How Far is Austin?

...from where you live?

Why do I ask?

Because I am pleased and proud to announce that I will be teaching a workshop called "Cruise For Free" based on my book at the Univerisity of Texas at Austin. The class is scheduled for January 28, 2006, meeting on the U.T. campus. The fees are riduclously inexpensive, so take this opportunity to come down and learn directly from me. Register through U.T.'s popular Informal Class website here: https://informalclasses.org/index2.html . The class is the first listed under the "Travel and Culture" category under the "View Courses" tab.

If you have any questions e-mail me at Daniel@SpeakersCruiseFree.com . See you there.

Dottie Walters - Sharing Ideas

I'd like to thank Dottie Walters for reviewing my book "Speak on Cruise Ships" in the December issue of her fabulous magazine "Sharing Ideas" THE magazine for the speaking business. Dottie also asked me to write an article for the issue which also appears. Anything Dottie puts out is pure gold. If your interested in picking up a subscription to Sharing Ideas you may do so here: http://www.speakandgrowrich.com/sharing_ideas_overview.htm

Usable News & A Gift

I'm recently back from a great Western Caribbean cruise. I took my mother and really enjoyed spending time with her. That's another one of the many beauties of cruising free as a speaker. You get to take and then spend quality time with those that you love. Priceless as the ad goes.

If you have been toying with the idea of taking the next step toward getting yourself approved by the cruise lines then I encourage you to sign up for my FREE new 6-Part video mini-course, "Introduction to Cruise Ship Speaking." The course is chock-full of the information you'll need to get started! This is over 45 minutes of material (broken up into 6 nice bite-sized chunks) and is a great way to dip-a-toe and to find out how to go about lining yourself up for one of the greatest gigs in the world -- cruise ship speaking!

My gift to you?

Here it is..... check out Part-1 without even signing-up. If you like what you see there's an opt-in form immediately below the video screen, give me your name and e-mail address and about every other day you'll a new installment.

Go take a look at

http://www.speakerscruisefree.com/PartIa.html

Happy Cruising,

Daniel

Cruising Free as a Speaker - Mistakes to Avoid

By Daniel Hall

Being an approved cruise enrichment lecturer is the greatest gig on the seven seas. The deal is simple: you furnish the cruise lines three or four 1-hour lectures on subjects you love and you get a free cruise for yourself and a companion. The best part is the lectures are usually scheduled on sea days so you’ll have every port day totally free to explore. Further, you cruise as a passenger (not a crew member) so you’ll get every other passenger perk, too.

Although it is relatively easy for anyone willing to try there are some pitfalls to becoming an approved cruise lecturer. Here are the things you should watch out for:

1. You don’t do your homework. Learn which cruise lines have enrichment lecturer programs and what topics they generally seek.The cruise lines will know if you aren’t asking intelligent questions. You’ll only be able to sound intelligent about their programs if you’ve done your homework. Being labeled as an amateur because you have not done the required up front work
will be the kiss of death to your application.

2.You don’t pick “good fit” topics. The lecture topics you pick must succeed on two fronts. First, they must fit what the cruise lines seek. Second, you must be passionate and knowledgeable about them. This is easier than at first it may sound. From your homework you’ll learn what types of lecture programs the cruise lines like to have onboard. Onceyou have done that, find topics within your personal knowledge base thatmatch what’s popular on the cruise lines. You may have to make a list but EVERYONE has at least two or three topic areas in which they have proficiency, if not expertise. However, if your topics are all wrong, you’ll fail before you start.

3. You don’t make a professional, cogent presentation to the cruise lines. You’ll need to sell yourself and your lectures to the cruise line. Take the time to do it right. Be prepared to talk about how the lecture(s) fit within the cruise line’s format. Why passengers will like the lectures and why you’re qualified to talk about it. Get to the point. If you botch this initial communication with the cruise line they won’t have much faith that you can communicate in front of an audience of their passengers. Consequently, you may not get the chance.

4. You send an unpersuasive “lecture packet.” If you have done a good job with the initial contact, the cruise line will want you to follow-up with more information about yourself and your lecture. Think about this information as a mini-press kit that may contain a video or audio of your lecture. Your lecture packet must continue-the-sale that you started with the initial contact… if it doesn’t you’re in trouble.

5. You’re not flexible. You are trying to get your foot in the door. It will pay to be as flexible as possible with the cruise line about when you can cruise. Remember, you are there to help the cruise line entertain/ educate its guests. If you limit the time you can cruise to a specific week of the year, you may never set sail. Show as much flexibility as your schedule will allow and you’ll dramatically increase yours odds of getting approved.

6. You don’t educate yourself in the process of getting approved. Learn all you can about how to be approved as a lecturer. Not only will it streamline and take the guesswork out of the process but also dramatically increase your odds of success. Where do you start? At http://www.SpeakersCruiseFree.com/

Copyright 2005 By Daniel Hall

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Daniel Hall, has cruised the world as an onboard speaker and is teaching others to do the same both through his new e-book Speak on Cruise Ships: Eight Easy Steps to a Lifetime of Free Cruises by Sharing Your Passions and Interests as an Onboard Lecturer (Even if You’re Petrified of Public Speaking) and his one-on-one mentoring program. Get details at http://www.SpeakersCruiseFree.com/

To subscribe to the FREE 6-part mini-course on which this article was based Avoiding the Fatal Mistakes That Will Prevent You From Cruising Free as an Onboard Speaker by clicking (or cutting and pasting) this link => http://www.marketerschoice.com/app/contact.asp?id=69063

VoiceAmercia Interview

Dr. Maxine Thompson recently interviewed me on a her VoiceAmercia show, "On The Same Page" Check it out here.

Free Teleseminar Cruise Ship Speaking

I wanted to let you know that bestselling author Rick Frishman of Planned Television Arts is interviewing me today (11/2) at 2 P.M. Eastern on promoting your book as a cruise ship speaker.

This is not going to be the same sales call drivel. I'm going to give you hard-hitting and effective strategies. Download the follow-along guide here:
http://www.speakerscruisefree.com/PlannedTVArtSignUp.html
The details are below:

TELESEMINAR TODAY WEDNESDAY NOV 2 2:00-3:00 PM ET

Rick Frishman will interview guest Daniel Hall, an expert on how to promote your book on cruise ships. His book is entitled, Speak on Cruise Ships: 8 Easy Steps To A Lifetime Of Free Cruises By Sharing Your Passions and Interests As An Onboard Lecturer (Even If You're Petrified of Public Speaking).

He will share with us the following:

How to go about lecturing on the cruise ship circuit - selling books, branding your name, networking, and cruising for free - Choosing the type of lecture you would
give Preparing a brief list of topics/points you plan to cover in the lecture How to 'wow' your audiences Putting together a packet of info/video to submit to cruise lines to obtain speaking gigs.

Here's how to participate: Please call 620-294-4000. Then press in the code: 222089#

Cruise Speakers Tip #1 - Internet Access

When you're frequently cruising as a speaker or "enrichment lecturer" affordable Internet access is difficult to find. Generally, access is available on most ships but can be cost prohibitive if you spend any amount of time online. While there are usually reasonably priced Internet Cafe's in most ports of call, my preference is to find the local library which invariably has at least 30 minutes of free Internet access. I have found that the library is just as a close as an Internet Cafe and most English speaking and many Spanish speaking ports have libraries with Internet access. Give it a try.

Juneau Video

Here are a couple videos from our day of shore excursions in Juneau, Alaska when I was speaking during an Inside Passage cruise. Immediately after the video shot at Mendenhall Glacier my wife caught a glimpse of a baby brown bear chasing running salmon in a nearby stream. We all got so excited we forgot to video the encounter. Maybe next cruise...


By the way no trip to Juneau is complete without a refreshing libation at the Red Dog Saloon.

Welcome!!!!

Well, I have finally pulled the pin and started this blog.

Now I can communicate my current thoughts, feelings and discoveries on how you... or anyone... can get started cruising free as an onboard speaker or arts and crafts leader.

If you have not done so already you need to check out my program "Speak on Cruise Ships" at http://www.speakerscruisefree.com/ You can also opt-in to my list at this address which I encourage you to do.

I would like to thank my friend Joel Christopher at http://www.joelchristopher.com/ for turning me on to the possibilities of blogging. Check back frequently as I'll be posting cruise videos, pictures, tips and tricks.... its all good.