Today I met with Danny Riley – a Ted X Speaker Coach, Motivational Speaker and Trainer, to find out more about becoming a paid public speaker.
I asked to interview Danny because he has the ability to take on new challenges. Currently, Danny is rehearsing for his debut acting role as Professor Peter Potty Potts in Adam – the history of man, a Manchester Fringe production.
Danny Riley Interview
Chris: Danny let me start by asking you what made you choose a career in public speaking?
Danny: I faced a long-standing fear head on and decided I was deeply passionate about it.
Chris: That is something I admire about you, that you take action and face all challenges head-on. The big question that wanna be public speakers want to know is how do you get paid speaking gigs
Danny: Personally I get paid as a trainer to deliver workshops and talks. Outside of this, I have spoken in schools, colleges, and universities.
Chris: As a speaker what is the average salary, let’s say a new speaker could earn?
Danny: There’s no one answer for this. A teacher is a essentially a public speaker and so is a politician. You can earn as much or as little as people think you’re worth. For keynotes, you can earn £15k or more with the right contacts, content, and competence.
Chris: Has technology changed your audiences?
Danny: I would like to say that public speaking is one of the few remaining forms of entertainment that still hasn’t been effectively digitised. There are very few talks or speeches that have the same gravity online as they do in person.
However, I like the way that technology is headed towards creating virtual environments to learn to deliver to AI audiences that can respond your talk.
Chris: Ted Talks are really popular at the moment and I believe that you are currently coaching a group of TedX speakers? Can you explain what you do as a ted talk coach?
Danny: I help to break down what a speaker has created and show them new angles of presenting their talks.
Chris: That’s really interesting and I totally know what you mean. Many of the courses I create start off as something completely different.
Danny: It’s like photography. Sometimes you see something beautiful and try to take a snap of it. When you look back later it just doesn’t look the same. I help the speakers to get the snapshot they see in their mind onto paper and them help them deliver it to an audience in a polished and effective way.
Chris: What qualifications do you have and how have they helped you with your career?
Danny: I now have a degree, im a chartered manager and CIPD member and I’m studying towards a qualification in training and coaching.
Qualifications help me feel more confident but so far I have to say they haven’t been the thing that’s gotten me any further. A university degree is amazing though. Learning about research and how to cite the work of others is so important.
Chris: Before we wrap up can you tell me a little more about your new venture as a first-time actor?
Danny: I’m working on a play called Adam – the history of man. This will be my acting debut and will be yet another ambition and fear I will have conquered. I wouldn’t have imagined myself doing this seven years ago.
I play a genius professor who has just created a breakthrough invention that can bring a caveman into the modern era.
It has some good laughs, twists, and turns and most importantly it has some serious conflict!
Chris: Thanks for coming in today, its been really interesting to hear about your journey. Where will can people get in contact with you?
Danny: Find me on social media: Danny Riley
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