‘Make More Creative’ is not your typical ad or brand agency. It is a team who helps companies identify and understand the truth behind why they do what they do and how important that is to their clientele. They bring perspectives from around the world, and apply their unique talents to help us share our vision with the world. Add to this Michael’s individual focus on what we’re doing and the gentle guidance/nudge that comes along at just the right time, allows us to be able to focus on our business and have confidence that the marketing side is being looked after.
    Andrew McQuiston & Kelly Demo
    West Oak Family Office
  • Terry 'OBI-WAN' Sydoryk
    When we engaged Michael Dargie and Make Make More Creative we were looking for a way to find and share our true brand voice—in a very short period of time Michael was able to bring together a diverse group of professionals, who hadn’t seen each other in more than a year, and not only helped us get on the same page, but inspired us to write the book on Chaordix in a way that invites you into the story.
  • Nathan Flim
    I worked with Michael Dargie and Make More Creative to uncover my Brand's DNA, which is a part of everything that we do at my distillery. Michael helped me to formulate a single sentence which has captured the very essence of our business. This has been an incredibly helpful exercise, and will play a very important role in the growth of my business. Working with Michael at Make More Creative was an absolute pleasure.
    Nathan Flim
    The Fort Distillery, Tumbler & Rocks
  • Stephanie Horner
    Michael's  presentation to our Growth accelerator program participants was engaging, relevant and exactly what the cohort needed to take their business to the next level. He answered specific industry questions seamlessly and many Xers jumped on the opportunity to engage with him more in a consultation session. If you learn by example with story, humour and passion, Michael is your entrepreneurial learning Facilitator!
  • Rene Burke
    I worked closely with Michael from Make More Creative to define my business and target clients. He helped me to clearly articulate what I do well and what value I bring to the table with prospective clients. Through a very fun and interactive framework that Michael developed, I was able to determine what I do well and enjoy, what is draining my energy (and eliminatethat), and what is my company’s unique value proposition. My brain hurt at the end of each session, but it was absolutely worth it! Michael gently prodded me forward every step of the way and the output was outstanding. His process was very enlightening and produced substantive, actionable and eye-opening results.  Mike has a great style of delivery, a calming personality, provides interesting insights and has incredible patience! Thank you! I learned so much and highly recommend that other companies go through this journey with you as the guide on the side!
    Rene Burke
    MBA
  • Ken Cameron
    Michael’s Brand DNA workshop gave me a vision, purpose and direction for my brand and my company. His interactive and creative approach was equal parts intuitive and analytical, allowing me to draw on what I already know, uncover what I didn’t know I already knew, and dive right into what I had always thought was unknowable. It also gave me unexpected insights into my communication style, my social media presence, my business plan and myself. It’s as effective as a patient performing a forensic diagnostic on themselves while still alive, but without any of the blood, pain and horror usually associated with such activities.
    Ken Cameron
    Corporate Culture Shift
  • Bryan Schultz Testimonial
    For years Michael has been working with me to clarify my brand and message using an incredible system called BrandJitsu. Part of his philosophy is to ruthlessly recognize and remove words and false narrative and replace them with only the stuff that matters. How do you find what matters? Work with Michael and BrandJitsu’s simple and effective framework to find and share your story.
    Bryan Schulz, CEO
    Seescape Systems
  • Dave Knight Testimonial

    Michael has restored our faith in brand strategy and design. In two days he was able to accomplish what an agency of 15 people couldn’t do in four months. Not only was he able to help us find and shape our company’s unique story and value proposition but also helped align our team around a brand we’re all fiercely proud of. BrandJitsu is fast, effective, meaningful and immediately useable. Once we had our brand clarified Michael quickly went to work re-aligning our product offering and marketing materials to create a compelling narrative. We went from four-hour meetings sometimes getting a ‘Yes!’ to fifteen minutes of ‘Hell yes!’ because our clients immediately understood the value we bring to their businesses.

    Dave Knight, COO
    Point Integrated Data Solutions
  • Jennifer Radke Testimonial
    In the last year or so, I have attended a number of presentations, speeches and conversation nights about podcasting. What makes Michael’s talk different is his truly unique perspective, as someone who is working on two successful podcasts. I really enjoyed his relaxed presentation style that invited questions and kept the atmosphere fun, but at the same time, his presentation was very structured which ensured everyone walked away with a solid knowledge base of the topic.
    Jennifer Radke
    I Wish I Were Me
  • Angela Merzib Testimonial
    Michael’s talk on BrandJitsu was not only informative but also engaging and entertaining. He was extremely generous about sharing his knowledge and really captured the essence of what it means to have a standout brand. He gave the audience bite-sized, actionable steps that we could start using to build out our brand’s personality right away.
    Angela Merzib
    Brand Strategist
  • Adam Calver Testimonial
    Michael Dargie is expressive, bold, exciting and overall joy to watch. You can tell he cares about his audience and wants entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and business-owners alike to have easy-to-use tools to build their brand and tell our story; inspiring us to achieve even higher levels personally and in business. I can’t wait for more talks and content around BrandJitsu!
    Adam Calver
    Head On First Aid
  • Carrie Tuttle Testimonial
    When I first met with Michael, I didn’t feel I was even ready to start branding. Then he asked me my story and showed me that my brand was already part of me—he just needed to shine a light on it so I could see it too.
  • Shylo Victoria Testimonial
    I recently experienced Michael Dargie speak on the topic of BrandJitsu; Wow! What a great speaker and teacher able to impart an abundance of knowledge in a way I could understand and use immediately. His strategy is simple, yet when he breaks it down it really makes you think about your brand in a whole new light. After his class not only did I had a ton of new and exciting ideas, I was filled with renewed energy and motivation to take my brand to the next level! If you have a chance to see Michael speak, don’t miss it. Highly recommended!
    Shylo Victoria
    Shylo Victoria
  • Neville Chamberlain Testimonial
    Michael is one of those rare breeds of creatives that combines design creativity with a super-clear business mind. He not only creates the most compelling brands – he crafts brand strategy that becomes an integral part of your business DNA, your goals, ambitions and values. He is expert at what he does – gently but firmly leading his clients to discover the road they really should be taking. Every time that I’ve seen Michael in action his creative strategy blows my mind. To add to the mix, he is a superb storyteller and teacher. His enthusiasm for what he does shines in everything he does.
  • Kat Phelan
    When we were looking for an expert to join our cohort of teachers on how we can use and create video and social media to spread our message of STEAM, I immediately thought of Michael Dargie. He connected right away to our group with his humor and expertise. Michael eased teacher concerns with his examples and gave excellent advice and encouragement, building teacher confidence in their ability to take on these challenges. Thanks Michael! I can’t wait to see the amazing things we make.
    Kat Phelan
    Stem Learning Lab
  • Dallas Paquette Testimonial
    You remember that terrier from those Kibbles and Bits commercials? Well, that’s Michael. I’ve never seen anyone with so much creative energy. It is impossible to sit down and discuss an idea with him and not believe in short order that it’s not only possible, but a moral imperative to make it so.
    Dallas Paquette
    Lift Renovations
  • Sean Young Testimonial
    Michael is a creative problem-solver to his very core. As a communicator he can sort out what to say and how to say it. As an artist, he brings creative mastery, as a team member he brings the highest degree of personal and professional dedication. Very few people have the kind of ability and willingness to forge a path through the status quo with intention, sincerity and insight that Michael brings to the table.
    M. Sean Young
    e2 and Associates
  • Scott Pym Testimonial
    Michael’s talk on the ‘7-Touch Exploding Brand Technique™’ was a blast — he’s very informative and funny, like a down to earth Brand Samurai.
    Scott Pym-Hember
    The Company Inc.
  • Jessica Webber
    The 7-Touch Exploding Brand Technique™ is as entertaining and engaging as you could wish from a theatre athlete; it outlines a clear, logical, and sometimes surprising line of progression to brand development and deployment following his mantra: ‘Keep it Simple’. I came away from the session excited to revisit the way I think about my story.
    Jessica Webber
    All the Things
brandjitsu-logo

BrandJitsu™ Workshops

Find, Shape, and Share Your Story

Businesses in North America have a 13% success rate, and of the top ten reasons why businesses fail, seven of them can be directly attributed to brand or lack thereof. Your brand is the DNA of your entire company and if you don’t have that figured out you’re in trouble.

BrandJitsu is a proven methodology which helps businesses succeed and thrive (regardless of market conditions) by clearly understanding the reason you’re in business in the first place—the very DNA of your business—before you even think about a logo, website, or even a business card.

BrandJitsu Group Workshops

Group workshops are currently being held in person following Canada Health Guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. For all half-day group lecture series, all worksheets will be provided along with a link to book your private brand sessions ($350 value) as well as a promo code for 25% off Michael Dargie’s upcoming BrandJitsu™ book.

Lunch and Learns (45-minute lecture, 15-minute private)
Topics vary from BrandJitsu to creative problem-solving – for a complete list please visit Michael Dargie’s website.
* workbook package is available for purchase


BrandJitsu: DNA, Promise + Voice (Group 3-hr workshop, 1-hr private) $495
BrandJitsu: DNA, Promise + Voice (Group 3-hr workshop Online) $250

BrandJitsu: Heroes + The Right Stuff (Group 3-hr workshop, 1-hr private) $495
BrandJitsu: Heroes + The Right Stuff (Group 3-hr workshop online) $250

Outward Expression (Group 3-hour workshop, 1-hr private) $495
Outward Expression (Group 3-hour workshop online) $250

7-Touch Exploding Brand Technique (Group 3-hr workshop, 1-hr private) $495
7-Touch Exploding Brand Technique (Group 3-hr workshop online) $250

Group Workshop Packages In-Person

BRANDJITSU Deadly Combo 2 $895 (two workshops)
BRANDJITSU Deadly Combo 3 $1,295 (three workshops)
BRANDJITSU Deadly Combo 4 $1,695 (all four workshops)

Group Workshop Packages Online

BRANDJITSU Deadly Combo 2 $450 (two workshops)
BRANDJITSU Deadly Combo 3 $650 (three workshops)
BRANDJITSU Deadly Combo 4 $850 (all four workshops)

BrandJitsu Private Sessions

All Private Sessions can be held at our space at cSPACE King Edward in Calgary, Alberta Canada, or can be held via ZOOM using the MIRO infinite whiteboard. All sessions are recorded and the results of the workshop are summarized and catalogued in a custom ‘Brand Toolkit’ for each client, along with copies of the group’s worksheets for future brand alignment.

BrandJitsu: DNA, Promise + Voice (half-day, private) $4,995
BrandJitsu: Heroes + The Right Stuff (half-day, private) $4,995
Outward Expression (half-day, private) $4,995

Other Talks and Events

We have a plethora of workshops, talks, and keynotes designed and delivered by Michael Dargie and his team to help you and your business kick ass and take it to a whole new level.

Michael Dargie’s energy on stage is infectious and you can’t help but come away from the experience changed in some way.

He’s a company member at the world famous Loose Moose Theatre; a seasoned host, presenter, and adult educator with more than 38,000 hours in front of audiences; he’s been nominated for multiple awards for the two podcasts he produces and hosts; has won awards for several short films; is a regular host at the Calgary Exhibition & Stampede; is an emerging stand-up comic and an all ’round neat guy who has cornered the market in octopus and obscure animal-fact comedy.

TALKS AND EVENTS

  • Telling Your Story — Shooting Your Commercial.
  • Social Media: The Intergalactic Kegger
  • So, You Want to Start a Podcast?
  • My Website Sucks Now What?
  • Pitch-Fu: The Secret Art of Getting What You Need.
  • Two Wheels and The Truth.
  • Branded AF and the Big Badda-Boom.

Fight Club for Entrepreneurs

Each round is five minutes. Take an entrepreneur and put them on stage in front of a panel of judges and an audience of their peers, then cheer as they either rise to the challenge or crumble under the pressure.

Regardless of how their round goes down, each entrepreneur then gets five minutes of constructive feedback and suggestions from the panel, and then a tight five minutes of questions and feedback from the audience.