10
Considerations for Choosing Speakers
Having communicated
similar thoughts to planners and speakers, I
offer these considerations, not necessarily in order:
1.
Relevance: How specific to important
issues is the speaker's subject and presentation?
2.
Attraction: By how much is the
speaker likely to increase attendance, generate
newsworthiness and publicity for the event by his
"celebrity" in his field, industry, community, the world?
3.
Accessibility: How easy are they to
contact? Can you find them on the Internet or through an
agent or bureau, or does it take some clever detective
work?
4.
Availability: Is it easy to book them,
and are they near the venue, or are their calendars already
filled to capacity for the next two years?
5.
Affordability: Are their fees
astronomical or acceptable given the recognized value of
their presence and presentation material?
6.
Personality: Are they a delight to
work with because of their agreeable nature and charm, or
always demanding something else?
7.
Energy:
Are they passionate and likely to ignite a fire under your
participants or members, or could they be duds?
8.
Voice: Do they have a commanding
vocal quality that everyone -even at the back -- can hear
and understand clearly, or do they have a strong accent,
uneven projection, or diction difficulties?
9.
Freshness: Does the speaker have a
new approach that is unique and refreshing, or is the
approach too similar to that of many other speakers?
10.
Reputation: Do they uphold similar
values as the organization's own code of conduct, or are
their ethics and values questionable?
Copyright Andrea Reynolds
