Speaking Smarter, Not Harder: How to Book More Speaking Gigs with Leisa Reid

Welcome back to My First Stage! I’m your host, Sara Lohse, and this is the show where I get real with speakers from all walks of life about how they landed their first gigs, overcame setbacks, and built thriving businesses—and communities—through getting on stage.This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Leisa Reid, a name you absolutely need to know if you’re serious about public speaking. With over 600 talks delivered, nine books, and as the founder of Get Speaking Gigs Now and CEO of the International Speaker Network, Leisa has not only mastered the art of getting onstage—she’s built a business around helping others do it, too. If you’ve ever wondered how to go from dreaming about speaking to actually getting booked (a LOT), Leisa’s story and advice are going to fire you up.Here’s a quick overview of what Leisa Reid and I covered:Her journey from starting out in 2013, landing 83 speaking gigs in her first year, and then building a machine for consistent bookings and referralsThe launch of the International Speaker Network for collaboration instead of cold-callingThe biggest myths around “paid” vs. “free” gigs and why she focused on lead generation instead of speaking feesHow to develop your one “ready to rock” signature talk and why you don’t need dozens of unique presentationsUsing regional association chapters and event mapping to multiply your speaking opportunities close to homeThe wildest moments on stage—from malfunctioning projectors to unexpected tornado warningsThe secret sauce for turning talks into clients (and what most speakers miss)How to sort the real gigs from the “catfish” ones and use referrals to find your best oppsWhy “brilliance hoarding” keeps you invisible, and how confidence skyrockets when you claim your expertise—and your offerReady to step up your speaking game after this episode? Here’s what you can do:Grab Leisa’s Free Tips – Visit getspeakinggigsnow.com/tips to get Leisa Reid’s five top tips for booking more speaking gigs right now.Audit Your Signature Talk – Take a page from Leisa Reid: focus on creating and perfecting one “ready to rock” talk before anything else!Map Your Opportunities – List out local associations and organizations where your ideal audience hangs out, and start nurturing those networks—referrals are gold.Avoid the Catfish – Network with other speakers, trade honest feedback about events, and don’t fall for the “pay to play” hype unless you know your ROI.Subscribe & Leave a Review – If this episode inspired you, subscribe to My First Stage, leave a review, and tell me what tip or story stood out—or who I should bring on next!Thank you so much for tuning in. I can’t wait to bring you more no-fluff advice, wild stories, and actionable strategies next week on My First Stage!Timestamped Summaries[00:00-02:46] – I introduce Leisa Reid, who dives right in with her story of landing 83 speaking gigs in her first year (and the lesson in not cold-calling alone, thanks to building a referral network).[02:46-03:45] – We talk about why her early focus wasn’t on paid gigs, but generating high-value clients through speaking, and why “what’s your talk?” should be your first question.[03:45-05:12] – Leisa Reid breaks down why having ONE signature talk is game-changing, and how perfecting it leads to real results instead of burning time creating new talks for every event.[05:12-07:23] – Strategies to book dozens of stages within a “50 mile radius”—and how Leisa Reid leveraged regional association chapters to quadruple her opportunities.[08:58-09:53] – We discuss the learning curve of speaking, why you should do one talk a LOT before expanding, and how things inevitably go wrong (including tech disasters and last-minute pivots).[12:15-13:41] – Leisa Reid shares her “worst day” stories—like the time a failed projector forced her to improvise with an easel—and why going analog can save the day.[15:33-16:46] – What to always bring with you, from handouts and offers to “knowing your talk in your bones,” so you’re ready whether the power goes out or bees fly into the room.[19:05-20:31] – Why there’s no “magic list of gigs”—and how mapping your ideal audience, associations, and events locally builds the “treasure in your backyard.”[22:40-23:53] – We dig deep on why not all gigs are worth your time, how to avoid getting catfished, and why trusted speaker networks are crucial for quality referrals.[27:04-28:55] – A real talk about “pay to play” opportunities, running events through your “resentment filter,” and what to watch out for if you’re offered a stage in exchange for a fee.[30:10-31:26] – Why not getting clients from your talks means there’s a “hole in the boat,” and how sales strategy is an inescapable reality (even for doctors and attorneys).[32:36-33:39] – How to create genuine visibility: get your signature talk ready, share it confidently, and watch as opportunities start to find you.[34:09-36:47] – Leisa Reid’s top actionable tips: build your talk, know your ideal audience, get a monetization plan, and use research (and even ChatGPT) to find your first gigs.