If you aren't aware, usually a significant portion of speaking slots are filled because organizers reach out and solicit speakers. Indeed, I don't know of many

If you aren't aware, usually a significant portion of speaking slots are filled because organizers reach out and solicit speakers. Indeed, I don't know of many conferences that could fill their schedule if they relied exclusively on inbound speakers, and doing it that way would be a recipe for having the same twenty dudes speak each year, which isn't going to create the best possible event for attendees.