Are you looking to make your next corporate event truly memorable? Booking a professional keynote speaker can inspire and motivate your audience, drive home your event’s message, and create a lasting impact. At Innovative Entertainment, we’ve been helping clients find the perfect keynote speaker for their events since 1983. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through booking a keynote speaker who will captivate your audience and make your event a success.
Why Choose a Professional Keynote Speaker?
This is why a professional keynote speaker can be a game-changer for your corporate event. As Eddie from our team explains:
“Professional keynote speakers bring a unique perspective that can inspire employees at all levels to push beyond their perceived limitations and achieve extraordinary results. Whether you’re talking about sales targets, product launches, or company-wide transformations, the right speaker can provide insights that resonate long after the event is over.”
A well-chosen keynote speaker can:
- Deliver powerful messages aligned with your event’s theme
- Offer fresh perspectives on industry trends and challenges
- Share personal stories of overcoming adversity and achieving success
- Provide actionable strategies for personal and professional growth
- Boost morale and motivation among your team members
Whether you’re looking to book a celebrity speaker, a business thought leader, a bestselling author, or a motivational speaker, the right keynote can elevate your event from ordinary to extraordinary.
Steps to Book a Professional Keynote Speaker
1. Define Your Event Objectives
Before you start your search for the perfect keynote speaker for your next corporate event, it’s important to clearly define what you want to achieve with your event. As Jamie from our team points out:
“Who’s going to be there? What message are you trying to give? Where are they from? Why are they there? What are your metrics for success for this event.? It is a lot of who, what, when, where, before we get to the how.”
Consider:
- The main message or theme of your event
- The demographics and interests of your audience
- The specific outcomes you want to achieve (e.g., motivate sales teams, introduce new ideas, celebrate achievements)
2. Determine Your Budget
Keynote speaker fees can vary widely based on factors such as experience, expertise, and name recognition. Eddie emphasizes:
“Budget is always one thing that always comes into play.”
When setting your budget, consider the speaker’s fee and potential travel costs, accommodation, and any additional expenses like book signings or meet-and-greets.
3. Choose the Right Format
Deciding on the format of your keynote presentation is important. Eddie explains the different possibilities when hiring your next keynote speaker:
“Is it a speaker that’s got who has a story that she speaks on like Diana Nyad? She talks about how she swam… Or is it somebody like Venus Williams who’s going to sit down and have a moderated conversation and you’re going to ask her questions about her life and her career and the obstacles that she’s overcome?”
Options include:
- Traditional keynote speech
- Moderated Q&A session
- Interactive workshop
- Panel discussion
The format you choose can significantly impact audience engagement and the overall success of your event.
4. Start Your Search
Once you have a clear idea of your needs, it’s time to start looking for the right speaker. This is where working with a professional speakers bureau like Innovative Entertainment can be invaluable. We have established relationships with a wide range of speakers, from Fortune 500 executives to NFL stars, bestselling authors to renowned consultants.
Eddie illustrates how our team works collaboratively to find the perfect speaker for each event:
“We leverage our team members and work collaboratively. We are all out there booking a variety of things daily, so we lean on each other’s expertise quite a bit. We work together to find the best keynote speakers for each other’s events. This is what you get from working with a keynote speakers bureau like Innovative. So when different speakers get a call from us, generally speaking, we already have that credibility because our company has booked so many speakers over the years. So that’s a key thing, too.”
This collaborative approach allows us to quickly identify suitable speakers for your event, whether you’re looking for a top keynote speaker with extensive experience or an up-and-coming thought leader in your industry. By pooling our resources and connections, we can offer a wider range of options and insights to match your specific needs.
5. Evaluate Potential Speakers
When considering potential speakers, look beyond just their credentials. Eddie advises:
“Trying to understand what your audience wants, what they need and what they’ve seen. Because often, those people in the audience are executives, and those executives may have seen a lot. Maybe they saw so-and-so speak at another conference, and you don’t want to repeat speakers.”
Consider factors such as:
- Relevance of their expertise to your audience
- Speaking style and ability to engage with the audience
- Past feedback and testimonials from similar events
- Alignment with your organization’s values and culture
6. Submit a Formal Offer
Once we’ve helped youidentified your ideal speaker, it’s time to work on a formal offer. Innovative will help craft this off and it will should include:
- Event date, time, and location
- Speaking engagement details (format, duration, topic)
- Compensation
- Travel and accommodation arrangements
- Any additional appearances or requirements
- Cancellation agreements and other legalese
Eddie emphasizes the importance of being thorough in your offer:
“We’re going to make sure that those specificities are in that offer from the get-go. Because it’s really hard to get it later.”
7. Negotiate the Contract
After submitting your offer, be prepared for some negotiation. This is where having a professional speakers bureau on your side can be crucial. We can help navigate complex contract terms and anticipate potential issues.
Eddie shares an example of the level of detail involved in these negotiations and he goes on to list some of the specific items that might be included in a contract:
“The contract may talk about the speaker promoting the event. The contract may mention that the speaker is going to be on this or that pre-call. It says who the moderator is going to be. It may say that the event can’t add other sponsors. Talent needs to know who they’re performing for. Maybe there is a clause that says there will be no photos or signage or that the webinar has to take place on a password-protected site that’s only accessible by invite and that the webinar will reside on that portal for six months after the initial broadcast.”
These examples illustrate the complexity of contract negotiations and the importance of addressing all potential scenarios. Other key points to negotiate might include:
- Speaker fees and payment terms
- Travel and accommodation requirements
- Content approval processes
- Cancellation policies and force majeure clauses
- Exclusivity agreements
- Recording and distribution rights
- Social media and promotional expectations
Having a professional speakers bureau on your side can help ensure that all these details are properly addressed, protecting both you and the speaker and setting the stage for a successful event.
8. Prepare for the Event
Once the contract is signed, it’s time to prepare for the event. This may include:
- Briefing the speaker on your company and audience
- Prep Calls and content review
- Arranging travel and accommodation
- Preparing promotional materials
- Planning for any additional appearances or activities
9. Execute the Event
On the day of the event, ensure everything runs smoothly. Have a dedicated point person to liaise with the speaker and their team. Be prepared for last-minute changes or requests.
Eddie reminds us of the unpredictable nature of live events:
“You just have to be professional and understand that everything is fluid.”
The Value of Working with a Professional Speakers Bureau
While it’s possible to book a keynote speaker on your own, working with a professional speakers bureau like Innovative Entertainment can significantly streamline the process. Eddie sums it up perfectly:
“We’re better served as a partner than as just a vendor or a conduit for you to get what you need. You can use this as just that, but then you’re missing out and you’re running the risk of not having it successful.”
Our team of experienced talent buyers can help you:
- Find the perfect keynote speaker for your event and budget
- Navigate complex contract negotiations
- Manage all aspects of the booking process
- Handle last-minute changes or issues
- Ensure a professional and memorable experience for both you and the speaker
Conclusion
Booking a professional keynote speaker for your corporate event can create an unforgettable experience for your attendees. Whether you’re looking to inspire, educate, or motivate, the right speaker can help you achieve your event objectives and leave a lasting impact on your audience.
By following these steps and working with a professional speakers bureau like Innovative Entertainment, you can navigate the process with confidence and secure a top-tier keynote speaker for your next event.
Ready to book a keynote speaker for your upcoming corporate event? Contact us at Innovative Entertainment today. Let us help you find the perfect speaker to inspire, motivate, and captivate your audience, creating a truly memorable experience that will resonate long after the event is over.
