When done right, booking a speaker can provide a catalyst for a transformational change in performance. The challenge is without the right advice it’s easy to get it wrong.
Most conferences will have no more than six hours content, so if you’re booking a speaker to deliver an hour the messages and tone need to be spot on; it’s a large chunk of the total time to waste and the ripple effects can be destructive.
You’re aware of the cost of getting delegates to and from the venue, as well as the cost of people being out of the business for the day, so you need to be certain that the speakers’ session will land well – the expectations will be high from the audience and your key stakeholders!
We deliver speakers for over 500 events each year, from intimate meetings to global AGMs – the key for our clients is trust, challenge and support. Our priority is to create maximum impact, by getting the right speaker to the right event.
Here are 4 things to look out for to make sure the right choice is made.
Who’s in the audience?
Booking a speaker who talks at the level of the audience is crucial – There is nothing worse than an audience who feel patronised by the message or put off by a speaker who doesn’t relate to them. Match the speaker to the audience and if it’s going to be a real mix you must ensure the speaker is experienced enough to deliver a message that resonates with everyone.
What do you want the audience to feel?
This is important for lots of reasons. do you want a motivational speaker to make the audience walk out feeling ten feet tall; an industry expert to educate on new trends; a recognisable sports star to instil pride; a business leader to challenge the audience or an entertainer to have them laughing down the aisles?
What is the absolute must? What are your key priorities?
What is your budget?
This will always be an important consideration and you must manage your expectations. You need to get it right at your event, you’ve already invested in the time, the venue and the production, make sure you invest in the content too.
Give us a ballpark figure to work from and we can make suggestions that suit your message your audience and your budget.
What else is going on that day?
Your speaker should compliment and feed into the rest of the day’s activities; you want the event to feel joined up and your speaker to bring your content to life.
Is it a morning session to set the tone and provide a stimulus to think differently or a motivational speaker to kick start the afternoon? A sombre state of the nation or a focus on recognition and reward?
You’ve made the investment so why not follow the speaker with some facilitated sessions that bring your messages to life and give it longevity with key actions to take away? It’s also important to remember that many of our speakers can deliver much more than the standard 45 minutes so don’t be constrained – it’s the outcomes that matter!
For further information on our portfolio of Thinkers, Doers, Motivators & Innovators visit www.raisethebar.co.uk/speakers or call our team of dedicated speaker consultants on 0203 137 7353