How did you get your first speaking gig? Getting your foot in the door usually is the hardest thing. We all have been at that point where no one knows us and we have no history. How do we get someone to give us a chance?

At what conference (or other event) did you give your first presentation? How did you get that first opportunity?

Speaking at a local conference is usually a great way to get started. It's also a lot less intimidating to give a talk when you know some of the people there.

The topic you choose to speak on also makes a big difference in whether your proposal is accepted or not. When you propose a topic to speak on at a conference, think about what people are really interested in and what people haven't already talked about to death (looking at topics from the last two years wouldn't hurt). Come up with a compelling topic you'd want to see someone speak about.

Having a blog can be good for your professional career (unless your blog is particularly negative). Through blogging you can build a positive brand and get the name recognition you need to get speaking engagements. I was first asked to give a talk online because of my blog. I ended up giving my first real conference talk because I'd created a wiki for the conference and the organizer was so grateful that she asked me to speak. The next person who asked me to speak at a conference had seen me give my first talk. Often it's just about getting your name out there. If you're a good speaker, once people see what you can do, you're all set.

What advice do you have for people looking to get their foot in the door?

I co-presented at my state's school librarian organization (previously EMAnj, now NJASL) conference in 2004. I'd struck up an acquaintance with a nice middle school librarian at a Best Books event in 2003, and we'd stayed in touch via e-mail, so when the call for proposals went out, we brainstormed ideas that were exciting & interesting to us, and eventually settled on using magazines in the classroom. It went over very well, and things have flowed from there.

Always follow up with people you meet at continuing education events -- not necessarily with every person, but if you have a good conversation with someone, e-mail or call. Stay on their radar, and keep them on yours.

I also get a lot of work from my blog, Pop Goes the Library, and from my involvement with the YA Services Section of the NJ Library Association, so I'd say that establishing and cultivating a niche (or two -- diversification is good) is very helpful, as is being able to describe what those niches are in a sentence or two.

I haven't tried SlideShare yet, but thanks for the tip, Brian!

I was invited to present at a regional conference last spring, in part because of great timing: my supervisor had previously shared with colleagues that my position was being created as part of a new initiative, and people wanted to hear about the results of that. So I presented and then was invited to speak at a state-wide conference this past fall. I couldn't do it, though, as I moved overseas, and I hope I haven't shut the door to future opportunities. It's great to work abroad, but it makes conference participation very difficult.

I think this is extremely true. We need to remember to maintain a presence in all of those tangential fields and organizations. While everyone is clamoring to be the next great speaker at something library-related, awesome opportunities are going on elsewhere.

Best of luck with the RWA gig... let us know if ya get it!

I also agree that starting out at the state level can be very rewarding. I got involved with the Oregon Library Association early on in grad school and the networking has been intensely professionally rewarding. I gave a poster session and talk last year on government resources for Native American individuals and was asked later if I was interested in converting my materials into a website for the state library. Of course I am a bigtime slacker and have yet to do that project--but it was insanely happymaking to be asked!

Sorry to hear that, do keep plugging away!