An event is like a good recipe: all the ingredients must be carefully selected and compliment each other. Then, they must combine to create the perfect dish. Organising an event always implies a lot of hard work and time management. Factors such as the venue and topic help determine the success or failure of your congress, conference or product launch. However, there is something else you should take into account if you want to score high: you need to find the right speakers.
Many industry professionals and journalists have written about this topic, therefore, we have summed up their work in a few simple tips:
You must first outline the audience you are targeting, as well as the message you want to convey to your attendees. Are you searching for one guest speaker or more than one? If you’re hiring more than one speaker, make sure they are of the same calibre and that their presence on stage will be harmonious.
This is probably the most boring part of the process. You should sketch a cost overview, including the desired hourly or daily rate of the candidates, accommodation and travel costs, as well as legal and payment terms. Outlining these costs will help you gain a better understanding of how your “perfect” speakers will impact the overall budget of your event.
Now that you’ve designed the first part of your strategy, you can start looking for candidates. But don’t stop at the first one! Before making a decision, remember you are allowed to check references, watch videos online, monitor social media, and so on. Also keep in mind that personality is key. The ideal candidates are charismatic and self-confident, but also well prepared and extremely knowledgeable about the subject. The audience will expect a flawless stage presence with an inspiring personality.
After signing the right speakers, it is time for you to start working with them. In the best case scenario, these persons will be working with you and your team in your office, establishing a personal connection and learning more about the company culture. Most likely, though, your speakers will not be on-site, and you will need to work from a distance. In this case, you need to make sure that the information about the speeches and the scope of the event is delivered in a proper manner. Don’t be afraid to check whether or not they have been working on the presentations. Remember they need to work just as hard as you to gauge your expectations and learn as much as possible about the presentation subject. A little mistake on stage can greatly affect your reputation.
To conclude, don’t forget to listen to your instinct: if your gut tells you this is not the one, keep searching for someone else. If this speaker cannot convince you, how do you expect him to capture your entire audience? Happy Hunting!
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Image credits: ImagineCup
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