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Insights from a Booming Bureau (ft. Angela & Richard Schelp)

Released Monday, 28th August 2023

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Insights from a Booming Bureau (ft. Angela & Richard Schelp)

Monday, 28th August 2023

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Insights from a Booming Bureau (ft. Angela & Richard Schelp)

Wit and wisdom from the dynamic husband-and-wife leaders of Executive Speakers Bureau

OPENING QUOTE:

“People will always claim that we're a mid-range size bureau when we're not anymore. Now we're a large bureau, we just don't have George W. Bush as an exclusive, but we generate the kind of volumes and numbers that those people with the exclusives generate. So I think that's an area where I believe a lot of people underestimate us.”

-Richard Schelp

GUEST BIO:

Angela and Richard Schelp are the dynamo husband and wife team that runs Executive Speakers Bureau. Their Memphis-based bureau is on a growth tear, nearly tripling their size over the last seven years. With humble roots dating back to 1993, Executive is now one of the largest and most respected speaker bureaus on the planet. Angela and Richard have enjoyed massive success while maintaining the highest standards of integrity, care for others, and deep commitment to professionalism. They serve clients, speakers, and team members with huge hearts — and a little dose of southern hospitality.

Links:

CORE TOPICS + DETAILS:

[10:26] - Playing the Long Game

How speakers can burn bright without fizzling out

Why do some speakers endure the test of time while others fade quickly?

Angela and Richard have seen the full range of careers for speakers — from the great to the not-so-great. They’ve found that the difference is strategic, long-term thinking. The speakers who play the long game, sacrifice their fee in strategic settings, work on projects with long-term potential even if they don’t come with big short-term gains, are all vital.

The other difference? Innovation. A willingness to reinvigorate and innovate on their speaking business day-in and day-out is what makes a speaking career that lasts.

[14:59] - The Dos and Don’ts of Contacting Bureaus

How to make a powerful connection

With a bureau as successful — and busy! — as Executive, the sad truth is that cold emails and calls often have to be disregarded. That highlights the importance of the “connection before the connection,” the contact that can give you a warm introduction to someone at a bureau you’re pursuing.

Further, bureau leaders want to see speakers who have invested in their careers. They want to see diligence, progress, and tenacity in continuously building their brand, message, and client list.

[23:35] - From Early Traction to Massive Acceleration

How to move from growing to flowing

What things have Richard and Angela seen that turn early, promising speakers into rocketships to massive success?

Often, according to Richard, it comes down to that extra commitment to marketing. They may have a dedicated marketing team to develop a campaign, improve their assets, or reach new audiences.

SEO can also be important to help with discovery, as can honing in on specific niches. The basics like testimonials also provide a strong foundation for future momentum.

[26:04] - Exclusive or Not?

When to go exclusive in your bureau relationship

Richard and Angela outline some of the key considerations when determining the right time to go exclusive with a bureau.

If you have momentum, you’re struggling to manage your career on your own, and you’re commanding fees in the $15K-$20K range but want to bump up to $25K and beyond, then an exclusive partnership can help take you to that next level.

That said, you must find a bureau that “gets” you, that has a vision for what you do, and which genuinely cares about your message and approach.

RESOURCES:

[1:49] The Executive Story

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ABOUT MIC DROP:

Hear from the world’s top thought leaders and experts, sharing tipping point moments, strategies, and approaches that led to their speaking career success. Throughout each episode, host Josh Linkner, #1 Innovation keynote speaker in the world, deconstructs guests’ Mic Drop moments and provides tactical tools and takeaways that can be applied to any speaking business, no matter it’s starting point. You'll enjoy hearing from some of the top keynote speakers in the industry including: Ryan Estis, Alison Levine, Peter Sheahan, Seth Mattison, Cassandra Worthy, and many more. Mic Drop is sponsored by ImpactEleven.

Learn more at: MicDropPodcast.com

ABOUT THE HOST:

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker. He believes passionately that all human beings have incredible creative capacity, and he’s on a mission to unlock inventive thinking and creative problem solving to help leaders, individuals, and communities soar.

Josh has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million and is the author of four books including the New York Times Bestsellers, Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He has invested in and/or mentored over 100 startups and is the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners.

Today, Josh serves as Chairman and Co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.

Josh is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, is a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession with greasy pizza.

Learn more about Josh: JoshLinkner.com