photo credit: markhillary
STEP ONE: Look only locally to save travel expenses.
STEP TWO: Choose a speaker based on the theme of your event.
STEP THREE: Read a book and hire the author to present the content.
STEP FOUR: Base your search on price.
STEP FIVE: Make name-recognition the top priority in your search.
STEP SIX: Do it yourself. Google away!
Or, if you prefer to hire a good one…
Throw the net as wide as possible when searching for a speaker. Don’t let price, budget, name, or even topic dictate your search. Look for the right speaker and if they are a fit, try to negotiate the expenses into the fee.
Tie in the décor with your theme, not the speaker. Any speaker worth their salt will work to customize the presentation to fit your theme in one way or another. You want your attendees to walk away from the session saying “What a great speaker!” not “Wow did that speaker ever tie into the event theme well!”
Good writing does not necessarily a good speaker make. For a good best-selling author who speaks, look for one who was a speaker first, and then wrote their NYT bestselling book.
Finding a ‘silver bullet’ speaker is rare (great name, great story, great speaker, great message, actually accept engagements). Nearly without exception, one of the things on that list has to be sacrificed. Quite often name-recognition is a contra-indication of speaking skills. It’s a short list! You can save $10k – $20k by hiring a no-name speaker with the right stuff. For well-spoken, engaging, name-recognition speakers, consider those who are famous for a profession that requires giving speeches i.e.: politicians & activists.
Outsource your weaknesses! Get a speaker-consultant-on-call who can help you. Speaker Bureau services are free – use them! Get referrals from colleagues you trust. Use the IACEP network. Ask other speakers!
—
Guest Post by Christa Haberstock, Meetings Industry Veteran and Consultant to Professional Speakers
Posted under Event Management, Motivational Speakers, Planner Tips, Speaker Recommendations
This post was written by TSGspeakers on October 20, 2009
Christa:
Great advice. I’ll add a couple more.
Step Seven: Don’t do any research about your audience, their needs, their interest, their profession or their future. Move forward as if you know what’s best for them.
Step Eight: Give your audience exactly what they ask for in a presenter. If they request the great author who is not a great speaker, give it to them anyway. (NOT!)
Step Nine: Choose a speaker that your audience has heard before and rated high. “Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke. Wink, wink.” (NOT!)
Thanks, Jeff, for stopping by! Those are some great follow-up tips. Sure to get you a home-run speaker! (NOT!)