Meeting Planning and Booking Keynote Speakers – SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau

Engaging Your Audiences With Multi-Sensory Experiences

speaking13 — Sun, 02 Jun 2019 17:54:49 +0000

Michael Perman is head of the innovation firm C’EST WHAT? https://www.cestwhat.org and author of the book CRAVING THE FUTURE: Transforming Our Deepest Desires into New Realities. Perman believes that stimulating people’s senses draws them into the room and keeps them engaged. His experience leading innovation events for brands such as Levi’s, Gap, Banana Republic, Adidas and Hyatt has given him perspective on what makes an event more successful and memorable.

SPEAKING.COM: How can event planners engage their audiences?

PERMAN: Event planners are often challenged to discover new ways to engage their audience and fill seats at conference events. One successful approach is to stimulate the minds and bodies of participants with multi-sensory experiences that are memorable and shareable. Integrating music, color, texture, aroma, vivid imagery and audience participation with relevant content keeps people on their toes and opens their channels of listening.

Music is always a welcome reprieve from endlessly exhausting PowerPoint presentations. But, how about teaching people to write their own songs and then having a live band play the songs improv-style?

Peter Himmelman, CEO of Innovation firm Big Muse https://www.bigmuse.com does just that for clients like Boeing, 3M, Adobe, and Coca-Cola. He is an accomplished musician, expert on creativity, and author of the book LET ME OUT, Unlock Your Creative Mind and Bring Your Ideas to Life. Peter believes that engaging audiences in surprising ways is crucial to engaging their attention and breaking out of their norm.

SPEAKING.COM: How does your combined interactive program with Peter Himmelman create a unique interactive experience for the audience?

PERMAN: We often begin our presentation with a “cold-opening” that you sometimes see on television shows such as Saturday Night Live. Instead of saying, “Hello and thanks for having me here,” we often begin our presentations with live music playing while we are tossing oranges to participants in the audience or handing out samples of chocolate while saying hello and shaking hands. That stimulates people’s imaginations and conveys that the experience they are about to have will be very different than any other event experience.

So often we are confronted with things we’ve already seen, things we already know. When that happens, the mind goes into a sort of autopilot mode. That’s when you’ll typically see people zoning out and getting on their phones. The trick to garnering people’s rapt attention and focus is to present them with something that defies their expectations. There’s something magical about coming in front of an audience and getting them thinking, “What in the world is going on here?”

Himmelman and Big Muse teach audiences the fundamentals of song writing as a means to transcend creative obstacles. Audience members interview each other in pairs, ask questions about physical descriptions and emotional reactions to experiences they’ve had, and then write songs for each other. Volunteers experience the songs they have written, performed live on stage with a full rock band.

SPEAKING.COM: How do you and Peter Himmelman stimulate creativity in your audience?

PERMAN: While the sources of creativity are often elusive and mysterious, there is evidence that the very concept of creativity and how it is stimulated among audience members can be described scientifically.

A 2018 study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and led by Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Roger Beaty suggests that highly creative people are characterized by their ability to simultaneously engage three large-scale neural networks in our brains: the default, salience, and executive systems.

The default mode network, he said, is involved in memory and mental simulation. So the theory is that it plays an important role in processes like mind-wandering, imagination, and spontaneous thinking.

“In terms of creativity, we think that’s important for brainstorming,” Beaty said. “But you’re not always going to stumble onto the most creative idea that way, because you might be drawn to something unoriginal from memory, so that’s when these other networks come online.”

The salience network, he said, detects important information, both in the environment and internally. The salience network includes parts of your brain that are responsible for mediating emotions, learning, memory, taste, touch, and planning for the future.

Lastly, Beaty said, the executive control network helps people focus on useful ideas while discarding those that aren’t working.

“It’s the synchrony between these systems that seems to be important for creativity,” Beaty said. “People who are more creative can simultaneously engage brain networks that don’t typically work together.”

SPEAKING.COM: How does your program apply multi-sensory stimulation?

PERMAN: My innovation strategy firm, C’EST WHAT? has applied the concept of multi-sensory stimulation to engage audiences for years. My keynote speeches and follow-up workshops are purposefully designed and orchestrated to light up the minds of my audiences. I have included a spectrum of musical accompaniments in my presentations, including accordion players, electric violinists, Irish folk bands, flamenco, French can-can dancers, didgeridoo and the full, improvisational experience with Peter Himmelman and Big Muse.

Creativity and innovation emerge from stimulating our senses. Using live music as a tool to generate energy vibrations and enhance the overall mood can generate a dopamine rush, flooding minds with the excitement of creating what is next. Music and lyrics touch our emotions and trigger memories and metaphors that have emotional resonance.

If you wish to attract and engage your audience with memorable, creative experiences, then highly immersive, mindfully crafted innovation keynotes are a great way to keep people talking for years to come.

The post Engaging Your Audiences With Multi-Sensory Experiences appeared first on SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau.

Happy Holidays and Here’s to a Prosperous, Healthy and Fulfilling 2019!

speaking13 — Mon, 10 Dec 2018 20:16:40 +0000

Thank you to our amazing clients and incredible speakers for making 2018 our best ever; we had the honor of curating speaker talent and content for more meetings and conferences than ever in our 25-year history!

Fun, insightful holiday quotations…

The three stages of a man’s life:
1. He believes in Santa Claus
2. He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus.
3. He is Santa Claus.
(Unattributed)

Gift suggestions: To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.
(Oren Arnold)

Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
(Calvin Coolidge)

New Year’s Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery. Today carve out a quiet interlude for yourself in which to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams give birth to change.
(Sarah Ban Breathnach)

I don’t need a holiday or a feast to feel grateful for my children, the sun, the moon, the roof over my head, music, and laughter, but I like to take this time to take the path of thanks less traveled.
(Paula Poundstone)

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.
(Mae West)

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
(Hamilton Wright Mabie)

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.
(Kurt Vonnegut)

May this Festival of Lights bring blessings upon you and All Your Loved Ones.
May the Lights of Hanukkah usher in a better world for all humankind.
May Love & Light fill your home and heart at Hanukkah.
May happiness fill your home as you celebrate the Festival of Lights.
(Unattributed)

New Year’s Day is every man’s birthday.
(Charles Lamb)

I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.

So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.
(Neil Gaiman)

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring-not even a mouse:
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.
(Clement C. Moore)

You don’t leave the people you love alone.
(Patricia, Grey’s Anatomy)

Great things are done by a series of small things put together.
(Vincent Van Gogh)

See the light in others, and treat them as if that is all you see.
(Dr. Wayne Dyer)

If you want to make peace on earth, you don’t talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies.
(Moshe Dayan)

How many families, whose members have been dispersed and scattered far and wide, in the restless struggles of life, are then reunited, and meet once again in that happy state of companionship and mutual goodwill, which is a source of such pure and unalloyed delight; and one so incompatible with the cares and sorrows of the world, that the religious belief of the most civilized nations, and the rude traditions of the roughest savages, alike number it among the first joys of a future condition of existence, provided for the blessed and happy!
(Charles Dickens)

I wish you a merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year;
A pocket full of money
And a cellar full of beer,
And a great fat pig
To last you all the year.
(Old English Song)

“Maybe Christmas,” he thought, “doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more.”
(Theodor Seuss Geisel, “The Grinch”)

There was the little boy who approached Santa in a department store with a long list of requests. He wanted a bicycle and a sled, a chemical set, a cowboy suit, a set of trains, a baseball glove and roller skates.
“That’s a pretty long list,” Santa said sternly. “I’ll have to check in my book and see if you were a good boy.”
“No, no,” the youngster said quickly. “Never Mind checking. I’ll just take the roller skates.”
(Unattributed)

It is the firends you can call at 4 a.m. that matter.
(Marlene Dietrich)

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.
(Friedrich Nietzsche)

Calvin: Well. I’ve decided I do believe in Santa Claus,
no matter how preposterous he sounds.
Hobbes: What convinced you?
Calvin: A simple risk analysis. I want presents. Lots of presents.
Why risk not getting them over a matter of belief?
Heck, I’ll believe anything they want.
(Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes)

The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing other’s loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the Holidays.
(W. C. Jones)

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exists, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.
(Francis Pharcellus Church, responding to a letter to the New York Sun
in 1897 from 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon asking, “is there a Santa Claus”)

No, Virginia, there is no Santa Claus. But important lessons and a sweet tale that makes glad the heart of childhood live on, at least until our imagination creates something even better.

Your eagerness to know is wonderful! Have you ever scooped up a lost nickel, only to discover that it is a quarter? Santa is like that, a thousand times over. No, there is no Santa outside imagination. But why you were told about him is much better than if he were really real.

Santa is a playful fantasy full of hope and happiness, inviting you down the challenging path to true adulthood. Yes, he embodies good will and generosity and inspires children everywhere to appreciate the difference between Naughty and Nice. But there is so much more that you and your friends are just now glimpsing, hidden behind the tale’s knowing wink.
(Greg Perkins, The Objectivist Center)

The holiest of holidays are those
Kept by ourselves in silence and apart;
The secret anniversaries of the heart.
(Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.
(Unattributed)

For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
(T.S. Eliot, Little Gidding)

In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it Christmas’ and went to church; the Jews called it Hanukkah’ and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say Merry Christmas!’ or Happy Hanukkah!’ or (to the atheists) Look out for the wall!’
(Dave Barry)

Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel,
I made it out of clay;
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel,
Now dreidel I shall play.
(Unattributed)

A three-year-old gave this reaction to her Holiday dinner: “I don’t like the turkey, but I like the bread he ate.”
(Unattributed)

As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December’s bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same.
(Donald E. Westlake)

A Holiday candle is a lovely thing; It makes no noise at all, But softly gives itself away; While quite unselfish, it grows small.
(Eva K. Logue)

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? Claustrophobic.
(Unattributed)

The [Kwanzaa] holiday, then will of necessity, be engaged as an ancient and living cultural tradition which reflects the best of African thought and practice in its reaffirmation of the dignity of the human person in community and culture, the well-being of family and community, the integrity of the environment and our kinship with it, and the rich resource and meaning of a people’s culture.
(Dr. Maulana Karenga)

I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.
(Shirley Temple)

The one thing women don’t want to find in their stockings on Christmas morning is their husband.
(Joan Rivers)

I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note on it saying, toys not included.
(Bernard Manning)

And in our world of plenty
We can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world
At Christmastime.
(Bob Geldof & Midge Ure)

Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and effort which life implies.
(Erich Fromm)

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. Wishing you happiness.
(Helen Keller)

Every night, when I go to sleep, I die. Every morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.
(Mohandas Gandhi)

No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.
(Barbara De Angelis)

The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature.
(Anne Frank)

And So This Is Christmas;
And What Have We Done?
Another Year Over;
A New One Just Begun;
And So Happy Christmas;
I Hope You Have Fun;
The Near And The Dear Ones;
The Old And The Young.
(John Lennon)

The post Happy Holidays and Here’s to a Prosperous, Healthy and Fulfilling 2019! appeared first on SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau.

Applying the Principles of Positive Psychology to Event and Meeting Planning

speaking13 — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 00:14:47 +0000

When we leverage positive interventions at live events we drive deeper connections in our audiences’ neural pathways of which helps them to retain the positive memory and the learning, weeks and months later. Another valuable bi-product? A happier subconscious connection to your client’s brand.

SPEAKING.COM: How can the “happiness at work” principles be applied to live meetings?

MOSS: The science of happiness is pretty fascinating. To sum it up, happiness is connected to our psychological fitness. The more we work out our brains by acting with empathy, gratitude, hopefulness, resiliency, mindfulness, the more “fit” we become. Like building any other habit, it requires effort and intention. Simple actions daily, increase those complex benefits over time.

So, how does happiness-building translate to live meetings? Well, whenever we practice any of these skills, it creates a healthy chemical response in our brains, heightening and deepening our memories. The most memorable events are often connected to a positive emotional experience.

SPEAKING.COM: What advice do you have for busy meeting planners who are dealing with high levels of stress?

MOSS: Here are a few quick ways to reduce stress in the moment:

1) Stop for one minute and notice three things you hear, three things you see, or three things you can touch. It draws your brain immediately back to the present and helps you to refocus and regain your problem-solving skills.

2) Practice mindful breathing. Four breaths in slowly, four breaths out, slowly. It takes one minute but it reconnects your back of the brain (irrational, impulsive brain) to the front of the brain (your rational, mindful brain) which is hugely valuable if you are trying to come up with solutions to issues on the fly.

3) Be grateful. Stop for one minute and send a “thank you” text to someone or put a sticky note on their desk. Again, it is a two-minute activity that helps you put space between you and your stress. It also increases the happiness of someone else – subsequently increasing your happiness 3.5 times more than if you just did something for yourself.

SPEAKING.COM: How can meeting planners use positive psychology to make their meetings more effective and long-lasting?

MOSS: Add in multiple modalities of learning. Use offline tools like gratitude walls or “thank you walls” to get everyone in a “gratitude high” brought on by increased endorphins. Have them get up every hour or two to post to their walls. This action gets people out of their chairs and combats possible boredom.

Build the interventions in the “homework”. Have attendees establish a means of communicating back to the group using a preferred internal or external social collaboration tool. From Slack or Yammer to Instagram/Twitter/Facebook – have guests reconnecting. I share many examples in the book, Unlocking Happiness at Work, but some ideas include a gratitude wall in the lunchroom back at the office, or a 30-days of mindfulness or empathy challenge – there are plenty of simple tactics that produce a long-lasting tie-back to the event.

I have spoken all over the world and my most memorable experiences are tied to the audience interaction. I find that if the host is engaging and funny, the audience is warmed up and enthusiastic.

SPEAKING.COM: As a speaker who has spoken at events around the world, what advice might you give meeting and conference planners to enhance the attendee experience and also get the most value from their speakers?

MOSS: I have spoken all over the world and my most memorable experiences are tied to the audience interaction. I find that if the host is engaging and funny, the audience is warmed up and enthusiastic. If you watch any of the daytime or late-night shows, they have someone making the audience laugh constantly between segments.

I use plenty of laugh-inducing moments in my talks (some at my own expense!) because it is the most authentic way to get people to open up. There is such a relief from the audience when I share how science is connected to happiness. Some believe that professional events need to be serious in order to be taken seriously. The truth is, the more the audience laughs, the more likely they will absorb the learning and remember the event positively.

Truthfully, I feel like I have the best gig in the world. I get to use scientific research and evidence to validate that happier workplaces are the single biggest impact on innovation, shareholder value, profitability, revenue, high-performing teams, and the list goes on. It is the best win-win scenario any compassionate leader would care to know – and I get to give them permission to make joy a part of daily life for their employees. This is honestly where I get the most value as a speaker – feeling like my message will offer some tiny positive impact on the people listening to it.

The post Applying the Principles of Positive Psychology to Event and Meeting Planning appeared first on SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau.

How to Select the Best Leadership Speaker for Your Event

speaking13 — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 22:41:53 +0000

By Michael Frick, CEO of SPEAKING.com

Selecting the best leadership speaker for your event can be a bewildering task. There are thousands of leadership experts to choose from – all with varying approaches, experience, fees and presentation styles. Answering the following questions is the first step to finding the ideal candidate for your event or meeting.

1) What are your overall event goals and how does your speaker fit into the main themes and structure of your meeting or event?

Examples: The fundamental event goals might be to have an organization’s leadership team meet new competitive challenges or deal effectively with employee morale issues. Your speaker might be expected to kickoff the event with a customized keynote address and set the tone for subsequent workshops, or might be expected to lead a longer (half or full day) interactive workshop.

2) What effect do you want your leadership speaker to have on your group?

Examples:
A speaker might be expected to motivate executives to inspire their own teams or spark innovation in the corporate culture.

3) What background do you want your ideal keynote speaker to have?

Examples:
An academic / university professor; best-selling author; someone with leadership experience gained in another field such as an Everest climber or professional sports coach; leadership experts; or a C-Level executive with real-world experience.

4) What presentation style/personality would work best for your group? Do you want someone who is interactive and adept at Q&A sessions or just a lecturer?

Examples:
Some people are more scholarly and others are more dynamic/entertaining. Some are button-down and others more informal. Most speakers, though, include multi-media (videos and PowerPoint slides) and case studies in their presentations.

5) What is the best content fit for your event? What topics do you want to be addressed?

Examples:
Leadership is a broad and diverse topic area. Choosing the most relevant speaker will help define the core essence and tenor of an event. Your chosen candidate needs to mesh with your organization’s mission statement, goals, audience expectations and organizational culture. Current leadership speech content/approaches are listed below with possible content examples and the top leadership speakers in those areas.

Once you answer these questions, you’ll have a clearer idea of the type of person that would be the best match for your event goals and audience.

Next, you are ready to launch your search! Speakers bureaus, individual speaker websites, books, attending conferences, viewing speaker showcases and referrals from colleagues are the most helpful tools for researching potential candidates. If you’re having trouble finding an available speaker who meets your criteria, contact a speakers bureau for advice. They have an extensive overview of speaker candidates available and can give you good recommendations that will be appropriate for your event.

When researching speakers, be sure to share all pertinent event information with your prospective candidates and/or speakers bureau, including:

• The event date.
• The event location.
• Presentation time.
• Length of the program, i.e.: 60-minute keynote, half-day workshop or full day program format.
• Audience profile (career level, age, gender mix, etc.) and any challenges they are facing that you’d like your leadership speaker to address.
• Themes and topics you want your leadership speaker to discuss.
• What your overall event goals are.

Here are some of the most popular approaches to leadership principles and a few of the top speakers in each category

Building great businesses and leadership legacies

Possible Content:

Leadership speakers who address these and similar topics include:

Emotional intelligence, positive psychology and authenticity

Possible Content:

Leadership speakers who address these and similar topics include:

Team building and team work

Possible Content:

Leadership speakers who address these and similar topics include:

Productivity

Possible Content:

Leadership speakers who address these and similar topics include:

Women’s leadership

Possible Content:

Leadership speakers who address these and similar topics include:

Joanna Barsh

Laura Liswood

Sally Helgesen

Leading diverse teams

Possible Content:

Leadership speakers who address these and similar topics include:

Lenora Billings-Harris

Sondra Thiederman

Michael Soon Lee

Verna Meyers

Managing change

Possible Content:

Leadership speakers who address these and similar topics include:

Values, ethics and trust in business

Possible Content:

Leadership speakers who address these and similar topics include:

Leading different generations

Possible Content:

Leadership speakers who address these and similar topics include:

The post How to Select the Best Leadership Speaker for Your Event appeared first on SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau.

How To Create A ‘Must Attend’ Event That Attendees Want to Promote, with Simon Mainwaring

Stedman Graham — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 00:00:00 +0000

It’s easy to think that the growing number of events makes it harder to compete and win the attention of the attendees you want. Yet that is only true if you continue to do the same things as other event organizers. Not unlike today’s consumer, event attendees are looking for an experience that resonates with them on a head and heart level. By connecting with attendees in this way, you can not only win their attention in the first place, but you can inspire them to recommend your event to others. So, how do you achieve this?

Too often, events are designed and marketed with a transactional mentality in mind. Consciously or not, organizers rob their events of humanity by focusing too much on sales or the products they are trying to promote. Instead, events should be viewed as rallying points for a community of attendees connected by shared values, concerns, or aspirations. By elevating the humanity of the event in its design and, just as importantly, in its experience, you will resonate on a far deeper level that will keep attendees coming back and recommending that their friends or colleagues choose your event over others in the future.

In terms of the event experience itself, this humanity is achieved through the sum of the component parts that include content design, storytelling at the event itself, and who that storytelling is focused on. Often events focus exclusively on their own brand, sponsor brands, or the products its trying to market, rather than framing those elements in terms of how they can add value to attendees or enable attendees to have a positive impact on others. As simple as it sounds, this shift in “come from” makes all the difference in thinking through the design, speaker line-up, content, storytelling, signage and attendee engagement of every event. It’s critical to ensure that each event you do becomes another building block in a self-sustaining community that will support your event business over the long-term, rather than an ad hoc conference that needs to build engagement and ticket sales from scratch each year.

The good news is that this heart-led connection is a business driver in today’s marketplace rather than a nice-to-have. Like B2C consumers or B2B customers, attendees want to associate themselves with brands and experiences that share their values so that the investment in their time is seen to contribute not just to their learning, but also to the realization of personal or professional goals that they care about. In short, the more effectively you can achieve a throughline between the personal purpose of an attendee, their company’s purpose, and their experience of your event, the faster they will become a community member whose attendance and advocacy you can rely on.

Viewed in this context, events can be dramatically transformed into human and emotional experiences that forge deep connections between attendees and the event itself. By doing so, your event can be seen as the beginning of a movement rather than an end itself, which will allow you to provide further support to attendees throughout the year and to deepen their connection to your brand. We have seen a similar shift in the retail experience in the face of the rise of e-commerce, and the event business must rethink its approach to create events that drive personal experiences that inspire advocacy. The event business is too competitive and too demanding to ignore leveraging these human dynamics at a time when attendees are getting more selective in terms of where they invest their budgets, times and attention.

Simon Mainwaring is the Founder and CEO of We First, a creative consultant that builds purpose-driven brands. A New York Times Bestselling author and global keynote speaker, he specializes in driving business growth through purpose for leading brands.

The post How To Create A ‘Must Attend’ Event That Attendees Want to Promote, with Simon Mainwaring appeared first on SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau.

How to Make Your Meetings & Conferences More Interactive

speaking13 — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 00:00:00 +0000

Audiences expect a higher degree of interactivity at meetings and conferences than in the past. Meeting planners are looking for speakers who can hold an audience’s attention while delivering key messaging and making the overall experience of the event inspiring and unforgettable.

There are a number of ways to include interactive components in your speakers’ presentations. New technological tools can amplify your message, facilitate networking and build community, but the basic foundation of any successful event is its core content. Here are three key ideas about how to make your next event even more memorable and powerful:

1) Book speakers who offer interactive programs. Audiences want more than just a 60-minute lecture; give them a program that combines the lecture format with something truly invigorating.

Kevin Harrington (of Shark Tank fame), for instance, deftly combines a traditional speech with a “pitch tank” interactive competition where audience members pitch ideas or products to a panel. Kevin also offers pre-event pitch coaching via conference calls to finalists and he is a masterful emcee and facilitator for an entire event.

TIP: Many speakers might not even highlight possible interactive components in their bios or programs so it’s important to tell your speakers bureau agent that you want someone who provides interactivity and something fresh to engage your audience.

2) Ask your speaker to incorporate deep customization into their program by using live feedback.

For instance, Captain George Dom, a former leader for the Blue Angels, uses the Waggl survey platform to gather valuable feedback before, during and after his presentation. This instantly engages the audience and makes them an integral part of the program. Captain Dom’s sessions are the most highly rated at the events he is booked for because participants say they appreciate being heard and that he understands their organization and challenges. Live meetings need to have more two-way interactive conversations like these.

TIP: You can also use the fireside chat format and Q&A to help bring the audience into the conversation.

3) Book a musician, artist, scientist or someone else that does on-stage demos.

Someone who excels at putting together customized demos is Professor AnnMarie Thomas, founder of the Playful Learning Lab. She creates customized interactive demos and surprises for all her talks. Recently, she demonstrated exploding cakes for the Factory of Imagination Conference and for another program; she even brought Damian Kulash from the band OK Go onto the stage as a surprise interview guest (after wowing the audience with one of his amazing, viral videos).

Another great example is Peter Himmelman, a Grammy-nominated musician who leads creativity and team building workshops where participants write their own songs and then Peter and his band perform the songs at the end of the session!

TIP: Facilitation of an audience participation activity is a unique separate skill set from just speaking. If you want your speaker to also facilitate an interactive session, it’s a good idea to make certain that they have experience running successful sessions. The right facilitator will engage the audience, which will make the meeting or conference far more valuable.

The post How to Make Your Meetings & Conferences More Interactive appeared first on SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau.

Tips for International Clients Booking Speakers Based in the United States

speaking13 — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 14:38:10 +0000

As one of the world’s leading full-service speakers bureaus (based in the United States), we are pleased to offer top-rated keynote speakers and trainers on a variety of topics, including: sales, motivation, leadership, team building, communication, change, globalization, world economy, international business, innovation, and a variety of other general and specialized topics.

We have staff that can respond to emails and speak conversationally in Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, German, Czech, Slovak, Spanish, French, Dutch and Italian. We can also translate correspondence in almost any other language. So, feel free to send us your speaker request in either English or your native language.

SPEAKING.com Speakers Bureau gives you access to almost any speaker in Canada and the United States, including politicians, celebrities, compelling authors, business gurus, top motivational speakers, media personalities, sports heroes and others. We are also adding more speakers located outside the United States, including in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. So, if your preference is to book someone from your country, just let us know and we can help you there too!

SPEAKING.com will help you navigate the specific challenges related to booking a United States and/or Canadian based speaker, including:

• Passport and Visa issues
• Travel arrangements
• Local taxes / treaty declarations
• Pre-event publicity and marketing
• Customs
• Language and translation
• Scheduling conference calls, meetings and shipping
• Tailoring speakers’ presentations to local needs and etiquette
• Security
… and more!

Speaker presentation fees for American and Canadian speakers are around 50-100% higher than fees for events held domestically. This is because international events take more travel time, international travel can be more complicated and customizing international presentations is more work. Most speakers we represent start at around $15,000USD to present at international events; the median fee is around $25,000USD and world-renowned speakers are upwards of $60,000USD. All speakers require business class travel and some will require first-class.

Here are tips and some pertinent information you’ll need when booking an American or Canadian speaker for an international event:

1) Some very high profile American speakers will only accept a few international events per year (if any). If you are looking for a world-renowned personality, it will be helpful to have flexibility with your date, plan at least a year in advance and possibly dovetail your event with another client event in the same country and/or when the speaker is planning a tour of your country. Your SPEAKING.com account representative can help you during this planning stage.

2) Booking your preferred speaker(s) at least 6 months to a year in advance is recommended.

3) Payment schedule: speakers require a 50% deposit to secure a date at the time of booking and the remaining 50% balance is due four weeks before they begin travel. Funds are usually required to be transferred via wire in US dollars, but can be accepted in other currencies as well.

4) The cancellation clause in a typical speaker contract reads:

======================================
Cancellation of an engagement causes loss of income that cannot be recaptured by Speaker. Therefore, if this date is canceled by CLIENT, a percentage of the Speaking Fee will remain due and payable to Speaker; cancellation penalties are:

• 90 days or less before Presentation Date, 100% of Speaking Fee
• 91 or more days prior to the Presentation Date, 50% of Speaking Fee

The full presentation fee will be returned (or the speaker rescheduled) for cancellations caused by natural disaster, health concern outbreak or terrorism/war.
======================================

Agents at SPEAKING.com have dealt with emergency situations ranging from natural disasters to travel delays; so they are seasoned to help assist clients to navigate difficult, unforeseen circumstances.

5) When booking a speaker, it’s always important to give your SPEAKING.com Account Executive as much detailed information as you can about your speaker needs, budget and overall event goals.

6) Depending on your needs and the speaker(s) you are interested in, we recommend having your speaker also include a break-out session, do a book signing and/or consult with VIPs gratis during their stay in your country. You can also combine forces with another organization to help share travel costs.

We look forward to hearing from you and helping make your next event a huge success!

The post Tips for International Clients Booking Speakers Based in the United States appeared first on SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau.

How to Book a Celebrity Speaker

speaking13 — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Booking a Celebrity Speaker

But, most A-list celebrities (film and television actors) rarely accept paid speaking engagements, usually only presenting a few times a year at industry or charity events. If you want to entice a top Hollywood celebrity to speak at your corporate or association event, be prepared to offer low to mid six figures—the “make me move” price.

There are, however, many celebrity names on the speaking circuit within reach. They might not be the biggest current headline names, but can still attract attention and buzz for your event. For the purpose of this article, we are focusing on film and television actors; but depending on your industry, other well-known names from business, sports, politics, famous authors or broadcast news might be a good fit. Many of these big names will also have similar booking requirements to “Hollywood” type celebrities.

The best way to contact a celebrity is through your speakers bureau representative. They will know which celebrities are currently accepting engagements (availability changes constantly), who are good at public speaking and how likely the celebrity will be to actually make the engagement; many celebrities include an “out” clause in their contracts for new filming projects or other professional commitments.

The first step in securing a celebrity for your event is to submit a firm offer request. This is a simple agreement that states information such as: event venue, audience profile, agenda, fee offered, presentation date, etc. The firm offer represents the client’s commitment to book the celebrity under the stated terms, if the celebrity accepts. The firm offer is presented to the celebrity for an answer. If the celebrity accepts the offer, then a binding contract will be generated.

Once you locate and book a celebrity who accepts your offer, here are some things to prepare for:

Program Format: most celebrities prefer a fireside chat and/or moderated Q&A format, rather than a full 60-90 minute keynote. A typical celebrity onsite schedule might look like this:
9:00 a.m. to 9:10 a.m.: Keynote speech.
9:10 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.: Moderated Q&A.
9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.: Photo opportunities and/or book signing.

Celebrities are much less flexible about scheduling changes than other types of professional keynote speakers. You should always stick to you original agenda and timing. Celebrities are much less flexible about altering details initially agreed to in the original contract. Sometimes even small requests can derail the entire booking process and the celebrity may decline. So, be certain to be clear and up-front about all your expectations.

Be sure to schedule all time commitments back to back, most celebrities will request there be no down time during their visit. They will normally arrive close to the beginning of their speaking slot and depart soon after their last time commitment.

Payment: a 50% non-refundable deposit of the honorarium will be due upon signing the contract. A 50% balance will be due at least two weeks before the presentation date. If your procurement department is net 30 or 60 days, than be sure to start the invoicing process quickly. A celebrity speaker is not secured until the deposit is in, and the balance must be paid before the presentation date or the celebrity will most likely not show up.

Glam team: many celebrities will expect hair and make-up to be provided onsite. Sometimes a celebrity will travel with his or her own “glam team” and/or personal assistant. The client will be responsible for covering travel expenses for any additional members of the celebrity’s team.

Autograph sessions: make sure these are clearly and specifically defined, including the number of people and which items will be expected to be autographed. If using a book written by the celebrity, define the title beforehand and determine how the books will be purchased.

Response to your requests: celebrities and their assistants are very busy, resulting in slow response times. So be sure to make any special requests well in advance.

Marketing materials: all promotional materials and announcements will need to be run by the celebrity’s PR representative. So, be sure to give enough leeway for them to review. This can take up to two weeks of back-and-forth to be approved.

The post How to Book a Celebrity Speaker appeared first on SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau.

Tips for Booking a Keynote Speaker

speaking13 — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 00:00:00 +0000

By Michael Frick, Speaking.com

Once you have found the perfect keynote speaker for your event (see “How to Select the Best keynote Speaker “), you are ready to engage him/her for your event date! These suggestions will help you negotiate a smooth booking and contracting process and, ultimately, will result in a successful event.

Contracting

Except for celebrity speakers who might require complicated riders or other contingencies, booking a professional keynote speaker is quite simple and straightforward. Above all, open communication about mutual expectations is crucial during the contracting stage. Be certain to brief your keynote speaker about all your event details, understand their requirements and be clear about your expectations.

Include specific details in your contract, such as:

Length of presentation: 60 minute keynote, half or full day workshop, etc.
Topics to be covered in his/her presentation.
How travel will be coordinated: normally a speaker will book flights and ground in the home city and the client will book accommodations and ground transportation in the host city.
Speaking fee and travel expenses.
Recording the presentation: usually keynote speakers will allow recording for “client internal use only.” Now is the time to request any additional usage such as posting a few edited segments on a publicly accessible website or distributing the full presentation online or on a DVD.

The contracting phase is also the time to request any additional time commitments, such as:

Attending meals.
Selling books on-site and/or doing a book signing.
Facilitating a break-out session in addition to a keynote.
Appearing at a VIP meet & greet and/or autograph session.
Helping to promote your event via social media.
Recording an invitation video for your event website.
Doing media interviews.
Writing an article for your organization’s newsletter.
Adding a webinar.

It’s much better to negotiate the entire project’s scope up front and in writing, rather than trying to add additional work after the contract has been signed; moreover, a speaker is more likely to agree to additional work now instead of trying to add new tasks later.

Travel expenses and who will be responsible for travel arrangements are also negotiated during the contracting process. As mentioned above, normally speakers will book their own flights and ground in the home city and clients will be expected to book ground in the host city and accommodations (commonly just one night, but sometimes two). Speakers maintain very busy travel schedules, so you might not receive a flight itinerary until a week or so before your event date. Once that information is available, you can make the necessary ground transportation reservations.

In addition to the information above, your keynote speaker will also want to know:

Type of event and overall goals / purpose.
Other speakers presenting on the same date.
Estimated number of people in attendance.
Audience composition.
Specific event location and street address.
What attire is appropriate for the event? (formal, semi-formal, business, business-casual, etc.).
Is your event private or open to members of the public? If this event is open to the public, please indicate if tickets are free or if they must be purchased.
Past Keynote speakers for your group and/or this event.
Who their on-site contact will be, including their cell phone number and email address.
Brief descriptions of your organization’s mission and history.

Preparing for Your keynote Speaker’s Visit

Audio Visual

You will need to plan for your keynote speaker’s AV requirements. Common requests include: wireless lavaliere microphone with fresh batteries hooked into the sound system, LCD Projector, large screen, glass of water and a clicker.

Most speakers use PowerPoint slides and will either bring their own laptop to run their presentation (client will provide hookups) or will provide a slide deck ahead of time via a downloadable link. The client then loads the presentation into their AV system. .

Speech Content
Business topics (such as leadership, innovation, productivity and employee engagement) require thorough customization. Rather than delivering a canned or generic speech, your keynote speaker will be expected to address your organization’s unique circumstances and culture. This might include interviewing prospective audience members, holding a conference call with your programming team and/or sending an online survey to your personnel.

Celebrity speakers and motivational speakers who focus on motivational, inspirational or entertaining content, will often do less customization.

One Week Before Your Event
There is not much speaker preparation needed the week before your event. Check in with your speakers bureau or speaker directly to make sure flights have been booked so that you can arrange ground transportation, accommodations (usually one night) and set an AV check time if needed. Provide the on-site contact name, title and his/her cell phone number to your keynote speaker.

Day of the Event
On the day of the event, confirm the PowerPoint slides have been loaded onto the AV system (if needed). Have your on-site contact greet your keynote speaker and escort him/her to the event room. Be sure to give the speaker’s introduction to the person introducing your speaker so they have a script to read.

Your keynote speaker can generate beneficial, resounding effects on both your organization and audience members. All that attention to detail and hard work finding and booking the perfect keynote speaker pays off. Now just sit back and enjoy the compelling presentation that you made happen!

The post Tips for Booking a Keynote Speaker appeared first on SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau.

How to Select the Best Keynote Speaker

speaking13 — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

More people than ever are on the speaking circuit – from retired politicians and best-selling authors to athletes and regular people with an extraordinary story to tell; all with varying backgrounds, topics, experience, fees and presentation styles. The famous TED talk series alone, for instance, highlights thousands of speakers from almost every background who are “spreading ideas”.

Selecting the best keynote speaker for your event can be a bewildering task. How do you select the best keynote speaker for your event from the thousands of keynote speaker options? Answering the questions below will help you select the ideal speaker for your next meeting or event.

Everyone thinks it’s so easy!
It takes enormous skill to pull off a successful Event

You’re selecting the speaker to set the stage for your three-day annual meeting. Do you choose: the author of a recent best-seller? a professional speaker? The audience will be drawn to the celebrity if he/she had good platform skills and delivers more that a book report. But if he or she does not, it’s your professional reputation at stake, just as much as the reputation of the speaker.

What makes a meeting most memorable?

Consider the time the keynote speaker bombed. Did you ever hear the end of it? But when the speaker got the group excited about the meeting, or made everyone laugh following the awards program, or sent everyone home with a new commitment to professionalism, did you not hear about that for months to come? The learning experiences we have stay with us far longer than the memory of a good theme, fabulous meal, or fancy decor.

What do you need?

Decide the goal or purpose of your meeting. Is it primarily an educational session? Are you looking for light entertainment or an inspiring motivational message? How will the speaker fit in with your group? A “big name” speaker does not guarantee a professional presentation. On the other hand, a professional speaker, an individual who earns his/her living on the platform, brings a wealth of experience to make your meeting a resounding success.

The speaker can tell you the right amount of time for the job you want done. Consider also the strength, topic and style of the various speakers on a multiple-speaker program. An outstanding opening speaker will carry your meeting through the first couple of days. Don’t follow a humorist with a low-key educational presentation even though the speaker is equally professional. Close with an uplifting, inspiring message that will leave your group wanting to come back next year.

Why use a professional speaker?

Getting value for your dollar is an important factor in any business. The professional speaker allows you to predict that value by providing:

Support material. Lets you know on what subjects he/she speaks, types of programs, and in what format (seminar, keynote, general session, luncheon or banquet, breakout session, etc.)

References. Ask about the kind of group and their needs. How effective was the message?

Preview. An audition audio or videotape, or an invitation to see him/her in action.

Personalization. He/she will learn about your group, what your objectives and specific needs are, and then custom-design their presentation accordingly in content, format and length.

Selection

Speaker’s credentials are important to you and your group. Your speaker’s background and credentials can build your meeting attendance. Such credentials are education, experience, degrees, awards and certifications. In the profession of speaking, CPAE and CSP can be meaningful to you. The CPAE (Council of Peers Award for Excellence) is an award for platform excellence granted by the National Speakers Association. The CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) is a designation of achievement earned through proven experience. The Cavett Award, named for NSA Chairman Emeritus Cavett Robert, CSP, CPAE, is bestowed annually. The Cavett is awarded for contributions to NSA and the profession of speaking.

The speaker’s experience in a given field also may be a big draw, but don’t assume expertise will automatically create an expert presenter. The content of a presentation is of great importance. Does your meeting require that the audience leave with specific or technical information, or do you need someone to motivate the group to sell? Thorough knowledge of the needs of your group is essential in selecting the right speaker.

Hiring the right speaker is much the same as hiring a good employee. The traits and characteristics that spell success in one situation can mean disaster in another, no matter what credentials the speaker may have. Check references. Find out what groups the speaker has addressed that are similar to yours.

What sources are there for professional speakers?

Personal referral.
Others who plan meetings.
Professional speakers. Those who have done a good job for your know others who would do well for your group.
Speakers Bureaus. Bureaus can be helpful with suggestions on specific topic speakers. There is no charge to work with a Speaker’s Bureau; the bureau is paid from the speaker’s fee.

How fees are determined

As in any business, supply and demand establish a speaker’s worth in the marketplace. A speaker can be in only one place at a time. As the demand for his/her talent results in a full calendar, fees will escalate. You are not paying only for the hours the speaker is on the platform for your group. Built into the fee are the hours spent researching the talk, improving, updating and custom designing the speech for your group.

To book the speaker you want, here are a few hints…

Work preferences of the speaker may give you some opportunity to negotiate. Some speakers limit the locations of where they will speak, or will only work certain days of the week. If your meeting is close to the speaker’s home, it’s more attractive than a cross-country flight. Schedule the speaker when he or she is working with another client in your geographic area. Travel expenses can then be shared. Hire the speaker to do more than one program. Follow the keynote with a breakout session. The fee won’t come close to the cost of two speakers, and you’ll save on travel expenses. If speaking for your group serves as a good showcase of speaker’s talent to others who hire speakers, he or she may negotiate the fee. The speaker may negotiate if you pre-purchase for your attendees, books, or audio and videotapes.

So you’ve made your selection. Now that you’ve hired a speaker, what is the next step?

Agreement of terms. In a letter of agreement, find out the speaker’s exact arrival and departure times. Professional speakers make every effort to schedule so there is a least one 3cushion2 flight available in the event of delays.

Make contracts clear

Politicians or celebrity speakers often expect to bring their spouse or aides. If other parties are involved, put down in writing as understanding about lodging and food reimbursement. If you have retained your speaker far in advance, there are sometimes opportunities for the speaker to arrange other engagements near your meeting which could mean savings through shared travel expenses.

If you would like your speaker to attend social events before or after the presentation, be sure the speaker is aware of this well in advance. In many cases, the speaker spends those final hours in preparation to have the right mind-set for your meeting. Speakers are usually happy to attend extra events if given sufficient notice. Be aware, however, that some speakers prefer not to attend social events and some charge extra for this time.

Be sure to get the speaker’s photograph and biographical information so the your publications may present thorough information. Send the speaker as much information as possible about your organization including company newsletters, annual reports and any relevant meeting bulletins. Send the speaker copies of any material mentioning his or her presentation.

Many speakers and seminar leaders have written books and produced DVDs or online courses of their programs. Create a mutual understanding about what promotion of their materials will be allowed. A speaker will usually appreciate the products being mentioned by someone from your organization at the end of the presentation. Audiences often benefit from material that extends the value of the presentation. If you want to tape the meeting, be sure you have signed authorization from all participants in advance.

Tell the speaker everything

Put your speaker on your company mailing list for newsletters and other meeting information. Be specific concerning the size and demographics of your audience (age, social and economic level, gender, etc.). If there is good news or bad about your organization or company, be sure the speaker knows this. Names, buzz words, themes or “insider” information – let the speaker know so that it can be worked into the presentation. Set objectives for the session with the speaker and provide every suggestion possible to make it your best meeting ever.

Notify the speaker about other speakers’ schedules on the program to ensure the program content does not overlap and give the opportunity for presentations to build upon one another.

Before the Speaker Arrives

Provide a Host. Assign someone to be your liaison with the speaker. That person should check to be sure the speaker’s sleeping room reservation is in order and that the meeting room and audio-visual materials are prepared as requested. Notify the speaker before his/her arrival where this contact person will be located. The contact person can check with the speaker shortly after check-in and should offer to take the speaker to the meeting room. That is the first place most speakers want to go! In addition to seeing the room, the speaker probably will want to test the microphone and audio-visual equipment. Your liaison is ideal to escort the speaker to the meeting room and handle instructions to the key people you have specified.

Room Setup. In order for your audience to receive the greatest impact from the speaker, the room should be set with no more chairs than the anticipated attendance. The energy and dynamics of a speaker can be readily lost if the attendees are sprinkled throughout the seats, therefore you may consider roping off the back portion of the room so that early arrivals take the front seats.

A bad introduction can spoil a good speaker. Some of the most common horror stories told by speakers are about poor introductions. It is your obligation to the speaker and your audience to get the speaker’s own printed introduction, which is usually designed to “set the stage”. The introducer should be firmly requested not to deviate from the introduction and particularly not to attempt to tell jokes. Diversions that could create a negative environment, such as announcements of bad news, should be avoided.

Stay on schedule. Rarely would anyone ever ask a concert pianist to give an abbreviated version of Tchaikovsky’s First Concerto. Similarly, the professional speaker’s presentation is well-timed and rehearsed, and you run the risk of spoiling a superb presentation if it has to be cut short, especially on short notice. If an important speaker is scheduled, try your best to arrange events before or after the talk that can be shortened if you get off schedule.

As an example, you can be sure the opening remarks and other fanfare at the opening session will run considerably longer the anticipated, and then the balance of the morning has to be compressed to fit a luncheon schedule with a kitchen and dining room that can’t wait.

Be sure a flexible event is in the time frame before or after a significant speaker or seminar leader. If a question and answer session is scheduled, have the emcee prepare a couple of interesting questions. This assures you will get the ball rolling since many people are reluctant to ask the first question.

After the presentation. Again, your liaison should be sure the speaker is not left stranded if everyone rushes to other sessions or social events. Be sure the speaker’s transportation is properly coordinated for a smooth departure. If arrangements have been made for the speaker’s lodging to be on the master account, make sure this is understood by the cashier.

ADDITIONAL ARTICLES

• Here are some contracting tips for booking a keynote speaker.

• Are you looking for the perfect leadership speaker? Read this article about the different types of leadership speakers and areas of expertise.

The post How to Select the Best Keynote Speaker appeared first on SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau.

Event Planners: How to Benefit from Working with Speakers Bureaus

speaking13 — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

What Speakers Bureaus Do For You

The bureau’s job is to know where and how to find the right speaker for your event, send you materials to review, schedule conference calls, contract the speaker and facilitate financial arrangements. Speaker bureaus smooth the process for securing talent for your event and charge you nothing while saving you enormous amounts of time. Since speaker bureaus get paid from the speakers fee, they receive compensation only when you book a speaker they suggest.

Bureaus act as partners for researching speakers and finding the perfect match for your event. They can assist with determining the appropriate mix of content, personality and entertainment for the presentation. Finding the right speakers who can meet your needs and budget is the bureau’s objective.

Bureaus generally represent a large roster of speakers (ranging from local business experts to worldwide celebrities), and can also book speakers they don’t exclusively represent. Speakers bureaus work with professional speakers who are seasoned experts and have demonstrated excellent speaking skills, professionalism and expertise of their topic. The bureau interviews them, checks their references, reviews their performances in person or on tape and determines that they will deliver the best presentation for your event. Most speakers bureaus have worked with hundreds of speakers over the course of many years and can give you inside knowledge about a speaker – anything from how they performed for their last client to programming content.

Bureau Process

First, bureaus will ask you about the goals and objectives for your event and about your organization. During the interview, a bureau agent will listen to your program needs and assess what type of speaker would fit your program objectives and budget. Is your organization downsizing? Experiencing tremendous change & growth? Sales slow? Leadership need a boost? Interested in sparking a culture of innovation?

Next, your bureau agent will research the large pool of available speakers to develop a short list of the top candidates for your event. Your agent will then compose an email with links to information about the speakers you find most interesting (videos, profiles, program outlines, etc.). Finally, they will confirm availability for the speaker(s) you have chosen and will arrange all contracting, finances and presentation and travel requirements.

How to Maximize Your Bureau Relationship

Using Multiple Sources to Find Your Speaker

Since speaker bureau services are free, meeting planners will often contact numerous bureaus to help find a speaker. This can lead to confusion and wasted time. Instead of developing a close relationship with your chosen bureau and receiving a few excellent speaker suggestions for your event, you will be fielding dozens of calls and emails from various bureau agents and speakers.

By using numerous bureaus and/or contacting speakers directly, you can quickly diminish the time savings you would gain in the first place. Often, bureaus will not devote much time to these “multiple bureau” projects since they have less chance in closing a deal and the speakers they work with will be confused from multiple bureau contacts.

Communication

Bureau agents work hard to help meeting planners locate and book the perfect speaker. It’s important to clearly communicate throughout the speaker search process. Give your bureau agent as much information about your goals and your chosen event theme as you can. Provide clear and quick feedback on speakers they may suggest and keep them informed about your selection process.

The event planning process is fluid and fast paced, especially when committees run the selection processes. Your bureau agent knows this, so express any concerns or challenges you are facing, even if it means letting them know the budget has been cut this year or that you need help convincing a committee of the right speaker choice. Your bureau agent wants all your events – for years to come – to be successes.

If you are using other sources, it is always a good policy to let your bureau(s) know others you may be working with. Let them know immediately if you are considering booking a speaker from another source. This way, multiple bureaus won’t continue contacting the same speaker trying to secure “holds” for your event date.

Bureaus take care of many of the details for booking speakers — from locating the perfect speakers available for your event to contracting negotiations and programming details — which ultimately saves you time and money. Working with bureaus is a time saving and rewarding experience.

The post Event Planners: How to Benefit from Working with Speakers Bureaus appeared first on SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau.

Are you Promoting Effective Meetings?

speaking13 — Mon, 28 Oct 2013 00:00:00 +0000

We all attend meetings. Some are boring, ineffective and others are a pleasure to attend. Let’s commit to providing the latter to our colleagues and clients. Here are some tips that will have your meetings running smoother:

Be punctual. Post either a flyer or e-mail reminder with the start and ending times of your meeting. Start your meeting promptly as stated even though there are only two people attending! Do not allow latecomers to state an excuse or interrupt you. Simple put your hand up or put your index finger up to your lip to signal them to be quiet. Stop the meeting when promised… The skill here is to honor peoples time.

Provide agendas so you can stay on track. Leave the agenda materials on a table near the door so the latecomers can pick up quickly or place at an assigned seat. Prior to meeting ask (via e-mail) if your members what to speak at this meeting. If yes, place them on your agenda accordingly. This shows respect and appreciation. Any other comments are distracting and can be handled outside of this meeting, at the next meeting or though e-mail.

Pay attention at the meeting by using good eye contact at the people who are speaking. When people see that they are being heard they feel respected and admire the people who give them this courtesy. Have good, relaxed posture while sitting with your arms not folded. Give your fullest attention. Don’t play with your clothing or hair, doodle on the agenda. When listening nod acknowledgment of good ideas or ask quick clarifying questions.

Provide some water at each seat. Place a small bottle of water and a crystal glass with no ice for every attendee. For early meetings, coffee and herbal tea can be individualized with tiny pots of hot water (reg. coffee, decaf coffee or herbal tea all provided in tea bag format. This can be bought in any store. Provide all (3) choices in front of an attendee. Gather up the unused selections after meeting and save. Any food can also be placed at each seat. This eliminates a lot of interruptions and most importantly, makes everyone feel special.

The post Are you Promoting Effective Meetings? appeared first on SPEAKING.com Keynote Speakers Bureau.