The Speaker Lab With Grant Baldwin // Public Speaking / Motivational Speaking / Entrepreneurship

Want to know how to pull off the riskiest move as a speaker? Then you'll want to know how to interact with your speaking audience! And here to help us break this topic down is our returning co-host Melanie Deziel.Today on The Speaker Lab, we are talking about audience interaction: how to engage and interact with your audience, the pros and the cons plus the different ways to go about connecting and when to use which approach.We'll also cover how to manage your audience interactions so you don't lose control of the room. It's important to connect with your audience, but it can go sideways quickly so join us to hear how to handle it on episode 186 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  When does it make sense to engage with your audience, and when does it not?What are the downsides of doing this?What are pattern interrupts, and why do you want to use them?Where should you try out your interactions first?How to "feel the room" and adjust accordingly.Do you have to call on someon

Part of living the speaker life is travel, so today you'll find out how to be a true road warrior! Joining us to give her expert insights and wisdom is our co-host, Melanie Diezel. If you've been listening to The Speaker Lab for awhile you'll remember Melanie from some recent episodes: she is an outstanding speaker, coach and consultant on her own - and she also does a phenomenal job of coaching our Speaker Lab students.And we had such terrific feedback from her recent appearances we decided to bring her back to the show. She's joining us for the next 3 episodes and we'll be talking about a few different topics.Today we're covering how to be a road warrior, booking travel, packing essentials, travel perks and rewards. It's all things travel today as a speaker and road warrior! Join us for that and more on today's The Speaker Lab.   THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Should you book your hotel or ask the client to do it for you?How far out should you book your travel?What is a tech

Do you know how to provide value offstage for more success? It's true - what you provide offstage can do just as much (if not more) to help grow your onstage business. Our guest today is proof positive and he's here to tell us all about it!If you recognize his name from a previous episode of the show you would be right - Brian Fanzo was here for episode 116. And he's back for today's edition of The Speaker Lab to share the simple ways he promotes his events to his audiences and how he connects with event planners before he speaks.Also on today's show he breaks down strategic tactics that help him stand out among the competition, especially his offstage tactics. Join us to hear all of that and more on today's episode of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is a fly-in, fly-out speaker and do you want to be one?Why does he promise six hours of his time on every contract?Can you offer this type of speaking package if you are an introvert?How do you "prime the pump" before yo

When you think of speakers do you normally think of extroverted people? Does that have you wondering if you can be an introvert and a great speaker?That's a question I answer today with Jonathan Fields. Jonathan is a best-selling author, entrepreneur and international speaker who is known for his brand, Good Life Project.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, we take an introspective look at being speaker. Jonathan shares how he handles being an introvert during his speaking engagements, and how to be comfortable in your own skin while you're on stage. Join us to hear all about it and more on the 183rd edition of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Is being an introvert an advantage as a speaker?What are the two ways he helps maintain his energy levels during longer speaking engagements?How does being on stage pull out a different aspect of his personality?How do you learn to be comfortable with silence when you're speaking?Why he's pushed himself to tell more personal stories o

If you are wanting to learn how to speak effectively in two different markets our guest today is your source! Typically I tell people not to speak to two markets but John Michael Morgan has done it quite successfully.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, John tells us how he speaks in the business and faith-based markets, how he does it effectively and how he uses speaking in different markets as a way to stand out from the crowd.While I'm typically not a fan of having a foot in more than one market, John is a master at doing this. He started out focusing on speaking to leaders which led to his initial start in the business world. Originally he was focused on staying in that lane. But over time he realized he wanted to touch people in the faith market, and take his message to a more global audience. Today you'll hear how he did it and much more on episode 182 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How did he approach his first speaking gigs in the faith world?What role does emo

How to use systems to build your business is one of the keys to creating a lasting speaking career. No one is better at this then my friend Andrew "Drew" Davis.Drew is a master at implementing processes and procedures to ensure he makes the most out of every lead.Today on the Speaker Lab we'll cover each and every step of his system along with why you should track certain metrics in your business, how to use that data and why a quality system is important to becoming a high-paid successful speaker.There's so much good stuff on today's show so get ready to take notes when you join us for episode 181 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What are the three types of stage-side leads?Why you should have a loss rate of 50%, not higher nor lower.Why does he always start with a phone call for any inbound lead?When does he turn down events?Why responsiveness always trumps overthinking.What does he include in his initial email and how often does he follow up after?How does he approac

The true key to your speaking business is knowing how to expand your business beyond the stage, and applying what you know. David Loy is going to share that knowledge with you on today's show so you can apply it after you listen!David has been involved in speaking industry in many capacities for over a decade. Today much of his time is devoted to managing the career of Andy Andrews, the author of The Traveler's Gift.In fact, that book is what propelled David into the speaking industry. After reading it David was so moved he reached out to Andy's team. That email would lead David to his first job as an agent with Premiere Speakers Bureau and eventually to his role today managing Andy's career.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, we talk more about that story, and also how David has helped Andy expand his business from speaking and consulting to online memberships. David gives us a breakdown of Andy's revenue from speaking, coaching, books, online memberships, etc.You'll also hear him give his advice on the next

As a speaker you want to leave a good impression, but do you know how to craft an experience for your audience during your speech? Our guest, Stephen Shapiro, is a master at doing this and he's here to tell us how on today's episode of The Speaker Lab.Stephen began his career with Accenture where he spent 15 years and created a 20,000 person practice around process and innovation. As a result he was charged with speaking to this group and soon found himself giving over 100 speeches a year. He realized he loved it, and he wanted to do it as his own full-time business.Also on this episode, Stephen explains how he got his start, how he has built momentum and how he differentiates himself as a speaker through experiential keynotes and two specific ways he uses technology. You'll hear what those ways are and much more when you join us on episode 179 of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Does it really take 10 years to build a solid speaking business?What does he do today to get bookings tha

Publicity isn't just for actors and celebrities! Learning how to grow your speaking career with publicity can be one of the fastest ways to grow your brand and your speaking platform. And to explain how is none other than publicity and media ninja, Selena Soo.Selena is the resident expert on public relations, having worked with notable names such as Ramit Sethi, Derek Halpern and Kimra Luna. She's also helped her clients secure coverage in media outlets like Forbes, Inc., and O, The Oprah Magazine.Today on The Speaker Lab, Selena stops by to explain why public relations and publicity matter so much to your speaking career, along with a step-by-step breakdown of the pitch process. She also shares how to leverage the media coverage you get from those pitches.We always strive to bring you the best of the best here on The Speaker Lab, and Selena is no exception! Get your notepad ready and tune in for my conversation with Selena Soo on this edition of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW: 

"How can I speak to the military?" is a question I am asked on a regular basis, and you will uncover the answer on today's episode!Our guest is Mike Domitrz, international speaker and founder of the Date Safe Project. In his role as founder and leader, Mike travels the world working with universities, military installations, corporations and organizations to create a culture of consent and respect.On episode 177, Mike tells us how his sister's experience led him to become a speaker which in turn led him to found the Date Safe Project. He also goes into detail on how to speak to the military, what you need to know about this unique niche, and also how he has kept his topic fresh and relevant both for himself and his audience for over 25 years! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why was timing a critical factor when he first started speaking?What is the key to finding the ideal conferences for your topic?What kept him going when times were really tough?How do you know you have a good business?What

Ever wonder how to speak to the education market? Are you interested in making a career out of touching the lives of students, teachers and the parents of students? If so you are in the right place!Joining us for this show is my friend, Scott Backovich, one of the leading speakers in the youth market. Scott may look young but he has plenty of experience and wisdom on this topic, and he shares it all with us today.On episode 176, we talk about about how he finds and books school assemblies and school leadership conferences, and who to contact at schools depending on the region of the school. He also explains how to transition from free speaking gigs to getting paid, and more on today's edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How did he network and find other speakers to learn from early on in his career?Is being great on stage the best marketing strategy?Why isn't constant communication from a speaker a good thing?Where do you start if you want to speak to school audien

One of the most important things you can for your speaking career is to find out how to position yourself as an expert. And I could think of no one better to describe and demonstrate this topic than my good friend Chris Ducker.Chris is an internationally-recognized expert on all things personal branding. He's also a best-selling author, globe-trotting speaker, and successful business mentor. He knows more than a thing or two about standing out as an expert!On today's show, we're talking about his latest book, Rise of the Youpreneur as well as the origins of Chris's speaking career and his personal brand. He also explains why you should want to become someone's favorite and how to grow your personal brand beyond the stage. Listen to those great topics and more with me and Chris Ducker today on episode 175 of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How do you figure out who you serve and what problem you are solving?What is the Youpreneur self-awareness test?Why being different is better than

Should you ever speak for free or accept a lower fee? Today my co-host Melanie Deziel and I are answering both of those questions for you.We specifically talk about why money isn't the only reason to speak, and what the other benefits and non-monetary perks are which you can negotiate as a speaker.We'll also cover how to build your business beyond the stage, speak to build your credibility and your visibility, and give examples of when we've both been willing to speak for a reduced fee or even for free.Join us for those topics and more. And when you're done let us know if you like this co-host format on episode 174 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How to know if the audience you're speaking to has the potential for spin-off business.What is pay to play and why should you watch out for it?How can you sell from the stage without being pushy?What travel perks can you negotiate?What should you do if an organization doesn't have a budget or cannot pay your fees?A free tool to fin

Inevitably you'll run into some issue before, during or right after you give a talk. Do you know how to prepare for when things go wrong as a speaker? Both my co-host and I do and that's what we're talking about on today's show.Our co-host Melanie Deziel is back for her 3rd segment: the blooper reel. On episode 173 we talk about how to respond to any number of potential scenarios and pitfalls as a speaker.You'll find out what to do if you are running late or having travel issues or if you are feeling sick. we'll discuss how to handle tech issues, if your time is cut short or if you have a difficult audience member.Today we'll pull open up the curtain to share our best and worst stories, buckle up and join us because there's plenty to learn on episode 173 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why to avoid traveling the day of your speaking engagement.How to think two steps ahead and always have a Plan B in place.How do you know if you should go on stage when you're sick?Why k

Once you've given your speech the next step often becomes how to get the most referrals and testimonials after you've given a speech. Today we're going to walk you through the best ways to do this.On episode 172 of The Speaker Lab, I'm joined by my co-host Melanie Deziel again. In case you missed our introduction of Melanie last week she's a successful speaker who came over from the corporate world after discovering her love of public speaking.Today she speaks and consults full-time and is also a coach for students in The Speaker Lab programs. As a former TSL alum she is the perfect person to help other budding speakers gain their chops.On this edition of the show we're covering what to do after your speech, how to request feedback, how to ask for testimonials, referrals, videos, pictures and other marketing materials you can use to promote yourself. Join us for insights on all of these topics and more today on The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What's the first thing you have to

One of the common questions I get asked is what you need to know before signing a contract. To answer this question we are joined by Melanie Deziel today. But unlike our usual format Melanie isn't a guest today, she's our first co-host!Melanie was a student who has gone through our training programs and has become one of our coaches. Before branching out on her own in the speaking world, Melanie worked in a corporate environment. She helped brands think more like journalists and tell better stories.She shifted into speaking when she realized how much she enjoyed the speaking gigs she was doing to represent her team. She took a course with The Speaker Lab and for the last two years she's been speaking and consulting full-time.To keep things interesting and extra fun, I invited Melanie to join me as a co-host for the next four weeks. Today we're talking about a common question we get at the speaker lab: what do I need to know before signing a contract? We'll dig into that answer today on this edition of The Spe

Because there is a right way and a wrong way to sell yourself, our guest is here to explain how to sell yourself with digital persuasion. Erin Gargan is a multi-entrepreneur who currently owns and operates an agency that specializes in social media for trade shows, conferences and events.One day a client of hers was in a panic: they were a week away from the opening of their event and one of their social media speakers had canceled. Erin offered to help her client by filling in. Her speech went so well several audience members approached her about speaking for them, and asked for her fee. And so began her journey into public speaking.Today on The Speaker Lab, Erin tells us who she primarily speaks to today, how to be different by focusing on others (rather than ourselves), and how to use the art of digital persuasion to create higher quality connections that serve others while also growing our own careers. Erin holds nothing back on this episode so be sure to join us and catch it all! THE FINER DETAILS O

To be comfortable with your imperfections may not be a speaking goal you've set for yourself but our guest on today's episode of The Speaker Lab shares how doing so has made an impact on his career and an even bigger impact on his audience.John Michael Morgan is a world-class coach, best-selling author and keynote speaker who has found just how powerful it is to be raw, vulnerable and real with his audiences. On this episode of The Speaker Lab he shares how he came to this discovery and how doing so helped him branch out from speaking on branding and marketing to also speaking about the power of mindset.You'll also hear John's story of what he learned from interrupting Seth Godin at breakfast and how to create a distinct speaking brand even if you have a common name. This is a fun and illuminating learning session on the 169th edition of The Speaker Lab with John Michael Morgan! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  If you have a common name how can you create a distinctive personal brand?How did he

If the true hallmark of a great speech is how many referrals it generates, how can you create the most referrals from your speeches? Our guest, Andrew Davis, knows exactly how to do it and he tells us on this episode of The Speaker Lab.In the process of becoming an international keynote speaker, Andrew has discovered how to consistently generate a high number of referrals every time he speaks to an audience.On episode 168 he explains how he does it, which industries and which events he focuses on and why and whether or not bigger events are the better events. Join us to hear that and more on this edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How does he know he has given a great keynote speech?Does he ever recommend doing industry gigs for free?What is a kingpin conference?How can content production help you speak at national conferences?What is the audience influence pyramid?Is everyone facing similar problems, regardless of their niche?The three ways he evaluates new verticals,

Social media is part of our everyday lives, and it can be an effective business tool. But do you know how to use social media to land more gigs, while still being the real you? Our guest, Jon Acuff, does and he'll explain how in episode 167 of The Speaker Lab.When Jon isn't speaking or writing best-selling books, including his latest book Finish, he is actively sharing his work and his life on social media.Today we talk about how his social media platform and his online content have helped his business grow, plus the various strategies for each of his platforms. We also talk about how and why he learns about speaking from comedians, as well as the hows and whys of goal-setting for speakers. Join Jon and I as we explore these topics and more on the latest edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What's the fastest way to get feedback?How does he avoid becoming complacent with his success?How did he use soft pitches to land more gigs and work with a speakers bureau?W