Behind the Mic and the Business of Speaking with Jennifer Best

In this episode of SPEAKPact, guest Jennifer Best, Vice President of Marketing at AAE Speakers Bureau, delves into the current state of the speaking industry and offers valuable insights for speakers wanting to grow their impact and income. Jennifer discusses the importance of aligning with a Speaker's Bureau, such as AAE, to navigate opportunities more effectively. She highlights key findings from AAE's benchmark report, stressing the importance of topic relevance, understanding event organizers' goals for audience engagement, and aligning personal values with those of organizing bodies. Jennifer also touches on the competitive nature of the industry and the necessity of honing a niche to stand out. She further advises on the benefits of mentorship in a speaker's career development. Throughout the episode, both Jennifer and host Antoinette stress the value of flexibility, the significance of making value-driven decisions, and the importance of maintaining a professional and cooperative relationship between speakers and event organizers for long-term success.

00:00 Introduction to SPEAKPact and Guest Jennifer Best

01:08 Jennifer Best's Journey into the Speaking Industry

02:10 The Importance of Networking and Industry Engagement

04:26 Insights on Speaker Development and Market Dynamics

06:51 Understanding the Buyer's Agency Model with AAE

12:07 Leveraging the Speaking Industry Benchmark Report

17:06 Navigating Speaker Fees and Market Trends

22:21 Strategies for Consistent Speaking Engagements

27:41 The Art of Building a Speaking Career

28:16 Understanding Speaker Budgets and Engagements

29:20 The Power of Relatability in Speaking

30:06 Celebrity vs. Authenticity: What Organizations Really Want