Confident Speaker: Build Your Public Speaking Confidence and Platform10 Syys 2025

Should You Pay to Speak? The Answer May Surprise You

You’ve probably come across speaking opportunities where the event organizer expects *you* to pay a fee or buy a ticket just to be on stage.

It feels off, doesn’t it? After all, you’ve honed your expertise and crafted your message—shouldn’t they be paying *you*?

In this episode of the Confident Speaker Podcast, I dig into the nuances of when it *can* make sense to speak for free—or even pay to speak—and when it’s time to say no (or charge your worth).

I share personal insights from my own early speaking days, along with three powerful strategies to help you make thoughtful, strategic decisions about unpaid opportunities:

**1. Know What You're Getting in Return** Not all free or pay-to-play talks are created equal. Visibility, great video footage, and connections with your ideal audience *can* make it worth your while.

**2. Set a Limit on Free Speaking** Create and stick to a personal policy: How many unpaid talks will you say yes to per year? Having a clear boundary not only keeps you focused, but it also makes turning down less-aligned gigs that much easier.

**3. Position Yourself as a Paid Speaker** From your website to your pitch emails, small tweaks in how you present yourself can send clear signals that you’re a professional who gets paid to speak.

Being strategic doesn’t mean being rigid—it means honoring the value of your time, your message, and your goals. You have the power to decide which stages deserve your voice—and which ones don’t.

For more support and to work with us to grow your speaking business, head over to speakingyourbrand.com.

Be sure to follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you don’t miss upcoming episodes packed with strategies and inspiration just for you.

For interviews and longer episodes, check out the Speaking Your Brand podcast.

The script was generated by AI based on past Speaking Your Brand podcast episodes, proprietary frameworks, and years of experience coaching clients on public speaking and thought leadership. Powered by a custom Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system, the script pulls from a rich library of our expert insights and methodologies. The final episode is voiced using host Carol Cox’s AI voice clone from Eleven Labs, so you’re getting her guidance - in her own voice - delivered in a quick and accessible format. It’s a unique blend of innovation and authenticity designed to help you speak with confidence and clarity.

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