Master How to Become a Keynote Speaker in 5 Powerful Steps!
Introduction Hey Perth, it’s Nathan Baws here. I’ve been up on stages all over Western Australia, from sweaty community halls in Kalgoorlie to slick conference rooms in the CBD, trying to figure out how to become a keynote speaker. Let me tell you, it’s been a ride—flubbed lines, shaky hands, and all. But I’ve also seen rooms light up, with folks leaving my talks ready to shake things up at work. This article’s got six practical steps to help you nail how to become a keynote speaker, packed with stories from my own gigs, tips you can use, and a bit of cheeky humour to keep it real. Let’s get you ready to own that stage. Key Takeaways: 1. Find Your Own Voice To crack how to become a keynote speaker, you need something that’s just you. It’s what makes a room of strangers—miners, baristas, or suits—hang on your words. Dig Up Your Story Your life’s your gold. I started by sharing my own stumbles, like bombing a talk in a tiny Perth venue and pushing through. What’s your story? What’s made you who you are? Pick What Fires You Up Choose a topic you could yap about all day. For me, it’s helping teams work better, sparked by Perth’s mix of businesses. Find what gets you going and lean in. Throw in Some Perth Flavour Perth loves a local nod. Mention a crazy morning on the freeway or a chilled Freo market day, and the crowd feels like you’re talking to them. It’s a small thing that lands big. 2. Get Good at Speaking Figuring out how to become a keynote speaker means working on your craft. It’s not just talking—it’s connecting with people. Practice Like Mad I started at small Perth meetups, bombing my first talk—forgot my lines, voice all over the place. But each one got better. Find local gigs, like community groups, to cut your teeth. Work the Stage How you move matters. I learned to walk around naturally, not like a wooden puppet, by watching how Perth crowds react. Practice your gestures and eye contact to feel like you. Tame the Nerves Everyone gets the wobbles. I still do before big gigs. A couple of deep breaths and a mental picture of a quiet beach settle me. Find what calms you down and keeps you focused. 3. Make Talks People Remember To crack how to become a keynote speaker one needs talks that stick like a good flat white. It’s about stories, clear ideas, and giving something useful. Tell Stories That Hit I once told a yarn about a Perth shop owner who got his team back on track by listening more. The crowd ate it up because it felt real. Use your own stories or local ones to hook them. Keep It Dead Simple Fancy words put people to sleep. I break things down, like comparing a business plan to a footy play—easy to get. Make your point so clear even a knackered tradie follows. Give Them Something to Use Every talk needs a takeaway. I tell folks to try a quick five-minute team catch-up daily. It’s small but changes how teams click. Give your audience something they can try tomorrow. 4. Connect with Perth’s Vibe Perth’s got its own beat—part beachy chill, part hustle. To learn how to become a keynote speaker, you’ve got to fit your talk to this city. Speak Their Language Dropping a line about a hectic CBD commute or a Rotto weekend makes your talk feel like it’s for Perth. It’s a quick way to get the crowd on your side. Reach the Whole Room Perth’s got tradies, techies, and coffee slingers. I mix stories that work for everyone, so no one’s left out. Make sure your talk speaks to all sorts in the audience. Be Real Perth spots a fake fast. I share stuff like the time my cat jumped into a client call, and it gets laughs because it’s honest. Stay yourself, and you’ll win them over. 5. Get Your Name Out There To nail how to become a keynote speaker, people need to know who you are. Getting noticed in Perth’s tight-knit scene takes some hustle. Start Where You Are I kicked off at Perth community groups and business meetups. It got my name floating around. Look for local clubs, charity events, or networking nights to get going. Get Online A basic website or LinkedIn profile does the job. I post clips of my talks to show Perth event planners what I’m about. It’s like a digital handshake—simple but it works. Work the Network Perth’s business world is small but connected. I’ve met event organisers over coffee in Subi or at industry nights. One quick yarn can land you a stage, so get out there. 6. Keep Getting Better Learning how to become a keynote speaker doesn’t stop when you book a gig. Keep sharpening your skills to stay sharp. Ask for Straight-Up Feedback After every talk, I bug someone for real thoughts. A Perth organiser once told me to slow down, and it made my next talk way better. Listen and tweak what you do. Watch the Pros I’ve learned heaps from seeing other Perth speakers do their thing. Notice how they pause or crack a joke, then try it your way. Borrow little tricks, not their whole act. Stay in the Loop Keep up with Perth’s business scene. I read local news to drop relevant bits into my talks, like a nod to a new startup hub. It keeps your talks fresh and on point. Conclusion Cracking how to become a keynote speaker is about finding your story, getting good at your craft, and connecting with Perth’s unique crowds. From telling tales that stick to building a name in our city, these six steps can set you up to shine. At Nathan Baws, we’re all about helping folks like you turn passion into a stage-worthy career. Ready to take the leap? Pop over









