Ask an ExpertProfessional Speaker – Tyler Hayden

1. What is a typical day like for you? What is the most rewarding part of your career?

Coffee. Work. Coffee. Work. Kids. LOL.

As a speaker is at least 70% of my time taken up with doing sales and marketing activities like: calling clients, building sales materials, writing articles/books, networking with past clients, etc. Then about 20% is taken up with administrative stuff like contract writing, phone calls, website updates, emails, taxes, IT, etc. Then about 10% of my time is taken up with travel and actually providing the keynotes or other programs.

2. What is the most stressful part about your job?

The most stressful part of the job is wondering when the next "gig" will come in. This job doesn't have a pension or medical plan. So whatever you can sell is the money you have to live on. There are high times and low times for sales… so those low times can be very challenging.

3. Where did you go to school and/or receive your training?

I went to Acadia University. I took Recreation Management with a major in Outdoor and Environmental Education…. plus I travelled a lot. The key as a speaker is to be an expert in your field and speak on that…. I talk about leisure and work balance and team design, all stuff I learned about in university and have continued to learn about since then.

4. What do you like most about your job?

It is a good job to balance a busy family life. I like being able to be home (as often as I can) with my kids. My wife is a teacher and the typical "annual" schedule for a speaker is similar to a teachers schedule… so I can take most of the summer and Christmas off … which is great for family time.

5. If you had to do it over, would you choose this career path again?

I think so. The only difference is I would have stayed in school and completed an MBA. I would like to have a deeper knowledge of some of the issues facing my clients as well as increased my network of other professionals… plus who's kidding who, you can never learn enough.

6. Are there related career fields that I should consider?

Public relations, marketing, and business all have a hand to play in the practice of professional speaking.

7. Has the career field changed much since you entered it?

Absolutely. There is so much more being done online… from things like virtual meetings and webinars to social networking and Skype calling. So much has changed, yet the changes have made doing business easier and more efficient and effective. Another change is as a response to the baby boomers retirement, there have been a lot more people with deep expertise enter the market as speakers. This has meant fruitful ground for training and coaching them, but at the same time more competition in the industry for "gigs."

8. What advice do you have to an aspiring (insert job title here)?

Focus on learning. Become and industry expert. Experience life. Get to know people. Care about the success of others. And be yourself.

9. Does your job require any continuing education?

Yes. Primarily in your area of expertise - i.e. team building, sales, customer relationship management, education, etc. Staying up to date and reading industry magazines, webinars, conferences, etc. helps… plus staying up to date with speaker specific changes through industry groups like NSA and CAPS.

10. What is an entry-level salary range for this field?

There are no salaries. You will earn what you can sell. You can expect to be broke and overworked for the first 5 years of your career. You will need that time to build your experience, repertoire, collateral, and products. After five years you can expect to make about as much as an electrician. Then after that, if you stay committed, focused, client focused and build things that people want - the sky is the limit. Some speakers earn $50000 per engagement (and more). The average speaker today will make around $3000 per engagement.

11. What kinds of experience would you suggest that someone pursue to make them more marketable in this field?

You need to be deep in your area of expertise. You need to have published, built or performed something very cool that people will want to know about. So think sideways to find those opportunities… your experience and depth of knowledge is what people buy.

12. Can you refer me to anyone else I might speak with to continue my research?

Canadian Association of Professional Speakers has a chapter in Halifax and members all over Atlantic Canada. In the states the National Speakers Association is a great resource… there are lots of articles and free learning tools on both of the associations listed websites.