Speaking is not the business.

Getting the gig is the business!

After a 7-year hiatus, David Avrin’s SPEAKING BUSINESS RETREAT is back!

Denver, Colorado — January 2026 SOLD OUT

Coming to:

LONDON

Friday, May 22, 2026

TORONTO

Friday, June 26, 2026

So, what happens at the Speaking Business Retreat? Watch a 2 minute recap of the recent Denver event!

The most misunderstood profession

“You should be a professional speaker!” you are told by friends and family. “The way you tell stories, you could really impact people’s lives!” These well-meaning people have no idea what they are talking about.   

The truth is you can earn income speaking, and even make a good living, but only if you build a sustainable business behind the message and expertise… and get hired!

The Dirty Little Secret of the Industry:

(Most Speakers Starve)

Brilliant, talented speakers, teachers, trainers, motivators leave this profession in droves and go back to a “real job” because they never crack the code of what it takes to get booked — consistently.

Common Myths that derail most speaking careers:

Myth 1. “The world needs to hear your story!” False! The world needs to pay their bills and feed their families. Your story may be great, but it’s how you use it for their benefit that carries value.

Myth 2. “You need to “speak your truth.” Gag. So self-centered. You need to reveal/explain the truth to solve their problems. Being on stage (and getting hired) is not about you.

Myth 3. “You must learn to “step into your power.” I have no idea what that means. Neither do your clients.

Myth 4. “If I can just get on the speaking circuit…” Sorry to burst your bubble, but there is no speaking circuit. There are clients and there are gigs.

Myth 5. “If I can just an agent or get signed to a speakers bureau, they will get me gigs.” Agents only work with profitable and experienced speakers, and bureau partners are not out looking for gigs for you . They work with top speakers and those relationships take years to cultivate.

Myth 6. “If you have a great signature story and a great keynote, that’s 90% of the battle.” Nonsense! Like any business, you need sales, marketing, lead tracking, follow up and more. Your reputation doesn’t speak for itself. You have to.

Myth 7. “If you have passion and a fire burning inside you to impact the world, you can be a professional speaker.” Nobody is getting hired for their passion. Speakers get hired for the solutions they provide. You can be passionate if that gets you out of bed, but it has nothing to do with why clients will hire you.

I've heard enough. Take me to the application!

David Avrin shares the truth about the speaking business from the main stage at the National Speakers Association - USA

Speakers of all experience and ability levels rave about the Speaking Business Retreat!

“This retreat re-launched my entire speaking business during a sudden and surprising downturn in my career.”

Jason Hewlett, CSP, CPAE Hall of Fame

“We’re already closing business that we would have never had otherwise.”

Manley Feinberg II, CSP

“Attending this event is like adding jet-fuel to your speaking business. Highly recommended.”

James Taylor, Global Speaker

“Brilliant content. What every professional speaker needs to be successful.”

Steve Shapiro, CSP, CPAE Hall-of-Fame

“I have never experienced anything like this! It’s a no-brainer.”

Linda Larsen, MFA, CSP, CPAE Hall of Fame

“This 'Masterclass' program was simply my best business development investment in the last 5 years.”

Lesley Everett, FPSA/CSP, PSAE Speaker Hall of Fame

Let's Clear Something Up!

This is retreat is not speech coaching! This event WILL NOT teach you better stagecraft, story telling, hand gestures, prop usage, or speech writing.

This retreat WILL lay out all the steps necessary to build a legitimate business around your speaking skills and content. From titles and taglines that meeting planners will actually pay for, to prospecting, pitching, tracking and converting, you will learn what works today, what doesn’t and why.

While other private conferences/events promise to teach people how to become a professional speaker, I lead a workshop to help professional speakers book more paying gigs.

This event will take years off your learning curve!

Let me show you how to find Contacts and turn them into Leads, Leads into Prospects and Prospects into Paid Speaking Gigs!

Here’s what is covered in David Avrin’s SPEAKING BUSINESS RETREAT

  1. Who is hiring — and paying — speakers

  2. Changes in the meetings industry and competitive landscape

  3. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems for building your list and tracking outreach

  4. Prospecting: how to organizations who hold meetings and conferences

  5. Identifying meeting professionals and others who hire speakers

  6. Outreach: effective approaches and verbiage that get a response

  7. The step-by-step process we use to prospect, qualify and pitch prospects

  8. Using video and social media to build presence and credibility.

  9. And much, much more!

Investment is only

$1,495 US for the American event

£985 for the London event

$1,895 Canadian for the Toronto event

and seats are limited!

(We’ve sold out every time.)

Oh, and there is no “up-sell!” There is no pitch. I don’t have a “Platinum” package and I don’t do coaching. One and done!

Note: I have not raised the price since the first retreat nearly 10 years ago!

I also cover the food and venue costs. Participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging.

This is not theory or hype! It is how I have made a living as a professional speaker for 25 years.

Seats are limited!

Seats are limited!

Participation in the Speaking Business Retreat is by application and acceptance only. Tell us about yourself, and we’ll get back to you shortly

Meet my team

  • David Avrin, CSP, Global Speaking Fellow

  • Tiffany Lengyel Business Manager

  • Hannah Jones Personal Assistant

  • Hilda Sobrevilla Research Assistant

  • Laurel Wosilius-Avrin Bookkeeping

Your Session Host

David Avrin, CSP, Global Speaking Fellow


One of the most in-demand and charismatic Customer Experience speakers and consultants in the world today, David Avrin, CSP, Global Speaking Fellow, has shared his content-rich, very entertaining and actionable presentations with enthusiastic audiences and organizations across North America and in over 30 countries on 6 continents. Recent presentations in: Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney, Dublin, Antwerp, Buenos Aires, Bogota, Mumbai, Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi, Manila, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Vienna, Monte Carlo, London, New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, Valencia, Malta, Johannesburg, and Dubai. David helps organizations better understand and serve their changing customers and clients to help future-proof their businesses by becoming Ridiculously Easy to Do Business With™.

David is also the author of seven books published in multiple languages including the acclaimed: It's Not Who You Know, It's Who Knows You!, Why Customers Leave (and How to Win Them Back) and his newest book: Ridiculously Easy to Do Business With: A practical guide to giving customers what they want—when and how they want it. 

Learn more about David Avrin’s speaking business and watch his preview video at www.DavidAvrin.com

Questions? Simply reach out!

David@DavidAvrin.com