There’s something truly exhilarating about standing before an audience to share your passion. It’s not just about presenting ideas; it’s about creating connections and sparking change.
Reflecting on my journey in the speaking arena, I can’t help but recall my very first feng shui workshop in a spiritual store in Tarrytown, NY. That experience opened many doors, leading to incredible opportunities at iconic venues like Kenneth Cole and Elie Tahari in New York City.
Over the past few days, I’ve started reflecting on the lessons I’ve learned from all those opportunities. One lesson was never to assume that a venue or person has it all together.
I still remember a holistic center I thought would be the perfect place for my event. It offered various holistic services, had a large space, and actively advertised all its events. It looked like this would be a successful occasion, but when I arrived, I learned that only two participants had signed up. They informed me that they had moved another group into my reserved room.
They suggested we could meet in the doctor’s office down the hall. On the verge of tears, I reluctantly agreed.
My anger and disappointment left me apologizing to my guests who had decided to attend. Yet, I knew I had to give my best talk. It was a great presentation, and both guests appreciated my talk and the personal guidance I offered them.
That experience taught me so much about asking more questions, following up more than once, and improving my self-promotion.
Another disappointing experience was thinking I would gain great exposure by having a local news channel cover an event I was hosting. Unfortunately, the segment was only a minute long, and my appearance was captured from a terrible angle—so bad that even my friends didn’t want me to see it!
Here’s the thing: your speaking engagements play a significant role in securing future gigs, increasing your authority, and attracting more business. You might show up looking amazing, but if the video and photos turn out poorly, it can be frustrating.
The best video reels are those where you are speaking on stage, and you want those reels to look fantastic, although many factors are out of your control.
The lesson I want you to take away is to be more prepared and not to assume that everyone with a great title can effectively do their job.
Here are some essential habits to develop for all your events, especially speaking engagements, whether big or small:
Every speaking event presents an opportunity to engage in the moment and maximize it by sharing your experience on social media and marketing platforms.
Here are some handy tips:
1. Arrive early to take pictures and videos. By doing this at the beginning, you’ll appear fresh, vibrant, and energetic.
2. Have a friend or assistant take pictures of you in front of the audience or on stage, capturing all your favorite angles. Full-length shots and vertical images work best for social media. Additionally, capture short videos of you discussing your speech.
Even if photographers are on-site, they cannot guarantee that they will capture the right moments or angles, and retrieving those images later can take a long time.
Many successful speakers walk away from significant gigs, disappointed with the media they’ve received.
If you do get great videos from professionals, you will have more to use on social media.
As you prepare for your next presentation, remember that you have the power to make a lasting impact. By thoughtfully selecting outfits that photograph well, you can deliver a memorable performance that highlights your best self.
So, as you look ahead at the next 90 days filled with speaking opportunities, my question is: Are you prepared with your look? Are you happy with your outfits and the pictures you will be taking? If not, let’s have a no-pressure conversation to help ensure you are ready because you want to take advantage of all these great opportunities.