Eight years ago, the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the National Speakers Association ("GLAC") created Pro Speak, formerly Fast Track, as a way to help emerging and serious aspiring speakers learn the business of speaking. We are proud that many of the more than 150 students who have graduated from the Academy have gone on to become professional speakers as well as important contributors to our chapter.

Academy Goals

1. To teach members of Academy about the economics of the speaking profession, and the various markets for paid speaking engagements.

2. To help members of the Academy identify and develop marketable speaking topics.

3. To create a supportive community consisting of fellow Academy members, alumni, and GLAC members who will contribute to the personal and professional development of Academy members.

4. To teach members of the Academy basic financial skills needed to run a successful and sustainable speaking business.

5. To teach members of the Academy how to create effective promotional materials, and to identify various streams of revenue that can be generated in a speaking business.

6. To assist members of the Academy gain admittance to the National Speakers Association.

7. To ensure that members of the Academy perform at the highest ethical and service standards of the speaking profession.

Tentative Curriculum

The Academy's program consists of eight sessions, five of which are full-day programs. Subject to the availability of speakers, the course schedule is as follows:

December 13		Approach Your Business Strategically How to leverage your expertise and speaking skills into a successful business. NSA membership requirements and ethical standards.
January 10		Full-Day Program with NSA 2008 President Mark LeBlanc
January 24		Topic Development (Full-Day Program) An overview of the speaking business and its various sub-markets. Identifying a topic that is marketable and for which you have a passion.
February 21		Creating Marketing and Promotional Materials (Full-Day Program) Determining your most marketable speaking topic. Begin to create marketing and promotional materials.
March 14		Full-Day Program with Speakers' Hall of Fame Inductee Alan Weiss
April 18		Develop and Sell Products (Full-Day Program) Creating products and multiple revenue streams; Learn about audio and multi-media technologies with specific strategies for implementation.
May 9		Running a Successful Speaking Business Essential financial management tools and other skills needed to run a successful speaking business.
June 13		Finale: Strategies for Personal, Professional, and Business Growth

Program Information:

1. This is a structured program in which every session builds upon previous sessions and assignments. The half-day programs will take place after the GLAC monthly chapter meeting, usually between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The full day programs will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. or 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

2. Class size will be capped at 30.

3. Meetings will take place at the Doubletree Hotel in the City of Commerce.

4. Homework will be assigned at the end of almost every meeting.

5. During the course of the Academy's program, you will have the opportunity to join a MasterMind group consisting of between 4-6 fellow program participants. Such groups meet regularly and provide an important additional vehicle to grow your speaking business.

6. Our classes are taught by successful professional speakers as well as recording experts and others who serve the speaking community. Instructors are selected for their expertise in specific areas that are important to the development of a professional speaking business.

7. Upon admission to the Fast Track Academy, you will also become an Apprentice Member of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter for one year. As an Apprentice Member, you will be eligible to attend monthly chapter meetings at the member rate.

8. Completing the Fast Track Academy program does not make you eligible to join the National Speakers Association or authorize you to use the NSA logo.

Pro Speak Staff

Our Staff reviews applications and manages the Academy. This year's Academy Staff are:

Gideon Grunfeld, gideon@scslawcareers.com

Gideon is a graduate of the Academy (class of 2004-05). This is the third year that he has been a co-chair of the Academy. Gideon is the President-Elect of the GLAC. His speaking business serves lawyers, law firms, and others in the legal community.

Liz de Clifford, liz@decliffordinternational.com

Liz is a sought-after keynote speaker, business consultant, and expert on international etiquette. She has more than 20 years of experience as a professional speaker and is a Member of the Board of GLAC. This is Liz's third year as co-chair of the Academy.

Eligibility and Application Process

No prior paid speaking engagements are required to be eligible to apply. You are eligible to apply to the Pro Speak Academy if any of the following apply to you:

• Already have been paid to speak; or

• Are seriously interested in pursuing a career as a professional speaker; or

• Are seeking to use paid speeches as an important way to promote a business, foundation, or some other endeavor.

Above all, the Pro Speak Staff seeks a commitment to learn and master the business of professional speaking, as demonstrated in the answers on the application form. The Staff will closely consider applicants commitment to attend, participate, and follow-through on program activities.

Please submit your application as directed by the instructions accompanying the application form.

If you feel that you currently qualify for full membership to the NSA, please contact Beverly Babb of the NSA, at (480) 968-2552 or visit our web site for membership details at www.nsaglac.org/membership

Please download the appication (PDF) submit your application as directed.

Program Fee

The program fee is $780 for Professional Members or Apprentice of the GLAC, and $975 for non-members. Those who have previously graduated from the Academy (formerly known as Fast Track) may participate again for a discounted fee of $497. Additional eligibility requirements apply to such graduates. Please contact Gideon Grunfeld (at gideon@lawfirmdevelopment.com) for further information.

The fee includes:

• Eight meetings as described above (five full-day, three half-day);
• Pro Speak Academy program materials;
• For non-members, an Apprentice Membership to the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the NSA.

  In addition, you have the option of pre-registering for 3 NSA/GLAC monthly meetings that will take place in December 2008, May 2009, and June 2009. If you pre-register for all three meetings you will receive a 10% discount (from the $197 member rate). To receive the discount, prepayment for monthly meetings is due on or before December 13, 2008.

  If you have any questions, please email the members of the Pro Speak Academy Staff.