What Screening Do You Need to Do for Your Keynote Speaker?

If you are having an event, convention, or conference, you may be hiring a keynote speaker. That is an important thing to do – after all, keynote speakers can do so much for your gathering. A good speaker can add prestige to your event, help you sell tickets and get media interest, and help motivate and inspire your staff.
Given how critical and important keynote speakers can be to events, you want to make sure you find the right one. But how can you do so? Here are some tips on how to find the right keynote speaker for your event, and how to screen the person:

Ask around with your friends, family and colleagues

Word of mouth is critical when it comes to keynote speakers. If your colleagues have gotten the pleasure of hearing some dynamic speaker, perhaps that speaker would be ideal for your event. In the business world, especially, positive word of mouth – and negative word of mouth – can spread quickly. So why not pay attention to that, and ask a few questions on your own, to find out a great keynote speaker for your event.

Do some research

Don’t knock the internet; you may be able to find your next keynote speaker there at the click of a mouse. Many keynote speakers have websites advertising what they do, and explaining their style. In addition, you can also find information on the web about which keynote speakers has been successful -- and controversial. Some controversy may be good, but you don’t want to hire a loose cannon. So checking a speaker out first on the internet, and seeing what reviews they get, could be valuable.

Ask for more information

When you find a few speakers for consideration, talk to them about what they specifically can provide for you. You want to make sure they are the right fit for your organization, and fit in with the theme for your event. Just because somebody is a great speaker for some companies, that does not mean he or she would be perfect for your group. For example, a keynote speaker who spoke in PG-13 or R language may be just the thing for a motorcycle owners’ convention, but the speaker may not get such a great reception with that sort of speech at a Christian families’ group.

In addition, ask to read some of their speeches, and to see video of them speaking. If you can, you might want to watch the speaker in action doing a keynote speech elsewhere, before you commit to hiring him or her.

Make sure that the speaker understands what is expected

If you want the keynote speaker to give an inspiring 20-minute speech, or a 50-minute technical talk, make sure that you communicate that to the person. Whatever it is you are looking for ought to be explained to any potential speakers. You don’t want any unpleasant surprises – and neither does the speaker. Good luck with your event. The Avant-Guide Institute offers keynote speakers that could be right for you.