Money Talks: How to Make a Million as a Speaker (Paperback)

by Alan Weiss (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
When it comes to speaking for big money, bestselling author Alan Weiss knows what he's talking about. Popular on the pro circuit, he details all the steps on how to go from free speaking to big-fee speaking. Using tips and checklists, he shows how to target markets, develop speeches, set fees, improve platform skills, use high-tech tools, expand business, and fashion a "star" image. 15 illustrations.

From the Back Cover
"Quite simply, the best book I've ever read on speaking as a profession. Alan Weiss turns some cherished myths upside-down and just may prompt you to rethink your business. It's fantastic, inclusive, most useful book!"-Nido Qubein, internationally-known speaker and chairman of Creative Services, Inc. Dynamic speakers are made, not born. If you want join the ranks of today's speakers-the pros who make $1 million a year-take advantage of this valuable book. It will tell you how to take what you know and spin it into verbal gold! Bestselling author Alan Weiss used to give speeches for free. Now his income from professional speaking and its spinoff totals more than $1,000, 000. In Money Talks, he shows you how to follow him up the steps to the very best-and best-paid-platforms! It's simpler than you think. Through stories, anecdotes, and pointers from his own experience, internationally-known speaker Alan Weiss shows you how you can succeed in today's booming market for public speakers. You'll learn how to-Choose a topic that people will pay to hear; Find audiences that will pay you to speak; Deal with a crowd that knows more than you do; Turn your expertise as a trainer, workshop leader, or consultant into a professional speaking career (and why you don't necessarily need any special credentials); Craft a winning speech; Multiply your earnings through pasive sales; Keep your costs at rock bottom; Overcome your natural fear of public speaking (or: Why dying is only the seceond greatest fear); Develop and enjoy star status as a speaker! Packed with boxed tips, checklists, lists of resources, and plenty of helpful examples, this book is your entree into the lucrative world of professional speaking.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (December 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070696152
• ISBN-13: 978-0070696150
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #48,618 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breaks the old rules, April 2, 2001

By	Giselle Springer-Douglas "Child of the World" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

If you have read "Speak and Grow Rich" or similar books, then you will very much enjoy this refreshing take on the speaking industry. The author breaks down all of the old speaking industry myths and affirms that anyone can make it in the speaking business. Old industry axioms such as "raise your fees when demand exceeds supply" and "specialize in a few areas of speaking" are blasted by the author's advice to raise fees when the value you offer to the customer increases, and to offer clients as many services as you are comfortable providing (e.g. wide range of topics as well as delivery formats (keynotes, training, etc.)).

This book is VERY customer-centric; that is, the author looks at speaking/training/workshops as a catalyst for evoking change (e.g. improved communication, increased sales) and believes they should produce tangible results that last long after the speaker has left the client site. This is far different from the tone of other books which seem to indicate that speaking is an ego-centric medium and that platform skills are more important than value delivered.

In short, the author speaks volumes on delivering real, measurable value, in both speaking, writing (articles, books, etc.) and any products you develop and sell. He furvently denounces egomaniacal motivations and condones making the absolute best effort to provide buyer/client satisfaction.

Other topics the author touches on: business insurance, incorporating your business, speaker's bureaus (why they need you, not the other way around), and marketing strategies (this is lightly touched upon).

Be forewarned that the author writes about catering to business clients rather than to individual consumers, so you will not find information regarding developing and marketing consumer centric seminars (although he does touch (very) briefly on the college and private seminar market). If this is what you are looking for, may I recommend a book by Robert W. Bly or by Paul Karasik.

This is a wonderful book that will likely leave you with a "it's not as hard as the other books said" feeling. My recommendation is that you read "Speak and Grow Rich" by the Walters duo first (it's got excellent information about every aspect of the business, despite its shameless self-promotion) then go on to reading Weiss' superb work.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for Beginners and Professionals Alike, February 17, 2006

By	Dr. Richard G. Petty (Atlanta) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

As part of a mentoring program, I was once asked to coach and supervise someone who was about to give his first major presentation in front of his peers and key decision makers. He dismissed all the advice that he was given and said, rather breezily, that he had a strong background in amateur dramatics, so he knew exactly how to deliver a speech. The outcome was predictable but still sad. He knew all about how to project his voice and how to achieve rapport and get a quick laugh, but that was about it.

People who know nothing about professional speaking assume that it's easy. When somebody once asked me my fee for a speech, I saw the eyebrows shoot upwards: "For an hour's work????" I was asked.

"No," I responded, "For thousands of hours of research, preparation and practice." Any professional speaker would say the same. It is no different from a professional musician, dancer or comedian.

If Alan Weiss's book had been available back then, I would have asked my mentoree to read it.

It is precise, specific and also lays out the big picture. So often books like this are full of self-congratulation, but this one really does deliver.

No book in the world will do everything for you. But if you really do want to be a speaker and you have something to say which will enrich your audience: read this book; take action on its contents; contact other professionals in your area, or organizations like the National Speaker's Association and then take massive action to get started!

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on this subject - period!, September 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Money Talks: How to Make a Million As a Speaker (Hardcover)

I've been a professional speaker for 18 years and I am often asked for advice by new speakers. From now on, I will simply say "Read Alan Weiss". But it's not just for beginners. This is without question the best book I've ever seen on the topic of professional speaking.