In this enlightening episode, Kelly Kaye Walker chats with Tamara Gaines, a seasoned event planner turned professional speaker.

With over 30 years in the meetings industry, Tamara offers invaluable insights into what it takes to get booked and thrive as a speaker.

From planning events for global icons like Michelle Obama to speaking on a stage of 4,000 people for the first time, Tamara’s journey is packed with lessons for aspiring and experienced speakers alike.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The insider perspective from an event planner on what meeting professionals look for in speakers.


• How Tamara transitioned from hiring speakers to becoming one herself.


• Actionable advice for creating a professional presence, building relationships with event planners, and crafting captivating speaker reels.

🔑 Timestamped Highlights:

• [00:03:00 ] The Event Planner’s Perspective: Tamara shares her 30-year career hiring speakers, including notable figures like Michelle Obama and Margaret Thatcher, and how this experience gave her a unique understanding of what event planners value.


• [00:03:50 ] First Time on Stage: Tamara recounts her first speaking experience to an audience of 4,000 people, including how encouragement from her team sparked her passion for public speaking.


• [00:05:30 ] Finding Her Message: Through mentoring a young girl with low self-confidence, Tamara found her calling in confidence-building, which led to her book, The Pillars of Confidence.


• [00:06:50 ] Transitioning to Full-Time Speaking: How Tamara took the leap from part-time speaking to making it her full-time career and why focusing on professional development gave her an edge.


• [00:11:20 ] Top Tips for Aspiring Speakers: Tamara emphasizes the importance of having a professional website, a strong LinkedIn profile, and a one-pager to leave a lasting impression with event planners.


• [00:13:20 ] Crafting a Winning Speaker Reel: Learn why the first 30 seconds of your reel are crucial and how to use them to captivate planners with your polish, energy, and relevance.


• [00:16:40 ] Building Relationships with Event Planners: Tamara explains the value of consistent touchpoints, such as sending helpful articles or updates, even when you’re not pitching yourself.


• [00:18:30 ] Using Bureaus and Direct Outreach: Tips on working with speaker bureaus like Armstrong Speakers and using platforms like eSpeakers to connect with planners.


• [00:25:50 ] Balancing Life and Work as a Speaker: Tamara discusses her goal of booking 12–15 speaking gigs per year while maintaining flexibility for family and coaching clients.

🎯 Key Takeaways for Speakers:

• Professional Presence: Invest in a polished website and LinkedIn profile to showcase your expertise.


• Dynamic Speaker Reel: Make your first 30 seconds unforgettable to hook event planners.


• Consistency Matters: Stay top-of-mind with event planners through regular, value-driven touchpoints.


• Build Relationships: Use platforms like LinkedIn and speaker bureaus to connect with the right opportunities.


• Work-Life Balance: Define your speaking goals to align with your lifestyle and values.

🔗 Connect with Tamara Gaines:

• Website: tamaragaines.com


• LinkedIn: Tamara Gaines

👉 About the Host:

Kelly Kaye Walker is dedicated to helping speakers and entrepreneurs refine their message and deliver it with clarity, confidence, and impact.

If you know you have a message to share but you still haven’t figured out what it is yet, download my workbook "10 Steps to Find the Message in Your Mess!"

It walks you through the process, focusing on finding the best stories from your life to create a powerful, transformational signature presentation so you can get out there and start changing lives from the!