The problem is very much one of perception.
There are quite a few speakers who get paid just to stand on stage and deliver their message. With very few exceptions these people are celebrities - politicians, entertainers, sports stars, adventurers, business moguls, etc. Because they are in the public eye people will pay to hear them.
Most speakers don't fit into this category and are therefore surprised to find, that despite having worthwhile information, no one is prepared to pay to hear them speak.
Despite this we hear lots of speakers claim to be making big money. The truth is that most of these people are not actually professional speakers. Speaking from the stage is just a tool that they use to sell their products and services.
This is the route to making big money and getting to speak in front of an audience. You need to look at the message you want to put to an audience and see whether you can develop a product and / or service to sell that is based on your message.
There is still a long way to go before you start making money, but shifting your perception from being a paid speaker, to being a speaker that uses the platform to sell products is the best starting point.
