Ben Glenn was diagnosed with Dyslexia and other Learning Disabilities while in grade school. As an adult he also learned that he has ADHD and suddenly everything about his life made perfect sense.

Dropping out of college to pursue a love of art and speaking, Ben has been on the road, full-time since 1995, traveling to every part of the United States as well as to more remote places like China and Australia. He blames his ADHD…but he’s secretly happy about it.

You see, Ben belongs to an ever-growing group of individuals, who took their disability turned it upside down and discovered that they have ALL kinds of abilities that “normal” people just don’t have. (People like Ty Pennington, Jamie Oliver, Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Branson, Charles Schwab, Billy Blanks, Jay Leno, James Carville, Jewel, Terry Goodkind & many others!)

Years of living with and studying ADHD have brought Ben to the firm conclusion that ADHD impairs a person’s life the most when that person is trapped in an ADHD-unfriendly environment (read: the traditional educational system/typical corporate cublicle hell) or does not possess the information they need in order to deal with their symptoms in the right way. Obviously, it may be a long time before much changes about the way typical schools operate, or the way a corporation expects their employees to behave,  but meantime, Ben is sharing everything he has learned about ADHD with anyone who will listen. And lots of people are listening!

Ben’s ADHD-adventure filled messages of inspiration and hope are both entertaining and educational. Youth relate to his struggles for acceptance in school, parents and teachers get an insider’s perspective on what it’s like to grow up “different”, “special”. Over the years, Ben has spoken to thousands of people honing his ability to take complex, emotionally-charged subjects and give his audience a fresh, easy-to-digest perspective that produces real change in attitudes, goals and motivations.

Finally, as much as Ben loves being a speaker and performing artist, he loves being a husband and father more. Married for over thirteen years, he, his wife and two daughters live in a great little city called Indianapolis.

FAQs

Q. What does the art portion of Ben’s presentation entail?

A. Ben’s presentation consists not only of a powerful, inspiring message, but also of  a live, and rapid creation of a beautiful drawing on a canvas that measures 6X8 feet. Ben does not speak while drawing – he’s moving too fast too do that;  The drawing is accompanied by beautiful and moving music with the house lights down and a spotlight on the canvas. It’s a dazzling presentation that brings people to their feet every time!

Q. How long are Ben’s presentations?

A. Ben’s typical student presentation is 45-60 minutes long; a typical teacher presentation is 60-90 minutes long. Ben is very flexible and can adjust his programing to fit into your time frame. That said, you want to allot a minimum of 25 minutes for him to be able to speak and do the drawing and have it be a worthwhile experience for the audience.

Q. We already have a keynoter for our event. Can Ben do just the drawing?

A. Yes.

Q. So what’s the story with the frame/canvas for the drawing?

A. We ask that you build the frame and stretch the canvas for Ben’s drawing before he arrives. We provide simple directions and diagrams, as well as a short video to help you do this quickly and pain-free. Ben will bring the “legs” to which the frame will be attached. For the frame, four pine 1X4s are needed. Two of the slats/planks need to be 6 feet long and two of them should be 8 feet long. Make sure that the wood is not warped or cracked. This wood can be purchased at a local hardware store or lumber yard.

Q. What other supplies/equipment do I need to provide?

A. Ben also needs a flat, queen-size bed sheet in either navy or black. For your floor’s protection (the chalk Ben uses can stain), we recommend that you provide a couple of drop cloths large enough to cover an area of 12X15 feet. The drop cloth needs to have a poly back like the following brand: Gotcha Covered Absorbent Drop Cloth. Both the sheet and the drop cloth can be purchased on the internet or at your local Wal-mart/K-Mart. You will also be asked to provide some heavy duty extension cords and an electric drill. For full details of Ben’s requirements, please download his Rider by clicking HERE.

Q. How long does it take Ben to set up?

A. Assuming that the frame is ready as required and all other A/V/Set-up needs have been met, Ben can be set up and ready to go in about 30-40 minutes.

Q. What will these supplies cost me?

A. The total cost of all supplies is between $40-60.

Q. What is the process of booking Ben?

A. When you decide to move forward with securing Ben for your event(after you have verified that your date is available and that your budget works with Ben’s fees), you will be asked to complete an Event Questionnaire. Once our office has the Event Questionnaire back from you, we will issue a contract and email that to you with Ben’s rider and set-up instructions. To secure the date, we require a 50% deposit of Ben’s fee and a copy of the signed contract. Both are due within 2 weeks of you receiving the contract. Approximately a week before your event, you will receive a call from Ben’s road manager, Larry Medcalfe, to go over all the details and answer any last minute questions.

Q. Can we hold a date on Ben’s schedule while we’re working out the details of our event without signing a contract or paying a deposit?

A. Yes. We are happy to pencil you into Ben’s schedule while you’re finalizing the details of your event. If another client is interested in Ben for the same date, you will have the right of first refusal. What that means is that our office will contact you and give you 48 hours to make a firm decision, one way or another, on the date you are holding.

Q. What if our school district does not allow for deposits?

A. We do accept a PO and a signed contract in lieu of a deposit on a case-by-case basis.

Q. What happens to the drawing after the event?

A. At multi-group events/conferences, Ben usually sells the drawings on a first come, first serve basis. Ben always donates the drawing to all the public schools that invite him to come and speak.

Q. We are working with a limited budget, what are our options?

A. You can collaborate with other schools or educator groups in your community and split Ben’s fee or you can book Ben when he’s already in your area (ie. within 60 miles if flying and enroute if driving) and receive a discount. Your group can also apply for a grant or fundraise. If you have additional funds to purchase education materials, bulk buying some of Ben’s materials can also help pay for him to come out and speak.

Q. Where is Ben based?

A. Ben lives in Indianapolis, Indiana

Q. Will Ben come and perform at my birthday party?

A. Ben does not do any private functions like birthdays, weddings, graduations, etc. We appreciate you thinking of him, but no.

Q. Can we video/audio record Ben’s presentation and sell it afterwards?

A. Ben’s presentation can be recorded with written permission from our office, but only for non-commercial/non-distributory purposes. You cannot sell or make multiple copies of the recording and give them out. If a recording is done, you will need to provide our office with a copy for our records.

Q. Can Ben teach me how to do Chalk Art?

A. Ben has taught some seminars in the past, but unfortunately the demands of his busy schedule do now allow for it at this time.

Q. I want to order an original chalk painting or have a mural painted, does Ben ever do commissions?

A. At this time, Ben is not accepting any commissions. Again, this is due to his hectic schedule.

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