A Blog Designed to Help You Become a Better Speaker

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...

(Be prepared: I am going to “should” all over you about storytelling in your speech. There are always ways to bend rules, but as a general practice, I find these to be effective in regards to creating an emotional powerful moment with the audience – which is a huge part of what stories are for.)

 Annnnnd Action. 🎬

He was an old white guy rambling on for an hour. His speech was basically a thinly veiled sales pitch to hire him for his services. Right when I thought he couldn’t annoy me anymore, he pulled out the ol’ sports hero story to end his sales pitch/speech.

 He wasn’t an athlete. If he was and it was HIS story - that would be different. It wasn’t. It was something I could have googled and read about on Wikipedia. I, and half the room, don’t care about sports. We politely endured what I am assuming was what he considered motivational.

When he was done, I imagined him getting his hefty speaking check, sauntering over to the bar to order an Arnold Palmer or Whiskey Sour, hitt...

How do you get someone to fall in love with you the first five minutes they meet you? I don't know that answer, which is probably why I'm single. However, I do know a few "tricks" to get an audience to fall in love with you within the first 5 minutes of taking the stage.

Your Intro:

Your intro is often wasted real estate space for audience connection. If your bio/intro is filled with a bunch of accolades such as you hold a PHD and won the Olympics after falling off a cliff and now are a CEO of a multi billion corporation...you've probably lost me already.

Why? Because you're obviously a better person than me. You may be interesting and I may get a nugget or two, but we have nothing in common. You don't know my life, so why should I trust you with telling me how to make it better?

When creating your intro it's fine to showcase your knowledge or experience, but throw in some things that are relatable. Examples could be that you are the proud owner of two dogs, you once threw up...

I'm often asked how I became a motivational speaker. A complete accident! I didn't know there was such a things as being a motivational speaker.

It took a lot of hard work and dedication to learn the professional speaking / meetings industry. This is my journey. Video: https://youtu.be/jyZsFVXvNYk

Stacy's Speaker Coaching website and blog on how to become a better speaker: BoringtoSoaringSpeeches.com

Stacy Pederson is a #funny female #motivational business #keynote speaker who has almost died a bunch. Stacy is a full-time professional keynote speaker who has performed in front of 1,000's.

Contact Info or Follow Stacy:

-Website: StacyPederson.com

-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacypedersoncomedy

-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacypedersoncomedy

-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stacypedersonofficial

-Twitter: Twitter's dead to me. We broke up a while ago. I only see Twitter at random family events and I act like I don't care.

Stacy entertains and ...

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

https://youtu.be/DvYPAdH2_WQ?si=iHyQwhcKKgnigmu0

Slides are some of the most misused valuable real estate you own as a speaker. There's a lot to that statement. I'll do a whole other video on slides and why they should never be covered in stats or re-iterating what it is you've already said.

In the video above, I have a small segment in one of my speeches where I make fun of slides. In other words, the slide becomes my punch line.

The reason it works is it is completely unexpected for the audience. 

You will notice me looking a little too much at the remote. There was a slight delay and some issues with connectivity in the ballroom between their laptop and the remote and the screen. This is nothing unusual and you should always be prepared for anything technical to not run smoothly.

I encourage you to re-think what's possible when it comes to your slides.

I had so much fun shooting this with the fabulous, Corey, and the RVS Small Business Network Show.

You can watch the full episode here: https://rvasbn.com/featured-interviews/boost-your-business-speaking-with-humor-and-authenticity/

Below is a recap:

Welcome to another episode of The RVA Small Business Show with your host Cory Mosley. In today’s segment, we are joined by Stacy Pederson, Speaker Coach, and Funny Motivational Keynote Speaker.

Stacy is a well-known expert who helps speakers add entertainment value to their speeches.

WHEN IT COMES TO AUTHENTICITY, FOR ME, ON STAGE IS BEING COMFORTABLE ENOUGH IN FRONT OF THE AUDIENCE TO MAKE MISTAKES, TO BE MYSELF, TO SHARE MY STORY, TO NOT ACT LIKE I HAVE MY LIFE ALTOGETHER. -STACY PEDERSON

Speaking: More Than Just Words

You’ve probably attended dozens of seminars or business events. Remember that one speech or presentation that had you hooked? The odds are that it wasn’t just the content but the speaker’s delivery that made ...

Speaking is NOT about standing in front and providing a bunch of information. People don’t remember information.

 If I asked you to name what you learned in 3^rd grade about American History, many of you won’t remember a single piece of information.

 If I asked you to share what the bully on the playground said to you that year, you probably remember it down to exact way he or she said it.

 Why? People don’t retain information strictly from facts. People retain information depending on the feeling attached.

 This is why creativity – the use of humor, visuals, stories, etc., are so important in your talk. Creativity sparks emotion.

 I like to think of creativity as a cake. The layers of the cake are your content. The frosting is creativity. It is what ties your talk together and makes it fun, enticing, and memorable.

Most of us don’t want to eat an entire cake of frosting (unless it’s buttercream…then maaaybe…) We want just enough frosting to add the fun and appeal. The same is ...