This year as BigSpeak turns 30, we also mark the one hundred year anniversary of the creation of the microphone. Exactly one hundred years ago in 1925, musician Art Gillham stepped into a recording studio to test run an exciting piece of cutting-edge tech: the microphone. This trial resulted in the first ever electrical recording released for the public, marking a revolution in the music industry, as singers no longer had to rely solely on vocal projection, and could adopt softer, more intimate stylings and still be heard at the back of the theater. 

This tech revolution reached much further than the music industry alone– for decades, orators and presenters have been enjoying these same benefits using the now ubiquitous devices to present as clearly to audiences from ten to ten thousand strong. The microphone is so iconic and emblematic of the speaking industry, it’s even BigSpeak’s logo, with a cheerfully rounded orange mic greeting visitors to our site and popping up on our marketing emails. 

BigSpeak as a company is rooted in a history that stretches back even further than that of the microphone. Our company was one of the first players in the modern speaking industry, which in turn is descended from the Chautauqua Institution, an educational center that first opened its doors in New York in 1874. Though originally founded as a place for Sunday-school teachers to perform Bible study, over the years it expanded its offerings to include lectures and programs in visual and performing arts, literature, and recreation. 

With a focus on self-improvement, by the 1880s, the Institution hosted approximately 100 lectures a season, in essence hosting mass speaking series. In time, spin-off movements took root, spreading across the country in the Chautauqua Movement,  which in turn birthed “tent chautauquas,” speaking circuits run by talent agencies that toured small towns across North America. Modern bureaus like BigSpeak are a direct result of this movement, continuing the legacy of self-improvement and educational excellence. Our team is proud of the history of our company, our industry and its long relationship with innovation, helping speakers share their knowledge across the globe, reaching more and more people as developments in technology permit.