• Connecting Speakers with Audiences™

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Do this before beginning your public speaking career.
Do this before beginning your public speaking career. 2560 1707 I Need A Speaker

I was in a Clubhouse room the other day, and someone raised a hand to be invited to the stage. The individual explained that he was ready to begin exploring opportunities for public speaking.

“What’s your central message?” the moderator asked.

The individual replied, “Well, I can adapt to suit the audience. I have expertise in a number of areas.”

Ouch.

The first thing to do is to have a central message. Know what it is, and know who needs to hear it. Then you can start looking for opportunities to share it.

 

Photo credit: Pexels

Check the link. An error can lock out your audience.
Check the link. An error can lock out your audience. 2560 1707 I Need A Speaker

Dafna Gold Melchior – one of our wonderful speakers – recently posted this on LinkedIn. With her permission we’re sharing this message:

“Check the link. Double check the link. Otherwise you could discover that your esteemed guests were sent somewhere else…

I delivered a workshop last night, on behalf of an organization. 150 people signed up via a production company, which sent them an invite with a link. I was in the Zoom room early, checked sound and share screen with the helpful tech person.

At a few minutes to the hour, we started wondering why no one was joining… Turned out the production company had mistakenly sent the wrong link…

By the time I too was sent the (wrong) link my audience had received, there were 8 people left (5 with cameras off). So three lucky people received my workshop, and I assure you I gave them my all, as I would have with 150 participants.

I’m sharing this to spare you the same frustrating experience. I beg you, have those who handle logistics on your behalf check and re-check the link.”

Follow her advice.

 

Photo credit: Pexels

Why Clubhouse may be your best training resource
Why Clubhouse may be your best training resource 2560 1920 I Need A Speaker

Clubhouse is one of the most popular new social media apps. Currently available to iPhone users only, Clubhouse describes itself as “a new type of social network based on voice—where people around the world come together to talk, listen and learn from each other in real time.”

As of 1 February 2021, Clubhouse has 2 million users. I haven’t turned off my Clubhouse notifications, and my phone regularly lights up with mentions of current, new, or scheduled “rooms.” As a user, I can drop into these rooms and listen to a discussion or raise my hand to participate. I can create my own room solo or with other people.

So what’s the appeal for someone who is a public speaker? There are several benefits, actually … networking, learning, promoting yourself. But today I want to focus on a really important benefit that’s especially beneficial for emerging public speakers: practice.

If you’re anxious about public speaking or feel like you need to speak more confidently, take the Clubhouse “stage” and share your thoughts. The tone of the app is an informal, using a pop-in-quietly-and-leave-quietly design. Schedule your own room on a topic you know well, or raise your hand in someone else’s room to contribute.

You’ll have the opportunity to receive valuable feedback. And when people ask questions, that tells you what information you might want to include when speaking in front of a live audience.

When you do this with regularity, you’ll refine your message, obtain more experience in delivering it, and advance your public speaking goals.

 

Photo credit: Pexels

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

Show me the money! Why a one-time, full payment is your best option.
Show me the money! Why a one-time, full payment is your best option. 2560 1707 I Need A Speaker

When booking speaking engagements, some presenters only tend to focus on the client expectations and the bottom line. Although both are important, it’s also in speakers’ best interests to incentivize clients to pay in full prior to the engagement.

Why is this so important? Being paid in full ensures that events will not be canceled due to external factors, changes in management preferences, budgetary reductions, or other reasons. Here are some ways you can incentivize clients to hand you the money now:

  • Pre-event survey. Include a pre-event and/or post-event survey to collect audience information that’s valuable to your client.
  • Discount. Some companies have a policy that they must accept any available discounts. You may opt to offer a 2 to 5 percent discount with payment in full, which nets much more than zero if the event were to be canceled.
  • Follow-up coaching. Might your audience benefit from follow-up coaching by phone or Zoom?
  • Additional content. Add the temptation of a checklist, flow chart, questionnaire, or other reference piece.
  • Supplemental reading. Allow the benefits of your presentation to continue by offering material written or selected by you.
  • Debrief and recommendations. Suggest a post-meeting review of what went well, what could be improved, and how your audience might benefit from additional training or presentations. Your client will get a sense of your success and develop ways to engage your services in the future.

UK podcast highlights benefits of public speaking with I Need A Speaker
UK podcast highlights benefits of public speaking with I Need A Speaker 452 158 I Need A Speaker

What a thrill to be on Julia Silver’s Qualified Tutor podcast! Qualified Tutor is a UK-based professional development community for tutors.

Tricia Richards-Service, founder of I Need A Speaker, discussed the benefits of lifelong learning. She also talked about the ways public speaking can benefit people by increasing their visibility for jobs and promotions; enhancing their interpersonal skills; and giving them greater self-confidence to be advocates for themselves and others.

Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1mggD2j9TKlTCMHjBcZ1pB?si=ohBnpj5tSRyhlvySSI6aAg

Do you have a podcast? If so, we’d be happy to share the benefits of public speaking to help your audience maximize their potential. E-mail us at info@ineedaspeaker.com

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