280: The business of speaking: An insider's guide with Carson White
- S8E280
- 53:06
- November 22nd 2023
As you grow your profile and reputation as a thought leader in your space - a professional domain expert of note … over time opportunities will pop up to speak at industry events, community meetups, webinars, online summits and the like.
These are great opportunities to share your ideas and your message with a captivated audience, in turn helping to build your professional bona fides and enhance your personal brand in the marketplace.
But what happens if you start getting good at this speaking caper, and the stages become bigger and more prestigious? You’ve honed your speaking chops for free - but you’re now starting to think: I could - and should - get paid for all this work!
Well, if becoming a professional keynote presenter is something that’s been on your radar, stay tuned because my guest today is a true insider of the speaking business.
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His name is CARSON WHITE - he’s the founder of Leading Voice, a speaker management company that represents some of Australia’s most respected and experienced presenters, MC’s and facilitators - he’s been in the speaker management trenches for some 25 years and has seen it all when it comes to presenting from the stage.
HERE IS WHAT'S COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:
1. **Introduction:** Welcome to Reputation Revolution, a podcast focused on leveraging your professional reputation for greater influence and impact.
2. **Guest Introduction:** Meet Carson White, founder of Leading Voice - a speaker management company that represents Australia's top presenters.
3. **Speaker Management Business Model:** Learn about how Leading Voice - a speaker management company - differs from speaker bureaus by serving the needs of a small group of professional presenters (versus simply sourcing any speaker for any occasion, which is the domain of many bureaus).
4. **Impact of Covid-19 on Speaking Industry**: Explore how the pandemic has led to pro speakers diversifying their service offering due to the increased use of online training and events.
5. **Transitioning into Professional Speaking:** Gain insights from Carson's 25 years in the speaking business trenches about what makes an impactful speaker, and key factors needed for success in this competitive industry.
6. **Types of Speakers**: Understand two main types of speakers: thought leaders who provoke insights and ideas, and entertainers who share captivating personal experiences or achievements often involving overcoming adversity.
7. **Shift in Speaker Trends**: Discuss evolving trends over time within the speaking industry – moving from adventure-centered narratives towards more content-rich presentations.
8. **The Art of Stagecraft**: Delve into why stagecraft is crucial for effective presentation skills, focusing less on slides and more on engaging delivery.
9 .**Inspiring Speaker Story**: Hear about Tom O'Toole, a baker with an unconventional but highly successful approach to public speaking.
10 .**Effective Speaking vs Building Business as Speaker**: Uncover why being good at public speaking doesn't necessarily equate to building a profitable business as a paid speaker – it requires strategic thinking around positioning oneself in the market along with strong marketing efforts.
If you're thinking about embarking on a speaking career that pays, this episode is a great place to start!
- Connect with Carson on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/carsonpwhite/
EARN THE RIGHT with Trevor Young
EARN THE RIGHT is your audio platform for reputation-based authority building — turning credibility into recognition, and recognition into opportunity.
Hosted by Trevor Young, it’s for credible founders, experts, and solo practitioners who’ve earned their stripes and are ready to amplify their voice with integrity.
Across four distinct (but inter-related) tracks —
- Crank The 3rd
- Pocket PR Essentials
- In The Arena
- From The Trenches
— you’ll get the ideas, stories, and strategies that help you cut through the noise and build lasting authority.
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1️⃣ CRANK THE 3RD
CRANK THE 3RD celebrates the Wisdom Economy — a world where depth, perspective, and lived experience fuel what’s next. It features conversations with inspiring midlife founders and professionals who are turning decades of know-how into opportunity: building meaningful ventures, shaping ideas, and designing work that matters.
2️⃣ POCKET PR ESSENTIALS
POCKET PR ESSENTIALS delivers short, sharp coaching sessions on building visibility and recognition — without the hype. Presented by Trevor Young, this audio playbook helps credible founders and solo professionals master PR, content, and digital communication to raise their profile and grow authority in a way that’s strategic, sustainable, and respectful.
3️⃣ IN THE ARENA
IN THE ARENA is Trevor Young’s unfiltered take on earning authority in real time — sharp, strategic riffs on content, credibility, connection, and the courage to keep showing up. Essential listening for entrepreneurs and professionals navigating the intersection of creativity, communication, and personal brand authority.
4️⃣ FROM THE TRENCHES
FROM THE TRENCHES presents deep-dive interviews with PR practitioners, content strategists, and digital communications experts that explore how reputation and influence are built today. Hosted by Trevor Young, this track shares grounded insights, hard-won lessons, and practical wisdom from those shaping credible marketing communications in the modern reputation economy.
You've put in the hard yards, now it's time to capitalise!
Earn attention. Build authority. Stay human.
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