Speaking & Media Coordination VA
Manage speaking engagements, media appearances, and thought leadership for executives
Overview
Speaking coordinators charge $45-$110 per hour or $2,500-$8,000 monthly retainers per client.
Managing speaking for 3-6 thought leaders generates $65,000-$320,000 annually with 80-85% margins.
In 2025, executives, authors, and entrepreneurs building personal brands need coordinators managing speaking engagements, podcast interviews, media appearances, and thought leadership activities.
Services include fielding and evaluating speaking inquiries, negotiating speaker fees and contracts, coordinating travel and logistics for events, preparing speaker materials and presentations, managing podcast interview scheduling, coordinating with media and PR teams, tracking speaking calendar and conflicts, and following up on leads from events.
Successful coordinators understand speaker contracts, typical fees by event type, and personal brand building.
Many work with specific niches (tech executives, authors, business coaches).
The key is protecting speaker's time, negotiating appropriate fees, and ensuring smooth logistics.
Most work retainer agreements with active speakers doing 20-50+ events annually.
High-value clients include professional keynote speakers, bestselling authors, startup founders building brands, and consultants with speaking businesses.
Required Skills
- Event Coordination
- Contract Negotiation
- Travel Planning
- Media Relations
- Calendar Management
- Personal Branding Knowledge
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Interesting work with thought leaders
- Good rates for specialized coordination
- Can serve multiple speakers simultaneously
- Learn about speaking industry and personal branding
- Remote work with varied responsibilities
Cons
- Dealing with last-minute event changes
- Need to negotiate fees and contracts
- Requires availability during event travel
- Income tied to speaker's activity level
- Competition from traditional speaker bureaus
How to Get Started
- Learn speaking industry norms and typical fees
- Understand speaker contracts and event logistics
- Define services (inquiry management, travel, materials prep)
- Create professional website targeting speakers
- Network with professional speakers and author communities
- Target active speakers doing 15+ events annually
- Land first speaker client and manage engagements smoothly
Explore More Executive Virtual Assistance Ideas
Discover additional business opportunities in this category.
View All Executive Virtual Assistance Ideas →