One of the things that’s become more and more evident to me as MicDrop grows is that…
The best speaking opportunities never go public;
they get shared behind closed doors.
We’ve been seeing this a lot in MicDrop recently; to the point it's becoming one of our USPs.
Already this year, 25 private opportunities have been shared between members…
Panels at high-profile events like Davos
Guest slots on high-credibility podcasts
Paid workshops at companies like Amazon
Invitations to speak inside curated communities
High budget keynotes at companies I've never even heard of
No forms. No speaker directories. No pitching.
Just members recommending members.
With 120 members all keeping their ear to the ground, it’s inevitable, and it's only going to happen more and more as we grow.
How to (actually) land speaking opportunities…
When it comes to landing speaking opportunities, there are a few routes you can go down:
Apply to speak/cold outreach 🧩
Great for a targeted approach like landing TEDx talks, terrible for everything else (especially getting paid).Grow your own audience 🤩
A must do for every thought leader - and it works. But for it to result in speaking opportunities (sporadic at best), it takes time, consistency and favourable algorithms.
Getting onto a bureau’s books...🕵️♀️
Or signing with an agent (if you’re famous). It might make you look like a big deal, but in most cases, this only works for the 1% → those who’ve already made a name for themselves, found speaker market fit and are already charging 5 figure fees.
And then there’s one more route.
Not flashy. Not quick. But powerful.
Getting recommended.
There are usually two ways this happens:
Either by being exceptional on stage… 🎤You deliver so well, people rebook you across departments.
Or someone in the audience sees you, and thinks, “We need that person at our event.”
Or… by being in the right community 🫶
One where opportunities like this are actively surfaced and shared – and your name gets passed on because people know you’re a great fit.
In both cases, you’re not chasing - you’re chosen.
We help our members with all of these strategies, but it's the last one I'm most excited about.
Bit by bit, MicDrop is becoming that room…
Not a shortcut.
Not a speaker bureau.
A place for thought leaders who want to be known for something meaningful and a place where the right people are paying attention.
Alex
This is the kind of work we focus on inside MicDrop, my community for founders using talks, workshops and podcasts to grow their businesses. Find out more
