A Blog By Speakers, For Speakers.
Smiling and Dialing: Building a Speaking Business One Connection at a Time
By Lisa Ryan, CSP | When I first started my speaking business, I wasn’t exactly rolling in resources. My budget was tight, my network was small, and referrals weren’t exactly pouring in. What I did have, though, was a phone, a whole lot of grit, and a genuine desire to help people who could benefit…
Unlocking the Association Speaking Circuit: An Insider’s Guide to Booking More Gigs
By Ed Rigsbee, CSP, CAE | As a seasoned professional in the speaking industry, I’ve learned that the key to success lies not just in what you say on stage, but in how you position yourself to get there in the first place. Speaking at trade association and professional society meetings is a goldmine for…
Building a Successful Speaker-Staff Partnership: Lessons from the Trenches
By Joe Mull, CSP and Jamie DeRosa | When it comes to growing a successful speaking business, there’s a critical truth that many speakers learn the hard way: it’s tough to go it alone. We’ve learned valuable lessons about creating a successful partnership, not just from our own journey together, but also from interviewing numerous…
Are Your Butterflies All Tied Up? Harnessing Stage Nerves for Speaking Success
By Shanita Baraka Akintonde, MBA, M.Ed., DTM | Does this scenario sound familiar? You step onto the stage, your heart pounding, beads of sweat start a sprint across your forehead, and your stomach flutters. Butterflies. Pre-speech jitters can be off-putting and stimulating whether you’re a first-timer or delivering your five-thousandth keynote. Disturbing and energizing. Unnerving…
The EQ Edge: Building Unforgettable Connections with Your Audience
By: Lori King-Taylor | As a speaker, it’s not just about delivering information; it’s about creating an experience that lingers with your audience long after the presentation ends. Emotional intelligence (EQ), particularly the elements of social awareness and empathy, can be the difference between a forgettable talk and a message that truly resonates. When speakers…
“What’s Your Favorite App?” The Right Question Isn’t About the App—It’s About the Outcome
By Jamie Champagne, CSP | These days, with the explosion of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, asking others “What’s your favorite app?” is starting to be almost more commonplace among speakers than the “What do you speak on?” question. The explosion of AI technology into the hands of the average user has us all jumping at…
Crossing State Lines: Navigating State Tax Obligations for Speakers
By Marquita Miller-Joshua, CSP, MDSG As a professional speaker, your job often takes you across state lines to deliver keynote addresses, facilitate workshops, and conduct seminars for diverse audiences. While travel and exposure can be exhilarating, understanding the state tax implications that come with working in multiple states is important. Why State Taxes…
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…
