Let’s get one thing straight: being a great speaker is only half the job.
Yes, you’ve got the story, the stage presence, the ovation-worthy punchlines. You’ve even had people come up to you after a talk, eyes wide, saying things like “You’re amazing! I want to bring you in!” And then… crickets.
Because here’s the truth most professional speakers don’t want to admit out loud: talent doesn’t automatically translate to paid gigs. You’ve gotta sell it.
Stop Manifesting, Start Prospecting
Manifestation is cute. So is that sparkly vision board on your office wall. But unless you’ve got a unicorn agent who brings you a steady stream of fully booked gigs on a silver platter (and let’s be honest—do they even exist?), you’ve got to take deliberate, repeatable action to land paid speaking engagements.
That means prospecting. That means outreach. That means tracking conversations like a grown-up professional, not tossing your leads into a random sticky note graveyard.
And before you go down the rabbit hole of “but I hate sales,” take a breath. You don’t have to become a pushy pitch machine. You do have to be intentional. Strategic. Human. And, above all, consistent.
What to Say After “We Loved Your Talk!”
That post-event praise is gold—but only if you know how to mine it.
Too many speakers freeze when they hear compliments. They smile, say “Thank you,” maybe hand over a card, and hope the lead follows up. That’s not a strategy. That’s wishful thinking.
Instead, try this:
“I’m so glad it resonated! I’ve got a few dates open for client events this quarter—do you know anyone else who’d benefit from a similar experience?”
Boom. That’s not pushy. That’s proactive. That’s planting the seed for referral gold.
And here’s the kicker: the more you practice these micro-conversations, the more natural it gets. Selling doesn’t mean you stop being you—it means you start being the version of you who treats speaking like the business it is.
Strategy Over Spray-and-Pray
Professional speaking isn’t a game of who can blast out the most cold emails. It’s about targeted action—reaching out to the right people with the right message at the right time. That takes systems, confidence, and a little help from people who’ve been in the trenches.
So let’s drop the guilt over not loving sales. You’re not alone. Most of us didn’t get into this to become full-time salespeople… but we do want to keep doing the work we love, on the stages that light us up, with checks that clear.
And that? That takes selling.
P.S. If you’re ready to shortcut the “where do I even find gigs?” part of this equation, StageHopper is your secret weapon. We’re all about verified, paid leads for pro speakers—and we don’t just drop them in your lap. We give you the real-world strategies to actually close the deal when you get them. No fluff. Just results.