How To Choose A Speaker For Your Event


Is it time to choose a speaker for your event?

Ranging from motivational, to educational, to inspirational, there are a lot of benefits to hiring an event speaker.

A few years ago, I had a very demanding client who insisted on hiring a high profile speaker for their team building event, but ‘Mr. Hard-to-Handle’ had champagne tastes and a beer budget, and guess who had to break the news to him that:

  • his chosen speaker wasn’t available on the one and only date we were available and
  • even if he was available, we couldn’t afford to hire him.

If you’re guessing me, you’re right!

Then there was the time I had a 4-person speaker panel at a conference and one of the speakers pedaled his services from the stage instead of sticking to the outline and providing information and value to the audience.

I’ve learned a lot from hiring and working with event speakers.

How To Choose A Speaker For Your Event

When you choose a speaker for your event, in addition to vetting and hiring the speaker, it’s equally important to convey the proper message by giving the speaker(s) an outline and the event objective prior to the event.

By providing speaker guidelines, you’re politely telling the speaker the dos and don’ts of your event.

Hiring the right speaker, can take a lot of work off your plate, which gives you confidence and allows you to focus on other areas of the event and making sure it runs smoothly.

To make finding and hiring event speakers easier for your next event, consider these 6 guidelines that I’m sharing in today’s episode of EventPlanning BlueprintTV.

Earlier this year I attended an event and the keynote speakers were Daymond John and Kevin Harrington from Shark Tank. Not only did they provide valuable business insights but they delivered (what could be) dry information in an educational and humorous, story-telling style. They were perfect for the audience.

Now I’d love to hear from you.

In the comments below, let me know who you’ve recently seen at an event – whether it’s an event you’ve planned or one you’ve attended.

Thanks for sharing for your comments; I look forward to hearing from you.

Have an amazing week,


8 Comments

  1. Tammie Houston at 3:26 am

    I like how you mentioned that by giving the speaker some guidelines, you’re informing them of the dos and don’ts of the even in a polite manner. The school I work for is planning to hold a seminar for the students, and of course, we want it to be as formal and decorous as possible. Thanks for the tips. I’ll make sure to establish a guideline for the speaker to follow as soon as we hire one.

    Reply
    1. Event Planning Blueprint at 6:44 pm

      Most speakers appreciate that you give them a guidelines because it’s helpful for them too. Good luck with your event Tammie!

      Reply
  2. Latoya Anderson at 8:47 pm

    What appealed to me the most in your article is when you suggested giving the motivation speaker the outline of the message that your event likes to convey to the audience. My son is looking to hire a motivational speaker for an event in his school. It’s highly important for him to know what he should remember to effectively relay the purpose of the event through the motivational speaker that he will choose to make sure that his audience will get a good idea of what his event’s desires are. I will make sure to share your blog with my son. Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Event Planning Blueprint at 10:19 am

      Thanks LaToya. we think it’s important to set everyone up for success and give them as much (relevant) info as possible. Good luck to your son!

      Reply
  3. Ellen Hughes at 6:42 pm

    I like that you suggested making an outline and the objectives of your account so the speaker that you will hire will know the dos and don’ts of your event. Thanks for sharing this.

    Reply
    1. Event Planning Blueprint at 7:23 pm

      You’re welcome Ellen, and thanks for the suggestions!

      Reply
  4. Taylor Bishop at 10:07 am

    Thanks for these tips for finding a speaker for an event. I’m glad you mentioned that you should give the speaker guidelines. This seems really important to letting them know things they could possibly discuss.

    Reply
    1. Event Planning Blueprint at 10:17 am

      glad the tips helps, Taylor!

      Reply

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