Episode #552

The Four Reasons Speakers Get Booked

With Clint Pulver

“The goal is to become reassuringly expensive to some extent because what you’re able to charge as a speaker is directly correlated to the insurance policy that you can provide for that event.”

One of the best parts about being a speaker is that you get to decide what your speaking career looks like. Your story is unique—and only you can deliver the kind of value your audience needs. This week, Clint Pulver joins the show to remind us that success on stage is about more than a great keynote. Clint’s become an in-demand speaker by leaning into what makes him truly different—combining research, storytelling, and full-on showmanship to create real experiences for his audiences.

From hauling drum kits in a rental car as a young speaker to now orchestrating jaw-dropping interactive moments, Clint proves that your wild ideas are often your most valuable assets. He encourages speakers to go beyond the standard and design memorable experiences—think Broadway-level performance, not just another lecture. The big lesson? Embrace everything that makes you, you.

Whether it’s drumming, magic, humor, or a signature story, don’t be afraid to bring it to the stage. There’s no single path to a successful speaking career, so create one that fits your strengths and passions. Ready to take the next step? Let Clint’s story encourage you to get creative and build a speaking business on your terms. Your best work—and your audience—are waiting!

You’ll learn:

  • Moving beyond standard keynote speeches
  • Creating interactive experiences versus keynote speeches
  • Establishing a brand around memorable experiences
  • The four reasons speakers get booked: celebrity, expertise, entertainment, and inspiration
  • Ensuring showmanship doesn’t overshadow content
  • Balancing entertainment (40%) with content (60%)
  • How marketing and positioning affect audience expectations
  • And much, much more!

“It’s about great storytelling, but it’s about creating that ultimate wow factor at the end where people walk out of there going I have no idea how that happened.”

Ready to build a real speaking business?

Take the free Speaker Business Assessment to see exactly where you are and what to do next. 17,000+ speakers have built paid speaking careers with SPEAK in the Age of AI.

About Clint Pulver

Clint Pulver is an Emmy Award Winner, and one of the world’s most sought-after leadership experts on employee retention and organizational culture. He is a #1 Bestselling Author of the new book, titled I Love It Here: How Great Leaders Create Organizations Their People Never Want To Leave. He was also named one of Business Q Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 for his years of work and research as The Undercover Millennial. Clint currently serves as the President and Founder of The Center for Employee Retention, helping organizations such as Keller Williams, NASA, and Hewlett Packard to create lasting loyalty, employee engagement, and thriving workplaces that people never want to leave. He has appeared on America’s Got Talent, and in several different feature films with actors like Jack Black from “School of Rock”, and Jon Heder from “Napoleon Dynamite”. He is an avid helicopter pilot, a member of the R2D2 Builders Club, and someone who also enjoys long walks to the fridge.

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