Motivational Speakers

Employers

A variety of clients hire motivational speakers. Depending on the focus of their speeches, speakers are hired by schools, government agencies, small businesses, large corporations, resorts, health clubs, spas, and even cruise lines.

Most speakers are self-employed and work for clients on a one-time basis. Some speakers have repeat clients, such as those who are hired to give a presentation at an annual conference. Speakers who focus on employee training may be hired full time to train new workers directly or teach managers about training methods.

Starting Out

It is difficult to work full time as a motivational speaker. Most speakers work part time until they develop a list of clients and build a solid reputation as a speaker. To start out, many speakers offer to talk for free or for a nominal fee. This gives them experience and references for future clients.

Most speakers prepare promotional packets to send out to potential clients. These include an introductory letter, a resume, references, a color photo, and a demo video of one of their speeches. Many now have Web sites that provide this information and they also maintain a presence on social media sites such as Bluesky, Facebook, and YouTube.

Clients also may choose to join a professional organization such as the American Speakers Bureau Corporation (http://www.speakersbureau.com) for exposure and job assistance. Speakers are listed on these organizations' Web sites by specialty and region.