Landing The GIG

The next speaking opportunity you land may not come from an event planner. It could already be sitting in your audience. Speaker coach and marketing strategist Marty Dickinson shares why building a successful speaking career requires much more than delivering a great presentation. Together with Kelly, he explores how cultivating relationships with fellow speakers, engaging intentionally with audie...

"We don't have a budget" doesn't have to mean walking away empty-handed. The most successful speakers know how to create value even when a speaking fee isn't available. Business strategist Jeanette Anderson joins Kelly to share practical ways speakers can transform unpaid engagements into meaningful business opportunities. She explains how to negotiate value-for-value exchanges, leverage media exp...

Being a great presenter isn't enough to build a successful speaking career. The speakers who consistently get booked understand they're running a business, not just delivering a keynote. Hall of Fame speaker and former fighter pilot Waldo Waldman joins Kelly to share why branding, preparation, and relevance are just as important as stage presence. Drawing from decades of experience in both militar...

Many speakers spend their time waiting for opportunities instead of building a system that consistently creates them. Association marketing expert Aidan Crawford joins Kelly to explain why successful speakers treat speaking as a business, not simply a passion. Drawing on years of experience helping professional speakers grow their careers, he shares practical strategies for identifying high-value...

The fastest way to grow your speaking career may have less to do with pitching yourself and more to do with helping others succeed first. Global speaker Patty Farmer joins Kelly to reveal why referrals, generosity, and long-term relationship building consistently create more speaking opportunities than cold outreach alone. She shares practical strategies for becoming known as a subject matter expe...

The strongest speaking careers aren't built on perfect pitches. They're built on authentic relationships that continue opening doors long after the first introduction. Networking expert Toni Harris-Taylor joins Kelly to share how meaningful connections became the driving force behind her speaking career. She explains why speakers should focus on showing up consistently, building genuine relationsh...

Successful speakers rarely wait for opportunities to appear. They build systems that consistently create them. Jackie Lapin shares what it takes to grow a sustainable speaking business, from choosing the right audiences and building strong speaker assets to understanding when to pursue paid keynotes versus speaking to sell. She explains why professional branding, speaker reels, and strategic outre...

A powerful story may capture attention, but it's the transformation behind that story that gets speakers booked again and again. Brian Fleming shares how surviving a suicide bombing in Afghanistan eventually led to a thriving speaking career built on resilience, leadership, and service. Rather than focusing on extraordinary experiences alone, Brian explains why successful speakers identify the pro...

Landing more speaking engagements isn't just about delivering a great presentation. It's about becoming someone event planners genuinely want to work with again. Event strategist Connie Zeller joins Kelly to share what separates memorable speakers from those who never receive a second invitation. She explains why self-promotion remains essential even when working with speaker bureaus, how personal...

The next stage in your speaking career often begins when you're willing to trust your voice before anyone else does. Dawna Campbell shares how following her intuition led her from a private healing practice to speaking on stages around the world. Together with Kelly and Kimberley, she explores why authenticity, vulnerability, and heart-centered communication resonate so deeply with audiences, why...

One of the biggest reasons speakers struggle to get booked isn't a lack of talent. It's trying to be everything to everyone. Professional speaker Frank King shares why building a successful speaking business starts with choosing a clear niche, solving a specific problem, and positioning yourself as the obvious choice for the audiences you want to serve. Together with Kelly and Kimberley, he discus...

Getting booked is only the beginning. The speakers who get invited back are the ones who make an event planner's job easier. Event planner Heidi Dunson shares what happens behind the scenes of a successful event and why professionalism, flexibility, and attention to detail can make or break a speaker's reputation. Together with Kelly and Kimberley, she explains why following application instructio...

Momentum in your speaking business doesn't come from sending more pitches. It comes from becoming the kind of speaker event teams can't wait to work with. Speaker strategist Ken Course shares why organization, preparation, and professionalism are often the difference between getting overlooked and getting invited back. Together with Kelly and Kimberley, he explains how building relationships with...

Leadership coach and event host Ranchelle Van Bryce believes the most successful speakers take the time to understand an event, engage with its community, and contribute before seeking an invitation to speak. Together with Kelly and Kimberley, she shares why authentic connection, thoughtful preparation, and genuine service create far more opportunities than cold outreach alone. Ranchelle also disc...

Today’s episode features special guest Sam Horn—renowned author, pitch coach, and speaking expert. Together, they dive into what speakers often get wrong (and right) when trying to book gigs, the power of real-life humor in engaging an audience, and practical strategies for making your presentations memorable and impactful. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to elevate your speaking caree...

The best speakers don't spend their time chasing stages. They spend their time building relationships that naturally lead to opportunities. Event strategist and eWomenNetwork leader Toni Caruso believes getting booked starts long before you submit a speaker application. Together with Kelly and Kimberley, she shares why researching every event, understanding the audience, and making the event organ...

What if the story you're most afraid to tell is the one your audience needs to hear most? Speaker coach and TEDx organizer Erin Lohman Jack believes the fastest way to build a speaking career isn't chasing more stages. It's becoming so impactful that every audience wants to invite you back. Together with Kelly and Kimberley, she shares why vulnerability, storytelling, and audience-first thinking c...

Kelly and Kimberley sit down with Melanie Benson to explore why the most successful speakers aren't necessarily the most experienced. They're the ones with the clearest, most compelling message. Melanie shares how a magnetic talk, a thoughtful pitch, and a strong authority-building strategy can dramatically increase your chances of getting booked on podcasts, virtual events, and live stages. She a...

Kelly and Kimberley welcome speaker coach Al Johnson for a conversation that challenges one of the biggest misconceptions in professional speaking. Al explains why audiences aren't looking for another presentation. They're looking for someone who can solve a meaningful problem and help them achieve a desired outcome. He shares practical insights on identifying your ideal audience, developing a cle...

Kelly and Kimberly welcome Speaker Bureau founder Sue Falcone for an inside look at what today's event planners are truly looking for. Sue explains why successful speakers go beyond delivering information to create memorable experiences that engage, inspire, and leave audiences with actionable takeaways. From crafting a standout speaker brand and maintaining professional marketing assets to using...

Kelly and Kimberly explore what it really takes to build a successful speaking career beyond having a great message. Drawing on Kimberly's experience as a speaker, stage host, and founder of Speakers Playhouse, they discuss why asking for opportunities, following up consistently, and tailoring every talk to a specific audience are the habits that separate booked speakers from overlooked ones. They...

Join Kelly Falardeau and her special guest Christa Haberstock as they delve into the strategies, nuances, and trends that can help you thrive in the speaking world. Whether you're a seasoned speaker or just starting out, this episode offers valuable advice to help you secure more speaking engagements and make a lasting impact on your audience. Together, they delve into the art of standing out in a...

In this engaging episode of the "Landing the Gig" podcast, host Kelly Falardeau chats with Tyler Foley, a multifaceted personality who has experienced a colorful journey from being a child actor to a professional speaker. Tyler's story takes us through the arts, engineering, business failures, safety consulting, and, ultimately, professional speaking engagements. He shares his experiences, lessons...

Kimberly Crowe sits down with speaker bureau founder and entertainment industry veteran Toni Kaufman to uncover what separates speakers who consistently land opportunities from those who struggle to get noticed. Drawing on decades of experience in casting, television production, and speaker representation, Toni shares practical insights into what event planners and bureaus are really looking for....

In this captivating episode of the "Landing the Gig Podcast," host Kelly Falardeau engages in an exciting conversation with event planning extraordinaire Linda Cain. Join us as we dive into the world of event planning and unravel the magic behind Linda's expertise. Linda shares her fascinating journey in the industry, unveiling the secrets and strategies to create unforgettable experiences for cli...