Hiring A Keynote Speaker

How to hire a keynote speaker

Determine a desired date and budget of your event; also consider a location. This will help you narrow down the pool of speakers available to your event. In an effort to save on travel expenses for the keynote speaker, you may want to consider the travel time and money between where he or she resides and the location of the event. Also remember to include costs for food, ground transportation, and lodging if needed.

What kind of presentation are you expecting? What time of day would you like for it to take place? Some speakers are geared towards work-shops, while others may strictly provide keynotes. Evening/dinner speakers are strongly encouraged to incorporate humor into their talks, where morning speakers benefit from being energizing and inspiring.

Reflect on why you want to hire a keynote speaker.

Some common reasons include:

• Education
• Motivation
• Modifying behaviors
• Fundraising
• Promotion of a business or charity
• Entertainment

Consider which speakers meet your criteria and have been successful in the past with either your group or a group similar to the one you represent. Contact your friends, family, and colleagues. Networking for recommendations and references can be an effective way to narrow down your search.

Who are the lead decision makers in approving a keynote speaker? It never hurts to tap into their vision.
Don’t forget to consider the demographics of your audience. Do you need a presenter who will appeal to a blended audience or one who will relate to a specific demographic (ex: an all-women’s group).

How far in advance should I book my speaker? It is customary to schedule them out a year in advance, but is some instances, 2-3 months in advance will suffice. Ask your speaker to submit 30-60 second promotional video clips (if possible) to advertise the event. Determine if there are any major requests by the speaker so that you can assure accommodating them (ex: room size or setup).

Lastly, make sure you schedule plenty of breaks during the presentation. You’ve come this far into planning the event, make sure your audience stays engaged.