Frequently Asked Questions

What is Stage Seeker?

Stage Seeker is a searchable platform that brings speaking opportunities from around the world into one place.

Our research team, which is composed of AI and real humans, does the searching so you can spend less time hunting through conference websites, LinkedIn posts and endless Google searches, and more time applying, speaking and getting your message heard by the person that needs to hear it.

What kind of speaking opportunities will I find?

We list conferences, TEDx, retreats, summits, panels, workshops and other speaking opportunities across a wide range of industries and topics.

You'll find paid, unpaid and pay-to-speak opportunities, and we'll always try to make this clear on the listing when the information is available.

How is Stage Seeker different from searching Google or LinkedIn myself?

You absolutely can find speaking opportunities yourself. Stage Seeker just makes the whole process easier.

Instead of jumping between Google, LinkedIn, conference websites and industry pages, you get one searchable platform where you can filter opportunities by location, topic, event type, compensation and deadline, save the ones you're interested in and keep track of where you've applied.

How often are new opportunities added?

We're constantly looking for new opportunities and adding them to Stage Seeker.

Our team searches event websites, associations, calls for speakers and other sources so you don't have to. We also keep an eye on existing listings and update them when we become aware that something has changed. Your dashboard shows how many opportunities are new that week.

What information is included in each listing?

Where available, each listing includes the event name, date, location or format (in-person, online or hybrid), topic, application deadline, whether it's paid, unpaid or pay-to-speak, and a link to the organiser's application page.

If a detail isn't publicly available, we'll leave it out rather than guess.

Does Stage Seeker guarantee I'll get booked?

No. We can't guarantee which opportunities you'll be selected for, but we can make it much easier to find them. Our job is to search, bring the opportunities together and help you find stages that fit your voice, expertise and message.

You still need to put yourself forward, but finding the opportunity should no longer be the hardest part.

Who is Stage Seeker for?

You. Because if you're here, you believe your message needs to be heard.

That includes professional speakers, founders, authors, coaches, consultants, experts, thought leaders and people who are just starting to explore speaking. You don't need to call yourself a "speaker" to have something worth sharing.

Do I need speaking experience to join?

No. Some opportunities are looking for experienced speakers, while others are far more interested in your expertise, story or perspective. Each event sets its own criteria, so check what they're asking for and decide whether it feels like a good fit.

A lot of events are looking for people with real experience and interesting ideas, not just people who speak professionally, so Stage Seeker isn't only for full-time professional speakers.

Can speaker agents, bureaus or teams use Stage Seeker?

Memberships are individual, so each person using Stage Seeker needs their own. If you manage several speakers or want access for a team, email hello@stageseeker.com and we can discuss custom pricing.

Are the opportunities worldwide, and can I find virtual ones?

Yes to both. We search for opportunities around the world: some are in-person and location-specific, others are virtual, hybrid, or open to international speakers.

Every listing shows its format, and you can filter by format to see only the ones you can join from home.

What industries and topics do you cover?

As many as we can. You'll find opportunities across leadership, entrepreneurship, AI and technology, DEI, mental health and wellbeing, sustainability, personal development, TEDx and more. Use the niche filter to narrow things down to what's relevant to you.

Can I filter the opportunities?

Yes, that's a big part of the point of Stage Seeker. Rather than scrolling through hundreds of opportunities that aren't relevant, use the filters to narrow the database down to niche, region, format, compensation, fee range and deadline.

How do I apply, and does Stage Seeker apply for me?

When you find an opportunity you like, the listing gives you the available information and points you to the organiser's own application process. You apply directly with the organiser. Stage Seeker doesn't submit anything on your behalf, and organisers only see what you send them yourself.

We find and organise the opportunities. You choose the ones you want to go after and stay in full control of how you present yourself.

Can I keep track of opportunities I'm interested in?

Yes. You can save any opportunity to your Saved list, and track every application through your Pipeline as it moves from saved to applied to booked. Stage Seeker is meant to be part of your ongoing speaking pipeline, not somewhere you visit once and forget about.

Do I pay extra to access individual opportunities?

No. Your membership gives you full access to the Stage Seeker opportunity database. We don't charge extra every time you view an opportunity or click through to apply.

Are all opportunities paid?

No. You'll find paid, unpaid and pay-to-speak opportunities on Stage Seeker. We don't believe it's our job to decide which type is right for you: our job is to give you the information so you can make that decision yourself.

What do "paid," "unpaid" and "pay-to-speak" mean?

Paid means the organiser has indicated that some form of speaker fee, honorarium or compensation may be available. The amount and terms vary massively, so always confirm directly with the organiser.

Unpaid means we haven't found evidence of a speaker fee being offered. That doesn't mean the opportunity has no value; you might want it for the audience, exposure, credibility or connections.

Pay-to-speak means there's a cost involved in speaking, such as a speaker fee or package. We label these clearly and include the known cost where we can, so you can decide if it makes sense for you.

Does Stage Seeker recommend pay-to-speak opportunities?

We list them; we don't automatically recommend them. Some speakers strategically pay for certain opportunities, others never would; both are valid. If money is involved, look closely at the audience, organiser, package and total cost before you commit.

Is all the information guaranteed to be accurate?

We do our best, but we're human and organisers can change things: dates move, applications close early, requirements change, events get cancelled. Always double-check important details with the organiser before making travel plans, payments or other commitments.

I've spotted something wrong, or found an opportunity that isn't listed. What do I do?

Please tell us. Seriously, we appreciate it. Email hello@stageseeker.com with the listing or the opportunity you'd like us to review, and our team will take a look.

Can event organisers submit opportunities?

Yes. If you're running an event and looking for speakers, email us at hello@stageseeker.com and we'll review it for inclusion. Listings are free and included based on relevance, not payment. If we ever offer sponsored listings, they'll be clearly labelled as such.

Who's responsible if something goes wrong with an event?

The event organiser. Your agreement, including your speaker fee, expenses, payment dates and cancellation terms, is with them, not with Stage Seeker, unless we specifically tell you otherwise. Stage Seeker helps you discover the opportunity; the organiser decides who they book and is responsible for honouring what they agree to.

We strongly recommend getting fees, expenses and cancellation terms in writing before committing to an event. We don't currently negotiate speaker fees on your behalf: that happens directly between you and the organiser.

What is the Founding Member offer, and what does lifetime access mean?

The first 200 Founding Members can join Stage Seeker for a one-time payment of $197 and get lifetime access to the core opportunity discovery platform, for as long as Stage Seeker runs it. You won't be moved onto the $297 annual membership later; that's our thank-you for backing Stage Seeker early.

Once those 200 places are gone, the offer closes and new members join through the standard $297/year membership instead. If we ever launch completely separate paid products in the future, those wouldn't automatically be included.

What does my membership include?

Access to the Stage Seeker opportunity database and the features included with your plan: search, filters, saving and pipeline tracking. As Stage Seeker grows, we plan to keep improving the platform and adding more ways to help you find and secure opportunities.

How do I access Stage Seeker after I join?

Your account is created as part of checkout, so you're logged in immediately after payment: no extra setup email or waiting required. You can log back in anytime from the site's Log In page.

Can I use Stage Seeker on my phone?

Yes. Stage Seeker works in your browser on desktop, tablet and mobile: there's no app to download.

What currency are prices in, and how can I pay?

Prices are shown in USD. Payments are processed securely through Stripe by card.

Is there a free trial?

Not at the moment.

What is your refund policy?

Where applicable, UK consumer law provides a statutory cancellation period for certain online purchases. Outside of that, refund requests are reviewed case by case in line with our Terms & Conditions. Email hello@stageseeker.com and we'll take a look. See our Terms & Conditions for the full policy.

How do I cancel my membership, and does it renew automatically?

3-Month Access and Standard are recurring subscriptions that renew automatically until you cancel. You can cancel any time from your Account page, which opens Stripe's secure billing portal: you'll keep access until the end of your current billing period and won't be charged again.

Founding Members made a one-time payment, so there's nothing to renew or cancel.

Can I share my membership?

No, membership is individual. Keeping it that way helps us keep investing in the research and support behind Stage Seeker. If you need access for a team, email hello@stageseeker.com to discuss options.

Can I stop the weekly email?

Yes. Use the "Manage email preferences" link at the bottom of the email, or turn it off anytime from your Profile page. Your membership and access won't be affected either way.

Why doesn't Stage Seeker offer a monthly membership?

Because we don't want Stage Seeker to become another subscription you sign up for, forget about and keep paying for every month. Building a speaking platform takes consistency, and Stage Seeker is built to make that consistency easier, not to be one more thing on a list of subscriptions you barely use.

What about visas and international speaking opportunities?

If you're travelling internationally to speak, check visa and entry requirements before accepting the opportunity or booking travel. Paid and unpaid engagements may be treated differently, and being allowed in as a visitor doesn't necessarily mean you're permitted to undertake paid speaking work.

Stage Seeker doesn't provide immigration or visa advice. Confirm the correct requirements directly with the event organiser and the relevant government or immigration authority before committing.

What do you do with my personal information?

We only process personal information where necessary to run your membership, process payments, communicate with you and meet our legal obligations. We never sell your personal information.