

The Speaker Lab Podcast
Grant Baldwin
Want to learn how to get booked and paid to speak — consistently? The Speaker Lab podcast features business tactics, speaking tips, and insider strategies from Grant Baldwin, The Speaker Lab coaches, and some of the world's most successful speakers. You'll learn how to find speaking gigs, build relationships in your industry, negotiate higher speaker fees, and grow your speaking business. Every week, this podcast will give you key insights and practical advice from speakers who have been there and done that and can help you take the next step in your speaking journey. Whether you’re just getting started as a paid speaker or you’re a veteran speaker looking to build and grow your business, The Speaker Lab Podcast is here for you!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 21, 2020 • 58min
How to Find Your First Paid Speaking Gig with Bryan Allain (IV)
Welcome to how to find your first paid speaking gig with Bryan Allain - part four.If you missed the first three episodes with Bryan you can listen to here to part one, part two here and part three here.In this show, Bryan is establishing himself as the expert through his web site and his demo video. You'll also hear how to deal with the impostor syndrome, something he talks about today. We even discuss whether or not he should quit!To hear all of this as it unfolds join us for episode 286 with Bryan Allain.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOWWhat determines how quickly you will see results?As a speaker, is there value in becoming a connector and curator?What should you do if you don't have any video clips for a demo video?How to stop the comparison game.Does Impostor Syndrome ever go away?What are specific questions to ask to find potential leads?Why you should attend some events even if you aren't speaking.This one simple trick can help you find even more potential gigs.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESBryan Allain's web siteBryan Allain on TwitterGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifyRead show transcripts hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 17, 2020 • 27min
What a Physician Says About the Current Speaking Industry With Nisha Mehta
Grant Baldwin and Nisha Mehta hosted a Facebook Live to talk about a physician's perspective on the speaking industry during turbulent times.During the live stream, Grant and Nisha discuss:Balancing a professional career as a radiologist while speaking internationallyBuilding large online communities among certified physiciansMaintaining social distancing to flatten the curveInsights on the pandemic from behind the scenesMaking tough choices to opt-out of live events before “shelter-in-place” beganPartnering with events to make virtual options work and still deliver valueThe responsibility of speakers to prioritize the safety of othersWhen can we expect live events to happen again?How big will live events be allowed to be?Preparing for a secondary surge after social distancing restrictions are liftedHoping to start seeing things reopen in the coming weeksThe liability of hosting live events post-pandemicSearching for a sense of normalcyThe key difference between SARS and COVID-19Uncertainty about the unknown when it comes to new diseasesRealistic timeline for a vaccine or treatmentGOOD NEWS!!And moreEPISODE RESOURCESNisha’s websiteNisha on TwitterNisha on InstagramGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 15, 2020 • 37min
Discussing the Future of the Speaking Industry With Scott Stratten
Grant Baldwin and Scott Stratten hosted a Facebook Live to talk about the future of the speaking industry after a pandemic.During the live stream, Grant and Scott discuss:The long-term impacts the coronavirus will have on the speaking industryExperimenting with style and facial hair while social distancingWhy “speaking” isn’t really your true professionUnderstanding the gig is the payoff for building your platform and being an expertDealing with feeling like you’ve lost part of your identityGrieving the loss of things that used to annoy you (like the too early soundcheck)Predicting the recovery timeline for massive events and the impact on keynotesDistributing a sub-standard virtual product will hurt your live speaking down the road by degrading your valueAccepting that the “new normal” is largely unknownThe pending lawsuits as a result of the virus spreading at large eventsTreating the speaking gig as one component of your business and how you deliver valueDo what it takes to help you feel productiveBeing okay with where you are at in responding to these unprecedented times"Whatever your normal is right now, that’s fine."Determining the right timing for when to pivot to virtual options for your audienceAvoiding guilt for not doing some thingsA virtual answer isn’t the same as an in-person answerWhy you can’t shift the same equity you have on stage to a virtual gig at firstHow webinars are a transfer of skills and what makes them different than a keynoteThe drastic difference between our current circumstances and any emergency we’ve experienced in the pastIs everyone going to work from home in the future?There will be a “new normal”, but it won’t be completely different from everything we knowHow to avoid long-term risk by making short-term budget decisions that you sustainLearning business lessons now that will carry you through the crisis and beyondIgnoring hindsight regretGetting creative with discovering new revenue sources and sponsored opportunitiesHow to approach outreach without appearing tone-deafMaking sure you check on your contacts, colleagues, and clients to see how they’re doingReaching out to recent clients to offer a “thank you” video to their teamLosing your prideTreat your email list as your most important asset and continue to build it beyond this crisisDon’t feed the noiseControlling who you followHealthy outlets for coping with stress and staying connectedUsing the mute button on social media to create boundariesTips on growing a man bunAnd moreEPISODE RESOURCESScott on TwitterScott on InstagramScott's booksThe UnPodcastGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 14, 2020 • 1h
How to Find Your First Paid Speaking Gig with Bryan Allain (Part III)
Welcome! This is part three of our how to find your first paid speaking gig series with Bryan Allain.If you missed part one and part two you can listen to here to part one and part two here. In those episodes you heard Bryan's background: he has done some speaking but is struggling with where to start.This week on The Speaker Lab, you'll find out who Bryan has chosen to speak to, what problem he's going to solve for them and the pros and cons to his decision. We will wrap up with a chat about what to do next and how to move forward.This series has been fun, insightful and intense. Join us to hear part three on this episode of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW: How can you deal with the negative voices in your head?Will you ever feel completely confident in your choice?How do you know if you have enough credibility to speak on a topic?Why your choices don't have to be permanent.Is there a perfect time to get started or to make a change?Should you use visuals to differentiate yourself in your market?How to use the SPEAK method to determine your audience.What is the goal of your web site and what should be on it?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESBryan Allain's web siteBryan Allain on TwitterEpisode 116 of The Speaker LabEpisode 255 of The Speaker LabGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 13, 2020 • 24min
How to Work on Your Speech and Craft During Quarantine With Mike Pacchione
Grant Baldwin and Mike Pacchione hosted a Facebook Live to talk about how to work on your speech and hone your craft during the quarantine.During the live stream, Grant and Mike discuss:Tips and tricks for virtual speakingEnjoying becoming a first-time dadHelping speakers deliver the best talk of their livesHow to prepare for your next live gig while social distancingGetting feedback on your talk using a recordingA simple survey to send to friends and colleagues to obtain actionable feedbackThe power of asking strategic questions that actually help you build a better talkWhy most TED talks don’t even make the websiteHow speakers can set themselves apart from the crowdThe unanticipated break from speaking gives you the chance to be objective in assessing your talkSitting down to create a list of what you think makes a great talk and applying that criteria to your craftAsking yourself a tough question: does this talk seem to go on for too long?What characteristics can make or break a speaker’s presentationWhy watching yourself with the audio off or listening to yourself without the video can reveal unknown weaknessesThe underestimated value of self-awarenessIs a speech ever really finished?The dangers of defaulting to quarantine or crisis-oriented content in your talkAvoid making coronavirus jokes because everyone else will be doing itWhy virtual keynotes and digital presentation must have a higher quality than live talksPacing tips for virtual eventsErring on the side of more slidesMaking your virtual keynote interactiveJust because there are more virtual events doesn’t mean there will be less live eventsAnd moreEPISODE RESOURCESMike on TwitterMike's websiteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 10, 2020 • 1h 1min
How Speakers Can Benefit From the Stimulus, Unemployment, EIDL, and PPP
Grant Baldwin and Josh Bauerle hosted a Q&A on Facebook Live to talk about how speakers can benefit from the stimulus and address your questions about the stimulus check, unemployment, EIDL, and PPP.DISCLAIMER: We are not finance or tax experts. Please contact your financial planner or local financial institution for professional advice.EIDL - Economic Injury Disaster LoanPPP - Payroll Protection Program During the live stream, Grant and Josh discuss:Unemployment being extended to business owners and freelancersTwo loan/grant programs for small businesses to take advantage ofWhich program is best for speakers to pay attention to?Are earning thresholds for the stimulus based on Billings or on adjusted gross income?How much unemployment can you claim?What is the timeline for unemployment payouts?How to apply for the EIDLWould speakers apply for unemployment? Or the grant? Or both?Can you apply for EIDL if you have a W-2 in addition to speaking gigs?What happens if you get denied?Being patient and persistentDo unemployment and IDL go off of W2 and/or K-1?Does past credit history (specifically bankruptcy) factor into EIDL acceptance?Do you need an LLC to apply for EIDL or can you apply as an individual citizen?Two placed to get financial helpWhat is the PPP? Who is eligible?Discretionary power of banks in deciding who gets access to PPPHow the PPP math breaks down on calculating what you’re eligible forTips on selecting a financial institution to apply throughWhat happens if the loan isn’t forgiven?Is the PPP looking at average gross or net profits?How to calculate payroll for a speaking business formed after the 2/15/19 dateWhat to do if you started your speaking business on Jan 1, 2020Will interest accrues on the unforgiven portion of the loan?What happens if you posted a loss because it was a new business?Can you apply for more than one of these programs? Or do you have to pick one route to go?Talk to your financial institution sooner vs later to figure out what you qualify for and how to get itFor the EIDL, do you need an EIN? or can you use a DBA?What’s a "qualifying expense" to have the PPP converted from loan to forgiven?Do “contractors” = “employees”?If you file as an S-Corp, but are the only owner/employee, are you still eligible for the PP/EIDL benefits of a Sole Proprietor?If approved for EIDL loan, can you take the advance and not take the loan portion?If you’re a sole proprietor with little overhead, is it better to apply for EIDL or PPP?Making it easy for the financial institution to process your applicationDo you have to payback the stimulus?Will the bank look at your credit score?Are you taxed on unemployment?Taking a tip from Frozen IIAnd moreEPISODE RESOURCESThe Prestige JournalCoronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources from the SBAVideo discussing the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) walkthroughSmall Business Association (SBA) resources for EIDL and PPPGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 9, 2020 • 33min
Confessions of a Professional Speaker Dealing With COVID Featuring Phil Jones
Grant Baldwin and Phil Jones hosted a Facebook Live to talk about the true confessions of a professional speaker dealing with the impact of COVID-19.During the live stream, Grant and Phil discuss:Rescheduling or canceling 27 eventsWhere do new event scheduling start coming fromHow does the market react and build on the other side of this crisisUsing new technology and trying new thingsTaking advantage of the opportunity to serve past clientsFinding joy in the gift of time to refocus priorities and spend time with familyLeaning into new revenue streams and discovering new ways to distribute valueNavigating schedule conflicts for Fall events with postponed Spring eventsCreating custom programming for events now instead of reschedulingHelping clients address the needs and fears of their customersShowing up in the moment and modeling generosityMaintaining the integrity of your speaking business long-termWhat speakers have in common with 5-star Michelin chefsBuilding a speaking business so that you’re not living month-to-monthHow speakers are actually running two different businesses simultaneouslyDiscovering gifts and opportunity amidst the crisisWhat you have permission to do now that you didn’t beforeInventing a new business model the creates recurring incomeThe Cupcake analogyRedefining what success looks like now and thinking about your business in a different wayWhy you need “resume points” on the other side of this crisisAnd moreEPISODE RESOURCESPhil's websitePhil on InstagramGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 7, 2020 • 1h 2min
How to Find Your First Paid Speaking Gig with Bryan Allain (Part II)
Welcome! This is part two of our how to find your first paid speaking gig.If you missed part one you can listen to it here. Then come back and join us for the second half of our talk with Bryan Allain.Bryan has done a bit of speaking but is struggling with where to start. On this raw, authentic coaching call with him, we explore that topic.Join us to hear how we walk Bryan through getting his first paid speaking gig and how you can do the same on this episode of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:What speakers should you find and follow?What does it mean if you can't find speakers in your chosen market?How to separate the signal from the noise.What five audiences could you speak to?How do you narrow down among those five audiences?Why you don't have to be the world's greatest expert to speak to an audience.What are the pros and cons of being an emcee?How much of a factor is passion when choosing a topic or an audience?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESBryan Allain's web siteBryan Allain on TwitterThe Speaker Lab Elite coaching callGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifyRead show transcripts hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 7, 2020 • 41min
How to Find Your First Paid Speaking Gig with Bryan Allain (Part I)
Wouldn't it be great if someone could guide you through how to find your first paid speaking gig?One of our own team members is here to demonstrate, Mr. Bryan Allain. Bryan has worked with us for a year now and he wants to know if what we teach actually works. This is an unscripted walk the process of how to find your first paid speaking gig.Get ready to hear the details on this edition of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW: What should one of your first goals be?Is there a simple way to build your confidence?What are the two sides to selecting a problem to solve?What does it mean to establish your speaking expertise?Why it's completely normal to second-guess your decisions.What to do when you don't know where to start.How can you use your real world experience to start your speaking journey?Why it's easier to pivot and adjust when you have momentum.And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESBryan Allain's web siteBryan Allain on TwitterThe Speaker Lab Elite coaching callGot questions? Send them in hereEmail me!Subscribe on iTunes, and leave us a rating or review Read show transcripts hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 6, 2020 • 23min
How Speakers Should Handle Their Finances in This COVID World With Mike Michalowicz
Grant Baldwin and Mike Michalowicz hosted a Facebook Live to talk about how speakers should handle their finances in the midst of crisis.During the live stream, Grant and Mike discuss:Pivoting business to accommodate canceled or postponed eventsExpediting projects to fill the gap created by live eventsAmplifying communication frequency while decreasing quantitySuper long, rambling emails can have a negative impact on your brandThe difference between seizing an opportunity to serve and being opportunisticSending out short sound bits of value to your audience is powerfulAsk your email list what they need to identify themesCreate products to meet those needs at a reasonable rate (not free)The economy is built on paying for stuff. If we all give everything away, it falls apart.Lessons small businesses and speakers can learn to prepare for the futureThe business crisis trendWhat can you do to keep the lights on1-Step Back Technique to discover new opportunitiesAnd moreEPISODE RESOURCESMike’s booksMike on TwitterMike on InstagramGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.