How to Navigate Changes In the Speaking Industry with Shawn Hanks

The Speaker Lab Podcast

The Speaker Lab

Authors, Public Speakers, Public Speaking, How To, Marketing, Smallbusiness, Coaching, Education, Entrepreneurship, Speaking, Business, Side Gig

4.8 • 575 Ratings

🗓️ 1 April 2025

⏱️ 42 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“The speaking industry is one that has been around for generations…And it has survived wars, depressions, recessions, 9/11, pandemics, and it’s not going anywhere.”

Navigating the speaking industry can seem daunting with its ever-shifting trends and economic uncertainties. So this week, drawing from his extensive experience in the field, Shawn Hanks offers his seasoned perspective on how speakers can thrive amidst these changes.

Shawn discusses the current optimism in the event market despite past economic caution as a result of the pandemic. Event planners are investing wisely in speakers who offer real strategic solutions, not just entertainment. This reinforces the importance of aligning speaking content with what organizations seek. The episode also highlights the enduring value of live events. While virtual events gained traction, they haven't supplanted the critical face-to-face human interaction that live gatherings offer.

Additionally, Shawn advises speakers to balance staying current with trends like AI, without losing sight of timeless topics such as leadership or innovation. Authenticity remains crucial—chasing trends for the sake of visibility may backfire, but sticking to your core passions ensures long-term success. This adaptability while staying true to your message is key to maintaining a successful speaking career. For speakers, whether new or seasoned, Shawn's insights offer guidance on crafting a fulfilling and enduring career in the speaking industry!

You’ll learn:

The nature of public speaking
The state of the speaking industry
Growth and trends in the speaking industry for 2025
How economic considerations impact speakers
The future of the speaking industry
Content evolution for speakers
And much, much more!

“Event planners aren’t booking a speaker, they are solving a problem and the speaker is the avenue to solve that problem.”

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, friend, are you looking for ways to book more paid speaking gigs?
0:03.7	Well, of course you are.
0:04.4	Maybe you're just starting out as a speaker. You're trying to figure out what to prioritize in order to get booked and paid as quickly as possible. Listen, if that's you, I want you to join us for a free live training where you're going to learn how to create the number one marketing asset that you need to consistently book more paid gigs. This is a tool that one speaker on our team used to book over $36,000 in paid gigs before he even had a website.
0:27.2	This training is free.
0:28.1	It's live and we offered a few times a week so you can find a time that works best for you.
0:32.5	All you got to do is head over to thespeakerlab.com slash get booked.
0:36.3	That's all one word.
0:37.2	Thespeakelab.com slash get booked. That's all one word, the speakerlap.com slash get booked
0:39.3	and register right now. We look forward to seeing you on the live training.
0:59.5	We We didn't create this thing. If we had invented it, hey, Grant, I have a great idea.
1:03.8	People will pay you to go stand on a stage and espouse an idea or roll out a new vision
1:09.6	for a company, whatever it is. If we invented that, we could break it.
1:12.6	Right.
1:13.1	This is a thing that's baked into human nature, into our core.
1:16.7	The idea of Grant or whomever that person is, is an expert in a thing.
1:22.5	And we are going to assemble, it's just human beings getting together and go,
1:27.1	oh, that's, yeah, Steve from
1:28.4	Tulsa. I haven't seen him since last year. Like, that stuff matters. I can't quantify it,
1:33.7	but that stuff matters. And that's what we're a part of.
1:44.1	Hey, what's that, friends?
1:45.0	Graham Baldwin here.
1:45.6	Welcome back to the Speak Al podcast.
	...

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