Choose the best speaker - eight questions to ask

Yikes! You have simply been put in charge of developing a program for your next corporate function. Perhaps it's a trade show. Perhaps it's a conference. It might be a brand meeting or a product launch. Whatever the experience, your program will stand or fall on
- The audience
- The purpose of the meeting
- The topics of the sessions
- The presenters or speakers

The audience and the purpose of the meeting will determine the topics, and all three will determine who your speakers must be.

"But David, shouldn't we hire the biggest name possible the speaker with the biggest 'star attraction'?"

Not necessarily. If the leading purpose of your speaker is to attract attendance, then you desire the biggest name possible for one of your slots a Jerry Seinfeld or Jay Leno or Nicole Kidman or maybe an ex-President.

However, you will still need many other speakers. Star attraction is a convincing element, but there are more considerable factors:

How well does he or she know the topic you need addressed? Often a respected but decidedly "unfamous" skilled is a more in-depth pick than someone out of Hollywood. You can learn a lot about speakers by reviewing their biographies online. As an example, here is the online bio of Jackie Joyner Kersee.

How well can the speaker learn to understand your audience? This is vital, since the speaker might already have addressed a similar audience. Or he might be willing to take the time to understand who your audience is and what their experiences have been. Or maybe not. A key question to ask..."Will you arrive early enough to be briefed about what has already transpired at our experience, so that you can work it into your speech?" Then write it into the speaker's settlement.

How well does the speaker speak? This is vital because the most famous individual that has simply discovered the cure for cancer or won a dozen gold medals on the Olympics might not be able to utter an intelligible word. Make sure the famous speaker or recognized skilled can truly speak well. Ask to see a real video at a real speaking engagement. Even better, take the speaker for a test drive. Ask to attend an upcoming speaking engagement.

What is the speaker's speaking style? Not every speaker matches your audience. Some audiences and numerous topics call for an lively motivational style. Others call for a more informative style. Some audiences will react better to a laid-back style. To be sure, boring is out, no matter what the audience, but there are different kinds that can engage an audience, but not all of them will work with every audience.

Ask for references you can call...references with similar audience characteristics. Then make the call and ask what went well and what may possibly have been improved. If something did not go well, it may be an indication that the speaker is not ideal, or it may be an indication of something it's a must to do to make sure she or he is ideal.

Is the speaker willing to provide an outline of the speech ahead of time? It is vital for you to know what the speaker will cover and to make suggestions if necessary. It's your program and you know what needs to be covered.

Is the speaker willing to go the extra mile? Sometimes the simplest speaker is the one who will commit to staying an hour after the experience to answer questions from shy participants or from those with long-winded or multi-part questions. Or a speaker, mainly one who is already well-known, can add value by greeting people as they enter the hall. Or perhaps they could also add numerous excitement to a spouses' program.

Of course, budget is always considerable. If it's a must to pay for a dozen speakers with a limited budget, don't attempt to book Dr. Phil for one of your slots.

A speakers bureau can help you navigate many of these problems, both more quickly and more effectively than you can yourself. Once you are making known your concerns and questions, the speakers bureau can quickly pull out those speakers most likely to suit your needs and respond to your demands.

Choosing the right speaker is critical, if you happen to desire your audience to walk away feeling that they have gained something from the experience. Take the time to ask the right questions and hire the right speaker.

ABOUT THE WRITER:

David Leonhardt is a freelance writer and marketing consultant. He works with All American Sports Speakers Bureau, with GMG Olympic athlete sports speakers and Celebrity Health Link medical examiners and product spokespersons.

Categories: healthy