|
How To Select The Right Keynote
Speaker Selecting the right keynote speaker for your organization’s event is essential to its ultimate success. Don’t take chances. You want a speaker who will help make your program memorable, exciting, and have everyone talking about the event long after it’s over. Here’s an easy checklist to use when you’re considering hiring a speaker for your organization’s next big event. The best speakers will be able to answer the following questions with a resounding "Yes!" Essential
Questions to Ask When Uncovering the 1. Is the speaker highly entertaining? Ask for specific ways he or she energizes and engages an audience. Does the speaker get people "on their feet" with enthusiasm? 2. Ask for testimonials from satisfied clients. Great speakers will have plenty of testimonials and will not hesitate to share them with you. 3. Look for credibility. Has the speaker been published, i.e. has he or she been interviewed in magazine and newspaper articles, or written a book? What honors or special recognition have they received for their work? 4. Will the speaker use memorable audio visuals or props? 5. Does the speaker sound enthusiastic and energetic on the phone? If a person sounds ho hum on the telephone, he or she probably will be that way on stage too. 6. Is the speaker represented by a speakers’ bureau? The best speakers not only book their own events, but are often represented by one or more discerning and selective speakers bureaus. This is a good third-party endorsement of a speaker’s qualifications and effectiveness. 7. Does the speaker have an online video preview or CD with a sample of their speaking style? Does the speaker’s bio look intriguing? Does he or she have fun and interesting topics listed? Is that person’s background and experience something that would draw an audience? 8. Is the speaker an experienced professional familiar with the speaking talent required of prestigious convention audiences and "show biz" equipment? For example, does the speaker know how to present his or her material in a videoconferencing situation, take cues from audio visual directors on stage and integrate big screen video clips and music into the presentation? If a speaker can answer yes to all of the above, then you may have found the best and most dynamic presenter for your program! |
