How to Turn One Speaking Gig Into a Domino Chain of Paid Work (My favourite strategy for turning one mic into many mics.)

There’s a moment every professional speaker dreams of.
You step off the stage, take a breath, and someone approaches you saying:

“Can you speak at our event too?”

That moment isn’t luck. It isn’t a coincidence. It’s a strategy.

Because when you understand how to turn one speaking gig into a domino chain of paid work, you unlock the most powerful (and overlooked) business model in the speaking industry:

Your next client is already sitting in the audience.

Let’s break down the exact steps that turn one mic into many.

1. Treat Every Stage Like an Audition for the Next One

Most speakers see each gig as a single opportunity.
Top speakers see it as the beginning of a chain reaction.

Every room is filled with:

• decision makers
• industry partners
• board members
• leaders with budgets
• professionals who attend multiple events

They aren’t just watching you.
They’re evaluating you.

They’re wondering:
“Is this someone I can trust with my audience?”

When you deliver more value, more energy, and more clarity than expected, you make that answer effortless.

And that’s when the dominoes start tipping.

2. Craft a “Talk About You” Moment

Referrals don’t happen because your talk was “nice.”
They happen because you gave people a story worth sharing.

You need one moment—just one—that makes your audience whisper:

“She needs to speak at our conference.”
“This would be perfect for our team.”
“Let me introduce her to someone.”

It might be:

• a powerful emotional story
• a surprising insight
• a bold statement
• a memorable framework
• a moment of humour or honesty

Great speakers impress their audience.
Unforgettable speakers activate their audience.

3. Reduce Friction: Make Yourself Easy to Recommend

Event organisers are time-poor and decision-fatigued.

So, make recommending you effortless:

• Your website on your final slide
• Your name on your handouts
• One simple line at the end of your talk:
  “If you’d like me to speak at your event, I’d love to chat.”

You aren’t being pushy—you’re being accessible.

When you remove friction, you multiply opportunities.

4. Stay After the Presentation (This Is Where the Deals Happen)

Most speakers pack up and leave.
Huge mistake.

Because the real conversions happen:

• During the “quick questions”
• By the coffee table
• When someone says, “Loved your talk—do you also speak at…?”
• When the organiser introduces you to another organiser

The stage is where you build credibility.
The hallway is where you build business.

Stay.
Be approachable.
Have real conversations.

This is one of the simplest ways to turn one gig into five.

5. Follow Up Without Being Salesy

Great follow-up doesn’t feel like a pitch.
It feels like gratitude and professionalism.

Send the organiser something like:

“Thank you again for having me. If any of your partner organisations ever need a speaker on confidence or communication, I’d be honoured to support them.”

Warm.
Light.
Zero pressure.
But highly referable.

This alone can double your bookings.

6. The One Move Most Speakers Avoid (But Shouldn’t)

Ask.

Not awkwardly.
Not desperately.

Confidently.

Here’s the line that works every time:

“Who else do you know who would benefit from this talk?”

People want to help you.
They need you to open the door.

The Domino Effect Is Real

Turning one gig into a chain of paid work isn’t about luck or fame.

It’s about:

✔ delivering exceptional value
✔ being memorable
✔ making yourself easy to recommend
✔ staying visible after the talk
✔ following up with intention
✔ asking the right question at the right moment

Do this, and your speaking business will stop feeling like a series of one-off events—and start flowing like a predictable, powerful chain reaction.

One mic.
Many mics.
That’s the strategy.