What
time is that? It's time for the Veteran Speakers Retreat. The VSR, as
we call it for short, is an annual “retreat” for veteran
(typically senior) professional speakers.
A
professional speaker, if you're not aware, is someone who is paid a
fee to present a keynote speech, conduct a seminar or workshop that
may be as short as a couple hours or as long as a week or so. They
may also speak, not for a fee, but to promote their other businesses,
products, books and courses. These speakers expound on topics as
diverse as the dictionary.
I
was, a member of the National Speakers Association, the primary
professional organization for the speaking profession, for a quarter
of a century. While the NSA represents only a portion of the people
who speak professionally, it's certainly an influential organization
providing education, business building and standards for the
profession.
And,
yes, I was a professional speaker as another element of my
multi-faceted professional life. However, I was never a full-time
speaker, as so many of my friends in the profession are. It was
actually something I did more as an avocation. While I did collect
fees for some of my speaking, I mainly spoke to promote my other
businesses.
