What do event planners really look for when hiring speakers? According to event organizer Emily Atlantis Wolf, being a great speaker is only part of the equation. Emily joins Kelly to share what makes speakers stand out, from supporting an event's success and communicating with organizers to building the confidence and stage presence needed to engage an audience. She also reveals some of the common mistakes that can cost speakers future bookings and referrals.
Kelly and Emily explore what it means to be a collaborative speaker, why podcast experience doesn't necessarily translate to the live stage, and how to make life easier for event planners. They also share practical ways to engage audiences, adapt when presentations don't go as planned, and bring more personality to the stage. For speakers looking to land more speaking gigs, this conversation offers an inside look at what makes an event planner want to hire you again.
The Gig-Getting Insights Inside:
- The expectation some speakers bring to an event that can immediately put them at odds with the organizer.
- A behind-the-scenes look at why an event planner might decide not to work with a speaker again.
- The experience gap between appearing on podcasts and confidently commanding a live stage.
- A simple way Kelly makes herself more valuable to event planners before an event even begins.
- The small communication habits that can make a speaker easier to work with and more likely to be recommended.
- What happens when a speaker has to abandon the script, adjust their timing, or engage an audience in an unexpected way.
About the Guest:
Emily Atlantis Wolf is an intuition teacher, global retreat leader, keynote speaker, and master shamanic breathwork facilitator who helps people create lives rooted in freedom rather than fear. A former project manager at Charles Schwab, Emily now leads the six-month Intuition Academy, international retreats, and the Connected Queens Conference, an annual networking event for women entrepreneurs. Blending practical intuitive techniques, personal growth, and humor, she has helped more than 3,500 people embrace new possibilities and create meaningful change in their lives.
Resources
Mistakes Speakers Make and How to Fix Them is a practical mini-course designed to help speakers of all levels identify and overcome the common pitfalls that can hinder their success. Drawing on insights from Kelly Woodhouse’s "Landing the Gig" podcast interviews and her extensive experience as a TEDx and keynote speaker, and bestselling author, this course provides actionable strategies to enhance your speaking impact, open doors to new opportunities, and boost your revenue.
This mini-course is Free for 14-days and after that it will be $199. If you consume it in the 14-day period, then you can keep it forever. https://app.hiro.fm/channel/mini
About Kelly:
Kelly Woodhouse is an award-winning international speaker, bestselling author, publisher, and coach. A burn survivor since the age of 2 on 75% of her body, she transformed a story of near death into one of resilience and triumph. From being called the “scar-faced girl” to gracing the TEDx stage twice, Kelly’s journey has inspired millions worldwide. Her documentary Still Beautiful aired on TV, and her Goalcast video surpassed 10 million views.
Global TV named her one of the Most Inspirational People of 2020. You must ask yourself HOW? How did the scar-faced girl find the strength in her scars? Goalcast Video on fb which has received over 10 million views: https://www.facebook.com/dailygoalcast/videos/566114747146421/
https://www.KellyWoodhouse.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellyfalardeau/
https://www.facebook.com/kelly.woodhouse.2025/
https://www.youtube.com/@KellyWoodhouse2
TEDx talk - U.G.L.Y. is Still Beautiful: https://youtu.be/KMBZvjetRqQ?si=V61xjiCxI5tNBL0F
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Music Credit
Our sincere thanks to Raquel Soto for generously allowing us to use "Raise Your Voice (Ink And Impact Awards Theme Song)" as part of this podcast. We are grateful for the opportunity to feature this inspiring music and appreciate her support of the show.