How to Find a Speaker
At the heart of any great event experience is the takeaway value, the message, the lessons, and the actionable insights that attendees can use in everyday life. Content can make or break an event, and this is why it is so important to pick the right speaker. Below, our best practices for choosing the perfect speaker for your event.
- Start with your stakeholders. Review the objectives for your event with your committee, capturing all the ideas, input, concerns, and opportunities. Take note of speaker recommendations from this meeting. An event brief can be a valuable tool (Learn more about the event brief here)
- Review past events. What worked, and what didn’t? Which speakers made an impact, and who left the attendees wanting more? Surveys from past years can be especially helpful now.
- Call a program consultant. An initial call with a Leading Authorities program consultant will help narrow down speakers. Because our program consultants are well-versed in key issues of the day, they can provide tailored research and recommendations that stay in line with the budgets, theme, and location of the event.
- Get a customized proposal. Our program consultants will promptly draw up a proposal with speaker choices, fees, and availability. In addition to speakers your committee has identified as possibilities, we will also suggest new and relevant speakers you may not have considered.
- Watch videos of speakers. This is a great way to see the speaker in action and determine if their personality and content will fulfill the objectives of your conference. Remember, many speakers customize their keynote to fit your industry or organization, so don’t be deterred if the speech in the sample video does not directly apply.
- Consider extras like receptions, panels, and workshops. You may get more bang for your buck by booking a speaker who includes free books, break-out sessions, or follow up conference calls. Leading Authorities will help negotiate with talent.
- Make final recommendations to the committee. Leading Authorities will provide selling points, research, and consensus-building materials to make a case to your committee.
When you work with Leading Authorities to source talent for your event, you can be assured the personality and price will be the perfect fit every time. We understand the high pressures you face in presenting speakers to your committee and managing budget constraints. Our job at Leading Authorities has always been to make you look good.
Give us a call at 1-800-SPEAKER and start your speaker search today.