"Professional" Speakers?

[Nwokedi C. Idika]

What makes somebody a "professional" speaker? How do you know if you're a professional speaker? Lastly, how does one become a professional speaker?

[Erik Deckers]

1) In short, they get paid to speak.
2) If you received a check with your name on it for a speaking engagement.
3) Start doing it for free, and then start asking people to pay you.

I always love your discussions, Nwokedi, because for some reason I can give short, smart-alecky answers like this. And while I do come across as glib, they are good answers to your questions.

I have been paid to speak only once, but have done it for free several times. The trick is, very honestly, to just do it for pay when you once would have done it for free. There is a lot to marketing yourself to get in front of the people who book the speakers, but the opportunities are out there. The trick is to just find the opportunities (there are a lot of books on the subject). I have a friend who is a professional speaker. He recently increased his rates, and has refused to speak for less money. This has cost him in opportunities, but he has more than made up for it in increased fees.

So for you, you basically just declare that you're a professional speaker, and when people ask you to do it, say "My rate is XX dollars plus travel," and don't do it if people want you to do it for free.

[Nwokedi C. Idika]

I figured as much...but I wanted a "sanity" check. You know, I wanted to make sure there's no secret club that people are a part of.

[Scott McKain]

Most true professions have three basic standards of qualification:

1) Compensation for performance of the task
2) Specialized body of knowledge
3) Certification or professionalism

And, while it's quality can be open for debate, professional speaking meets that standard. First off, pro speakers are paid to give their presentations.

Second, there is a specialized body of knowledge -- foremost in the area of expertise that makes up your topic concentration...but, also in what it takes to move, inform, and engage an audience at a higher level than that of the non-pro.

Finally, the National Speakers Association -- of which we have a chapter in Indiana -- has a Certified Speaking Professional designation that strives to identify and certify those who have displayed a high standard of ethics and commitment to the profession.

NSA even has a Professional Speakers Hall of Fame for those who represent platform excellence, ranging from Zig Ziglar to Dr. Ken Blanchard of "One Minute Manager" fame, from Colin Powell to Jack Canfield of "Chicken Soup for the Soul."

Professional speakers take our craft seriously...and encourage those who desire to become a true pro to do the same.

[Hazel "The Queen" Walker]

Good Answers Erik, short as they were. You are correct, a professional speaker is someone who makes their living speaking. I am a member of the National Speakers Association, in order to qualify as a member you have to show proof that you make your living speaking.

They do have a Professional Speakers Academy that allows you to develop your skills and knowledge of speaking; you can participate in the local chapter meetings and meet others who are growing their speaking business.

Two good things to do if you want to start speaking are:
1. Join a Toastmasters Club, they will teach you the thing you need to know to be a public speaker.
2. Take free speaking opportunities whenever you can. Many people love BNI chapter because not only does it help them grow their business by referral, it also gives them the practice of speaking to groups. Practice makes perfect.

I hope this helps.

Hazel M. Walker
Author, Speaker, Trainer

[Nwokedi C. Idika]

What's BNI?

[Hazel "The Queen" Walker]

BNI is Business Network International. It is the largest referral organization in the world. It is made of of thousands of chapters, each chapter is made up of one person per profession and the only purpose of the chapters is to pass qualified referrals to one another. www.bni-indiana.com or www.bni.com

[Nwokedi C. Idika]

Wow. Thanks. Never heard of this.

[Kevin M. Hill]

I am still officially an "amateur" speaker, but hope to change that soon.

[Hazel "The Queen" Walker]

Everybody starts as an amateur! The secret is "Starting".

Hazel

[Ron Sukenick]

When you tell people that you speak for a living. And you get paid for it.

[BIG Mike McDaniel]

Speak for Free to Speak for Fee

The world of speakers is very large. The world of professional speakers (those who get paid for what they do) is not so large. The world of professional speakers who make a living at it, full time, is not very large at all.

To be a success at speaking, the challenge is to find a way to get more speaking engagements where you get paid. The full time professionals also sell products related to their speaking, often at
the back of the room following their talk. Some have a staff to man the tables, others sell out of
a briefcase.

Here are my three steps to make money as a professional speaker

1) Fine tune what you say and how you say it with free speeches. Even those who make 7 figures give freebees. Invite yourself to Rotary or Kiwanis (their members are business leaders most likely to be in a position to recommend you).

2) Become an expert in your field by reading everything you can. If you a plumber and speak about plumbing to enhance your business and reputation, there should not be one question that an audience member could ask that you can't answer. Study your field on the Internet at least one hour a day, every day. You should know what you do so well you could write a book about it
(not a bad idea).

A speaker with a book is more likely to get booked that one without a book. With two or more books, CDs Tapes, eBooks and TeleSeminars and hundreds of published articles, there can be no doubt of your credibility and expertise.

3) Speak everywhere. Every time you speak you will get better. Don't worry about audience evaluation forms at first, just go talk. As you get better, the number of people coming up to you afterward will grow accordingly. You will have to do it for free until you get the credibility, and
experience, to do it for a fee. Invite yourself to speak to clubs and associations in your area.

Don't quit your day job until you have business and marketing systems in place and running and are
generating bookings at least 6 months in advance. It takes work, but it can be a lot of fun and very
profitable.

That's my 3 cents

[Deanna Sipe]

Additionally you might want to learn to manage the energy in the room, the energy of your audience. If you want more information contact me directly.