If you’ve ever wondered why some speakers land the mic (and the money) while others stall, I'm opening the curtains on how event hosts actually choose speakers, what “paid” really means in different rooms, and why the savviest entrepreneurs treat stages like a core growth channel. Behind every conference stage is an organizer balancing budgets, reputation, and the experience they want to create.

If you’ve ever stared at a call for speakers and wondered what’s really happening on the other side, this episode gives you the host-eye view. It’s equal parts reality check and opportunity map — because when you understand how the game is played, you can decide when to chase the fee, when to chase the audience, and when to plant yourself in the kind of room that will pay dividends in the long run.

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I set up this voice-note line so you can send context-rich questions I can answer for everyone’s benefit — and I can’t wait to hear what you’re building!

What’s inside this episode

• The quiet calculation event hosts run before they ever open your application — and how to tip it in your favor without changing your talk
• Why two conferences with identical audiences can make opposite decisions on speaker fees — and how you can build brand equity vs get paid
• The different types of talks and the reputational bar that changes who gets paid (and how much)
• How showing up in the room — even when you’re not on stage — compounds your chances of getting invited later
• The overlooked assets hosts are investing in for you — and how to leverage them for your visibility long after the event
• The most important things you can do to get your application to stand out and make it easier for the host to say YES to your application

Connect with Adriane and Visionaries!

• Let's be friends on the 'gram – @visionariesonline or @adrianegalea
• Connect on Linkedin – with Adriane or Visionaries
• Visit us on the web at visionaries.co
• Come network with us in The Visionaries Collective