Speakers Associations

Speakers associations have a relatively short history--roughly 30 years of it. While informal speakers associations have existed for much longer, the National Speakers Association (the other NSA) was founded in 1973 with the express purpose of organizing those who make their careers from the podium. Prior to that, no official "umbrella" trade guild or group could lay claim to this goal.

Of all the various speakers associations, NSA is arguably the most visible. Its roster of speakers includes some 4,000 members and spans more than 20 countries. More importantly, NSA does not restrict its membership to celebrity speakers. Rather, it opens its doors to anyone who's established him or herself on the public speaking circuit.

Requirements for Members of Speakers Associations

The criteria for joining a given speakers association change from group to group. At NSA, however, the requirements are fairly lax. Applicants can qualify by logging 20 paid appearances in the course of a single year. In lieu of that, 20 lectures given to groups of 15 or more while holding a salaried job (related to the speaking topic, naturally) can suffice. A third and final possibility is earning 25,000 dollars speaking over the course of a year. Whichever route applicants choose, of course, requires some form of documentation.

It's important to distinguish here between a speakers association and a speakers bureau. The former is a trade organization that seeks to give its members the tools needed to write and deliver better presentations. The latter is a broker that profits by giving event planners access to otherwise hard-to-reach talent for keynote addresses and workshops.