At the National Speakers Bureau we understand that selecting the right speaker can sometimes make or break your event. Below we’ve listed the most common questions asked of us and the speakers whom we represent. You may also contact us by email or call 847 295-1122 with your questions.
Q. What does National Speakers Bureau do?
A. At National Speakers Bureau, we endeavor to make your event a success via the effective utilization of talented speakers. Our thorough screening and review process ensures that the National Speakers Bureau only recommends the most talented speakers. This process includes constant video presentation review and very regular visits to see speakers live.
After talking with you and understanding your event goals, the National Speakers Bureau applies our more than 35 years of industry experience to match the right speaker to your event. We fashion proposals that address the issues important to you and appropriate for your event and your organization. Our staff manages all the arrangements to create a successful forum for the speaker and a speaking event that helps you achieve your event objectives. Top
Q. How do I select a speaker to speak at my event? A. There are multiple ways by which you can select a speaker.
Search and select a speaker from our website prior to contacting us. From our home page you may search for speakers by name, topic or keyword. Home Page
Discuss your speaker criteria and presentation preferences with one of our associates. Contact us
Submit a completed Online Speaker Request Form. One of our associates will contact you within one business day. Speaker Request Form
We will carefully consider your speaker criteria and weigh it against the speaker histories. We will then provide you with our recommendations that directly address your specific meeting objectives criteria. Top
Q. How do you choose the speakers you recommend? A. Because most clients have unique speaker and presentation criteria, we screen and review a diverse group of speakers. National Speakers Bureau only targets those speakers who, in addition to any celebrity draw they might have, create a meaningful connection with an audience.
We also apply the following speaker criteria. The speaker must:
• Consider
o The audience make-up
o The event objectives
o How comments should be effectively fashioned
• Recognize that organizations hire speakers, not to hear what they have to say primarily, but to help achieve predefined objectives
With more than 35 years of experience, National Speakers Bureau has developed an acute sense of speakers and events. National Speakers Bureau has developed a proprietary system of scouting and rating speakers; The Standing Ovation Process (SOP).Learn More about SOP Top
Q. Will I have an opportunity to talk with my contracted speaker prior to my event? A. In the vast majority of cases, this is a scheduled step in the preparation by the speaker. The more a speaker knows about your group, the objectives and place of the event and the overall expectations, the more likely the speaker will be able to accomplish your event goals.
We will ask you to complete a pre-program questionnaire that becomes part of the speaker's preparation process. You can choose to skip this questionnaire step, if you’d prefer to talk through your event goals. Top
Q. Will your speaker customize the presentation to my group and our event? A. This issue is the number one area of satisfaction and, interestingly, also the number one area of dissatisfaction. The degree to which a speaker accounts for the group and fits the presentation to your group and event, largely determines how well the speaker is received. It is always a question of degree ... some are better at personalizing than others. Some situations warrant it, while others do not. Determining how important it is to your group and your event is a key component when we consider your recommendations.
See ‘Will I have an opportunity to talk with my contracted speaker prior to my event?’ for more information on additional steps you can take to help a speaker customize the presentation for your company and event. Top
Q. Do speakers generally make their own travel plans? A. Frequent speakers combine a variety of tasks in a single trip, sometimes causing their schedules to change rapidly. Their flexible schedule makes it easier for all parties, if the speakers themselves make their own travel plans.
The National Speakers Bureau monitors our speakers’ travel expenses to ensure that they’re careful with travel-related issues. We often suggest that a client, who is concerned about travel costs, offer a speaker a flat fee for airfare. Using this method allows the airfare to become a fixed expense and not a post-event unknown. Speakers are increasingly pricing themselves with a flat-airfare fee or an airfare-included fee structure. Top
Q. Do you represent speakers other than those listed on www.nationalspeakers.com? A. Yes, we do. We only list a fraction of the talented speakers that we represent on this site. Over our long history, we have identified numerous people who do an excellent job on the platform. Though we have found it impractical to list everyone on our site, regularly it's one of these people who offer the best fit. Such discoveries are best made via a one-on-one conversation with one of our associates, who often serve as the best search tool of all. Top
Q. Do you represent speakers exclusively? A. The lecture industry is home to a variety of business models. Long ago we made the decision to align our business with our customers and their events' objectives. By design we have no obligation to book any particular speaker, so that we are always free to recommend those who are right for the job. Our customers' events and their meeting objectives are far too important to apply a variety of other criteria.
Focusing solely on our clients also positions us to give forthright, useful feedback. There are several great presenters, famous and not, with whom we choose not to work because of their ineffectiveness or objectionable level of self-centered behavior. Top
The National Speakers Bureau office hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm Central Time Monday through Friday. We welcome your emails and calls 847 295-1122.
How quickly will National Speakers Bureau respond to my speaker question? Use this Email link to email your request and the preferred manner to reach you. We will respond within 24 business hours. More FAQs.
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