The Speaker Lab Podcast

Overcoming adversity is an experience almost everyone has at some point in their lives. Our guest today was faced with this challenge early on and today he shares how doing so led to his speaking career.

Chris Ruden speaks to corporations and non-profits about overcoming adversity and diversity inclusion, especially regarding diabetes. Chris was born with a limb difference, he had most of his hand amputated when he was born. At 19 he was diagnosed with Type I diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease. That diagnosis was his wake up call to do something, which led him to his current speaking path.

On this edition of The Speaker Lab, we talk about what his speaking business looks like today (including how it shifted as a result of COVID), and he tells the story of how he landed his first $50,000 client.

Join us to hear it all on episode 313 of The Speaker Lab.

 THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:

• Why it's okay to change course when opportunities present themselves.
• Why becoming a great speaker is not enough to have a successful speaking business.
• When is opportunity the worst thing that could happen to you?
• What's the difference between someone who talks to a crowd and a speaker?
• How can you change your outreach to increase your fees?
• How finding your core message will help you narrow your market.
• Why your job as a speaker isn't over when you finish your speech.
• What one question can you ask yourself to help define your message as a speaker?
• And so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Chris Ruden's web site
• Chris Ruden on Instagram
• Chris Ruden on Twitter
• Chris Ruden on Facebook
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever doubted if your message matters? Our guest has literally written the book on this subject and today he is sharing some of his insights on the matter.

Jonathan Milligan is an entrepreneur and speaker with over a decade of experience helping people hone and fine tune the messages they have to share with the world.

We dive into his experience plus how to believe in your message and define it so you can build a business around it. Listen in for all of that and more on today's edition of The Speaker Lab.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:

• How can you stop falling into the comparison trap?
• Do we need outside perspective to see our own gifts?
• Is it ok if your passions change?
• What are egoic labels and why are they relevant to your audience?
• What is the hourglass funnel and how does it work?
• What are some red flags to look for when exploring your topic and your target audience?
• How do you know if the market is saturated or if there is a niche opportunity?
• What are the basics you need to grow your reach?
• And so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Jonathan Milligan's web site
• Your Message Matters by Jonathan Milligan
• Jonathan Milligan on YouTube
• Jonathan Milligan on Twitter
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we are talking about building your speaking web site: how to create it, what mistakes to avoid and what you must include.

We cover all the ins and outs of building your speaking web site with Rick because he's one of our coaches in our Booked and Paid to Speak program. He works with our Elite students to help them build their ideal speaking web sites.

Join us to hear his insights straight from the trenches! It's all here on Episode 311 of The Speaker Lab.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:

• Who should you be building your speaking web site for?
• How do ensure your site appeals to multiple generations?
• What are the "must-haves" for your web site?
• How can you create a demo video if you have no experience?
• Where should your contact info go in your demo video?
• How to ensure you have great lighting any time of day or night.
• Should you fit your entire talk into your demo?
• Every page of your web site is about what?
• And so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Rick Clemons' web site
• Rick Clemons on Twitter
• Episode 40
• Episode 56
• Episode 203
• Episode 208
• Episode 241
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How to shift to virtual speaking is something many speakers are exploring now, and our guest is sharing with us some of his best strategies for doing so.

Brian Lord has been an agent at Premiere Speakers Bureau for over 25 years. His career began in college when he booked gigs for local talent, including a gospel singer and speaker. Fast forward two decades later and he's still going strong!

On this episode of The Speaker Lab he shares what he is seeing in the speaking world today in light of the current pandemic. You'll hear how this pandemic compares to other dips in the market and his advice for new and established speakers.

Be sure to join us for that and more on episode 310 of The Speaker Lab.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:

• Will virtual speaking have a real place in the future?
• How are fees shifting in the new virtual space?
• Is there a different skill set to be funny on video versus live?
• Why your content must be delivered in a different way.
• Are there any best practices that are exceptionally effective right now?
• Do you need a different demo for virtual gigs?
• Are all good speakers also good at speaking virtually?
• Is it taking event teams longer to book speaking talent?
• And so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Premiere Speakers Bureau web site
• Brian Lord on Twitter
• Booked and Paid To Speak program
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome back to our fifth and final episode in this series on The Power of The Pipeline!

Once again Erick Rheam is joining us as our co-host. If you missed the first four parts of this series be sure to go here for part I, part II, part III and part IV. Then come back and listen in to this episode, the final piece of the speaking pipeline.

Today we are wrapping things up with a discussion on the contract negotiations stage: this is the cherry on top after all your efforts have paid off. You'll even hear Erick's story of securing a $20,000 gig.

It's all about closing the deal so be sure to join us for episode 309 of The Speaker Lab!

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:

• What are some situations in which it isn't possible to get a deposit?
• What are items to include in your rider?
• Why you should be specific with the introduction you send to the client.
• What is the agreement package and the 3 parts it entails?
• How do you follow up once the contract has been sent but not signed?
• At what point do you send a final email to close out?
• When do you need to have your own insurance?
• And so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Episode 6
• Episode 85
• Episode 171
• Episode 188
• HubSpot CRM web site
• Pipedrive web site
• Booked and Paid To Speak program
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome back to the fourth in a five-part series called The Power of The Pipeline! Joining us again is your friend and mine, Mr. Erick Rheam.

If you missed last week's episode of The Speaker Lab (part III on episode 307), check it out here. You can also hear the first stage of the pipeline on episode 305 and the second stage on episode 306.

This week we are digging into the fourth stage: the proposal stage. Things get real in this step of the process as you'll find out when you listen in to episode 308 of The Speaker Lab.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:

• At what stage of the pipeline should you be introducing pricing?
• How many pages should you proposal be?
• Do event planners mind when you follow up?
• What are the six parts of your proposal?
• Where should you include testimonials and how many should you have?
• When should you follow up after sending a proposal?
• What is first right of refusal?
• Is it okay to send a proposal for a talk you haven't finalized?
• And so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• HubSpot CRM web site
• Pipedrive web site
• Booked and Paid To Speak program
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to 307, the third episode in our five part series on The Power of The Pipeline. Joining us is my friend and co-host for this series, Erick Rheam.

Last week we covered the second stage which is the contact made stage (you can find the second stage here and the first stage here). This week on The Speaker Lab we are talking about the phone meeting stage; we will cover the two goals you should have for all of your phone meetings and why you should save pricing talks for the phone.

You'll hear details on why this stage is the most important part of this process - so be sure to take notes and follow step by step when you listen to episode 307 of The Speaker Lab.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:

• Is it more effective to schedule a call?
• What research should you do before getting on the phone?
• Why you need to focus on the event and the event planner.
• What is the number one thing you have to ask when on the phone?
• When should you walk away from a potential gig?
• What factors go into your pricing fee?
• How to make the ask to secure the gig.
• Why you always want to leave the connection open for future business.
• And so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• HubSpot CRM web site
• Pipedrive web site
• Booked and Paid To Speak program
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to the second episode in our 5-part series on The Power of The Pipeline. Joining me again as co-host is Erick Rheam, our Director of Student Success here at The Speaker Lab.

Last week we covered the first stage, the lead in stage of your speaking pipeline. If you missed it you can listen here.

This week we are diving into the second stage: making contact. In this stage, your primary goal is to move from email exchanges to talking on the phone with your contact. There are 8 steps to make that happen and you'll find out what they are when you join us for episode 306 of The Speaker Lab!

 THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:

• What are the two ways to schedule a phone call with your contact?
• When should you schedule your follow up calls?
• What is the magic move and how do you implement it?
• Should you contact people every year?
• Why there's power in being willing to walk away.
• Is it ever a good idea to give pricing over email?
• When do you know you aren't reaching out to enough people?
• Why a 70% failure rate at this stage is great!
• And so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• HubSpot CRM
• Booked and Paid To Speak program
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 305 is a brand new series focused on the power of the pipeline.

Joining me as co-host for this series is Erick Rheam, our Director of Student Success here at The Speaker Lab.

Today we are talking about the five stages of the pipeline, including an in-depth discussion on stage one from initiating contact with a lead, structuring your follow-ups and avoiding several common mistakes speakers make.

Hear the details on all of that and more when you join us for episode 305 of The Speaker Lab.

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:

• What is a pipeline?
• What four things do you need your CRM to do for you?
• What are the five stages of your pipeline?
• When should you embrace a high failure rate?
• Is an email the most professional first step?
• What are the major parts you should include in your introduction?
• How many follow up emails do you send and how often?
• When is it appropriate to follow up to your original email?
• And so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• HubSpot CRM web site
• Booked and Paid To Speak program
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever wondered how to work with a speaking agent? Our guest, Li Hayes, has all the info you need to decide if an agent is right for you!

Li runs a boutique speaker agency and works with a dozen different speakers. On today's The Speaker Lab, she tells us what her role is as their agent and what you need to do if you are looking for an agent. She shares her advice for emerging speakers and what you should and shouldn't be doing when working with event management.

We wrap up with her tips on what is working right now for speakers so be sure to join us and listen in til the end of episode 304 of The Speaker Lab!

THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:

• What's the difference between a bureau and a speaking agent?
• Who actually needs an agent and who needs a personal assistant?
• What are the best ways to find and book gigs if you are an emerging speaker?
• How narrow should your market be?
• Why you should stop trying to get on a big stage.
• What is pull marketing?
• What are the big 3 event planners want?
• Why connecting with your audience makes a difference onstage and offstage.
• And so much more!

EPISODE RESOURCES

• Li Hayes' web site
• Li Hayes on LinkedIn
• Episode 267 with Jesse Cole
• Get Free Speaker Resources
• Book a Call with The Speaker Lab
• Calculate Your Speaking Fee
• Join The Speaker Lab Community on Facebook
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Subscribe on Spotify

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.