Inspired by the cover story in this month’s issue of Meetings and Conventions magazine, titled “The Frugal Planner: 10 Ways to Save Big,” we thought we would chime in with some money-saving tips specifically related to booking speakers. One of the M&C article’s 10 cost-cutting tips already relates to booking speakers, but a few of the others can also be applied to saving money on speakers:

1. Attract sponsors. When the budget doesn’t allow you to secure the speaker you’re looking for, don’t give up hope before considering the possibility of sponsorships. If you’re going to have your entire audience in the same place at the same time - for the keynote speaker(s) - you have a great value proposition for potential session sponsors. Who wouldn’t love to have a captive audience looking at their logo on display behind the speaker for an hour, or have the opportunity to make a 30- or 60-second pitch just before introducing the featured speaker? (Here’s an article that outlines how a company can maximize the benefits of sponsoring a speaker’s session - you might want to adapt it for your “pitch” to prospective sponsors.)
2. Choose local speakers. This has long been an effective tactic for reducing the investment required for professional speakers. The M&C article cites a study by the National Speakers Association which found that the average cost of a keynote address is 25 percent less if the speaker doesn’t have to travel to the event. Not only do you potentially qualify for a discounted fee by booking a local or regional speaker, but you’ll also avoid or at least minimize the speaker’s reimbursable travel expenses. (Check out The Speakers Group’s local speaker directory to find speakers based near your next event.)
3. Be flexible with dates. You probably know how helpful this can be in negotiating with hotels and other venues, but did you know it also can have an impact on speaker fees? The Spring and Fall seasons are usually very busy times for speakers, but July-August and December-January can sometimes be a bit slow. It’s not a guarantee, but if you’re able to effectively host your program during an “off” month for speakers, you might find them more receptive to discounting their fee a bit to fit into your budget. And that’s not the only kind of date flexibility that can help you. If you can book a speaker around a date when he or she is already scheduled to appear in a nearby town, you’ll likely save money by having the travel expenses pro-rated between your organization and the other client. (In this kind of scenario, most speakers are not willing to offer the “piggy-back” client a discount on their actual fee, out of fairness to the original event host. But pro-rating expenses helps both clients.)
4. Condense the agenda. If you need your speaker to deliver multiple sessions, try to minimize the down-time between the sessions. Most speakers have keynote fees, half-day fees and full-day fees. If you have the speaker for a keynote in the morning and a breakout in the afternoon, you’re almost certain to qualify for their half-day or full-day fee. But if you can schedule the two (or more) sessions close together, allowing the speaker to keep a travel itinerary similar to what they would have if they were only doing a keynote, then you might have some bargaining power. Every speaker is different, but I have known speakers to do two sessions for the price of one if both are held within a four-hour block of time.
5. Reconsider value brands. The M&C article makes this suggestion for hotel bookings, but it applies to speakers, too. To use the recent Olympics as an example, demand for Michael Phelps is peaking right now - and rightfully so, given his amazing accomplishments. As the demand peaks, though, so does the appearance fee. If your budget doesn’t allow you to secure Michael, consider his relay teammate, Jason Lezak. Jason is also in high demand right now, but you might find him to be a greater value than Michael. Or as another alternative, consider Mark Spitz, the swimmer who won seven gold medals at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, which had been the record until Michael’s achievements this year. Not only does Mark have a more reasonable fee, but he’s been on the speaking circuit for years and has a great, polished message to share. Beyond just the Olympics, this same concept applies to booking the co-author of business books rather than the lead author, booking a certified leader of a program rather than creator of the program, etc. (For example, check out Robert Thompson who is certified to deliver the popular Leadership Challenge material at a fraction of the cost of Jim Kouzes or Barry Posner.)

At The Speakers Group, we will always help our clients “save every penny possible without sacrificing quality” - to quote the M&C article - when booking speakers. We’ll take the time to understand your objectives and put together a gameplan that will allow you to meet and exceed expectations while staying within your budget. Give us a call or send us an email anytime. We’re standing by to help you make your next event the best ever.

Posted under Planner Tips

“Olympics coverage helped US network NBC beat its rivals by the biggest ever ratings margin last week - and at one point it had more viewers than the next 12 channels combined.” - according to a Guardian UK article last week.

Although the Olympics are over, you can capture the enthusiasm at your next event with one of several athletes who are on - or are hitting - the speaking circuit. Among the most popular candidates:

• Dara Torres - Winner of twelve Olympic medals, she shattered expectations by making her record fifth US Olympic team - and became the oldest female swimmer, at age 41, to make the Olympic team. Competing against girls half her age, she was virtually unstoppable, breaking the US record in the 50m Freestyle multiple times on her way to Beijing. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Dara took Silver in the 50m Freestyle, 4×100m Freestyle relay and 4×100 Medley relay.
• Jason Lezak - Jason has raced with some of the best swimmers of all time, including the infamous relays at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when Jason tore through the water not once, but twice, to secure 8 gold medals for teammate Michael Phelps. His achievements have given him a confidence and a winning record that can’t be questioned. In 2008, the oldest man on the U.S. swim team at age 32, and tri-captain, Jason anchored the U.S. men’s 400-meter freestyle relay and 400-meter medley relay teams to 2 gold medals. Expect to see his leg, the fastest 100 relay split (46.06), for decades to come
  in sports highlight films.
• Nastia Liukin (Appearances Only) - As a Senior International Elite gymnast, Nastia is a five-time Olympic Medalist, four-time World Champion, nine-time World medalist, four-time US National Champion and has won multiple Pacific Rim and American Cup titles. After sustaining an ankle injury in 2006, Nastia’s career was put on hold as she underwent surgery. Nastia came back stronger than ever in 2007 and joined 1996 Olympic Champion Shannon Miller as the most decorated American gymnast in World Championship competition. Liukin’s first meet of the 2008 season was the American Cup in New York City, where she defeated 2007 winner Shawn Johnson to regain her title. She posted the highest score of the meet, a 16.6 on the uneven bars. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Nastia led the USA Women’s Gymnastics team to a Silver scoring the highest score of the competition on the uneven bars, a 16.9. Two days later, Nastia became only the third American woman to claim the coveted all-around title, joining her training partner at her Texas gym, Carly Patterson, from 2004 and Mary Lou Retton from 1984.
• Mark Spitz - Considered the Greatest Olympic athlete of all-time, Mark Spitz is synonymous with excellence. He is world renown and one of the most recognized faces in the World. In 2000, Mark was voted Athlete of the Century in water sports and one of the six greatest Olympians ever by Sports Illustrated. Recently, the International Olympic Committee selected Mark as one of its five athletes of the Century. Mark is a highly requested public speaker throughout the World and will continue to be a very hot commodity as long as there is an Olympic Games somewhere in the world or the desire by a group to hear from one of the greatest living legends of all-time in sports.
• Bruce Jenner - Bruce Jenner’s “Rule for Life” is exactly the same as it was when he became the “World’s Greatest Athlete” by winning the gold medal in the 1976 Olympic Decathlon. The years since his athletic achievements made him world famous, Bruce has become a highly respected motivational speaker, sports commentator, entrepreneur, commercial spokesperson, television personality, actor, producer and author. A devoted father and husband, Bruce is also a loyal supporter of many non profit and charitable organizations and serves on numerous advisory boards such as the Special Olympics, where he serves on the Council of Champions, The National Dyslexia Research Foundation, and an avid supporter of Athletes and Entertainers for Kids. Bruce and his wife Kris serve on the board of The Dream Foundation, an organization that grants wishes to terminally ill adults, and C.O.A.C.H. for Kids, a mobile medical unit providing quality health care to under privileged families throughout Los Angeles.

For more information about fees and availability for these and other Olympic athletes to speak or appear at your next event, contact The Speakers Group at (615) 866-2665 or at http://www.thespeakersgroup.com.

NOTE: Watch Nastia Liukin on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on August 26 at 11:35 pm Eastern!

Posted under Motivational Speakers, Speaker News