Tom Krieglstein, a college speaker for 25 years, outlines how to break in without an agent. Speak free at your alma mater to build reps, film real footage and collect student testimonials, then attend APCA as a delegate to network with other speakers over coffee. Skip the expensive showcases until you have proof you can deliver.
You don't need an agent to break into the college speaking market. You need a strategy that costs you almost nothing. You see, I've been speaking to college students for 25 years, and I have watched people burn thousands of dollars on showcases and marketing before they even set foot on a college campus. There is a better way. You see, the college market has a back door and it is open if you know where to look. So here are the three things I do if I were starting over to speak in the college market. Number one, I would reach out to my alma mater or any local college or community college. I'll call Student activities at that school and I would say, hey, is there anything coming up like a leadership event or a lunch and learn where you need a speaker. Even if it's for free, you don't need revenue right now. You need reps. Number two, at that program, I would get video. And I would get video testimonial. Real footage of you in front of real students is worth way more than any studio produced video that you can create. And number three, I would attend APCA as a delegate, not a showcasing artist. And while there, I would go around and try to talk to every other speaker that's there. They're great people. Buy them coffee, offer to buy them lunch, ask them what's really working and what they would do. That intel is worth way more than any course you can buy online. Do these three things before you spend another dollar trying to figure this thing out alone. My name's Tom. Helping you to be a better speaker and to better engage your people.
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