The GOA Story w/ Greg Oliver & Abigail Garrett :: Ep 279 The Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast

In this episode of the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast, host Jim McCarthy sits down with Greg Oliver and Abigail Garrett of GOA Speakers to unpack the business of booking faith-based speakers, comedians, and artists.Greg shares how he went from running a massive Christian nightclub in Texas to building a Nashville-based agency that represents some of the biggest names in Christian speaking and leadership, including John Maxwell, Lisa TerKeurst, Scott Hamilton, Lee Strobel, and Willie Robertson. Abigail walks through how GOA leverages social media, email marketing, and content to champion their speakers and grow demand.They talk about the grind of the early days (including giant long-distance phone bills), how the industry has changed, why COVID nearly wiped out live events, and what aspiring speakers really need to do before they’re ready for representation.Whether you’re a business owner, a podcaster, or an aspiring speaker, this conversation is packed with real-world lessons on persistence, diversification, and building a reputation over decades.Timed Highlights:00:00 GOA Speakers intro: booking music artists and speakers00:25 Show open: Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast02:30 Meet Greg Oliver and Abigail Garrett from GOA Speakers03:32 Launching the GOA Speakers Podcast and why they started it04:25 How GOA vets speakers and why most inquiries get a no07:07 Why GOA focuses on faith-based speakers who can also serve corporate events08:52 Greg’s entrepreneurial journey: janitorial business to Christian nightclub09:55 Running a 1,000-seat Christian venue with concerts every weekend13:47 Moving from Texas to Nashville and battling for industry acceptance21:36 Diversifying with a speakers bureau and merchandising company24:49 Shifting focus from music artists to speakers and why speakers are easier to book28:42 COVID’s impact on live events and how merchandising kept them afloat30:56 GOA’s speaker mix: Bible teachers, athletes, comedians, and more33:33 How Abigail joined GOA and grew into marketing and PR41:08 Daily social media and email tactics to keep speakers in front of planners49:14 Real advice for aspiring speakers on getting stage time and building a platform54:17 Why publishers, books, and podcasts all matter for speaker demand01:01:24 GOA’s deeper mission: making an eternal impact through eventsVisit GOASpeakers.com to explore their roster of faith-based speakers, authors, athletes, comedians, and leaders._____________________________________________________________________****SUBSCRIBE/RATE/FOLLOW the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast:www.mmtbp.comwww.instagram.com/mostlymiddletnbusinespodcastwww.instagram.com/jimmccarthyvosTiktok: @jimmccarthyvos    __________________________________________________________Shoutout to Matt Wilson for lending his voice to the new intro of MMTBP.Follow him and his podcast from which I may have borrowed the *mostly* concept:https://linktr.ee/mamwmw___________________________________________________________If you like Jim's Boston Scallys, click here to shop and order yours!https://www.bostonscally.com/a/refer-a-friend/redeem/mqgpwi3u0zgm89vaxnv5crzvlolevo82rvcygsn5/1668 ___________________________________________________________***You hear Jim mention it on almost every episode, ME vs. WE and how 2023 will be 1943 all over again….order “PENDULUM:How Past Generations Shape Our Present and Predict Our Future”:https://a.co/d/7oKK7Ip_________________________________________________________________The co-author of Pendulum wrote a myriad of other books and started a non-profit 21st Century Non-Traditional Business School that you should really check out: Wizard Academy - www.wizardacademy.org______________________________________________________________________Curious about podcasting? This podcast (and many others) is produced by www.itsyourshow.co