In 2013, our bureau celebrates 20 years in business. We have progressed from booking low fee trainers for local organizations to booking some of the very best business leaders and authors, sports personalities, celebrities and healthcare experts for clients across the country.

We have weathered recessions, deeper recessions and the ups and downs nearly all businesses experience. As a start-up business in 1993, we rolled up our sleeves and "got after it." We made mistakes, we did things right, we learned. We have always tried to exceed the expectations of our clients. The bureau held our first Speakers Showcase in 1994, not really understanding what exactly we were doing-----and it turned out fine. Some 20 Showcases later, we have the process down to a science. When we held our first Showcase, we were younger than most of the speakers. Today, we are older than most of them!

A few years after our inception, specifically 1997, we had a website built at a time when many businesses did not have one. Today, 10 year old kids have their own website. We worked hard to have our site rank high on search engines such as Lycos, Altavista and Dogpile. I know, you are scratching your head, asking what search engines???? In 1997, two guys in a college dorm room registered Google.com and started work on a better search engine. Google has now captured 2/3's of worldwide Internet searches.

Printed items like catalogs, postcards, newsletters, invoices and letters have given way to marketing via Constant Contact, twitter, Facebook and Yelp and Google Adwords and communication via text messages, emails with downloads and smart phones.

Through it all, we have had the opportunity to work with many wonderful meeting planners and business executives and great speakers and entertainers. Many organizations in our Central Illinois home area have been incredibly loyal to us as have meeting planners across the continent. We consider ourselves very fortunate to be your meeting partner and provide fresh, innovative ideas. As our tagline says, "We Help You Thrill Your Audience!"

THANK YOU for your support---It is deeply appreciated.

Original Author's Note: I wrote this article in hopes that others would not only read it, but pass it along. Please feel free to download it, change it, and distribute it in any way you see fit.

I have no attachment to authorship of this essay, and it may prove more effective if distributed unsigned. Obviously, however, I would prefer that you not publish it or distribute it under your own name.

THE AWFUL ACADEMIC TALK

You've seen it a hundred times.

The speaker approaches the head of the room and sits down at the table. (You can't see him/her through the heads in front of you.) S/he begins to read from a paper, speaking in a soft monotone. (You can hardly hear. Soon you're nodding off.) Sentences are long, complex, and filled with jargon. The speaker emphasizes complicated details. (You rapidly lose the thread of the talk.) With five minutes left in the session, the speaker suddenly looks at his/her watch. S/he announces -- in apparent surprise -- that s/he'll have to omit the most important points because time is running out. S/he shuffles papers, becoming flustered and confused. (You do too, if you're still awake.) S/he drones on. Fifteen minutes after the scheduled end of the talk, the host reminds the speaker to finish for the third time. The speaker trails off inconclusively and asks for questions. (Thin, polite applause finally rouses you from dreamland.)

Why do otherwise brilliant people give such soporific talks?

One reason is stage fright. It's easier to hide behind the armor of a written paper, which you've had plenty of time to work through, than simply to talk. This is a perfectly understandable reaction, and in some circumstances, it's still the best thing to do.

But a much more important reason is that this kind of boring, incomprehensible talk has somehow become a part of academic culture. Graduate students may actually learn it from their professors. Or professors may not consider teaching the skills of public speaking a legitimate part of graduate education. The sciences and engineering have, on the whole, done better on this score than the humanities. Science and engineering students learn early in graduate school to give short, snappy presentations, heavily spiced with helpful visual aids, in direct, ordinary language that focuses on memorable conclusions. Yet even in these fields, many people still have a lot to learn about the skills of public speaking.

One reason this has happened is the dominance of written language in academic culture. Although writing and public speaking are very different arts, it has become acceptable to treat public speaking as the mere reading of a written text. Ironically, rhetoric -- the skill of persuasive oral argumentation -- is one of the most ancient academic disciplines, dating to Plato's Dialogues and before.

Stage fright is something everybody has to handle in their own way. But academic culture is something we can deliberately change. This article reviews the principles of academic public speaking, in hopes of contributing to the long-term improvement of our norms.

PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE TALKS

Any effective talk must do three things:

1. communicate your arguments and ideas,
2. persuade your audience that they are true, and
3. be interesting and entertaining.

In our obsession with persuasive argumentation, academics sometimes forget about the third item on this list. Some people think it follows automatically from the first two. (It doesn't.) Some even scoff at the goal itself. Perversely, we seem to have come to believe that if a talk is entertaining, it's probably not very deep.

These attitudes are seriously mistaken. It is impossible to communicate and persuade effectively without entertaining as well. Keeping your audience interested and involved -- entertaining them -- is essential because in order to communicate your work and its value, you need their full attention.

Listening is hard work. Especially at conferences, where audiences attend many talks over many hours, people need the speaker's help to maintain their focus. This is the true meaning of "entertainment." In an academic talk, entertainment doesn't mean making your audience laugh or distracting them from their troubles. Instead, it's about helping them stay focused on and interested in what you have to say.

No rule applies always and everywhere. But the following principles work almost all the time. Try them!

The more you understand the reasons behind these principles, the clearer their importance will become.

1. Talk rather than read. You'll be easier to understand, and you'll be better able to make genuine contact with your audience. Furthermore, ultimately talking will help you think more clearly by forcing you to communicate your points in ordinary language. There's nothing virtuous about perfect grammar, complicated sentences, and sophisticated vocabulary if your audience can't follow you.
   
   
2. Stand up. This is better for two reasons. First, people can see you better. Second, standing puts you in a physically dominant position. This sounds politically incorrect, but in this context it isn't. Remember: you're the focus. The audience needs your help to maintain their attention. They want you to be in charge. By standing up, you accept this invitation -- making both your job and theirs a little easier.
   
   
3. Use visual aids. This is one of the most important principles of public speaking. People are visual creatures. The old adage "a picture is worth a thousand words" is especially apropos in the context of a conference talk, where you don't have time to say very much.
   
   At a minimum, have an outline of your talk on overhead transparencies. Some people seem to think they're giving everything away by showing people what they're going to say before they've said it. But the effect of a good talk outline is exactly the opposite: it makes your audience want to hear the details. At the same time, it helps them understand the structure of your thinking. Talk outlines should be extremely concise and visually uncluttered. 12-15 lines of text per transparency is plenty.
   
   
4. Move around. It's easier to keep focused on someone who's moving than on a motionless talking head. Hand gestures are also good. It's possible to overuse these devices, of course. Simply crossing from one side of the room to the other every three or four minutes is probably enough.
   
   
5. Vary the pitch of your voice. Monotones are sleep-inducing. Since it's possible to speak in a lively, animated manner without changing pitch, many people don't realize they have this problem. Get a trusted friend or colleague to listen to your delivery and give you honest feedback. (This is an important principle in itself.) Even better, tape or videotape yourself and check out how you sound.
   
   
6. Speak loudly, clearly, and confidently. Face the audience. An important element of vocal technique is to focus on the bottom (the deepest pitch) of your vocal range, which is its loudest and most authoritative tone. (This can be especially important for women.) Speak from the gut, not the throat. Breathe deeply -- it's necessary for volume. Don't be afraid to ask for feedback: "Can you hear me in the back of the room?" Be careful, when using visual aids, that you continue to face the audience when you speak.
   
   
7. Make eye contact with the audience. If this is anxiety-inducing, at least pretend to do this by casting your gaze toward the back and sides of the room. Be careful not to ignore one side of the audience. Many speakers "side" unconsciously, looking always to the left or to the right half, or only to the front or the back, of the room. Here's another place where feedback, either from friends or from videotape, can be helpful.
   
   
8. Focus on main arguments. Especially in a conference situation, where talks are short and yours is one of many, your audience is not going to remember the details of your evidence. In such a situation, less is more. Give them short, striking "punch lines" that they'll remember. They can always read your written work later, but if you don't get them interested and show them why it's important, they won't want to. A good rule of thumb is to make no more than three main points in any given talk. That's about all most people will be able to remember.
   
   
9. Finish your talk within the time limit. Not to do so is disrespectful both of any subsequent speakers and of your audience. Most people's maximum attention span is 40-45 minutes. If you exceed this limit, you'll probably lose them.
   
   The only way to be certain you can keep within your limits is to rehearse your talk. After lots of experience, some people can gauge talk times accurately without this. But nothing is more embarrassing -- for both you and your audience -- than getting only halfway through before hitting the time limit. One trick is to develop a standard format for your talk outlines, then learn how long it usually takes you to talk about each slide. My own rule of thumb is five minutes per outline slide.
   
   
10. Summarize your talk at the beginning and again at the end. "Tell 'em what you're gonna tell 'em, tell 'em, and tell 'em what you told 'em": this ancient principle still holds. If you follow this rule, your audience is much more likely to remember your main points. Even more important, it helps you stay focused on the key ideas you're trying to convey.
    
    
11. Notice your audience and respond to their needs. If people seem to be falling asleep, or getting restless or distracted, the problem may not be you. Is the room too hot, or too cold? Too dark? Can people see you? Is the microphone on? Is something outside the room distracting people? Don't hesitate to stop briefly in order to solve these problems. Ask someone in the audience to open a window. Always use the maximum lighting your presentation format will allow. For example, you can usually leave all the lights on if you're using an overhead projector, but you'll need to turn some off to use slides.
    
    Alternatively, you may have gone on too long, or you may need to speak louder. Whatever the case, notice what's happening and use it as feedback. If you can't figure out why your audience is responding poorly, ask somebody later and fix the problem next time.
    
    
12. Emulate excellent speakers. The best way to become an excellent presenter is to watch really good, experienced speakers and model your talks on theirs. Notice not just what they say, but what they do: how they move, how they sound, how they structure their talks. Add those devices to your own repertoire.

Of course, none of these principles can substitute for excellent content. Nor will following them guarantee that people will agree with you! What they will guarantee is that your audience will understand you, will stay with you, and will remember what you've said. That's effective communication, which is, after all, the whole point.

I hope that readers of this article will not only take these principles to heart, but also pass them along. Please feel free to download it, add to it, alter it, and distribute it in any way you see fit. The next generation of academics will thank you!

The elections are over. Some folks are very happy with the way things turned out, and some are not happy at all. I am one of those folks who isn't all that happy about it. However, it doesn't matter how I feel about the elections. Why? Because the elections are over. Behind us. In the past. One more time: OVER! You can't change the results. Pissing and moaning won't change a thing. Over analyzing what went wrong won't do much for you either. And posting about it on facebook certainly isn't going to help. It's time to stop focusing on the election because the election is in the past. Many will tell you that it is now time to look toward the future. Sounds good. People have been saying that, and folks sure seem to respond well to that message. I guess that's a fine message if that is how you think. It's not how I think. I don't live in the past and I don't focus much on the future. I live in the present. I understand that the only way to create the future I want is to do the right things, right now, every day. That's what I am going to encourage you to do: Do the right thing today so you can live well tomorrow. Here are then suggestions for you to do now that the election is over:

1. Move on. To stay stuck in the election whether your guy won or lost is pointless. It will only take up useful energy that you could be using for more important activities.
   
   
2. Remember this: Changing politicians and changing government comes about only after we change ourselves. Fix yourself first. Our politicians and government are reflections of us as individuals. We need more good people doing the right thing every single day in order for things in our society to change. Live each day with more integrity and with a stronger work ethic and with a renewed commitment to doing the right thing regardless of what everyone else is doing.
   
   
3. Find common ground. Not just with those you differ with politically, but with everyone. None of us operate completely independent of everyone else. We need each other. Find common ground with others and build on it. Show some understanding. Be kind. Be respectful. That doesn't mean you have to compromise your beliefs at all and it is not a sign of weakness. It just means that we can disagree with each other in a reasonable manner while looking for solutions so we can all get a bit of what we want.
   
   
4. Take responsibility. This mess we find ourselves in is our own fault. We allowed it to happen. People will get by with whatever they can get by with. It's human nature. We have allowed people and politicians to get by with too much. But that is our fault, not theirs. Stop blaming others and become involved. If you don't like things, then get involved and work from the inside to fix things. Sitting on your couch and typing divisive hate speech about others only adds to the problem. We made this mess - all of it - and we must all take responsibility for it and work to fix it.
   
   
5. Take care of yourself. Stop expecting the government to come to the rescue. Yes, I know that about half of the country does expect it, but you don't have to be one of them. Become self-reliant, self-sufficient and rely on your SELF. Your future is up to you and you alone; not your government, your company, your union, or other citizens. Just you. Take control of your life and take care of yourself.
   
   
6. Get your finances in order. I believe the US is in big trouble financially. Our debt is out of control and we borrow 40% of every dollar our government spends and we are only going to spend more in the future. This trend simply cannot sustain itself. At some point, it has to fall apart and at some point, I believe it will. At some point, when you need the government for retirement, healthcare or other services, you may come up short. That means that it is up to you to take care of yourself. Do these two things: Pay off debt as fast as you can. Stash as much cash away as you possibly can. Emergencies happen and most people are not prepared financially. 40% of Americans have less than $500 saved. Don't be one of them.
   
   
7. Prepare. We have all just seen how long it takes the government to respond in a disaster. FEMA and the Red Cross can't get there quickly enough to help everyone. Have at least 72 hours of food set aside. Have a case of water per person set aside. Have the ability to cook on a small camping stove. Have a crank operated radio. Have a flashlight. Be able to protect yourself, your family and your property. This is not whacko survivalist stuff - this is common sense.
   
   
8. Know your neighbors. If things get bad, you need some alliances. It's all part of being prepared. Have discussions about being prepared and have a plan to work together "just in case."
   
   
9. Work. When you go to work, work. When you are known as the person who is always working when you are at work, we call that 'job security.' I believe that the job market is going to be in trouble for a good long while. You need to keep the job you have. You don't have to like it, love it, enjoy it or plan to do it forever, but you need to appreciate it and do what you are paid to do. You need your job. Hang on to it.
   
   
10. Stay optimistic. What goes up must come down. Yin and yang. The pendulum swings back and forth. In other words, things change. We are a resilient bunch. We will survive all of this and more. Yes, it might look much different on the other side than it does right now but that is probably a good thing. If you are prepared, open to change, know how to recognize opportunities and seize the moment, and are willing to work hard all while staying committed to the principles of honesty and integrity, you will be fine. Hold to that. Never give up on that.

I wish you all the best. Now, I am going to do more of each of the things on this list!

Larry Winget

Our Internet service provider agreement was about to expire. We decided to compare services and plans offered by our current provider and another supplier. The decision was made to upgrade with our current provider.

The customer service rep I talked with was very friendly and very helpful. Our service would be upgraded on Tuesday afternoon between 1:00-3:00. And our new phone service would cost less. Great! However, one important element was not disclosed to us.

On Tuesday morning, at approximately 9:45, we lost Internet service. Hmmmm! The provider must be on location, about 3 hours early, ready to switch us over to the much faster process.

Nope. No one was in the building or outside the building. The employees are asking me what is going on, and I respond "I will call." The phone call turned into a nearly 2-hour badminton contest (I was the shuttlecock) with 8 different people.

The reps wanted to know how I was doing and thanked me and wished me a great day. But, no one seemed to hear our dilemma, that the Internet is critical to our daily operations, and we needed it available. At 11:45, the 8th rep said, "It is close to 1:00, so the problem should be corrected soon." If I have to pick between someone being nice to me but not solving the issue versus being somewhat snippy and fixing the problem, I will pick the latter -- every time. Solutions are what count, not platitudes.

The tech rep showed up at 4:00, and, fortunately service was installed and running within 30 minutes. I told the tech rep what we experienced. He tells me they could have left the old service on, installed what they needed on the outside of our office building and when the tech rep arrived, the switchover could easily be made with only a few minutes of downtime.

I could only shake my head. Why wouldn't you use this procedure ALL the time? What business is going to opt for "Sure, shut our Internet service down for several hours instead of a few minutes?" From the conversation last week with the customer service rep, she made me believe the system would be upgraded between 1:00-3:00, not unavailable for almost 7 hours.

Finally, here is the point. If the customer service rep I talked with last week to upgrade service had only explained what would be done --- your current service will be terminated in the morning, and your new service will be available between 1:00-3:00, is that okay? No, it is not, we want the very first appointment of the day. That way I can alert employees what to expect and prepare to not have Internet service for a couple hours. Two superior options instead of what we received!

Everyone (remember, 8 people) was friendly, but not one moved to take the step to solve our issue. "Friendly" is nice, but in my opinion, complete and accurate communication and solving problems trumps "friendly."

Three minutes of complete and accurate communication would have saved hours of inefficiency and frustration!

Part 2 in a Series....

Placing Speakers in Correct Slots

• Each speaker is unique, and he or she brings different qualities to the stage. In order to optimize the performance of all speakers, give considerable thought to their talents, style and content when arranging your meeting agenda.
  
  
• Does your conference start at 8-8:30? Slot your high-energy, make-things-happen speaker here to kick start the day! Another good line-up position for the dynamic speaker is right after lunch. Attendees may be a little sluggish after eating and sitting a few hours -- this will liven up the room!
  
  
• Refrain from placing a high-content speaker, especially one who uses Power Point, as the opener or immediately after lunch or dinner. Especially avoid after dinner if drinks are being served prior to the talk.
  
  
• And, please don't schedule a speaker when food is being served or tables are being cleaned. This is a huge distraction for both the speaker and the attendees.

First in a Series....

Audio Visual

Each speaker has specific AV needs, and it is very important to have clear communication among all parties and the AV provider to minimize problems and maximize performance.

• Some speakers prefer wireless lavaliere microphone and others prefer handheld microphones
  Tip: Install a new battery in the microphone and, if possible, have a back-up microphone close by.



• If possible, have the AV tech rep in the room before and during the presentation. The rep should test sound and computer connectivity.



• Often, house ceiling speakers project average sound. To offer a more professional sound, especially for a sizable audience, strongly consider standalone speakers on each side of the stage.



• And, finally, if the speaker needs a screen for the presentation, make sure it is large enough for everyone to easily read.

In today's economy, we receive more and more inquiries about speakers who can discuss business growth. More importantly, speakers who have owned businesses or held very prominent roles in large companies and have been instrumental in building and growing their organizations. Here are a few of the best:

Howard Behar ---- Howard is the former president of Starbucks where he grew the retail business from 28 stores to more than 400 by the time he was named president. In his book, It's Not About the Coffee: Leadership Principles from a Life at Starbucks, Howard outlines and presents examples of exactly what to do on a daily basis.

Jay Goltz ---- Jay has owned and operated business in the Chicago area sine the late 70's. Jay's dedication to maintaining the highest level of service, customer attention and respect. Jay is the author of the insightful book The Street-Smart Entrepreneur: 133 Lessons I Learned the Hard Way. He and his company, Artists Frame Service, are one of 14 featured companies in Bo Burlingham's book, Small Giants: Companies That Choose to be Great Instead of Big.

Daymond John ---- As a dynamic business speaker with over twenty years of hands-on proven business experience, Daymond shares the strategies that continue to bring him financial success. As Founder and CEO, Daymond steered FUBU from a mere concept to a global fashion powerhouse with annual retail sales exceeding $350 million at its peak. Utilizing many of the same tactics commonly used today, Daymond John pioneered the art of integrating fashion, culture, and music nearly twenty years ago. From his then unprecedented guerrilla marketing and branding techniques to the continuously innovative ways in which he uses social media, brand integration, and his expertise on pop culture, Daymond remains a cutting edge business strategist. Today, Daymond is the star of ABC's business reality TV show, "Shark Tank."

Gene Marks ---- Gene owns and operates the Marks Group PC, a highly successful ten-person firm that provides technology and consulting services to small and medium sized businesses. The Marks Group PC, launched in 1994, has grown to help more than 600 companies and thousands of individuals throughout the country. Prior to starting the Marks Group PC Gene, a Certified Public Accountant, spent nine years in the entrepreneurial services arm of the international consulting firm KPMG in Philadelphia where he was a Senior Manager. Gene has written five books on business management, specifically geared towards small and medium sized companies. His most recent is In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash - Simple Lessons from Smart Business People. Nationally, Gene frequently appears on FOX Business, FOX News and CNBC discussing matters affecting the business community. Gene also appears quarterly on MSNBC's "Your Business" program and monthly on various TV outlets in the Philadelphia area.

Barry Moltz ---- Barry Moltz has founded and run small businesses with a great deal of success and failure for more than 15 years. After successfully selling his last operating business, Barry has branched out into a number of entrepreneurship-related activities. He founded an angel investor group, an angel fund, and is a former advisory member of the board of the Angel Capital Education Foundation. His first book, You Need to Be A Little Crazy: The Truth about Starting and Growing Your Business, describes the ups and downs and emotional trials of running a business. It is in its fifth reprint and has been translated into Chinese, Russian, Korean and Thai. Barry is a nationally recognized expert on entrepreneurship who has given hundreds of presentations to audiences ranging in size from 20 to 20,000. As a member of the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, he has also taught entrepreneurship as an adjunct professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

These individuals know first-hand all the goods and bads of business. Bring their experience to your group.

I have noticed some speakers are shown as "Exclusive" on agency websites. I assume I must book an "exclusive" speaker with that bureau, correct?

Not usually. We work with many agencies in a "co-broker" situation. There are only a handful of speakers who we cannot book. Most of the time, "exclusive" means an agency manages a speaker's calendar. In our almost 20 years in business, we have booked many "exclusive" speakers for our clients.

Couldn't I work directly with a speaker?

You could, but let us give you a few items to think about. We work with hundreds and hundreds of speakers and know them and their office staff, which means improved communications. We know the "hot" speakers, the speakers who will deliver each time, the speakers who are easy to work with. We also provide back-up in case of a problem.

Back-up? Can you provide an example?

Sure! Recently we had a client who was having a very important meeting for the company sales force revolving around a football theme. Two days before the event, the speaker called and informed us he was very ill and would not be able to fly. We sprang into action, identifying three high-quality, football-related speakers we know well. With the guidance of the meeting planner, we booked one, took care of the details and the client was thrilled.

What speaker expenses should we expect when determining a budget?

You should include round-trip airfare (or mileage, if the speaker lives relatively close to the event city), ground transportation, meals, hotel and AV. Some speakers require 1st class airfare, others will fly coach and some will offer a flat travel fee plus hotel. These items will be discussed with you beforehand.

Larry Winget is one of my favorite all-time speakers. I first met him in the mid-90's when he appeared in one of our Speaker Showcases. At that time, he was still in the early stages of his full-time speaking career. Larry was different...he was impactful...he was memorable. Since then, he has skyrocketed up the professional speaking circuit charts.

I appreciate his straightforward, hit you between the eyes approach. If you want warm and fuzzy, Larry is not your guy. But, just as I really liked Tom Peters' style back in the 80's and 90's, Larry doesn't beat around the bush trying make his points. You definitely will not doze off in one of his keynote speeches!

These are Larry's Ten Rules for Business Success:

1. A deal is a deal.
   
   
2. Do what you said you would do, when you said you would do it, the way you said you would do it.
   
   
3. Do the right thing every time. Not the cheap thing or the easy thing - the right thing.
   
   
4. Be the person others can count on to get things done.
   
   
5. Work hard on your job and work harder on yourself.
   
   
6. Never tolerate poor performance in yourself or others.
   
   
7. Focus on accomplishment - not activity.
   
   
8. Work faster, smarter and harder.
   
   
9. You are paid to work. You aren't paid to play, socialize, be happy or like your job - only to work.
   
   
10. Manage priorities, not time.

I see initials after some speaker's names, such as CSP or CPAE. What do they represent?

Great question! The National Speakers Association (NSA) is the speaker industry's international measure of speaker experience and skill.

In 1980, the NSA established the Certified Speaker Professional (CSP) designation. The only earned credential of the NSA, it is conferred upon accomplished professional speakers who have met strict criteria which includes documenting a proven track record of continuing speaker experience and expertise as well as a commitment to ongoing education, outstanding client service and ethical behavior.

Established by the NSA in February 1977, the Council of Peers Award for Excellence (CPAE) Speaker Hall of Fame honors professional speakers who have reached the top echelon of platform excellence. Admission into the CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame is a lifetime award for speaking excellence and professionalism. Inductees are evaluated by their peers through a rigorous and demanding process. Each candidate must excel in seven categories: material, style, experience, delivery, image, professionalism and communication. The award is not based on celebrity status, number of speeches, amount of income or volunteer involvement in NSA.

Up to five inductees are named each year at a gala celebration held in conjunction with the NSA National Convention.

The 2012 CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame class of inductees are:

• Steve Gilliland
• Sally Hogshead
• Ross Shafer
• Peter Sheahan
• Terri Sjodin

Know Your Audience, the Goals and Objectives of the Meeting, and a Budget Range when Choosing a Speaker

We book hundreds of talks each year for a wide variety of groups-Fortune 500 companies, national and state associations, healthcare groups and not-for-profits. We have found, in our 19+ years in business, one crucial aspect required to deliver the ideal speaker-invest 30 minutes up front to gather important information.

Many times clients and prospects will tell us a colleague or friend heard a speaker and the meeting planner wants to book him or her based on the recommendation. Although the speaker may be outstanding, after a series of questions, the planner may realize other speakers could be a better fit.

So, what are the questions?

Who is the audience? What is the gender make-up? What is the age make-up? What professions will be in attendance (sales, engineers, accountants, administrative assistants, etc.)?

As a meeting planner, what are the goals and objectives of the event? What do you want the speaker to achieve? What do you want the audience to take away?
What is your budget range for the speaker honorarium? Honorariums vary greatly and we work with a lot of speakers.
With your guidance, we can provide several suggestions within your budget range, i.e. $5,000-$7,500, $15,000-$20,000 for example.

We invest 8-10 hours a day 5 days a week working with clients and speakers. After a booking, we ask clients to provide candid feedback, about us and about the speaker.

We watch speakers in action, talk with them about their expertise and check references and testimonials. We know if we suggest a speaker who performs poorly, you are not going to be happy with us. We take the responsibility very seriously.

To summarize, once you have the date you want a speaker, jot down some preliminary answers to the questions listed above, and call us at 1-800-397-3183. Together, we'll discuss your event and provide proven speaker suggestions. A short time investment will prove very beneficial when the speaker exits the stage having exceeded your goals and your organization's goals.