When you're offered a speaking opportunity, it's easy to jump straight to yes—especially if you're working to grow your speaking business. But seasoned public speakers know that accepting a gig without fully understanding the scope, expectations, and value can lead to disappointment, or worse, a missed opportunity.
Before committing, use these 20 questions to assess if the speaking engagement supports your professional goals, aligns with your brand, and offers the kind of return (financial or otherwise) that moves your business forward.
Start by understanding the event’s structure and logistics. The goal is to ensure you’re set up for success on every technical and practical front.
What is the date, time, and length of the session?
Is it an in-person, virtual, or hybrid event?
Where is it being held, and who covers travel and accommodations?
What audiovisual or tech support will be available?
How large is the expected audience?
If you're speaking online, read Virtual vs. In-Person Speaking: How to Adjust Your Delivery for Maximum Impact for tips on tailoring your talk to different formats.
Every great public speaker tailors their content to their audience. These questions will help you know who you’re speaking to and how to serve them best.
Who is attending? What are their roles, industries, and interests?
What’s the overall theme or purpose of the event?
What type of tone and content is expected—educational, inspirational, tactical?
Who else is speaking, and how does your topic complement the program?
Will I be able to engage with attendees before or after the talk?
A speaking engagement isn’t just about one talk—it can be a catalyst for long-term business growth if you ask the right questions.
Is this a paid opportunity, and if not, what other benefits are offered?
Can I promote my services, products, or coaching programs during the event?
Will the session be recorded, and am I allowed to use it for marketing?
Will I be promoted through event channels such as the website, email, or social media?
Can I collect feedback, testimonials, or referrals from attendees?
Want to grow your network and get booked again? Don’t miss How to Easily Get Referrals as a Public Speaker for actionable ways to turn one gig into many.
This section helps you understand your rights, responsibilities, and rewards—financial and otherwise.
What is the speaker fee, and when will it be paid?
Are travel and accommodation costs covered or reimbursed?
Will I be promoted as a featured or headlining speaker?
Do I retain ownership of my content and presentation?
Is there a formal agreement or contract I can review?
Once you’ve gathered all the answers, ask yourself:
Does this help me grow my audience or email list?
Is the organizer respectful of my time and brand?
Will I walk away with something of value—money, leads, visibility, or all three?
Does this align with my long-term speaking goals?
If the answer to most of these is yes, it's a green light. If not, it might be wise to pass—or renegotiate.
Before your next “yes,” use these 20 questions to ensure the opportunity helps you grow your speaking business, connect with your ideal audience, and maybe even get paid to speak.
SpeakerHub makes it easier to pitch smarter and track your engagements with our speaker tools. Whether you're aiming for your first keynote or scaling your speaking business, you’ll find tools and resources to guide every step.
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