How to become a Speaker

by Jim Cathcart, CSP, CPAE
Professional Speaker, Author, Speaker Hall of Fame, Past President of the National Speakers Association (NSA)

I've been a speaker for over 30 years now and have delivered more than 2,600 speeches for audiences around the world. Regularly I have audience members ask me how they can become a professional speaker or generate some bookings to deliver their messages.
This has occurred so often that I created an entire company just to address their need. Bill Brooks, CSP, CPAE and Tom Antion, CSP joined with me to create The Professional Speaking Institute and to build a knowledge base on how to build and sustain a professional speaking business.

For more information on the Institute go to this link: Professional Speaking Institute.

To give you an easy and free way to look at how I approach this whole subject take a look at these video clips that I posted today on YouTube.
The first one is "How to get started as a professional speaker". It is five minutes long and tells you how to define your message, identify your market and get the experience ("mileage") you will need to become successful as a speaker.

Here is the link to the video.


The second one is titled "How do you get known in the speaking profession?"
It is just 3 minutes and 21 seconds long.
Here is the link to the second video.


If you like these samples then let me know and I'll direct you to the other resources or chat with you about my professional coaching services. And if you want information about the National Speakers Association (our professional society of speakers) here is their link: NSA.

The speaking business has grown enormously over these past thirty years and it now contains thousands of speakers, hundreds of speakers bureaus and a multitude of suppliers who support the meetings and conventions industry.

In the words of my speaker Mentor, Earl Nightingale, "If you will spend an extra hour each day in study in your chosen field, you will be a national expert in that field in five years or less." You can do it. I'm happy to help.