TSG Speakers Bureau Reference Guide: Lecture Agency

What is a lecture agency? Is a lecture agency the same as a speakers bureau? This installment of The Speakers Group speakers bureau's reference guide provides some helpful information for those seeking more information about lecture agencies and speakers bureaus.

What is a lecture agency, and is it the same as a speakers bureau?

The use of the term, lecture agency, likely pre-dates the term speakers bureau, and sometimes indicates representation of speakers (or lecturers) of high profile. Llecture agency is essentially an interchangeable term for speakers bureau, however. Both lecture agencies and speakers bureaus maintain relationships with numerous speakers on a variety of topics, in a variety of fee ranges, providing meeting professionals access to thousands of speakers with just one contact. Lecture agencies are constantly evaluating speakers -- including reviewing materials and checking references -- in order to be able to recommend the perfect speaker solutions for a planner's unique program objectives. A lecture agency is capable of offering expert advice to event planners and helping them through the speaker booking process. This begins with providing the necessary materials for reviewing speaker candidates and continues through to the issuing of contracts and invoices, to coordinating advance details of the speaker engagement, to evaluating the speaker's performance after the event.

Meeting professionals most frequently call on professional speakers bureaus or lecture agencies to support their event planning efforts. Doing so allows a planner to free up precious time for handling other critical aspects of a meeting or special event. There are over 100 speakers bureau/lecture agency members of the International Association of Speakers Bureaus representing several different keynote speaker categories including business, celebrities, motivation, sales and others.

What is the benefit of working with a lecture agency?

Lecture agencies serve meeting and event planners by listening to their program objectives and responding with expert information and suggestions about relevant speakers and entertainers. Lecture agencies are paid a commission on bookings by speakers, meaning their helpful service is available at no charge to planners.

A lecture agency maintains relationships with numerous speakers on a variety of topics, in a variety of fee ranges, providing meeting professionals access to thousands of speakers with just one contact. Lecture agencies are constantly evaluating speakers -- including reviewing materials and checking references -- in order to be able to recommend the perfect speaker solutions for a planner's unique program objectives. Lecture agencies and speakers bureaus are capable of offering expert advice to event planners and helping them through the speaker booking process. This begins with providing the necessary materials for reviewing speaker candidates and continues through to the issuing of contracts and invoices, to coordinating advance details of the speaker engagement, to evaluating the speaker's performance after the event.

Are all speakers available through all lecture agencies?

Except in a handful of special circumstances, all speakers are available through all lecture agencies. Some agencies may specialize in certain categories of speakers, or may focus on speakers within a specific fee range, but for the most part, meeting professionals have the freedom to choose their agency or bureau partner without regard for speaker roster or even price -- since speaker fees are set by the speakers and remain consistent from agency to agency.

It is common for IASB member speakers bureaus to work together, providing meeting professionals easy access to virtually any speaker in any market with just one phone call. This networking power provides meeting planners with a unique advantage: they can work with one speakers bureau of their choice and still have access to most every speaker on the circuit.

Since the available speakers are much the same from one lecture agency to another, a meeting professional can choose his or her agency partner based simply on personal preference. The most important thing for a planner is to find a partner that is reliable and trustworthy, who understands the planner's objectives, and with whom the planner has a good rapport. This makes the speaker booking process both effective and enjoyable.

How can I utilize a lecture agency in my event planning efforts?

The Speakers Group lecture agency has made it easy for planners to get started booking a speaker, offering four choices depending on a planner's unique needs and preferences -- one of which is to give us a call at (615) 545-9215. We'll be happy to be of service.