Talk » If they have told you that they pay speakers

I was a celebrity lecture agent in the college and university market for over seven years. During that time air jordan 1 australia , I have received hundreds of requests for authors to speak. My standard answer was always "Authors write, but they don't speak!"


This motto was obviously from the old school of lecture agents! Today hundreds of authors are promoting their books through lectures on college campuses. The student population has grown so diverse in age, race, and interests that the days of booking only UFO speakers, RAP music stars jordan 10 retro australia , and cult heroes are fading.


The college lecture circuit is a natural place to start promoting your books. Students take pride in being involved in shaping and starting trends. I enjoyed being able to help impact thousands of students by promoting new speakers on timely or trendy topics.


Students and faculty continually search for experts who can inform, enlighten, and entertain! But in order to be successful in this market, you'll need to pitch yourself and your topic over the phone, through your website and your emails. Be prepared to follow up these pitches with written material. Send or email a current bio and a video or DVD of you speaking.


Your video should be no more than 10 minutes long and the first few seconds MUST be dynamic or you'll be turned OFF and not even given a second chance. It doesn't need to be professionally produced if YOU are a good speaker. Be creative though and realized that all meeting planners air jordan 10 australia , college or professional, review hundreds of speaker's videos so MAKE YOURS OUTSTANDING!


Next, a bio or "biography" is not a RESUME! This sheet of paper should look professional. Print it on nice paper. Your name should be in bold letters at the top of the page. Bios are often referred to as "intro sheets." You may want to start your bio with "INTRODUCING...(your name)" at the top of the page. The rest of the bio should contain a couple of paragraphs about why YOU would make an interesting and credible speaker on your topic. The bio should read like a story. Highlight the importance of your subject and why you are a better choice than anyone else! Your bio should be written in third person. Make it a fun read. If you can afford to have a graphic artist enhance your one page bio, DO IT! With pretty and creative promotional materials, you may be noticed over someone with a bigger name.


You should also include a photo www.cheapjordansaustralia.com , topic backgrounder sheet, your book (or detailed information on your book), and as many terrific references as possible! If you have no written SOME! Call and ask your best friends to write references if necessary, but you must have an outsider singing your praises! Even if you haven't done any public speaking, have a client or customer write about how good you are in your profession. This is a very competitive market jordan shoes for sale australia , and you will need a hook to be able to be noticed.


To start the marketing process, you need to identify groups which might be interested in hearing you speak. You might contact he Deans at all of your area colleges and universities to pitch the idea. Talk to the assistant or secretary to see if the Dean has ever brought in speakers. If the answer is yes, ask to get a telephone appointment. Once on the phone or get their email addresses, ASK QUESTIONS! Ask what they look for in a speaker, what types of speakers do best at that particular university cheap jordan shoes australia , and what he or she personally looks for in a speaker. Once you get the person to open up and tell you what they want, you will know exactly how to position yourself as a speaker. DON'T do all of the talking if you actually get them on the phone. This is the biggest way to get turned down.


Whether they bring in speakers or not, ASK FOR REFERENCE FOR OTHER POSSIBLE LECTURE LOCATIONS! This can be a great way to make your next call whether it is to someone all the way across the country or to a person in the next city or state. A great introduction is "Your colleague on the west coast, Dr. Smith, suggested that I call..." When a personal name is mentioned nike jordan australia , new prospects tend to be cordial and listen to pitches. So start all over again: "Do you pay for speakers?" "What time of year is best for your speakers?" "Do you market to the community or just at the college (or within your department)?" "Is your department doing research in this area?" "Would you like to learn more about it?" "Can I forward some information?" Once you commit to sending information, do it right then. And be sure to follow up a day or two after they have received your information. Ask whether or not your program would fit into their schedule in whatever month you are available.


If they have told you that they pay speakers, be up front about your fee. The fee is always PLUS EXPENSES! Expenses will include round trip airfare, ground transportation to and from the city, lodging air jordan australia , and meals. Don't try to make money on expenses, because you will never get booked again. If you try to use this person as a reference down the road and you padded the expenses... guess what they will remember? That you had 1,000 people in attendance, received a standing ovation, or that you PADDED THE EXPENSES. You guessed it!


Some departments are morel likely to book speakers for pay than other. If all you want to do is get your expenses covered jordan retro australia , target the administration. They normally will bring in experts and not give an honorarium. The advantage to this is that it is possible for you to give 20 free speeches... in 20 MAJOR BOOK MARKETS ON AN ALL EXPENSES PAID BOOK TOUR! If you are able to help the publishers in this way, they will be able to spend time promoting you in those markets. Also, it is then likely that your book will sell more copies, and you may be asked to write another book!