Public speaking: how to get into the “speaking circuit”

“I have to get on the public speaking circuit.”

As a professional speaker, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that exact phrase from people who would like to add public speaking as their primary or supplemental source of income to their business or career.

I have been speaking professionally in many capacities since I began my career in 1992, always in front of the public for one thing or another. So people naturally ask me all the time,

“How do I get into the speech circuit?”

Here’s the thing. It’s a big secret that speakers keep to ourselves so that we know when we’re talking to a fellow speaker or just someone you think might want to be on stage somewhere one day.

There is NO speech circuit.

None.

Zippo.

Nothing.

No.

So unless you want to look like a total beginner, stop saying you want to get into some kind of circuit. Seriously there aren’t any.

Let’s look for a moment at the definition of “circuit” according to Dictionary.com:

“a periodic journey from one place to another, to perform certain duties, such as judges to hold court, ministers to preach, or vendors covering a route.”

and

“a series of theatres, nightclubs, etc., controlled by the same owner or manager or visited in turn by the same artists or performing companies.”

Perhaps in the acting or preaching industries there may be a circuit. And indeed, this could be where some of the confusion around the subject comes from, especially since public speaking can often involve traveling “from one place to another.” But make no mistake, there aren’t many professional stages that qualify as a “circuit.”

Each speech he is reserved for is usually just for that stage and that occasion. And that is.

To others outside of the public speaking business, it may seem like there is some kind of public speaking circuit going on. That’s because in certain niche markets, a handful, say 20-30 of the most popular speakers, often appear at various events together or in some combination at events in that niche market.

And how do you hire those same speakers over and over again? Simple: results. The information they share makes the audience get the results they want. When the public is happy, the event planners are happy. When event planners and audiences are happy, speakers get a good reputation. And that’s what the next public speaking gig gets you.

So don’t despair because there isn’t really a speech circuit. Because as you get hired and continue to market yourself and grow as a speaker, opportunities will flow to you as easily as if you were on a public speaking circuit.

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