The Speaker Lab Avis 126

By submitting this review I am hoping to save you thousands of dollars to pay for someone to tell you that you will need to create a speaker reel, a value statement, and then spend hours and hours cold calling and emailing companies that are looking for speakers. That’s it. They are very self serving. They canceled my appointments if I was 5 minutes late, even though I paid them for that time, then it would take weeks to reschedule. I was excited to the opportunity and they spoke like it was a guarantee but it wasn’t. They refuse to give refunds and can’t guarantee results.

The enrollment advisor told me that I was getting a 0% interest loan through affirm along with a $4k discount. I even have it in writing. He did everything over the phone which I thought was unusual but against my better judgement trusted him. I've just seen that my interest rate with Affirm is 33% and my loan amount $23k. I cannot believe this happened. Of course SpeakerLab is stating that I made the arrangement with Affirm although that is completely false. I will likely have to sue SpeakerLab for their fraudulent behavior. This has become a nightmare.

I went into The Speaker Lab’s VIP Accelerator with clear intent and realistic expectations. I was not trying to become a full time professional speaker. I already speak regularly inside my company. My goal was simple. Add a small number of paid keynote engagements per year that align with my work in product leadership.

What follows is an honest assessment of fit and outcomes from the perspective of a senior operator. My goal now, as I still feel the sting of the monthly payment on this sunk cost, is to save a few others from wasting their money.

I expected the program to cost between $5,000 and $6,000. When I spoke with the salesperson, I was shocked to hear the price was $15,000. The pitch leaned heavily on the founder’s story. He seems like a good person, but I never met him or saw him live. He appeared mostly in recorded content, some of it years old.

The salesperson cited claims like 5,000 paid speaking gigs per day in the US. That may sound compelling if your goal is volume. I was explicit that it was not mine. I wanted a handful of high quality, well paid engagements per year. Another line that resonated at the time was “there are no tariffs on speaking,” which landed given the broader economic climate.

I was told most students make money by the midpoint of the program and that I could likely sell a $15,000 keynote. When a $2,000 tuition “grant” was introduced, bringing the price to $13,000, it softened the blow. It was an effective sales tactic, especially given my original expectations.

There was also a money back guarantee. It sounded reassuring until you read the fine print. Full completion, strict participation requirements, and only after all payments were made could you request a refund at the one year mark. When I hesitated, the salesperson became pushy. That should have been my signal. Despite reservations, I proceeded.

The program is positioned as a six month, high touch accelerator, though payments span twelve months. Monthly flexibility was appealing. The promise included coaching, curated leads, cohort sessions, workshops, a rebuilt speaker website, and a demo video. On paper, it looked comprehensive.

In practice, the experience was uneven. The first two modules were genuinely valuable. Selecting a problem to solve and preparing your talk were structured, thoughtful, and helpful.

The decline began with establishing your expertise. Website and demo reel creation felt like an assembly line. Everything flowed through forms. Feedback was slow, impersonal, and at times rude. The final website was a generic Wix template that did not reflect a premium or VIP experience. For the price, this was deeply disappointing.

The core failure came in acquiring paid speaking gigs. By this point, I had paid roughly $6,000. This module should have been the most rigorous and strategic. Instead, it boiled down to searching Google, mining your network, and building a list of 25 leads. CRM and email guidance was basic. The Google driven approach did not work for my industry, even after hiring two separate people to test it. One coach discouraged cold outreach entirely, leaving no clear starting point. I expected a strategy, not spray and pray.

The final module on scaling added little value without solving acquisition first.

The coaches were kind and supportive early on, but could not help with my core problem. Cohort sessions mirrored the modules and did not materially move the needle.

I executed fully. I completed modules, attended sessions, built lists, ran outbound experiments, and launched the website and demo. I booked zero paid engagements through the program.

My domain is enterprise, B2B, and ecosystem driven. Speaking opportunities here are relationship based and platform adjacent. The accelerator’s outbound frameworks did not align with how this market works. Intel Engine leads and templated outreach produced zero qualified conversations.

I did not qualify for the refund because I did not complete 80 percent of coaching calls. By the time the misalignment was clear, continuing to check boxes felt irrational.

About 75% in, a new version of the program was announced. My assumption is that others raised similar concerns. It was too late for me. On legal advice, I requested cancellation and a clean resolution. I have paid $7,583, with $5,416 remaining. The response was another form and a denial of cancellation.

If this saves even a few people from spending over $13,000 on a poor fit, the loss I took makes it worth it. At this price point, the lack of personalization makes the VIP label misleading and value for cost highly misaligned.

This program, and more importantly the community, literally launched my speaking career!
It was hard work, but you're never alone!

I joined The Speaker Lab’s Booked and Paid to Speak Elite program because I was getting speaking opportunities, but they were mostly unpaid and not converting into clients. I knew my message and value weren’t landing clearly, and I needed a real system to turn speaking into a business.

The program helped me clarify my message and focus my speaking into three strong core topics, which immediately made everything feel more aligned and easier to communicate. The group coaching was consistently valuable, and the one-on-one coaching was where the biggest breakthroughs happened. I had multiple “how did I not see that?” moments that directly impacted the opportunities I pursued.

What I appreciated most is that The Speaker Lab teaches a structured, practical approach to getting booked and paid, with a framework you can actually follow step by step. Since completing the Elite program, I have more confidence in the value of my message, my book has been released, and I’m stepping into larger speaking opportunities with a clearer plan for monetizing the room.

I highly recommend The Speaker Lab if you’re serious about building a paid speaking business, and willing to do the work and follow the process. It’s been worth it for me.

TSL provided a methodology to clarify intent, direction and drilled down to details.
I appreciate what I learned and am looking forward to the next step.

DB

TSL is extremely organized, professional, and are experts in the field of speaking. They have great team of coaches and support to create the ultimate buying experience. They are continually responsive to needs of their clients and truly want to help you succeed. They don't just give you information - the coaching calls, bootcamps, and interactive workshops are where the "experiential" experience translates to wisdom and confidence that supports your success to get booked and paid. The old school of speaking took you to a workshop like a national sales meeting, then gave you a library of resources, but there was no success accountability. TSL cares and wants you to succeed. That is rare which is what makes the buying experience all the better. Love being a part of this community of winners.

I have a passion to inspire others to build a life they are proud of but what I needed was the tools to take my passion from a dream to a business! The Speaker Lab has completely exceeded my expectations and even in a few shorts months I have quadrupled my speaking fee and have gained the confidence to walk into doors I never had before! The modules are amazing, but my favorite part has been the 1-1 coaching with a leader that's found success in the same lane you are in!! I chose the VIP track and HIGHLY recommend anyone serious about increasing their impact- join NOW!!

So the thing that TSL does so freakin' well is STRUCTURE for the speaking business! It makes sense, and best of all, IT WORKS!

I am transitioning to less LLC consultation and more keynotes and book sales. What's great about that is it's even opened up my LLC sales to move faster and better - better meaning they're higher dollar offerings and deeper conversations to collaboratively curate those offerings with THE CLIENT.

I haven't turned in my 25 leads yet because as I continue to get better and better at prospecting I learn more. I want to wait until I do an amazing job at curating them myself so their leads can be STELLAR!

I joined the GigGetters club less 1 month after I joined the TSL crew!

Like I said and I'll say it again - THEIR STRUCTURE WORKS!

The Speaker Lab exceeded my expectations. The coaching, structure, and support gave me the clarity and confidence I needed to get my speaking business going. I did the VIP Program, so I had a roadmap to follow and coaching sessions along the way, both of which kept me on track. I highly recommended the program for anyone serious about growing as a professional speaker.

The Speaker Lab is one of the most complete programs I have participated in. This program offers specific training for every step of your speaking journey. Plus, they offer one to one coaching, a community where ideas are shared and supported, and many other learning opportunities. If you are serious about creating a speaking career, The Speaker Lab is a wise investment.

I’m not sure how they stay in business. It’s alot of money for a lot of nothing. They are rude when you say no.

The Speaker Lab program was hard work at times. It requires commitment to complete everything on time. However, there is support along the way. Some of the models are simplistic if you already have speaking and/or sales experience. But there is plenty even and experienced person can learn. Also, you also get 1:1 coaching time plus group coaching time, with TSL teachers who have a great deal of experience and you can ask your complex/advanced questions then. I honed my USP and talks in a way I would not have if I didn't have accountability. AND I got a Website, a sharp speaker reel, and a bunch of leads to start on. Plus, I still have access to all the PDF's and classes anytime I need a refresher. Worth the money just for the Website and Speaker reel. I'm glad I invested in my speaking business.

The Speaker Lab has been a game-changer in helping me clarify my speaking niche and turn it into a focused, marketable message. Their coaches don’t just hype you up – they give you concrete tools, scripts, and frameworks that you can actually use to reach out to event organizers and position yourself professionally. I especially appreciated the structure of the program, the accountability, and the way they walk you step-by-step through branding, outreach, and pricing. I feel far more confident in my “Lead with Soul” positioning and in building a speaking business that is sustainable, aligned, and truly serves the audiences I care about. Highly recommended for anyone who’s serious about speaking as a profession, not just a hobby.

Mastermind helps in the crowd share of relevant information, networking, and community building in this wild and wonderful land new to so many of us!

The Speaker Lab is great for people who might be a professional but thinking, “Why am I not getting paid for this?” or for people thinking of diversifying their income. The program is well-organized and sets you up with a website, demo video, content creation, and sales engine models. It has coaching support. I like the community support within the community. Crucially, it is also not a program for the faint of heart. I have met many people who dropped off and struggled deeply with accountability. There is so much rejection and people with other responsibilities struggled with the hurdle of completing all the modules. I knew paid speaking and workshops were going to be part of the next stage of my business and I was fully committed. If I hadn't done the program, my sales acumen would still be stuck at a different maturity place. Setting up software, systems, and protocols has been extremely valuable to me. I've also invested in LinkedIn automations and other sales processes that took my business to new heights, but were not taught in the program. It took me 4 months to get my first paid gig and I've steadily grown my business since then. Excellent for the right fit but not for everyone.

After a high-pressure phone call, I reluctantly agreed to pay over $3000 for their training. She was guaranteeing that their leads were a sure thing and that I would get my money back so quickly. Their training was low level and full of childlike advice. There was not one single lead offered. Don’t be like me, don’t give them a dime.

Be VERY VERY careful with TSL. Read all of the information in detail and do not expect a lot of help as they state at the very beginning of the process. Also note some coaches are far better than others as is to be expected. Overall not pleased with TSL.

Not good. They don’t stop calling. I had To block the number. They are too pushy and after reading reviews I’m glad I did not give them any money

Run fast, run far. They out and out lie during your sales call about the results you should get, the leads you receive, and what they are there to do. The information is very basic, common sense really. The leads you get are awful. During the sales call they make you think they are focused on helping you get the gigs but the leads are just random names, emails and phone numbers that you contact. Some had no correlation to what age group I am speaking to and some are bogus. The sales call is a total sham so don't believe ANY of what they say. Invest your money elsewhere or research on your own. Lots of complaints on this company, even on the BBB. I filed a complaint with the BBB as well. I feel totally scammed and want a refund! When I filed a report with BBB, a spokes person from TSL replied and said something about the sales call being recorded. News to me, so I asked to have the recording sent to me but they would not send it. OF COURSE...Also, when you try to reach out to the supposed owner of this site, he can't be reached. Even his own website is sketchy and you are led in a circle of nowhere trying to email him. I found an email through chatGpt for him. Lets see if he responds.