Get More Speaking Gigs

Points for the Batman figurine on the desk :)

This may sound like a strange question, but how do you get your very first speaking gig? This advice sounds like it’s good only if you’ve gotten them in the past….

Chris- That is some great advice. Something I have been thinking more & more about over the past few months and trying to figure out ways to increase those opportunities. The big revelation that went off during the video is that I don’t really have much info on our page about us speaking. There is one small paragraph saying “if you would like us to speak at your event, contact us.” I guess that was the lazy man approach & isn’t going to cut it.

I’m going to work on this page and when I finish I’ll be returning :)

Great post. Agreed that these TOOLS (clips, speakers page, blogging on topics, etc) need to be in place to make it easier to actually land a gig but I’ve seen plenty of people who want to speak and who have many of the tools in place but still aren’t landing the gigs (because the gigs don’t know the speaker exists). What you said about self-marketing is key in my opinion, especially for someone starting out or someone will a relatively small platform.

If you (someone reading this) is new at speaking or just wants to increase your bookings, don’t be passive about it. Put the tools in place like Chris is saying but go after gigs. Seek out the opportunities. Start with local groups, associations, professional networks, etc. Google conferences that fit your topic. Google companies that you think are a match. Search Hoovers or some database like it to find contact info on key people in target organizations and call them. Create relationships with Meeting Planners, conference bookers, etc. Show what makes you different and WHY they should book you over someone else. Start small if you are new and build, build, build. As you do, if your delivery is good and content is right, you’ll eventually begin to create inbound leads (referrals and people calling you).

In my experience, most bureau’s won’t actively solicit gigs for you (or even pick you up) until you are at a point where you don’t really NEED them. Sure, any incoming lead or gig is great but normally they want high dollar speakers who have DEMAND so that they can make their commissions. It’s business.

Besides content, delivery and self-marketing… just be sure to be realistic too. If you are a new, unseasoned speaker… don’t think you are going to walk into a $20k gig with a Fortune 100 company. You need to prove yourself first. Look at your initials talks more so as marketing, an investment in getting you exposure.

I may do an expanded post on this next week. My insight is coming from 10 years of working with speakers of all types.

Very nice, thanks for the video.

Chris,

Came to your page to check out how you have your speaking and consulting pages set up and to my pleasant surprise I got this video. I am working with a CEO level to brand him and help him get into the speaking circuit regarding his topics of expertise. This short video is extremely helpful thanks again.

Mike

Always good stuff. I didn’t know Speaker’s bureaus took 20%. Good idea about making video samples and making speaking prominent on your website.

Think about it- if Chris’s (penn’s) job is to market the company, speeches put him in front of hundreds and hundreds of buyers each time.

Makes it hard to learn. : ) (yeah- it was auto-exposure, but the window was blazing out sun. Will turn off the sun next time.

I’m still booking plenty of paid gigs. The way I’m doing it is by promising that when they’re done, people will have something actionable that’s worth their money.

You start somewhere. My first several gigs were free. Then, people would ask me to speak in a place I wasn’t already planning to attend, so I’d charge. It just all works like that thereafter.

The content of this video outperformed the over exposure in my view.

Thanks Chris … some really valuable tips here.

Chris thank you so much for this. I had an unhelpful experience being represented by HarperCollins Speakers Bureau. I thought having such a powerhouse on my team would create many speaking engagements – in two years they only secured one for me and it was from someone who had read my book, went to MY website and clicked on the link “Have Roberta Speak At Your Event”…needless to say every speaking engagement I’ve secured in this last 3 years has been done by me.
In this vibrant internet era a speaker only needs: Credibility, Accessibility, Expertise and their own Website with exactly what you talk about in your video.
Again, thank you!
Roberta Munroe
Author, How Not To Make A Short Film: Secrets From A Sundance Programmer (Hyperion 2009)

Insightful stuff Chris. Got a great deal out of the video. Been speaking for several years and you are right, we must have the tools of the trade.

Thanks Chris. Great advice as ever.

I like this article very much. Thanks.