How to Hire a Speaker

by Wendy Garecht

Hiring a speaker for your event can be a daunting task. There are many ways
to find a speaker. You may go through a speakers bureau or an agency. They
have screened the speakers they represent and will be able to match up
a speaker with your event. If you do not wish to go through an agency or
bureau, speakers can be found in the phone book and on the web.

Another good source for finding a speaker is to ask your fellow colleagues in
other companies or associations who they have used in the past. Using these
four tips can help you find a professional corporate speaker who will help
contribute to the success of your event.

1. When initially contacting your prospective speaker, have the date of your
event and an estimate of your speaking budget. Be ready to discuss your
budget with the speaker. You can waste significant time considering a speaker
and requesting promotional materials only to find out that they are out of your
budget or unavailable the date of your event.

2. Upon first contact, make sure the speaker is ³corporate friendly.² By
corporate friendly I mean no racial, sexual or religious material in their
speech. A good corporate speaker will have a list of corporate clients he
has serviced, and will also have letters of recommendation from corporate
clients which should be included in the promotional packet they send to you.

3. Discuss your goals for the event with your prospective speaker. Be willing
to openly discuss the event, including the agenda, awards ceremonies, where
it will be held, the number of people attending, and most importantly, what
objectives you want their services to accomplish. A professional speaker will
analyze your event and determine if they feel they can help you meet those objectives.
A professional speaker is going to turn down an event if they feel their program
will not achieve the goals you have set for the event.

4. After following the above guidelines, if you feel your prospective speaker
may be a good match for your event, request promotional material. You
should receive the material within a few days of your request. The promotional
material should provide further details into the programs they offer and
provide references you may contact.

You can receive information regarding Geoffrey Ronning at: (623) 476-2437
or online via the contact page.