Your speech introduction sets the energy tone for your speech! Watch how I am introduced.

What if you can ensure high energy, engagement, intrigue and laughter even before you start speaking?

In regards to professional speaking, our speech introduction sets the energy tone before we even start.

YES, this is possible because it's purposeful. As a professional speaker, you have to understand that you must do what you can to control every aspect of your speech that includes what happens as you are being introduced!

If you're pursuing professional speaking, do you have an incredible speech intro that makes the audience laugh, like you and plant seeds of intrigue?

I've learned over the years that my speech introduction can differentiate me as much as my speech!

Think about it ... whoever is introducing you is likely NOT a professional speaker. They are either in high leadership for the company, a vendor who paid to be the Keynote Sponsor, or someone on the planning committee.

I had a presentation earlier today, a virtual presentation tomorrow and another in-person presentation at lunch ... all of them are receiving a customized speech introduction.

For some groups, the person introducing you does not speak well NOR do they want to speak. So unless you control your introduction, you will not be introduced well.

For other groups, even if the person introducing you speaks somewhat, that doesn't mean you'll be introduced the way you need to be. See below.

Regardless who introduces you, if you're not introduced well then you cannot start speaking as well as you'd like either.

Most speakers have horrible, boring, vanilla speech introductions. Eekkkkk ....

So "what if" you can ensure high energy, engagement, intrigue and laughter even before you start speaking?

You can! Watch my examples below.

This is the essence of professional speaking. Professional speakers who are serious about the business of speaking and earning consistent PAID speaking engagements understand that intention and strategy comprise a great speech.

My speech introduction sets the audience and energy tone before I even start speaking. How about you? Do you have a systems approach controlling how you are introduced?

Here's what I do for every single speech:

let the meeting planner know I have a customized introduction with slides.
include a clause on all speaking contracts that I will send them a customized introduction.
type up a customized introduction that's tailored for their event and audience. Although I have a sample introduction on my website, it's always tailored.
send introduction to them in advance and also bring 2 printed copies onsite. If it's virtual, there's additional requirements (see below).
on the introduction document, I also include directions and tips on the introduction. For example, "Read introduction in full. Slides accompany introduction. Pause where :) emojis are indicated because the audience will be laughing, etc."
meet with the person introducing me beforehand to remind/confirm all of the above.
include slides for my introduction before on my presentation slide deck.
I control the slides with a slide advancer during the introduction.

If above sounds like a lot, it's not. It's my system that is quite simple. Once you have a process for anything, it's easily replicable.

If you want to speak professionally, you must control your environment as best as possible. How you start will likely dictate how you finish.

So start strong and have a process for how you are introduced.

For me, I start speaking with "Don't Stop Believin" as my walk up music. I have this music embedded in the darn presentation! See below.

So before I ever start speaking, I've got my audience laughing and intrigued.

Within 60 seconds of me taking the stage or being in front of them (no stage), I've got "most" every one of them waving hands, smiling and singing out loud to "Don't Stop Believin."

It's not as hard as you might be making it.

And of course, a great introduction is not as important as an even greater speech.

Below is one sample introduction from last week. You can't hear the audience well but they were chuckling and laughing throughout the introduction!

And here's another... In this speech I even explain why the introduction is unique. You can see my slides better in this video. Within 60 seconds I had 1/2 the audience standing up on their feet!

Download one of my sample speech introductions

To receive a FREE, autographed PRINT copy of any of my books above, make a donation in any amount to my walk team, Snyder’s Changemakers, for the upcoming Walk For HOPE annual event. After doing so, then send an email to Kevin@KevinCSnyder.com and include your address and which book.

If your donation is $100 or more, we will send you all 3 books! The Foundation of HOPE provides seed grants for ground breaking research studying mental illness. Same year this amazing organization was formed is the same year I started receiving treatment as a 12 year old boy diagnosed with depression. I just recently found out that my mental health counselor is one of the faculty studying mental health through seeds grants provided by the Foundation of Hope. Yet another reason why I'm so passionate about their cause, purpose and mission.

I'm alive today because of mental health treatment. We've come a long way, but there's still much of a journey ahead to better understand mental health, wellness and illness. Join me. Support the cause. Every speaking engagement, coaching session and service I provide will have a significant portion dedicated to the Foundation of HOPE.

If speaking just feels overwhelming or if you're not getting the speaking engagements you want or know what to do next, it's only because you don't have the systems in place yet or the support needed.

Doing anything new is only a learning curve!!If you are trying to learn this all on your own, you will get flustered and self-doubt and frustration will consume you. This is why so many speakers quit.

To help you earn the speaking fees you deserve, I am re-launching a few programs to ensure 2023 is your breakout year in speaking:

Speaker Mastermind Group (join any time)
PAID to $PEAK 5-Week Challenge (July program coming soon!)
PAID to $PEAK Online Course (available now On Demand)

The PAID to $PEAK 5-Week Challenge cohort will be announced soon and will run July into August.

The Speaker Mastermind Group and Online Course are both on-going support. You can sign up at any time.

Are you involved in any type of community with other serious speakers of like mind? Speaking Professionally Toastmasters is how you practice your speech, get the feedback you need, and get it polished and ready ... we meet the first Tuesday or each month, virtually. Click here to request an invitation.

Earn greatness today! Onward and upward!

Want to speak professionally, part-time or full-time?

Not getting PAID speaking engagements?

I've been honored to present for over 1,000,000 people through 1,150+ audiences in all 50 states and several countries. Whether I'm on a stage or in a training room with professionals or students, I absolutely LOVE motivating and inspiring people for higher performance. And in addition to my own speaking business, I have a passion for helping and coaching speakers learn how to catapult their speaking whether part-time or full-time. My book, PAID to SPEAK, outlines a proven model for speakers and is now an online course as well! Click here for online course info!

If you are serious about becoming a professional speaker, explore my coaching and mentorship options. I don't want you to flounder like I did and be frustrated.