This Is What the Show Is Actually About

If you're already speaking professionally — or serious about starting — this is the show for you.

Most speaking advice focuses on delivery: structure, storytelling, stagecraft. And this show covers that too. But delivery isn't why good speakers stay underpaid.

The real problem is usually one of three things: positioning that's too vague to attract the right clients, a pipeline that depends on hoping for referrals, or fees that don't reflect the value of the work.

Professional Speaking: Known. Booked. Paid. is a weekly podcast hosted by speaker business coach and keynote speaker John Ball. Each episode goes deep on the commercial side of a speaking career — what it actually takes to get known in the right rooms, booked by the right clients, and paid what your work is worth.

Every week you'll find either a solo episode tackling one specific commercial problem, or a guest episode featuring working speakers, bureau insiders, and industry experts sharing what's actually happening in the professional speaking market right now.

No fluff. No motivational filler. Just the stuff that moves the needle commercially.

Start with whichever episode title grabs you. And if you want to know whether your speaking fees are in the right ballpark for your market and experience level, take the free Speaking Fee Audit at presentinfluence.com — it only takes about a minute. https://www.presentinfluence.com/speakingfeequiz

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Professional Speaking: Known. Booked. Paid. about? It's a weekly podcast hosted by speaker business coach John Ball covering the commercial side of professional speaking — positioning, bookings, fees, and pipeline. It also covers stagecraft, keynote structure, and communication skills, but the central focus is helping speakers get paid what their work is worth.

Who is the show for? Professional speakers who are already working but frustrated by inconsistent bookings or underpriced gigs, and aspiring speakers who are serious about building a speaking business rather than just improving their delivery.

Who is John Ball? John Ball is a speaker business coach and keynote speaker who has spent years coaching speakers on the commercial side of their careers. He is the host of Professional Speaking: Known. Booked. Paid. and the creator of the Known. Booked. Paid. framework for building a sustainable, high-fee speaking business.

What's the difference between solo and guest episodes? Solo episodes are shorter and go deep on one specific commercial problem — positioning, fees, pipeline strategy, or speaker marketing. Guest episodes feature working speakers, bureau insiders, and industry experts and typically run 45 to 60 minutes.

Where should a new listener start? Start with whichever episode title speaks most directly to your current situation. If you're unsure where your speaking business stands commercially, take the free Speaking Fee Audit at presentinfluence.com first — it takes about a minute and will help you identify your biggest lever.

What is the Speaking Fee Audit? A free interactive tool at presentinfluence.com that benchmarks your current speaking fee against real market rates for your sector and experience level, and identifies the specific revenue leaks holding back your speaking income.

Click Here to try it

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

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