A Blog By Speakers, For Speakers.
The Self-Eating Watermelon
By Kent Cummins, CMCE How can you help prospective clients get the money to pay your full fee? For more than 60 years, I have been using a technique which I call, “The Self-Eating Watermelon!” The concept was developed by myself and a few friends while I was an undergraduate at Louisiana State University (1961-1965),…
Why Not Insert a Panel Discussion in Your Presentation?
By Kristin Arnold, CSP, CPAE, CPF | Master A few years ago, Joe Calloway, CPAE, called three people on the stage in the middle of his keynote presentation and facilitated a 15-minute panel discussion! Whoa! You can do THAT in a presentation? Indeed, you can! Embedding a panel discussion into your presentation can be an…
Slide Decks: What Do I Do Wrong?
By Trevor Perry The first debate about presentation material is whether or not to use slide decks. The second debate is then a question of which tool to use. The answer to the first is…it’s your choice. A slide deck has many advantages, the main benefit being that it is a cheat sheet for yourself….
The Real Deal: What Meeting Planners Want Speakers to Know
By Linda Swindling, CSP, CPAE Speakers often want to know what items are negotiable and how much to charge. Not asking for what is available can be a rational concern. That said, there are lists of concessions and items to request. However, many speakers ignore the wants, needs and even fears of the busy professionals…
Reinvent Your Business
By Thom Singer, CSP | The pandemic hit my speaking career hard. Speaking mostly to midsize associations, the abrupt halt of live events meant my clients didn’t hold in-person meetings. They no longer had the same budget for paid speakers, and my income plummeted by three-quarters over two years. Emerging from the pandemic felt like…
Want To Create New Speaking Opportunities?
By Frank Kitchen, CSP | Many think you must have a killer Speaker’s Reel. Others will tell you to hire a Virtual Assistant. Another group will tell you it’s about creating a social media presence. You’ll hear constant comments about building a funnel. Everyone has advice. Let me be honest with you…there are numerous ways…
How to Lean into Intimidation and Grow Your Speaking
By Scott Carley – The Change Energizer | For whatever reason, my whole life has been one of intimidation. Maybe it was because my brother was eight years my senior, always a step ahead and setting the bar high. Or maybe it was because I’ve always wanted more for myself and my career, which put…
Three Gotta-Have AI Tools For Professional Speakers
By Terry Brock, MBA, CSP, CPAE, Cavett Award Recipient | You’ve heard the buzz about AI and how it’s changing our world, potentially replacing a boatload of jobs. But hold your horses! As with so much technology I’ve seen through the years, some of this is flat-out malarkey (a technical term, mind you) and yet…
Defeating Distraction: How Attention Management Can Transform Your Speaking Career
By Maura Nevel Thomas, MBA, CSP | Not having enough time is not the challenge we think it is. While our goals and ambitions may be big, we do have the time we need to be successful. In an era dominated by digital distractions, the traditional go-to concept of “time management” is losing its relevance….
