Whether you are selected to speak on our stage or not, make sure your schedule is clear for the entire day so that you can be present for this event. You'll see a checkbox in the registration form that you are committing to do so. We are also requiring each main stage speaker (once selected) to bring five or more attendees. This shouldn't be difficult. This is a major speaking event for your career! Invite your family, friends, co-workers, mentors, coaches, and clients to come see you speak. Their paid attendance will contribute to both charities we are supporting with this event: Food of the Rockies (also supported by Meetings Industry Council) and the venue's charity Pack the Future.
Submit the $50 one-time (non-refundable) application review fee to begin the selection process. Your fee covers your admission to the even if you are not selected to present on the main stage. Half of your payment is your contribution to having an in person venue for the day. $15 will be donated to Food Bank of the Rockies from our umbrella company, Here Next Year, LLC, in collaboration with MIC (Meetings Industry Council).
Lunch services are offered by the venue in their cafe so we'll give you a $10 coupon when you arrive to use for food and beverage. You're welcome (and encouraged) to purchase more as proceeds from all cafe purchases will be donated to Pack the Future, which provides funds to school teachers who spend an average of $200/month out of their own pocket to educate children.
Applicants may also be eligible for additional recognition from the stage, on screen and prizes offered by our strategic partners. There may be additional spontaneous opportunities throughout the day for brief stage time. The first to get those opportunities will be speakers who applied to present and submitted video samples.
After you register, you'll immediately be brought to a Google Drive form where we'll ask you about which topic category you want to speak within (AI, Leadership or Mental Health). Plan to just knock this part out right after sign-up so that it's done. So, login to your Google account before checkout so you're ready to roll.
Login to your Zoom account, "stand" in front of your computer or phone and record an "uncut" 5-minute sample video of what you would speak about if selected for our main stage for a 20-minute Showcase.
Sure, we're looking for expertise, but we also want to see your charisma, humor and storytelling capability and MOST importantly your "premise" to describe the problem you solve and your "promise," which is a description of your solution. Include a case study overview of a person you've helped to fulfill your promise. These are the exact components people who hire speakers are looking for.
Potential finalists will be invited to a short Zoom conversation with The Proving Stage team.
This gives us an opportunity to learn more about you, your presentation intention and your readiness to perform at a professional showcase level.
Nine speakers will be selected: three in AI, three in Leadership and three in Mental Health.
Selection is based on the speaker, presentation, audience value, stage readiness and overall fit for the event.
Would you like a speaker coach to help you make this the best 20-minute speech you've ever given?
Would you like raw footage video of your speech?
Would you like still shots from the photographer of you on stage speaking?
Would you like video testimonials from the audience?
These are all options available to you after you are given a spot on the main stage. We're really trying to make this a true "showcase event" and not a pay-to-speak opportunity like everyone else tries to do.
Selected speakers prepare, rehearse and polish a presentation designed to demonstrate what they could deliver for a paying client. This isn't a practice speech. Your goal is to make the people who hire speakers think: "I need to hire this speaker for my next event!"
Two September dates will be provided for you choose between for delivering your entire 20-minute speech to a small group of advisors. You'll gain confidence that your speech will rock the house! And, we'll give you some final tweaks to consider before show day.
Take The Proving Stage for 20 minutes, in real time, with no second take. Judges who hire speakers and the live audience experience exactly what you can do onstage.
FAQS
Yes! We wouldn't charge anything if we could, but this is really the only way to weed out fake applications.
No, but don't worry. We will find other ways throughout the program to help you get visibility for a full ROI. Make sure you can be fully present at the event for the entire day, Friday, October 2, 2026, before paying the application fee.
YES! We want your 20-minute Showcase to be the most impactful as possible! Once you are selected, you will be paired with a coach at no additional charge. If you're already employing a speaker coach, that's fine too.
After you apply, you will be brought to a Google Drive form to complete a short questionnaire where you'll choose the speaker category you are applying for. Then, you will have until September 13, 2026, to submit your 5-minute Sample Video. We prefer you upload the video to your own YouTube channel and send us the link. But, sending a Zoom links is fine too.
Yes. There will be an in person opportunity for you to present your entire 20-minute speech in person the Saturday before the show at a location you'll be made aware of if selected (not the show venue, but nearby). We will also offer a speech review session by Zoom if you're not able to make the Saturday in person run through. On show day, there will be a brief sound and slides check.
We will be recording and photographing the entire show for our own legal purposes and for promotions of future shows. You will be offered options later for how you may obtain video and still photos of you presenting on stage. Note: There will be no cell phone recording or still photography or personal video crews allowed from anyone in the audience.
The choice is yours.
