Tweet

Choosing the Perfect Opening Convention Speaker

Guest post by: Chip Eichelberger

Article Overview: Choosing the Perfect Opening Convention Speaker For Your Next Event: 5.5 Tips to Ensure Speaker Selection Success By Chip Eichelberger As an event planner you have a lot of balls in the air – everything from venue selection to AV set-up to accommodations to choosing the perfect speaker to launch that all-important convention. Sometimes, event planners overlook the importance of selecting the perfect opening speaker given all of the other items on the “to-do” list, but your opening speaker kicks off the event and sets the tone for all the activities that follow. Critical. So, how do you find the perfect opening speaker? Here are 5.5 tips to ensure a successful search.

Choosing the Perfect Opening Convention Speaker

As an event planner you have a lot of balls in the air – everything from venue selection to AV set-up to accommodations to choosing the perfect speaker to launch that all-important convention.

Sometimes, event planners overlook the importance of selecting the perfect opening speaker given all of the other items on the “to-do” list, but your opening speaker kicks off the event and sets the tone for all the activities that follow. Critical. So, how do you find the perfect opening speaker? Here are 5.5 tips to ensure a successful search.



1. Talk to the candidates on your short list. The best speakers are registered with a variety of speaker bureaus, and the best speakers have assistants. As the event planner, don't simply speak to the bureau head or the speaker's assistant.

Speak to the speaker. A short phone call is typically all you need. You want to know more about these professionals - their experience, their needs, their expectations of you and, of course, their style of presentation to get that convention off on the right foot. You want someone with a high likability factor. You want participates to say, "That was great. I'm really glad I came."

You also want to feel that energy, enthusiasm and get a sense of the speaker's use of humor to fully engage your attendees. It doesn't take long to determine if this is the right speaker for your convention but it's an essential step in getting the best speaker for your event.

2. Move "Choose an opening speaker" to the top of your priority list.

Professional speakers - the ones you want at your event - are often booked months in advance so getting started with your speaker search should be a top priority.

Move the vetting process to the top of your list to ensure you have the broadest selection of the best candidates. You don't want the "best" speaker, you want the best speaker for your event.

3. Review samples and see what others have to say.

Professional speakers know the value of good marketing so you'll always find video clips of them on their web sites and YouTube.

Good keynoters know that event planners want to see how speakers interact with the audience and they'll have lots of samples of their work, from the American Beekeepers' Bash to the last Fortune 500 event at which they spoke. Always try before you buy.

Look at both video and written testimonials from meeting planners just like you. What do they have to say? Where has the speaker spoken before? Check out Speakerwiki for audience reviews of the speaker you're considering.

4. Ask about the speaker's experience within your event attendees' expertise.

A good opening speaker for a medical convention doesn't have to be a doctor. In fact, put an MD on stage to kick off the event and chances are half the audience will doze off during the two-hour presentation (complete with slide show) after that heavy breakfast.

Good opening speakers take the time to research the interests and challenges of any audience. Your opening speaker will be well versed in motivating and engaging any audience to prepare attendees to absorb the information they'll gather over the next few days. Good opening speakers use audience interaction, engaging activities, energy and humor to create a positive audience mind set.

The perfect opening speaker understands the industry, the specialties, the needs and wants of attendees, and prepares these men and women for what's coming up. It's much more important to find a professional opening speaker who motivates and challenges than one who simply re-hashes what the audience already knows.

5. Get a solid ROI from your opening speaker.

The opening speaker you select is an investment in the overall success of your event. There's the speaker's fee, accommodations, travel costs and other expenses associated with hiring a professional opening speaker. But...

...that opening speaker creates a positive mind-set among attendees. And the good ones - the ones who've spoken at hundreds of trade associations, company conventions and public venues - may cost more than an industry insider but there's a reason for that. Professional speakers know how to grab the attention of listeners, how to keep them engaged with energy, humor and a solid message that will resonate long after the speaker leaves the stage.

Select a speaker who "gets it," one who understands his or her role to inject enthusiasm, energy, motivation and humor to kick off the event. These professionals deliver a positive return on your investment by creating an exciting atmosphere that lasts throughout the entire event.

If your first priority in hiring an opening speaker is cost, chances are you won't find the perfect kick-off keynoter. Good speakers understand audience dynamics and they know how to prepare themselves and your attendees for the upcoming opportunities that will take place over the course of the event.

5.5 Ask what else the speaker can do for you at the event.

Ask the speaker if they could do a break-out program for you too. Would they be able to attend the dinner the night before? Could they serve as an emcee? Do they have some great products they can make you a special deal on? Can the speaker stay for lunch or do a book signing? Almost anything is possible if you ask.

So, interview the prospects personally to develop your short list, start early with the search process, watch clips that demonstrate a prospect's talent and speaking style, ask questions about preparation and get the best ROI from the speaker you select to open your event.

That's how to find the best opening speaker for any event. And isn't that what you want?

Related Articles
  Connecting With Speakers
  THE APOSTILLE PROCESS
  Preservation of Modern Day Philosopher Videos
  How to be an Audience Arsonist - Light a Fire of Possibility
  The Conference Commando
  Choosing a Closing Speaker: 5.5 Reasons Your Closer Is Just The Beginning
  How to Give Outstanding Speaker Introductions in Five Easy Steps
  Motivational speaker: Boxing Legend George Foreman
  The Perfect Work At Home Business Opportunity
  Always on (everybody markets)
  Why you Should Own a Quiznos Franchise
  Top Ten Listening Techniques
  Home-based Business: Resource Speaker
  Internet Networking Marketing – Do You Know the Basics for Article Marketing? Part Two
  New Rules for Listening
  Why invest in conventions?
  Top 10 Tips on How to Open Your Speech
  Leadership: The Power of Extemporaneous Speaking
  Overnight success?
  Boosting your Business in a Slow Economy

Article Tags: convention speaker, event plan, event planners, meeting planners, speaker selection



Related Forum Posts
Re: SmartWoman seeks Fiesty Woman Writers - @shri: Perfect! Yes, I'd be interested! I will email you privately as you described and follow up. Goodie! Vicki
Re: Success - I think success is 2% luck and 98% persistence. While it's true that SOME people are successful due to luck, but the majority of the population has to work very hard to attain their goals. Opening a business require a ton of footwork. This means a lot of travel, a lot of networking, a lot of bank transactions -- just a lot of everything. If you're willing to put up with the monotonous aspects of business and you're willing to push forward, you're more than likely be successful. Also, make sure to cater to your audience/customer.
Seems we've got a spammer... - Shoe Perfect is going around posting ads for his site... I'm thinking rather than having a wait before somoene can post again, have a 24-hour delay from the time someone joins, to the time they can post? That might deter people who just want to "hit and run"... in a way that the post-again delay might not.
Re: Identifying a Scam - Thanks for the post Dave, sorry to see so little interest in your post or perhaps so little interest in scam avoidance. wazzup.com now identifies itself as a social community and requires a separate signup from that of wazzup.info wazzup.info links us "My Perfect Internet" havent checked into any of these for an update
Re: Securing Financing - [size=150:1st1tmc9]You do have to be agile and prepared when starting a business. Most people underestimate how long it will take to get up and profiting. Start establishing business credit as soon as possible. Being prepared with the items mentioned in this article will greatly increased your chances of getting financed too. Preparation is key.[/size:1st1tmc9] [b[color=#FF0000:1st1tmc9][size=200:1st1tmc9]]Addendum:[/[/size:1st1tmc9][/color:1st1tmc9]b] [size=150:1st1tmc9]Don't be afraid to get secured loans in your personal/business. Opening a NEW passport savings account/checking account with $400+ and getting a secured loan against it and paying it off within 30 days looks great on your credit report. Do it a few timews within 6 months and watch your score JUMP. [/size:1st1tmc9]


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Soda Vending Machine = Energy Hog

3 Health Insurance Misconceptions

You Have A Website What Now

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.