Single_Never_Married Official Selection in LAweb Fest.

My original web show, Single_Never_Married, is an official selection in the largest web series festival in the world: LAweb Fest.

LAweb Fest will be later this month and I will post all of the details as soon as I know screening times. I am very excited about having the opportunity to network with people from all over the world as well as see awesome web shows.

Thank you everyone for your support!

#WillP TV

Rescue A Dog!

Training a dog can be challenging.

But, having one is the greatest thing in the world! Violet is my best friend. Want a dog? Consider rescuing one instead of going through a breeder. There are a lot of amazing dogs in shelters, such as mine.

10 Tips to Moderate Your Event Successfully.

I will be moderating a panel at UCLA called, Images in Blackness. It's featuring Lena Waithe and Justin Simien. I am very impressed by these two individuals and can't wait to learn more about them! I was asked to moderate this panel after the director saw that my web show, Single_Never_Married, was announced as an official selection in LAweb Festival. If you haven't already seen the show, here's the first episode:

The process of preparing for this panel discussion has been a long and arduous task, but I feel ready. In order to moderate an event well, you have to have a strategy in place and excellent time management skills. Since I didn't have anyone to help me the first time I moderated, I wanted to write this blog post to help those of you who may be doing this in the future.

10 Tips to Moderate Your Event Successfully

1) Research the Panelists

On average, I start to research the panelists 2-3 weeks prior to the event. In the beginning, I only lightly read the things I find to slowly familiarize myself with them. After that, around two weeks before the event, I go deeper into their work and professional experience. I also start to take notes using Word, which I will incorporate into my outline for the actual event. When it's a week before, I already have pages of notes about each panelist and can easily--off the cuff--tell a stranger their biography. Yes, I know it sounds like it may be too much, but you want to over prepare rather than under prepare. Why? If you're at the event and don't know anything about the panelists, your credibility is immediately destroyed. 

2) Know Your Audience

The first thing I research before agreeing to moderate an event is the audience. Luckily, you usually know what the audience will be like once you know the venue and event. For example, as I prepare to moderate the event at UCLA, I can automatically assume that there will be college students, professors, and faculty members in the audience. So, with that information, I am now able to shape my questions and content. I urge you to take time to really think about your audience and what you want them to get from the panelists. My goal at the UCLA event, since the panelists have a lot of web experience, is to ask various questions about how young individuals can get started making online content. I also have a set of questions geared to the professors and faculty members. You must know who is sitting in front of you!

3) Prepare Questions

Prepare more questions than you'll need. I often practice in front of my father who was a SVP of a major company back in the day and has experience public speaking. When I was getting ready for my first panel I said, "It's a short discussion; I won't need a lot of questions." My father said, "If you have twenty questions, you should have forty ready to ask." That was some of the best advice ever! Coincidentally, the audience wasn't talkative or asking questions, so I would have been in a tough situation if I only had twenty questions prepared.

How many questions do you need? For every hour of the event, write out at least 15 questions. So, if the event is from 7-10, have 45 questions prepared. That way, if something goes wrong or if you have extra time, you aren't thrown off your game. 

4) Type Everything Out 

Please do this. I don't care if you've practiced five hundred times in front of your dog; you will need this paper because we all are capable of forgetting. Sometimes when I get on a stage, my nerves get to me and I blank out. But when I remember I have that piece of paper, I feel relieved. Sometimes I still need to bust it out, but usually I don't. There's something about knowing you can fall back on it that helps. Anything you can do that'll make you feel more at ease, do it!

5) Practice, Practice, Practice 

Practice even when you feel like it's perfect. Then, practice again and again and again. If you're new to moderating, I would say going over everything from top to bottom in front of 5-10 people is best. If you're experienced, still do it. No one is immune to mistakes, nerves, and needing a little support.

6) Get to the Venue Early

So, you live only five miles away and know the venue like the back of your hand? That doesn't matter; still plan on arriving an hour early. You never know what may come up.

Since I live in Los Angeles, parking is always a challenge. For a recent panel I was moderating, I left an hour and a half early to go 6 miles. I arrived at the location over an hour early but couldn't find parking. After an hour and on the brink of being late, I finally found a space. If I didn't have that cushion, I would have missed the event!

Also, being there early allows you the chance to get used to the room. Where's the nearest clock? How big is the room? Is it too hot or cold? How many people are in the audience? Do you have a projector or any other equipment you can utilize?

7) Be Cool and Be Real

Be yourself. Don't try to act or be someone you're not. Just know that who you are is perfect and that you were hired to moderate because you're awesome. I know that is can be nerve racking and sometimes you may wonder if you can do it. You can. Remain relaxed and calm. If you need to meditate, chant, or take a shot before the event, go ahead and do it. I guarantee the audience will respond better when you let your guard down and act as you normally do.

8) Stay on Schedule

It's easy to start the event and get lost in what the panelists are saying, or simply lose track of time. You won't always have the director of the event to keep you on schedule, or some random intern. So, that means as you practice, you must practice with time in mind. Yes, use a stop watch. Make sure you have an idea of how long a panelist gets to speak for each question. 

That's why getting to the venue early is so critical. If you don't see a clock nearby, you'll have time to find one and place it in a good area.

9) Don't Force it

Sometimes you'll be moderating an event and the audience won't give you anything! Meaning, you will hear silence. You can't yell at them and say, "Ask a question!" That would be rude. So, you have a few options: start asking questions or create a new conversation with the panelists. I would recommend going into questions when the audience is silent; usually, they will feel inspired to eventually say or ask something. 

10) 'Thank' Everyone

When the event is over, offer your gratitude to the panelists and the audience. Go up to the panelists and express this, and also e-mail each one after the event. Also, make sure to e-mail the person who asked you to moderate the event. Professionalism is key. That's how you stand out as well. When you do a great job moderating plus you're professional and humble, people want to work with you again. Make contacts, network, and be gracious. It can lead to more work and more money. Who doesn't like money?

I hope these tips helped! Have you ever moderated an event? If so, how did it go? Share your stories and experiences. I'd love to hear them! And if there's anything else you want to add, feel free to do so!

Violet's Survival Story: Days from Being Euthanized to Now Starring in Her Own Web Show!

                               "When Did you Buy Violet?" "Who is the breeder?" 
                                "How much did Violet cost?" "How old is she?" 
                                    "How long did it take to train her?" 

I get these questions on a daily basis about my amazing, kind, and tender-hearted doggie who I named Violet after rescuing her on August 13th, 2013.

Yes, Violet was abandoned on the streets after being bred as a puppy herself and left for dead. Allow me to tell you the story of how we (Lauren and Violet) found each other.

In early August of 2013 I was telling a co-worker about how lonely I felt living in Los Angeles and not meeting anyone special. She replied, "Lauren, why don't you just get a dog then?" As she walked out of the room, her words hit me hard. I didn't realize how deeply until I was up that evening very late at night looking for pure bred dogs. I found quite a few and even emailed several breeders about the puppies they were selling. Most of them were in the range of $1,200-$2,500 each. I finally decided on one that was a pure bred male Havanese at only $1,500. He had slight spotting, which is what I was looking for. I only had to drive to Arizona, which was nine hours away.

Fast forward a few days and all of my friends (three in total) were telling me not to do it. One friend said, "I got a puppy and after six days of him peeing everywhere, I told my husband to take it back. Don't do it, Lauren." At first, I didn't listen to all of these comments but then I got real with myself: "Lauren, can you deal with a puppy? Maybe they're right--just adopt an older doggy. It will be easier on both of you." And that's when I started looking on PetFinder, which is a huge database for dogs in shelters that need to be adopted fast. Oftentimes, these dogs are euthanized within a week. 

So once again, I'm up very late at night under my covers looking for dogs to adopt. And then, after searching for an hour or so, I see a picture of LUCY (now Violet) who looks sad and in need of a bath. It says below it: "Urgent: will be killed in a few days." I immediately fill out the application and, honestly, forget about it. I remember thinking I had no chance to get her. I knew there would be a LONG list of people wanting to rescue Lucy. So, I made plans to see a puppy that weekend in a San Diego shelter. I was going to get a dog no matter what!

August 13th comes and I'm looking forward to my trip to San Diego with a friend until I get an email. It's from an organization called, The Mutt Scouts:

My goodness, I was so excited!! We immediately began to email back and forth to set up a time for me to meet her. I told the woman that I was going to San Diego but that I would go meet Lucy if she was close enough. Turned out, she was staying in a foster home just two miles from my apartment! So, I drove over that day and met Lucy. She immediately came up to me and rested her head on my shoulder. I fell in love with her in that instant and named her Violet that evening. 

A few days later, I had to meet up with Nikki from The Mutt Scouts to sign all of the paperwork and pay the adoption fee. She also had to make sure the apartment was safe for Violet and meet me. As I was filling out everything, she revealed to me that there were a lot of applications for people wanting Violet. She then said, "I saw yours and just knew you were the one for her. Sometimes you just know." And that brought me to tears. Someone believing in me through an online application and knowing that I was THE ONE. It gave me hope and reminded me that everything happens for a reason. So many things are out of our control in life. Actually, most things. Nikki's faith in me has brought a cute bundle of joy into my life and I owe her/The Mutt Scouts a huge hug. Violet is my best friend and, truly, is perfect in my eyes. She's teaching me a lot about unconditional love, particularly when she pees on the carpet!

She's also teaching me about forgiveness. Look at her. A teen mom, bred and then abandonded, left to starve, saved and now happy. She holds NO grudges from the past and just lives in the moment! I'm striving to be like my happy, sweet, Havanese doggie named Violet. 

in terms of how she became a co-star in Single_Never_Married. Angela, the director, and I discussed casting a dog but one evening when she came over to take pictures for the web show, Violet kept looking right in the camera. It was as if she was saying, "I want to be in it, too!" And that's when the idea of having her in it came up. But even at the time, it was only going to be very minor. However, since she loves it so much, is great on set, and the audience adores her, we've chosen to have her in more of the web show. Check her out in this episode of Single_Never_Married below: "I'm Not Her Dog, I'm Her Daddy!"

From the streets to Hollywood. Thank you, Violet, for coming into my life! Love you! The photograph in this blog has a group of dogs in it. Violet is the one on the left side. She was in a San Bernardino high kill shelter when Nikki from The Mutt Scouts was in there to rescue other doggies and saw Violet, along with other ones (they're in the picture) and knew she had to help them. So, she decided to take them to The Mutt Scouts and find them foster homes unti they could be placed in permanent ones. Thank you, Nikki!

Please share this story with others as well as tell people about our web show, Single_Never_Married. We need to get more animals out of shelters and into good homes!

TRAILER for Single_Never_Married, A Web Show About A Dating Expert Who Sucks at Dating!

Hey everyone,

Please watch the trailer of my new web show, Single_Never_Married, about a dating expert who sucks at dating. I created and wrote the series, plus I star in it as well. "A dating expert who sucks at dating." It's only 60 seconds long! You have the time = )

Are you Single_Never_Married? Tune in and watch NOVEMBER 18TH on my channel called WillP TV! Below is the link:

WillP TV's website.

Thank you!

Single_Never_Married--My New Web Show!

Hello, peeps, it has been a while!

As many of you know I wrote a book with my father about dating called, How to Get Real About Dating: A Father and Daughter's Guide to Finding Love at Any Age. You can view the book's website here. It was a great experience to write with my father and I feel blessed to know him better.

A few months ago I decided to write a web show inspired by the book called, Single_Never_Married. I sent it to my now business partner, Angela Burris, and she expressed wanting to direct it. Since that moment not too long ago, we have been blazing ever since! The first season is shot. I also created several other shows and we now have a channel called WillP TV!

What is Single_Never_Married about? A dating expert who sucks at dating. It follows the life of Deon, a dating expert, who hasn't had much luck at love. She wants nothing more than to fall in love yet she's very afraid at the same time. I'm sure many people can identify with this = ) I am starring in the show and it's my first time acting. You can watch the season premiere on NOVEMBER 18TH by going to WillP TV's website here.

There will be content every week that you can watch and comment on. Feel free to check everything out and let us know what you think. I love feedback!

I'm very excited about the future and it was so much fun to act in Single_Never_Married. I am definitely a writer at my core but acting is cool. Please tune in and watch on November 18th! Thank you.

I'd Love to Taste My Food: Chronicles of A Food Addict.

We all get to a point where we feel absolutely gross. For you this may mean not showering for a few days, delaying a much needed hair cut, or going outside without lip gloss.

For me, it's when I'm wearing my I'M-A-FAT-ASS jeans. The ones that hang loose on my body and don't give me any shape because I want people to not look at me. For added effect, I also pair this with a baggy jacket and unbrushed hair. I didn't notice how rough I looked until I went on a scale in my parents' bathroom and screamed twice. First at the number I saw and second at how much I had let my appearance go.

At first I wanted to blame it on being single for so long (it has been almost three years since I had a girlfriend...like, a real one, though I have dated). Then, I realized that had nothing to do with it. I was simply eating and drinking way too much as I said to my stepmother who was next to me in the bathroom (unable to see the scale).

And as I got back into my I'm-A-Fat-Ass jeans, I realized something had to change. Like, everything. Not just on the outside but on the inside. So, I got out a piece of paper and wrote, GOALS. The first thing on the list --

#1 Stop being a fatass and look at yourself in the mirror once a day. Then, I decided to join Jenny Craig.

That's right, I joined Jenny Craig to avoid looking like this one day:

Photo Found Here

Is this a major exaggeration from the size I am today? Absolutely. Is it a realistic fear? TOTALLY. Many of us out there--Food Addicts--are one Big Mac and McFlurry away from being huge. I didn't join Jenny Craig because I'm huge; I joined out of avoidance and fear. I could feel myself right on the brink of letting it all go and that, peeps, is lethal. That one thought as I was on the scale scared me so much that I called a local Jenny Craig immediately to make an appointment.

It was a relief getting the food and starting the program. I have to be real with you: I'd love to have some butter. Or, some eggs with bacon. Hell, even a little olive oil on my vegetables would be nice. Although the program is beneficial, I'd really love to taste my food. So far all I taste is cardboard with a little salt.

But it's better than being in baggy jeans and a large sweater all of the time. I may never be the skinniest biotch on the block, but I damn well ain't going to be the fattest. 

I'll keep ya posted on my Jenny Craig progress. Goal is 12 pounds.