You got the rejection email. You were in the running, and THEN they went with someone else. Not only did they go with someone else, but you know that someone else—and you’re a better speaker.

So why did they hire that person instead of you?

Coming from the acting world, I can tell you there are a few reasons you may not have considered as a speaker.

1. Your Marketing Assets Aren’t Good

You can be an amazing speaker, but if you have a boring headshot where you look like everyone else, a so-so demo reel, and an uninteresting talk title, they’ll glaze right over you.

In acting, the headshot is everything. There has to be something that stands out—usually the expression, the eyes, or the colors. The same is true for your photo. If you have the typical boring gray or blue background headshot with your arms crossed in a suit… snooze.

You need something—whether it’s a standout demo reel, humor in your email, or a talk title that makes people do a double take—to get them to look at y...

Ahhh, the elusive demo reel. You can’t get hired for events without video footage of you speaking. But how do you get footage of you speaking if you can’t get events?

 In addition, what is it meeting planners or hiring committees want to see?

 Here are some tips and things to keep in mind regarding creating a demo reel that actually gets you hired.

1.        Quality of Footage:

There is a saying I have heard amongst speakers that the amount you want to make per event is the amount you should spend on a demo reel shoot. Basically, if you want to make $10k, then you need to spend $10k.

 Uhhh, no thank you. I come from the film/commercial world, and I do not see a reason to spend that kind of money. Ahhh, the elusive demo reel. You can’t get hired for events without video footage of you speaking. But how do you get footage of you speaking if you can’t get events?

 In addition, what is it meeting planners or hiring committees want to see?

 Here are some tips and things to keep in ...

Unlocking Paid Speaking Opportunities: 10 Tips to Find Your Next Gig

In today's competitive landscape, many aspiring and seasoned public speakers are eager to unlock paid speaking opportunities to grow their speaking careers. Whether you are a new speaker or an experienced professional, finding gigs that align with your expertise can be challenging. This article will provide you with ten actionable tips to help you find your next paid speaking engagement, ensuring that you get paid to share your message and build a successful speaking business.

Understanding Paid Speaking Opportunities

What is a Paid Speaking Gig?

A paid speaking gig refers to an opportunity where a public speaker is compensated for sharing their insights, knowledge, or experiences at an event or conference. These engagements can vary widely, from delivering keynote speeches at large conferences to conducting in-person workshops or webinars for smaller audiences. In essence, a paid speaking gig is a chance f...

10 Tips for Improving Public Speaking Skills: Become a Confident Speaker

Public speaking is an essential skill that can significantly impact your personal and professional life. Whether you are delivering a speech, making a presentation, or speaking in front of a group, honing your public speaking skills will help you convey your message effectively. This article presents ten invaluable tips to help you become a confident speaker.

Understanding Public Speaking

Public speaking involves delivering a message to an audience, and it encompasses various elements including content, delivery, and engagement. Mastering public speaking skills can enhance your communication abilities and boost your confidence. As a speaker, you must be able to connect with your audience, adapt your message accordingly, and deliver it with clarity. Understanding the nuances of public speaking is the first step in improving your overall performance.

The Importance of Public Speaking Skills

Public speaking...

If you want to get paid speaking engagements I highly recommend Sam Richter's, "Intel Engine" specifically designed for professional speakers.

In this video, I take you through how I use Sam's Intel Engine for my own speaking career.

Video Link: https://youtu.be/kilm3iOtnGE

The software mentioned in this video: Sam Richter's Intel Engine (Affiliate Link): https://www.knowmore.university/a/aff_gqtxt90h/external?affcode=231462_e4qadq6x

My Speaker Coaching Website for courses and more content: https://www.boringtosoaringspeeches.com

For Video Click Here: https://youtu.be/NGr8N0NOIfI 

If you want to get paid speaking engagements, RFP's (Request for Proposals) are a great way to get started.

In this video, I take you through how I find RFP's for conferences and how I fill them out.

The software mentioned in this video: Sam Richter's Intel Engine (Affiliate Link): https://www.knowmore.university/a/aff_gqtxt90h/external?affcode=231462_e4qadq6x

Word Counter: https://wordcounter.net

My Speaker Coaching Website for courses and more content: https://www.boringtosoaringspeeches.com

(This is a part of my, "Speaker Sundays" where I share tips on how to become a full-time paid professional speaker on YouTube. I'd love for you to join.) Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/StacyPederson

Did you pay to be a part of "The Bash's" online booking platform only to find you're not getting hired?

If so - here are 10 reasons you may not be getting hired.

https://youtu.be/3zm5eVoDy7Y

My EXACT sales process on, "The Bash": https://www.boringtosoaringspeeches.com/offers/YLbfhvbF/checkout

"The Bash" Affiliate Link: https://www.thebash.com/signup?referralCode=M94090

I was interviewed by Canvas Rebel regarding my journey of becoming a motivational speaker and making a full time living as a creative. Some of the original article is below.

The full article can be found here: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-stacy-pederson/

(There's is much prettier. :) )

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stacy Pederson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stacy below.

Stacy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Earning a living has been a slow steady process I started over thirty years ago. I discovered I was a, “Creative” by winning essays for local competitions as a child. I even one a real life lamb! I went to college on a full ride talent grant to study theatre. I then made money here and there with acting gigs and teaching acting. I s...

Update 2024. I have my EXACT sales process I use on, "The Bash" (formerly Gigmasters) available on my on-line course section.

You can find it here: https://app.kajabi.com/admin/offers/2149585513/checkout

**(Update-See Bottom of Post for Update Regarding My Experience With Each Through Covid.)**

I often see questions or threads regarding the validity of two online booking website, “GigMasters” and “GigSalad”. I’ve belonged to both for several years as a speaker and clean comedian and here is my honest experience and advice on investing in either.

The Difference I Found Between the 2 Sites:

GigSalad:

-Easy platform to use

-Most often much lower paying gigs compared to GigMasters

-Most gigs are direct inquiries so you are not competing against other people to be booked

-Easy to target certain areas of the country

-I met REALLY nice people who booked me through this platform that have become dear friends. Not sure why this site draws really personable people, but it does.