Event Planning Tools

From conference call to curtain call, our mission at Speakers Bureau of Canada is to make your job easier, do all the heavy lifting and make you the hero. As partners in helping you elevate your event to the next level by providing world-class motivational and keynote speakers and creating dynamic, unforgettable presentations, we welcome the opportunity to share our expertise with you. To that end, we have provided the following tips and tools to help get you there. As always, we encourage you to contact us if you have questions about any aspect of hiring or working with professional speakers. We look forward to working with you to plan your next meeting, conference, convention or retreat.

WHY WORK WITH A SPEAKERS BUREAU TO FIND AND BOOK SPEAKERS WHEN PLANNING AN EVENT

When you work with a speakers bureau like the Speakers Bureau of Canada, we save you time, money and reduce the risk at no extra cost to clients. Finding the right speaker for the right audience can be challenging, and by working with experts and qualified speakers, you will be able to guarantee a positive experience for each attendee.

Speakers Bureaus play a major role in helping event planning teams find, search and book speakers for events. From when the event starts as an idea to when the idea comes to fruition, a speakers bureau supports, guides, and advises on the success of the speaker with your audience and manages the expectations before, during and after the event. Learn more about speakers bureaus and the benefits of working with a bureau vs a speaker directly.

WHAT IS A SPEAKERS BUREAU?

A motivational speaker bureau or virtual speakers bureau is a talent agency that offers clients and organizations talented keynote speakers and professional virtual speakers for their events. Public speaker bureaus represent popular guest speakers at annual general meetings, conferences at events that present on almost any topic, and deliver powerful and engaging motivational presentations for audiences and attendees. A top speakers bureau will offer a list of qualified speakers to organizations to choose from to help with their speaker research when searching for a speaker for their event. The speakers bureau’s talented agents will be able to give expert advice to help organizations find the perfect speaker for their audience.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF A SPEAKERS BUREAU?

Professional speakers bureaus operate as we maintain the quality of the presentation by working with top motivational keynote speakers and virtual keynote speakers. They also help organizations to research, find and book a speaker for their events which saves event planning teams time and money. Speaker bureaus and their talented agents find new speakers that offer fresh perspectives for organizations on specific topics, while also networking to recruit and find trending keynote speakers, celebrity speakers, and popular motivational speakers that are successful with different audiences. Talented speakers bureaus act a strong resource for professional speakers to find them more gigs, connect them with new clients and to educate and inform them on industry trends and the demand for specific topics.

PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER BUREAU’S ACCESS A LARGE NETWORK OF SPEAKERS TO FIND YOU THE PERFECT SPEAKER FOR THE EVENT

A great public speakers bureau will be able to source out research with other agencies around the world to find celebrity speakers or exclusive speakers that will educate, motivate, and inspire attendees. Speakers bureaus have industry partners with other talent agencies, speaker bureau’s, talent agents, media companies and speakers, which can help organizations search and find any speaker no matter who they are for an event. They also have strong relationships with top motivational speakers, keynote speakers, virtual speakers and leading experts and continue to build their relationships with speakers, production companies, venue representatives, businesses and organizations that experienced an engaging motivational speaker a previous event, or left feed back regarding one of the motivational speakers booked through the speaker bureau.

SPEAKER BUREAU’S TAKES OUT THE RISK IN BOOKING A SPEAKER AT EACH EVENT

As the events industry often shifts with current events and topics that meet the demand of each organization, a top speaker bureau will carefully select speakers to work with that can help organizations and individuals to achieve the results they require to positively impact their people. When you work with a top speakers bureau, expect a high level of service, knowledge, experience, and access to the best speakers on topics that you want addressed at the event. Through having a large network, and being strategically positioned within the industry, we work closely with industry partners to keep up to date with the top motivational speakers and virtual keynote speakers on each topic, professional speaker bureau’s will help match the perfect speaker with the right audience to create memorable life changing experiences for attendees. By a guaranteeing, a professional approach when working with an external speaker, the talent and speakers’ bureau agents will have strategic meetings with upcoming speakers or speakers that are not represented on other agencies. Speakers bureaus will also keep up with trending speakers, topics, and best practices within the industry to maintain and progress speaking industry standards. By collaborating with a speakers bureau’s professional motivational keynote speakers that engage audiences at conferences, events, and virtual meetings, you can be confident that audience members will walk away feeling inspired with practical tools they can use in their lives.

SPEAKER BUREAU’S ACCESS A LARGE EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF QUALIFIED MOTIVATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKERS & VIRTUAL SPEAKERS ALL IN ONE PLACE.

Searching for a keynote or virtual speaker can take time and it is not always a guarantee that you will book an engaging speaker for your audience. Each conference, meeting and event will require a speaker to address different topics. Investing in a speaker for your people is one of the most important components of leaving a memorable experience with attendees. Searching for any speaker online can be risky, as just because they are a top result, does not mean they are good at speaking or experts on the topic. Professional speakers bureaus screen their talent before they become a member to ensure they are expert motivational speakers that will deliver engaging presentations to educate, inform, and inspire the results to meet the needs of each organization and audience. By working with speakers bureau’s, you will find speakers for virtual events and conferences all in one place. You will also find popular guest speakers, emcees, panelists and thought leaders that are experienced in working with event planning teams and how to add value in diverse ways. You can search speakers by topic, type, location, or their fees, which helps you shortlist speakers that will be a good fit for attendees and that will guarantee a positive impact for attendees and the organization after the event.

SPEAKERS BUREAU’S CAN GET YOU A SPEAKER FOR A LOWER COST

You may think that speakers on a motivational speakers bureau can be more expensive or that they cost more since they work with an agent. It is not true. Speakers bureau talent and speakers charge the same to through the bureau as if you were to book them directly. Keynote speakers bureaus and virtual speakers bureaus are also able to negotiate speaker fees, manage the contracting, and meet the professional criteria organizations have when planning an event. They also maintain industry standards to ensure a smooth process with organizations find and book speakers for virtual meetings, conferences, and events. We are also able to identify strategies we know will work when approaching a speaker to discount their rates, and due to a long and trusted relationship with each speaker, the bureau agent can often request a favor from the speaker or to present the event to them which will make them more flexible with their fees.

PROFESSIONAL MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER BUREAU’S MANAGE COMMUNICATIONS TO COORDINATE WITH BETWEEN SPEAKERS AND THE HOST ORGANIZATION.

When searching for a guest speaker, many event planning teams will reach out to multiple speakers to see if they are available and to learn what they charge for a keynote, workshop, or virtual presentation. A top speaker bureau will make special requests for the speaker to perform for each organization at each event. Top speaker bureau’s also will inform organizers on what it is like to work with any speaker of interest to help further their decision. In working with a speakers bureau, event planning teams get a streamlined experience in searching, connecting, and booking a professional speaker. They are also able to have the speakers bureau agents reach out to multiple speakers at the same time, without having to be in touch with the speaker directly. Speaker bureaus can check availability of speakers, negotiate fees and place holds in speakers schedules on behalf of the organization. That way, if you are no longer interested in the speaker, there is not disappointment on either end since it is common for us to contact a speaker on behalf of a client.

Once you are ready to book a talent from a speakers bureau, the speakers agent you are working with will reach out to the speaker to confirm the firm offer, coordinate to make sure that the speaker aligns with the presentation topics and the audience and book the speaker on the host organizations behalf. A top speakers bureau will prepare the speaker for the session and the conversations with the event planning team and connect them at an early stage to gain alignment for the content of the session. They will also make sure that the speaker has all the information they require to be able to propose some ideas, research and customize the content for each organization and the attendees participating in the session.

SPEAKER BUREAU’S CREATE A STREAMLINED PROCESS WHEN BOOKING THE SPEAKER

Speaker bureaus manage the agreement/contract, calculate travel expenses, can book the travel on the speakers behalf, and hold the funds on the host organizations behalf until the event takes place. Through having strong cancellations policies in support of the host organization, we can make sure that we protect each organization when collaborating with us and the speaker. Top speaker bureaus will be able to identify any conflicts or challenges in the process at an early stage regarding recordings or collaborating with the speaker to meet the contractual terms and conditions, often unique to each organization. Top speakers bureaus can pay the speaker at a time negotiated within the contract or if there is a delayed payment to the speakers bureau. They will also educate and inform the speaker of the logistics; key points of contact and they sign our agreement which is usually negotiated between a speaker bureau and the host organization.