A Community of Professional Speakers
The St. Louis Chapter of the National Speakers Association

Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost to be a member of NSA St. Louis?
The National Speakers Association is a professional association of speakers, and membership at both the local and national levels have an associated fee. Click here to learn more about the cost, as well as member benefits.
When are meetings held?
Our meetings are typically held in the morning on the first Friday of each month, though holiday weekends do sometimes affect the meeting date.
*Promotion for each event will provide information regarding start time and location for each meeting.
Can I get a refund if I’ve already registered?
Absolutely. Refund requests will be honored up until the day of the event. Just send an email to nsastlchapter@gmail.com to request your refund.
I have attended Toastmasters; how is that different from NSA?
Toastmasters is a great organization to help you hone your speaking skills and get feedback on new material. The National Speakers Association is an organization of and for those who speak professionally. So that you can impact more people with your work, and support the lifestyle you desire, NSA focuses on helping you:
- Elevate your speaking skills to the highest level possible
- Continually grow your business
Many members find that the two organizations are very complementary and actively participate in both organizations.
Does speaking professionally mean giving keynote addresses to large audiences?
For some speakers, giving keynotes is an important part of their business model. However, many of our members present workshops and seminars (and do quite well) even though they do not deliver many keynotes at all. Recent membership polls indicate that for a great majority of NSA members, their primary income sources are actually not traditional keynotes, but training, coaching, consulting and other revenue streams.
I would like to speak professionally. Will NSA-STL teach me how to get paid to speak?
NSA STL will help you learn how to expand your opportunities and manage the profession of speaking. Several of our programs each year do address marketing and sales. We also offer Speakers Academy, which provides everything you need to launch a speaking business and succeed. The target audience of NSA-STL, however, are those who are already being paid — at least some of the time — to speak.
What is the NSA-STL Speakers Academy?
The NSA-STL Speakers Academy can set the solid foundation for a career in professional speaking and/or advance the career of the person already speaking!
Based on the four competencies of the National Speakers Association, this Academy delivers top notch professional education with the nuts and bolts necessary to build your business. All classes are taught by Professional Members of the National Speakers Association. Learn more.
What is a Professional Membership in NSA-STL?
To become a Professional member of NSA-STL, one must also be a member of National NSA. There are minimum requirements for National membership that are detailed here:
The Established Speaker Details
We strongly encourage those who are eligible to join National NSA since there are certain benefits, both on the National and chapter level, which can be quite valuable.
Do I have to be a member to attend monthly meetings?
NSA STL welcomes all attendees to its meetings. There are benefits to becoming an Aspiring or National member, but you are also welcome to attend as a guest.
If you are a first-time guest, that first meeting will be complimetary. After that, you will be asked to pay the guest fee of $47 for any additional meetings you attend.
I do a lot of workshops or seminars. Is NSA-STL for me?
You would be in good company! Most speakers start with some sort of expertise but realize that their professionalism requires continued attention to their presentation styles and changing business models. The business development element of the monthly meetings will help you take your expertise and appeal to a whole new level.
Are there new and seasoned speakers in the chapter?
There is a mixed group of attendees at every meeting — some very well known, accomplished, long time speakers and others who are new in their professional speaking career. The content of each meeting is geared toward professionals, but most of our presenters are quite accomplished in modeling how to address multiple experience levels at one time.
What are the benefits of joining NSA-STL?
Ask any NSA-STL member! Fantastic educational opportunities, networking and relationship building at the local level are of monumental importance when building a successful speaking business. Membership will help you learn how to grow your business, give you a platform to discuss issues that impact your business and help you to create affiliations with associations and other organizations that will help you expand even more. You can learn more about the benefits of joing HERE
How do I join NSA (National Speakers Association)?
You can click HERE for more information on becoming an NSA National Member.
What are NSA membership benefits?
Can I bring a guest if I am a member of the St. Louis Chapter?
Guests are always welcome!
Please have your guest(s) register for the event they would like to attend by going to our Upcoming Events page. That way, we have a record of their attendance and they will receive the reminder emails containing all of the logistics for the meeting.
First time guests attend for free, but returning guests must pay a $47 guest fee.
Can I bring a spouse or staff member if I am a chapter member or aspiring speaker?
- $20 for each spouse or staff member to attend the ½ day business development program portion of the monthly meeting.
- There is no limit to the number of staff or spouse you can bring.
Click here to register for the next event and submit staff/spouse fees.
Can I send a spouse or staff member to a meeting in my place?
Yes, for no additional charge, you may send a spouse or staff member in your place for free.
How to register for an event if you are a member of NSA St. Louis
As a member of NSA STL, you will receive email notifications when registration has opened for the next monthly meeting. If you are not receiving these notifications, please let our chapter administrator know at nsastlchapter@gmail.com. You can also register through posts on our social media pages, or you can check the Upcoming Events page to see if registration is open for the next meeting.
If I have questions who do I contact?
Please use the form to the right to submit your question and someone from our board will promptly respond to your inquiry.
Contact Us
Got questions or concerns? Submit the form below and we will get back to you right away!
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