In this episode of the SpeakersU Podcast, James Taylor and Maria Franzoni pull back the curtain on the world of top speaker bureaus — how they work, what they look for in speakers, and how to build mutually beneficial relationships that generate bookings.

Maria draws on decades of experience running one of Europe's most respected bureaus to explain how agents think, what differentiates a bookable speaker, and the dos and don'ts that every professional should know. James adds his perspective as a speaker represented by leading bureaus around the world, revealing how he collaborates with agents, builds trust, and stays top-of-mind.

Whether you're just starting out or already on the international circuit, this episode will help you understand the economics, etiquette, and psychology of working successfully with speaker bureaus.

• Bureaus are partners, not promoters – Their job is to serve their clients, not to manage your calendar.
  
  

• Be easy to sell – Have clear positioning, strong video, up-to-date assets, and a defined fee range.
  
  

• Stay top of mind – Regular updates, newsletters, and personal touches help agents remember you.
  
  

• Trust takes time – A bureau relationship is earned through reliability and professionalism.
  
  

• Never bypass a bureau client – Always respect existing relationships and contracts.
  
  

• Understand their economics – Bureaus work on commission; help them justify recommending you.
  
  

• Differentiate your topic – Relevance, clarity, and credibility make you stand out in their database.
  
  

• Be bureau-ready – Fast response times, accurate details, and flexibility build confidence.
  
  

• Support their success – Make them look good in front of their clients, and they'll champion you again.
  
  

• "A bureau's client is the end client — not you. Understand that, and you'll have better relationships." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• "Don't expect bureaus to build your business; help them sell you by giving them reasons to." – James Taylor
  
  

• "The easiest speakers to book are the ones who make agents look brilliant." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• "Relevance and reliability will get you booked again and again." – James Taylor
  
  

• "Treat bureaus as partners — not miracles." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• 00:00 – Welcome and catching up on travel and client projects
  
  

• 01:52 – What exactly is a speaker bureau?
  
  

• 03:28 – How bureaus differ from speaker agents or managers
  
  

• 05:16 – What bureaus really look for when recommending a speaker
  
  

• 07:32 – The economics of bureau commissions and client service
  
  

• 09:18 – How to make yourself "easy to sell"
  
  

• 11:40 – The power of positioning and clarity in your topic
  
  

• 13:05 – Dos and don'ts when approaching a new bureau
  
  

• 15:33 – Why trust is the currency of the bureau–speaker relationship
  
  

• 17:26 – Handling multiple bureaus without conflict
  
  

• 19:47 – Updating bureaus and keeping them engaged
  
  

• 22:09 – Common mistakes speakers make when working with bureaus
  
  

• 24:34 – Case studies: speakers who get rebooked again and again
  
  

• 26:42 – How to support your bureau before, during, and after events
  
  

• 29:15 – Tech & tools of the week for bureau collaboration
  
  

• 31:20 – Final thoughts and listener questions
  
  

👉 Have a question or suggestion for James and Maria?
Email hello@speakersu.com

In this episode of the SpeakersU Podcast, James Taylor and Maria Franzoni dive into one of the biggest decisions every professional speaker faces — whether or not to write a book. With reading habits changing and attention spans shrinking, is publishing still worth it?

Maria shares what she learned from writing The Bookability Formula, including how a book clarifies your thinking, protects your IP, and raises your authority. James discusses his upcoming SuperCreativity book, why he waited five years before writing it, and how books can elevate your speaking brand. Together they explore the pros and cons of traditional vs. self-publishing, how to use your book as a marketing tool, and creative ways to launch and promote it.

Whether you're a new or established speaker, you'll discover why books still matter — and how to make yours work for your business, your brand, and your audience.

• Books clarify thinking – Writing forces structure and helps you refine your core message.
  
  

• Authority comes from authorship – The word "authority" literally begins with "author."
  
  

• Timing matters – Don't write too early; live your content first.
  
  

• Books as business cards – A book opens doors and elevates positioning, even if it doesn't make big money.
  
  

• Hybrid publishing is a smart middle path – Keeps quality control without losing autonomy.
  
  

• Tie your launch to an event – Use an existing audience for maximum visibility.
  
  

• Give books freely – Strategic giveaways amplify goodwill and social proof.
  
  

• You must market it – Promotion, interviews, and podcasts are on you, not your publisher.
  
  

• AI audiobooks are here – Tools like Eleven Labs can narrate your book in multiple languages.
  
  

• "Writing a book unravels your thinking — it turns spaghetti into structure." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• "A book is the summation of years of ideas, handed to you for £20. That's incredible value." – James Taylor
  
  

• "Authority comes from author. A book changes how clients perceive you." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• "You don't need a book to be a successful speaker — but it can unlock a higher level of opportunity." – James Taylor
  
  

• "Attach your book launch to an event that already has your perfect audience." – Chris Gardner (via Maria Franzoni)
  
  

• 00:00 – Welcome & why reading is declining
  
  

• 01:16 – Why Maria wrote The Bookability Formula
  
  

• 02:15 – Books as clarity tools and IP protection
  
  

• 04:01 – James on the value of books for idea transfer and legacy
  
  

• 05:47 – Speaking first, writing later – when to start your book
  
  

• 07:09 – Avoid writing too early; live your material first
  
  

• 08:23 – How writing affects your speaking income short-term
  
  

• 09:38 – Books as brochures and positioning tools
  
  

• 10:59 – How bureaus view speakers with books
  
  

• 13:44 – Branding your book and keynote under one concept
  
  

• 15:01 – Why bureaus love books but don't profit from them
  
  

• 16:54 – Micro-books and multi-series publishing
  
  

• 17:46 – Traditional vs hybrid vs self-publishing
  
  

• 18:12 – Finding a publisher who respects your voice
  
  

• 19:36 – Owning foreign rights and global expansion
  
  

• 21:27 – The marketing reality: sales depend on you
  
  

• 22:08 – David Allen's 25-year book promotion discipline
  
  

• 23:08 – Maria's tip: attach your book launch to an event
  
  

• 25:02 – Free books as social-media gold
  
  

• 25:50 – James' tool: Eleven Labs for AI audiobooks and voiceovers
  
  

• 26:58 – Closing thoughts and listener questions
  
  

👉 Have a question or topic suggestion for James and Maria?
Email hello@speakersu.com

In this candid episode of the SpeakersU Podcast, James Taylor and Maria Franzoni tackle one of the most dangerous traps for professional speakers — ego. While confidence is essential to step on stage, unchecked ego can sabotage client relationships, damage reputations, and even end careers.

Maria shares shocking true stories of "speakers behaving badly," from diva demands and drunken disasters to midnight tantrums over hotel rooms. James reveals how cultural differences, gender perceptions, and even microphone preferences can blur the line between professionalism and arrogance. Together they explore how to stay grounded, easy to work with, and respected — even when success and attention start to inflate your self-image.

If you've ever wondered where confidence ends and ego begins, this episode offers hard-won lessons, cautionary tales, and practical ways to keep your feet firmly on the ground.

• Confidence ≠ arrogance – A healthy ego gets you on stage; an inflated one gets you blacklisted.
  
  

• Be easy to work with – Kindness to AV teams, organisers, and staff is remembered (and shared).
  
  

• Do your own briefing calls – Never outsource relationships that build trust with clients.
  
  

• Ego destroys reputations fast – Word travels quickly among bureaus and event planners.
  
  

• Cultural context matters – What reads as confidence in the US may look like arrogance in the UK.
  
  

• Boundaries vs. bad behaviour – Riders and technical requests are professionalism, not ego.
  
  

• Stay grounded – Family check-ins, gratitude, and humility keep you level when success rises.
  
  

• "Speakers need ego to get on stage — but when it tips into arrogance, it can destroy your career." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• "Our job is to be champions for our craft, not divas of the greenroom." – James Taylor
  
  

• "Do your own briefing calls — if Neil Armstrong could, so can you." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• "Confidence is caring about the craft; ego is caring only about yourself." – James Taylor
  
  

• "You can't control how others treat you, but you can control how you treat everyone around you." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• 00:00 – Welcome and playful banter about podcast "coolness"
  
  

• 01:20 – Why ego deserves its own chapter in The Bookability Formula
  
  

• 03:07 – When ego makes speakers inflexible on stage timings
  
  

• 04:18 – The ripple effect of bad behaviour on AV and event teams
  
  

• 06:29 – How negative energy travels fast between events and bureaus
  
  

• 07:15 – "Speakers behaving badly" – examples from Maria's agency days
  
  

• 09:07 – Do your own briefing calls (and why Neil Armstrong did his)
  
  

• 10:45 – Cultural and gender differences in how ego is perceived
  
  

• 12:13 – When high standards aren't arrogance but professionalism
  
  

• 13:20 – Midnight hotel tantrums and balcony meltdowns
  
  

• 14:08 – Respect the client's exhaustion – empathy over entitlement
  
  

• 16:42 – Drunken speeches and recycled stories: reputations ruined
  
  

• 18:04 – Tracking your material to avoid repetition and mistakes
  
  

• 19:44 – Cultural nuances: big intros that work in the US flop in Europe
  
  

• 20:24 – Crossing ethical lines: relationships and reputation at events
  
  

• 21:56 – Zig Ziglar's "five calls a day" rule to stay grounded
  
  

• 23:20 – Tips & tools of the week: elected-office speaking practice and portable AI recorders
  
  

• 27:25 – Future of AI speaker assistants — "Digital Maria Franzoni?"
  
  

• 27:52 – Wrap-up, humour, and listener invitation
  
  

Have a question or story for James and Maria?
Email: hello@speakersu.com

In this episode of the SpeakersU Podcast, James Taylor and Maria Franzoni explore one of the most important challenges for professional speakers: how to stay relevant in a rapidly changing marketplace.

Maria explains why relevance to a paying market is the first element of her Bookability Formula and how speakers can identify what audiences will need today—and in five years' time. James shares how he blends perennial topics like creativity with fast-moving ones like AI, and why staying a few steps ahead of clients keeps him in demand.

From industry reports and boardroom insights to experimenting with new keynote content and testing topics with the market before creating them, this conversation is packed with strategies to help speakers stay visible, booked, and valued in an ever-evolving industry.

• Relevance drives bookings – It's the #1 factor in Maria's Bookability Formula.
  
  

• Think five years ahead – Use strategy insights to prepare for how industries and audiences will evolve.
  
  

• Blend perennial and trendy topics – Pair evergreen skills (creativity, leadership, resilience) with emerging trends (AI, tech, demographics).
  
  

• Listen more, talk less – Relevance often comes from asking the right questions in discovery calls.
  
  

• Experiment before you build – Test keynote ideas, topics, or programs in the market before investing time and money.
  
  

• Differentiate by audience – Tailor your pitch for C-suite, event professionals, and bureaus, as each values relevance differently.
  
  

• Stay close to your industry – Associations like MPI and global markets (US, Europe, Asia) often signal future trends.
  
  

• "The most important element of being bookable is relevance to a paying market." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• "Don't wait for five-year plans—ask what the world will look like in five years and move your speaking to match." – James Taylor
  
  

• "Sell it before you create it. The market decides what's relevant, not you." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• "Relevance isn't just your topic—it's how you present it to different stakeholders." – James Taylor
  
  

• 00:00 – Welcome and updates: group sessions and risky live AI music demos
  
  

• 04:24 – Why staying relevant matters: Maria's Bookability Formula
  
  

• 05:18 – James on blending perennial topics with fast-changing ones
  
  

• 06:45 – Strategy lessons from Eric Schmidt: think five years ahead
  
  

• 07:34 – Maria on LinkedIn Learning and WEF reports as future-skills guides
  
  

• 09:10 – How James tracks trends using board minutes, Gartner reports, Reddit
  
  

• 11:11 – Tech examples: AR glasses, live facial recognition, event tech
  
  

• 14:54 – Staying close to the meetings & events industry for insights
  
  

• 16:22 – Meeting professionals shaping the future of conferences
  
  

• 18:48 – Being too early: when audiences aren't ready for your message
  
  

• 20:01 – Test the market first: lessons from publishing and Dragon's Den
  
  

• 23:15 – Differentiating yourself in competitive pitches
  
  

• 25:00 – Evergreen vs. niche topics and industry-specific competition
  
  

• 27:20 – Relevance shifts depending on whether you're pitching C-suite, planners, or bureaus
  
  

• 28:07 – Discovery calls: listening, mirroring language, and building relevance
  
  

• 29:18 – Why listening is the most underrated skill for speakers
  
  

• 30:17 – Maria's tip: ask clients "How did you find me?" and "Why me?" before and after gigs
  
  

• 32:43 – James' tool: Opus Pro for creating viral short-form video clips
  
  

• 34:16 – Closing thoughts and listener questions
  
  

👉 Have a question for James and Maria? Email: hello@speakersu.com

In this episode of the SpeakersU Podcast, James Taylor and Maria Franzoni tackle one of the most common dilemmas for speakers: should you ever speak for free? From the early days of building your career to strategic opportunities later on, there are times when waiving your fee can make sense—and times when it's a clear no.

James and Maria share their own experiences, including James' infamous "Ham Salad Tour" of free Rotary talks, Maria's love of prospecting, and why speaking for peers rarely pays. They also explore when unpaid gigs can serve as marketing, help you perfect your craft, or provide valuable assets like video footage, networking access, or bulk book sales.

If you've ever been asked to "speak for exposure," this episode will give you the tools to decide whether to say yes, no, or "yes, but on my terms."

• Get your reps in – Early in your career, free gigs help you practice, refine material, and build confidence.
  
  

• Peers don't pay – Speaking to your own industry or colleagues rarely results in paid bookings.
  
  

• Make it part of your marketing – Free gigs targeting your ideal audience can lead to paid work.
  
  

• Negotiate value beyond fees – Ask for video footage, attendee lists, association memberships, or bulk book sales.
  
  

• Positioning matters – Your website, testimonials, and branding can either attract paid gigs or signal you'll work for free.
  
  

• Give back strategically – Schools, associations, and podcasts can be the right places to serve without charging.
  
  

• Always set boundaries – Say "I normally charge X, but I'm waiving my fee" to reinforce your value.
  
  

• "Peers don't pay. If you're speaking to your own industry, don't expect a fee." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• "Don't fall in love with the stage—fall in love with the audience that can book you." – James Taylor
  
  

• "If you're converting every inquiry, your fees are too low." – James Taylor
  
  

• "Speaking for free can be smart—but only if you're clear why you're doing it." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• 00:00 – Welcome and Maria's targeted outreach experiment
  
  

• 01:56 – Introducing today's topic: speaking for free
  
  

• 04:01 – Maria's "I will speak for biscuits" mug and first perspectives
  
  

• 04:56 – Why free gigs are valuable for beginners (reps & stage time)
  
  

• 06:18 – James' first paid music gig vs. 40 free Rotary talks
  
  

• 07:41 – Speaking for free as part of your marketing budget
  
  

• 09:47 – The "Ham Salad Tour" and the moment free gigs led to paid bookings
  
  

• 09:57 – Why podcasts, peer events, and associations are worth doing unpaid
  
  

• 11:05 – Giving back: Speakers for Schools and pro bono speaking
  
  

• 13:01 – Schools as a paid speaking market (School Speakers example)
  
  

• 15:01 – How your positioning and testimonials attract (or repel) free requests
  
  

• 16:45 – Negotiating non-fee value: video, access, booths, memberships
  
  

• 18:20 – The myth of "sharing the stage with…"
  
  

• 20:22 – Free gigs as leverage for podcasting, YouTube, and influencer deals
  
  

• 23:41 – Digital twins, AI, and future revenue opportunities
  
  

• 24:28 – Tools & tips: Otter.ai for transcriptions and positioning your website
  
  

• 28:06 – Wrap-up and invitation for listener questions
  
  

👉 Have a question for James and Maria? Email: hello@speakersu.com

In this episode of the SpeakersU Podcast, James Taylor and Maria Franzoni unpack the power of building a portfolio speaking career. Too many speakers rely solely on keynotes, but the most resilient and profitable speaking businesses diversify their income streams. From workshops and retainers to books, advisory roles, online courses, and even AI-powered products, a portfolio approach helps you weather the feast-or-famine cycle of the industry.

James shares how he applies Ray Dalio's "All Weather Portfolio" strategy to his speaking business, while Maria explains how to identify client problems and design solutions that add value beyond the keynote. Together, they highlight real-world examples of speakers generating millions through recurring services, and why thinking like an "expert with a product suite" is more powerful than being "just a speaker."

Whether you're an established speaker or just starting out, this episode will give you practical ideas to expand your offering, increase client loyalty, and future-proof your career.

• Think beyond the keynote – Workshops, masterclasses, MCing, advisory roles, and retainers all create additional value.
  
  

• Adopt an "All Weather" model – Spread your business across different products and services to survive seasonal slumps.
  
  

• Fall in love with client problems – The best portfolio ideas come from understanding what your clients need most.
  
  

• Leverage recurring revenue – Subscriptions, memberships, or video libraries can generate predictable income.
  
  

• Books as business tools – Sell bulk copies, personalise editions for clients, and use books to deepen relationships.
  
  

• AI and digital products – From AI assistants to online training, technology creates new ways to scale expertise.
  
  

• Be a triple threat – Like Judy Garland, combine speaking, training, and MCing to become indispensable to clients.
  
  

• "Speaking is something you do, but it's not who you are." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• "Don't fall in love with your product—fall in love with your customer's problems." – James Taylor
  
  

• "Cash speeches are great, but continuity products build resilience." – James Taylor
  
  

• "Adding services isn't being salesy—it's serving your clients better." – Maria Franzoni
  
  

• 00:00 – Welcome and catching up: jet lag, oxygen bottles, and Denver events
  
  

• 04:26 – Defining a portfolio speaking career
  
  

• 06:00 – James on applying Ray Dalio's "All Weather Portfolio" to speaking
  
  

• 08:55 – How COVID forced speakers to diversify their offerings
  
  

• 10:46 – Positioning yourself as an expert, not just a speaker
  
  

• 13:29 – Examples of portfolio streams: video, retainers, advisory, coaching
  
  

• 15:42 – Lessons from "sell-from-stage" speakers and AI products
  
  

• 17:12 – Case study: a safety speaker generating $2m+ in recurring revenue
  
  

• 20:18 – Boardroom advisory and facilitation as high-value services
  
  

• 22:46 – Why being a "triple threat" makes you indispensable
  
  

• 24:57 – From keynotes to 16 workshops: extending client relationships
  
  

• 27:01 – First steps: talk to clients and identify their real problems
  
  

• 27:37 – Maria's book tips: booking forms, odd-number deliveries, and CEO forewords
  
  

• 30:49 – James' travel tool recommendation: Tripit Pro for managing logistics
  
  

• 33:30 – Closing thoughts and listener questions
  
  

👉 Have a question for James and Maria? Email: hello@speakersu.com