Speakers Bureau News

Benefits of working with Speak Inc. Speakers Bureau

• Consultative. We work with you as a partner on one key, focused aspect of your meeting planning process, offering insights on a wide-range of speakers and topics that meet your conference objectives. Our expert consultants represent decades of experience in the industry.

• Unbiased. Because Speak, Inc. does not represent speakers on an exclusive basis, our suggestions are unbiased and based solely on your needs, rather than an obligation to book specific speakers.  

• Responsive. Once we have determined the kinds of speakers who will meet your objectives, we will immediately provide you with a digital proposal via E-mail, including video clips. Video demonstration tapes or DVDs can be on your desk within 24 hours.

• Facilitative. We encourage you to complete our invaluable pre-program questionnaire and talk with speakers about your objectives. We are happy to coordinate communication to whatever degree you are comfortable.  We are not here to get in the way – but to help facilitate and make your job easier.

• Detail-oriented. Our job is not finished once the contracts are signed. In fact, we have just begun! We pride ourselves on our extensive
follow-through, from coordinating travel and audio-visual requirements to scrutinizing speaker expense invoices; we make sure we complete the task to your satisfaction.

• Problem-Solvers. Consider Speak, Inc. your meeting day “insurance.”  In the rare event that a speaker is somehow prevented from fulfilling their obligation, we take immediate action to make sure that a suitable replacement is identified. Our 24-hour paging service ensures that one of our consultants is available to you anytime after-hours or on weekends should an emergency arise.

• Flexible. As a responsive entrepreneurial firm, we are not restricted by processes or policies that hinder possibilities. We subscribe to
the principle of building long-term client relationships and we do this by treating all of our clients and each of their programs as unique.  

• Respected. In a very competitive industry, you’ll find our name is well-respected by clients, speakers and fellow bureau reps alike and ranks among the very top bureaus in the country. Our extensive client list includes a vast array of corporate and association planners
who have called on us for well over a decade to assist them with their meetings.

• Cost-effective. In most cases our services cost you nothing, because Speak, Inc. retains its fee in the form of a commission from the speakers we book.

Presented for Cisco Systems, Inc.
May 2007

1.) Content/Objectives for Speaker

-What would you like your group to feel or to know when they leave this session?
-Do you want a strong inspirational message or more of a business/sales message?
-Is humor important?
-Is a big name important to you? If so, will this fit into your budget? (big names are generally $20K+)
-Do you want a speaker who will customize his/her program?
-Do you want speakers who have spoken to other similar groups?
-Will your group be receptive to a speaker who stands behind a podium?

2.) Audience demographics

-Age range of qualifiers?
-Educational backgrounds?
-Ratio of male/female?

3.) Financial Considerations

-What is your budget for speakers…Does this include travel expenses?
-Will the budget you have allocated for your speaker work with the speaker you have chosen?

4.) Format

-What event(s) does speaker follow?
-What speakers/presenters does the speaker follow?
-How much time is allotted for the speaker on your agenda?
-If this is a banquet program, will alcohol be served? If so, you may want a speaker who has more humor than content.
-If you want a speaker for your Opening Session, make sure you select a speaker who gets everyone pumped up for what is to come during the next few days and someone who can set the tone for your meeting and conference objectives.
-If you want a speaker for your Closing Session, make sure you select a speaker who can wrap up many of the concepts and themes offered throughout your conference so that everyone is sent off on a high note - thinking about what they have experienced and learned.

5.) Other

-Who are the past speakers and how were they rated?
-Will you require that the speaker does a conference call with you or your executives prior to the program?
-How do you want to preview speaker candidates (printed biographical information, demonstration videos, live previews, web clips, conference call)?

Need to Know Answers for Creating Magical Partnerships
Presented by: Ruth Levine, Speak, Inc.
May 2007

A: Yes, usually. This depends on the speaker, and Speak Inc. would negotiate this for you prior to going to contract.

A: Many speakers require first-class airfare since they travel thousands of miles each week, and some (mainly celebrities) are adamant about this policy.  However, if first-class requirements are problematic for you, ask your bureau representative to negotiate an unrestricted coach class fare with your speaker before contracts are issued. Depending on the circumstances, speakers will often negotiate on this matter. Another solution is to ask your rep. to negotiate a flat travel fee for you in advance of the contract signing.