The fall conference season is upon us and I’m looking forward to meeting friends at BlogWorld. And I’m excited about doing a workshop at Enterprise 2.0 again!

image

 

Here are three common misconceptions about speaking:

  1. Speakers are well paid
  2. Speaking is easy
  3. Speakers are chosen on their merits

Misconception #1 – Speakers are well paid

I always cringe when people assume that speaking is a profitable thing.

The majority of events that I speak at don’t provide travel/housing reimbursement. So it’s an expensive venture. But it’s great for brand building and networking. And if you’re consulting then those are good expenses when it comes tax time.

There are some that don’t believe people should agree to speak for free. They feel that that undermines our professional standing. I guess that I disagree. The industry is very young and sharing your knowledge doesn’t translate into being compensated. I appreciate the opportunity to attend the show and network. Event organizers are always so appreciative and have limited funds. (Putting on an event has to be an amazing effort).

Misconception #2 – Speaking is easy

I tend to put a fair amount of time into my slide decks. I put a few hours into the one for the 10 minute case study for Marketing Prof’s. The outline always takes a bit to work through. And then translating that to a slide deck is another process. And the delivery requires a lot of energy. (I don’t want the attendees falling asleep!) I’m generally drained after a workshop. For panels I’ve been taking my netbook with me and interacting with the audience as well as participating in the Twitter stream. I’m not sure how many etiquette rules I’m breaking in doing that, but it adds a nice twist!

Misconception #3 – Speakers are chosen on their merits

This is a sticking point for me. I see some conference organizers that fill speaking slots from the sponsor list. I understand why it’s done. And in working for a vendor I’ve been pitched at too. Sure, we have a speaking slot for you… if you sponsor. I guess my question is, “Are the attendees getting a revised version of the exhibit area?”

What misconceptions have you realized that people have about speakers?

If you would like to speak, start local. Check with your Chamber of Commerce or university. What organizations would be interested in social media? You may even end up with some consulting! And definitely submit you ideas to conferences: Writing a Session Proposal for a Conference