How to get your first speaking gig

I know you’ve seen it: announcement posts from founders because they’ve booked a talk at SXSW or Tech Week. Their glitzy smiles as they’re photographed on panels, or with a mic in hand in front of an adoring audience. It’s easy to think that these speakers were born with that confidence. But most public speakers started small and learned to leverage smaller events into career-defining opportunities.

If you want to start your career as a public speaker, here are some tips to help you get moving.  

Why build a career as a public speaker?

For many people, the thought of standing on stage can be terrifying; it certainly was for me when I first got started. What helped was to consider how hosting talks and workshops would benefit my career. As a service-based business owner, the opportunities were important:

Authority. Even if someone never hears your talk live, and they only see pictures of you presenting on stage, it positions you as a leader. In the algorithms that often value sameness, you’ll stand out as a trusted founder.

Impact. There is nothing more brain-altering than someone sharing how your story made them feel. Whether we discover them through film, music or a good book, stories are fundamental to our lives. Your story could offer a new perspective or even a lesson that answers a tricky question. Consider how someone might be impacted by hearing your story. That answer might make all the effort worth it.  

Growing your business. Talks and workshops are a great way to generate leads and interest in your work. You can use your talks to simplify a complex topic, or humanise beliefs that stop people from taking action. Get in front of a captive audience, dazzle them with an interactive experience, and invite them into your world to learn more.

Start local. Think Small

My first speaking gig was at a shop opening in Peckham. I didn’t get paid, but I got to experience what it’s like to hold an audience and test out my material.

Local stores want to bring people into their space and are usually willing to give you a few hours for free if you tag and promote their shop. Reach out to independent stores in your area and pitch an event collaboration. Co-working spaces, libraries, boutiques and cafes are also great places to host your first event and usually have lively event schedules. These opportunities won’t come with a big juicy fee, but they're a great way to build your network and tap into your local community.

My first-ever community event I organised was at a store called Pavement in Walthamstow. The interior is pink and filled with gorgeous fashion finds, books and jewellery. I picked a store that suited my aesthetic at the time and invited my audience on Instagram to get a ticket.

Collect pictures and videos for your speaker deck

They say an image will tell 1000 words. Pictures and videos of you speaking and presenting at an event are great tools you can use to land your first paid speaking gig. Ask a friend to record your talk or hire a photographer to capture you on the night. Add these images to your speaker deck or pitch deck to create credibility. Consider creating a showreel of your best talks so you can share them when introducing yourself to event organisers.

Afraid that no one will turn up to your event? Think like an airline

Think like an airline and overbook your event. For my first Future Self Nights event, I took unsold tickets and gave them for free to people I wanted to network with. I asked friends to support me, so I could build confidence to host the next one. I invited the brands I wanted to work with, and nudged journalists at trending magazines to join for a drink or two. Your PR list is a running list of industry insiders who you’ll invite to your events, when you book talks. They might not know your work right now, but you invite them with the hope that an invitation could lead to an opportunity later down the line.

Pitch yourself in places where your work is rare and hard to come by.

Are you a health coach? Pitch to frantic law firms and busy publishing houses. Social media manager that hosts talks on content creation days? Pitch to mid-stage D2C start-ups and brands in need of reinvention. Think outside the box when you pitch for your first gigs. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends for introductions.

Oh, and don’t forget to network

Hayley Dawson, founder of Let’s Talk Human Skills, told me this incredible story of bumping into someone on a busy train and pitching her workshop concept. It's a great example of how opportunities are everywhere when your mind is open to what could be possible. Talk to strangers on the tube. Go to events alone. Tell people about your intention to start hosting workshops and events. You might just be talking to someone who could help open your next door.