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Celebrating St. Paddy’s Day: kissing the Blarney Stone and Irish advice on speaking
Celebrating St. Paddy’s Day: kissing the Blarney Stone and Irish advice on speaking 1920 2560 I Need A Speaker

I’ve spent a lot of time in Ireland, yet it never seems like enough. I miss the people, the scenery, the craic (pronounced “crack,” it means fun), and, of course, the advice.

I’m among the throngs of people who have climbed the steps of Blarney Castle and stretched backward to kiss the Blarney Stone. Legend claims that kissing the Blarney Stone will give the kisser the gift of eloquence.

Fueled with confidence and the blessing of better speech, people may benefit from some of the Irish sayings below:

  1. Who keeps his tongue keeps his friends.
  2. A kind word never broke anyone’s mouth.
  3. It is often that a person’s mouth broke his nose.
  4. Every St. Patrick’s Day every Irishman goes out to find another Irishman to make a speech to.

We love this traditional advice! What’s your favorite Irish saying?

 

Photo credit: Tricia Richards-Service

We can all use a good laugh … and we know just the person to make it happen
We can all use a good laugh … and we know just the person to make it happen 1707 2560 I Need A Speaker

One of our favorite speakers recently celebrated reaching 3.3 million views of her Dry Bar Comedy Special. Congratulations, Karen!

A former attorney, Karen Morgan has been making audiences laugh for years. After a year of public health restrictions related to COVID, we need a laugh more than ever.

Karen is frequently hired by companies that add humor to employee events, bringing relief to anxious and overworked staff. Karen also helps national, regional, and local nonprofits recover some of the fundraising dollars they lost over the past year – while having fun.

We’re proud that she’s one of our speakers, and we thank her for adding some levity when we need it most. Thanks, Karen!

Does your group need a dose of comedy? Contact and book Karen through our directory.

 

Photo provided by Karen Morgan

Two ways to honor women during Women’s History Month
Two ways to honor women during Women’s History Month 2560 1707 I Need A Speaker

Happy International Women’s Day!

It’s also Women’s History Month, and we’re in the mood to celebrate!

Here are two ways you can honor women this month:

  • Book a female speaker for your classroom guest lecture, your keynote, your panel presentation, your webinar, or any other speaker event.
  • If you’re a female speaker, join our searchable directory to help new people find you. Let your voice be heard.

We are on a mission to amplify new and different voices. Join us on our mission and help audiences discover the benefits.

 

 

Photo credit: Pexels

Is it okay to speak for free?
Is it okay to speak for free? 2560 1707 I Need A Speaker

One subject that is often debated is rates. We do agree that women should be paid the same rate as men. Speakers know there is value to our presentations. And most people say they prefer paid opportunities. But we don’t always agree on whether speakers should agree to present for free.

According to the feedback we’ve received from speakers, there are occasions when people might be willing to appear at no cost:

  • Presenting at his or her alma mater
  • Presenting to support a cause that’s important to him/her
  • Presenting for a fundraiser
  • Presenting in local venues to help build a speaking career
  • Presenting to test an idea or strategy
  • Presenting to gain experience
  • Presenting to add the event to a speaker’s resume
  • Presenting to stay active during retirement
  • Presenting to get visibility when seeking a job or promotion.

These are all reasons we’ve heard for people to agree to participate in a speaker event at no cost. We’ve also heard from speakers who rationalize that these opportunities are their livelihood. We see both sides and understand that determining rates – or gratis appearances – is an individual decision.

What is your opinion? We’d love to hear from you! E-mail us at info@ineedaspeaker.com and share your thoughts. With your permission, we may share your point of view in an upcoming post or newsletter article.

Photo credit: Pexels

Go where people are looking for you
Go where people are looking for you 2560 1707 I Need A Speaker

Some speakers tell us that they have their own website where people can get information on booking them for a speaker event. If this is you, that’s great. We hope you continue that.

But wouldn’t you also want to be found by people who don’t know about your website?

 

Photo credit: Pexels

“We are a community of storytellers”
“We are a community of storytellers” 2560 1676 I Need A Speaker

The Golden Globe Awards inspire a lot of buzz. What won best picture? Who was she wearing? While it’s fun to chat about those things, my favorite part of the event was Jane Fonda’s speech.

As this year’s recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in film, Fonda referred to the industry as “a community of storytellers” and delivered a passionate plea for diversity.

Wait. Storytellers and diversity? I had no idea that I Need A Speaker has so much in common with the glitterati!

Like Fonda, I also believe that ” … stories have a way — they can change our hearts and our minds, they can help us see each other in a new light, to have empathy.”

Later in her acceptance speech, Fonda noted: “Stories, they really can change people. But there’s a story we’ve been afraid to see and hear about ourselves … a story about which voices we respect and elevate.”

It’s inspiring and refreshing to hear other people support our values. I Need A Speaker was built to share stories in the interest of mutual understanding. It was built to help people discover the human similarities in all of us. And it was built to proudly amplify new voices.

We’re listening.

 

 

Photo credit: Pexels

Hot mics can lead to a hot mess
Hot mics can lead to a hot mess 2560 1706 I Need A Speaker

An entire school board resigned days after a private discussion was broadcast. The California board members didn’t realize the mic was open as they disparaged parents in a profanity-laced chat.

While there is certainly a lesson here for the individuals involved, there is also a lesson for all of us. It’s simple. Don’t say anything you would be ashamed for others to hear. And treat every mic as if it’s live.

 

 

Photo credit: Pexels

Five reasons to take the stage
Five reasons to take the stage 1707 2560 I Need A Speaker

If you’re thinking about taking the stage, there is no better time! Virtual events have increased exponentially in the last year, and event planners are looking for panel presenters, keynoters, motivational speakers, and more. Do it for the audiences who will benefit – and do it for yourself as well.

Here are five great reasons to grab a microphone or jump on a video conference:

  1. You’ll improve your critical thinking skills. As you plan your talk, you need to think through a central statement, supportive material, and clever endings. Along the way, you have to plan with your audience in mind.
  2. You’ll stand out. If you’re looking for a job or welcome advancement in your current position, your work as a public speaker will get you positive attention.
  3. You’ll expand your network. Virtual meetings are still meetings. Use the opportunity to network with new people and follow up afterward.
  4. You’ll sharpen your communication skills. Public speaking is a process that involves focusing on verbal and nonverbal language. Emphasis on these skills will improve your interactions.
  5. You’ll enjoy a greater sense of self-confidence. Many people say they fear public speaking, and others credit their talks for giving them a sense of accomplishment.

While there are so many more reasons to get in front of an audience, these five will hopefully be enough to get you started. Break a leg!

Photo credit: Pexels

This week, we’re celebrating science speakers
This week, we’re celebrating science speakers 2560 1920 I Need A Speaker

The eyes of the world seemed to be watching as the Perseverance rover landed on Mars yesterday. Congratulations to everyone who played a role in making that happen.

Every day, international news includes coverage of science-related events and advancements. The spotlight on science has never shone brighter.

In honor of this historic landing, we want to recognize the communicators who take the time to share their expertise and love of science.

We salute the teachers who conduct experiments and help students see the wonder around them. We salute the researchers who talk about breakthroughs that improve the lives of millions. We salute the role models, volunteers, presenters, academics, hobbyists, and other enthusiasts who bring science to audiences everywhere.

We are grateful that you teach and inspire. Thanks for your perseverance!

 

Photo credit: DepositPhotos

Webinar attendees pinpointed one thing new speakers need
Webinar attendees pinpointed one thing new speakers need 441 232 I Need A Speaker

This week, I had the honor of being a guest on a webinar hosted by Samantha Kelly for Women’s Inspire Network (WIN). Based in Ireland, WIN is a networking group for female entrepreneurs.

It’s a lovely group of women who are motivated, passionate subject matter experts – qualities of great public speakers. During the webinar, host Samantha and I talked about why and how people can use public speaking to elevate their brands. As we spoke, the chat continued scrolling as attendees made comments and asked questions.

What happened next surprised me a bit. The conversation drifted toward the one obstacle that prevented many of these women from taking the stage – their self-doubt. It was a surprising revelation because these women are brilliant, accomplished individuals with important messages to share. Also, they have a huge potential audience.

Our conversation changed once again, and this time the direction wasn’t surprising. Attendees acknowledged one another’s skill sets and expertise, then encouraged each other to take the first step with public speaking. That one element – encouragement – was all it took to give these women the confidence to do it.

I shared an anecdote about a very powerful speaker I know. The speaker is a woman who overcame difficult circumstances to reinvent her life and succeed. Speaking from the heart, this woman tells her story in a way that’s relatable and impactful. She may never have had a class on public presentation, but she has the qualities needed to captivate and inspire her audience.

We all have stories to tell or expertise to share. I Need A Speaker was founded to help new voices be heard, so I’ll encourage you now to take the next step and discover what you can accomplish.

Go for it. Be heard. People want and need your message.

 

Photo credit: Samantha Kelly

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