Choosing A Keynote Speaker

The role of finding the right keynote speaker or guest speaker that fulfills all of your requirements can be a big job. Choosing the perfect speaker that doesn't embarrass you or send the wrong message is the #1 goal. You are searching for a professional speaker with a customized program that will perfectly blend laughter and insightful messages to your crowd. Your audience should leave your event feeling happy, well-informed and inspired.
Here are some tips to help find the perfect-fit keynote speaker:

Tip #1 - Know Your Crowd.
It is important to know what your audience is expecting out of the event. Is this a salesperson event where the audience is looking for fresh tips on selling or is the crowd full of managers look to learn new team-building skills? Evaluate what the audience is attending the event for whether it is to learn a new skill, be motivated or for the pure sake of entertainment. This will help determine what type of keynote speaker would be best for your event.

Tip #2 - Your Objectives.
It is important to discover you or your organization's objectives for the event. Is this event designed as a training program, an awards event or an annual meeting? Do you need an entertaining speaker for the very end of your conference to leave your audience laughing as they leave your event? These are all questions to review and decide upon before looking for a keynote speaker. Not only will this help you decide on the perfect speaker but also help you express these objectives to the speaker so they can fulfill your objectives during their speech.

Tip #3 - Identify What Type Of Speaker Fits Your Needs.
There are many types of speakers available for events. Here are a few speaker types to help your choose the right one for your event:
The Motivational Speaker - delivers their message by intertwining it within inspirational stories. These stories are usually from past personal experiences.
The Humorist - will deliver the message wrapped up with entertainment. Some of these speakers have been comedians in the past and can blend their humor to fit your message for the event.
The Celebrity Speaker - will draw people to the event due to their celebrity name. Some celebrity speakers are great and some are average. You are purchasing their fame and not their speaking skills. Celebrity speakers, on average, have the highest fees.
The Industry Speaker - is an expert in a specific industry and they speak only on one particular topic. Industry speakers are great if you want a purely informational topic covered for your event. They usually are not known for their motivational or entertainment qualities. They are there to inform the audience on a specific topic only.
The Perfect Speaker - is the speaker that you want for your event. This is the speaker that is an advocate for your objectives, easy-to-work with, professional and leaves your audience wanting more. This speaker perfectly balances humor while blending in a customized message that motivates the crowd with powerful stories. A perfect speaker will work closely with you in a genuine partnership for a truly amazing and memorable event.

Tip #4 - Look Around.
It is worth the time to look for the perfect keynote speaker. Talk to peers and colleagues about recommendations they might have for a speaker for your event. Contact a local speaker's bureau or the National Speakers Association's online directory of speakers. There are also bureaus designed to find a speaker with a specific set of skills for you.

Tip #5 - Interview Speakers.
If the speaker lives in town, then request to meet with them before your event. If they are not in town, then ask to review any audio or video presentation of their speeches. Ask them about their experiences and attend one of their upcoming scheduled speeches so you can see a live performance.

Tip #6 - Request An Speech Outline.
After you have spoken to the speaker about your objectives for the event, ask them for an outline to ensure that they included the program objectives. You want to ensure that the speaker has included all customized material that meets your specific program goals.
Overall, these are some great tips to keep in mind when finding the right keynote speaker for your next event.

To learn more about how to find the perfect keynote speaker or motivational speaker, then check out Matt Rowe.