There are thousands of speakers ranging in a wide variety of topics and fees and all of the choices can be overwhelming. Contacting a Speakers Bureau provides meeting planners access to thousands of speakers and entertainers with one simple call. From there the Speakers Bureau can narrow down the options for you based on your needs and budget so that you find the perfect speaker for your event. Speakers Bureaus constantly maintain relationships with many speakers and are reviewing new speakers to stay current on who is the best at all times. Another helpful tool is that Speakers Bureaus are also receiving evaluations from various locations constantly with their finger on the pulse of the industry. A speakers bureau will hear if a certain person isn’t a good speaker and would never recommend anyone that might cost you your reputation.

Even after deciding on a speaker, it is nice to have an expert on your side to help with the full process of coordinating all event details, contracts and invoices. Simply put, the process (from beginning to end) of hiring a speaker for an event is made much simpler when using a Speakers Bureau.

First of all, sometimes books can be used as a negotiating tool with the speaker’s fee. Let’s say that a speaker’s fee is $10,000 but you only have a budget of $8,000 for the speaker fee. It is possible that a speaker will negotiate with you if you allow them to sell their books at the event. Another example is that you only have $8,000 in the budget for the speaker fee but you also have some type of “educational materials” budget. If the speaker’s materials would be a good fit for that purpose you can use that to negotiate the fee. One other example could be using the books of the speaker as an “added value” to the attendees for coming to the event and give the books to them.

If you decide to allow the speaker to sell their books at your event there are a few different ways to have this done. You can have the speaker ship the books to the event, you can order the books directly from the publisher or arrange with a local book store for them to bring and sell the books. The speaker and the speaker’s bureau that you work with can help you decide which the best option for you is.

Some meeting planners are wary of a speaker trying to “push” their books while they are on stage giving their presentation. In most cases this will not happen. Most professional speakers know that this is not a professional thing to do and would never think of it. However, if you are nervous about the possibility of this happening you can always talk to the speaker and mention it to them to be positive that it doesn’t happen.

Every event is different regarding what works best in regards to this topic so there is no right or wrong way to do it. Explore your options and your speakers bureau can help you make the decision that works best for your situation.

The majority of the details that will go on the contract are simply the logistics of the event. The important aspects that will need to be figured out before preparing the contract include things like exactly what you will want the talent to do while they are at your event. For example, if you want the speaker to do a keynote address and a book signing or a meet and greet session you will need to clearly outline that in the contract. Some of the other things that will need to be included on the contract include A/V Requirements, presentation title or topic, audience size, suggested attire, publicity requirements, travel requirements, how and when travel will be paid, accommodations, payment terms of talent fee and of course lots of “fine print”…

Don’t let the contract scare you- hire a professional to help with all of the details and you have nothing to fear. However, if you decide to do it yourself, these very simplified steps will help:
1) Gather all the information that I wrote about above and any additional information that you think is necessary including, of course, the date, timetable of events, location etc.
2) If necessary look online for a contract template that will fit your needs and use it to plug your information in
3) Be sure to include “fine print” about what happens if the event gets cancelled, the speaker can’t perform for some reason, or if recording is prohibited and things of that nature

Who is Dan Clark?
Dan Clark is CEO of a multi-million dollar corporation, an internationally recognized Speaker, Entertainer, Songwriter/ Recording Artist and New York Times Best Selling Author. Since 1982, Dan has spoken to more than 3 million people in over 4,000 audiences, in all 50 states, and in 30 foreign countries. Achievers North America and Achievers Europe named Dan one of the Top Ten Speakers in the World!

Dan is the primary contributing author to the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series and author of twenty of his own best selling books, including “Puppies for Sale” which was made into a film at Paramount Studios starring the late Jack Lemmon. Dan has been published in more than 30 million books in 30 languages worldwide!

Dan suffered a paralyzing injury that cut short his football career. Sixteen doctors told him he would not recover, but recover he did! Since then, Dan has flown in fighter jets twice the speed of sound, raced automobiles in Germany and was honored to carry the Olympic Torch in the 2002 Winter Games. Dan has been the general session speaker at the United Nations World Congress, conducted UN leadership training in Europe, Asia and Russia, and was the keynote speaker at the U.S. Air Force Four Star Generals conference. Dan has spoken to our combat troops all over the world, is a Leadership and Character Development Consultant for the US Armed Forces, has worked with Fortune 500 companies, NASA and Super Bowl champions. Dan’s inspirational story has been featured on over 500 TV and radio shows, in Entrepreneur Magazine and as the feature article in Mayo Clinic Magazine. Dan is one of the most in demand speakers in America and recognized expert on Managing Change, Building Winning Teams and Taking Life To The Next Level!

A model of optimism and strength, Dan Clark’s powerful story of triumph over adversity will change the way you look at the world.

Uplifting and Unforgettable: A football star with a bright future, Dan Clark suffered a debilitating injury that cut short his athletic career. He shares his inspiring, humorous and deeply thought provoking story of his journey.

Powerful Inspiration: Clark reveals his proven formula for success — unveiling the power you hold within to see beyond adversity to recognize the opportunities that lie ahead.

Author and Leadership Expert: Clark is the primary contributing author of the best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul series and author of many books, including Puppies For Sale, made into a movie starring Jack Lemmon. But don’t let the light-hearted titles of his books fool you: Clark was enlisted to conduct U.N. leadership training in Europe, Asia and Russia.

Engaging Custom Content: The perfect blend of comedy, psychology, intensity and inspiration, Clark works with you to create a highly customized, multi-media presentation that’s perfect for your audience. Dan Clark’s topics and take away messages from his presentations are powerful and memorable for a wide range of audiences.

A great example of a new and innovative option that might be a perfect choice for your company is a customized video. Some speakers are now offering clients a highly customized video that is like a keynote presentation but shorter than a regular presentation yet fast moving and content packed. The client can use this video as a cost effective way to use a speaker’s message at multiple events or as a lasting resource to be used in the organization for a long time to come.

Below is a list of some of the types of things that we can help with. Please feel free to give us a call if any of this sparks some interest and we can talk in more detail, and don’t be afraid to come up with your own clever ideas.

• Keynote speeches
• Customized presentations
• Breakout sessions
• Q & A sessions
• Meet and greets
• VIP meet and greets
• Endorsements
• Autograph signings
• Book signings
• Teambuilding activities
• Training seminars
• Leadership programs
• Concerts
• Comedy shows
• Planning workshops

Who is Joseph Michelli, Ph.D.?

Joseph A. Michelli, Ph.D., is an internationally sought-after speaker, author, and organizational consultant who has been described as “catching what is right in the world and playfully sparking people and businesses to grow toward the extraordinary.” In addition to writing best-selling books about enduring business principles, he hosted an award-winning daily radio program in Colorado Springs, Colorado for over a decade.

Dr. Michelli transfers his knowledge of exceptional business practices through keynote presentations that explore ways to develop joyful and productive workplaces with a focus on the total customer experience. His insights encourage leaders and frontline workers to grow and invest passionately in all aspects of their life.

Dr. Michelli’s book, The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary into Extraordinary, published by McGraw-Hill, regularly achieved bestseller status on the Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek Magazine, and USA Today lists. He has been featured on television programs such as The Glenn Beck Show and CNBC’s “On the Money” and has conducted hundreds of radio and print interviews.

Dr. Michelli’s other books include The New Gold Standard about service excellence at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and When Fish Fly: Lessons for Creating a Vital and Energized Workplace which was co-authored with the owner of the “World Famous” Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle. He is currently working on a new book about enhancing the healthcare experience the UCLA Medical Center way.

Dr. Michelli believes his greatest accomplishment is his ability to learn from the laughter and humor of his children, Andrew and Fiona.

Now you are ready to contact a speakers bureau and begin the process of narrowing down the speakers that will best fit the needs of your meeting or event. Brooks International Speakers Bureau typically will check the availability of speakers of interest and send you a link to a video where you can see a demo of them speaking in addition to their bio and presentation topics. Often times it is also possible for us to set up a call to talk to the speakers that are of the most interest so you can get a feel for exactly what type of presentation they would give to your group. This will prepare you with the tools you need to make an informed decision. After following this process you will feel confident in your decision and will be very pleased with the outcome.

Another area that has gained popularity is the interest of people hiring successful business executives who have been in the workforce and dealt with the same issues that the businesses they are speaking to are dealing with. Clients feel these speakers have a credibility that the attendees can relate to and remember the message more long term due to the credible stories they use.

Another big topic that people are interested in currently is no surprise… those that can speak about the Economy. Whether they are talking about the World Economy, US Economy or personal finance this is a hot topic that seems to be on everyone’s mind. Now more than before people are interested in what experts have to say about the topic. People are more open to ideas and suggestions because what has always worked isn’t working anymore, so they want to learn what they can in hopes that they can use it to get ahead or just get by. Economy speakers come in all different styles so let us help you hand pick the one that would be best for your group.

That being said we are still seeing requests for all kinds of different speakers and entertainers. Feel free to think creatively and let us help you come up with the best idea for your audience.

In addition to the speaker fee, the client will typically also need to cover travel and expenses. Speakers can differ a little in this area. Some speakers have a set amount that they charge the client for travel and expenses. This means that they are just paid a set amount for their travel, hotel, ground transportation and meals rather than billing the client for the exact amount of each expense. The more common scenario, however, is that the speaker will have the travel logistics set up and then after the event the client will pay directly for the exact amount of these expenses.

There is also an occasional situation where the speaker will do some combination of these two things. For example, the speaker’s fee might include air and ground transportation with the hotel and meals being in addition to the fee. Most speakers don’t ask the client to pay a per diem in place of meal expenses, however, some do. There are many variations of speaker’s fees for expenses but a speakers bureau will help the client to have a clear understanding of all expenses before deciding on a speaker. Regardless of the method that the speaker uses to get paid there doesn’t seem to be a large difference to the bottom line when all is said and done.

Fewer than 500 speakers in the world have achieved this distinction.

Among a long list of other things, speakers must be members of the National Speakers Association or another organization that is part of the International Federation of Professional Speakers for at least three years and complete a rigorous application process to earn the CSP designation.

Professional speakers who have earned the CSP designation have proven themselves as well as their commitment to professionalism and longevity in the industry. The process of becoming certified takes five-years and includes receiving excellent ratings from past clients on performance evaluations; demonstrating that they serve a wide variety of clients; taking part in ongoing education; performing and documenting hundreds of presentations; submitting testimonial letters from their clients; and providing samples of their promotional materials.

Many people consider the risk of hiring a speaker to be almost completely eliminated when they choose a speaker with this designation because of the level of professionalism that the speaker has proven and the experience that they have. A CSP is definitely an expert in their industry and will without a doubt deliver a top notch presentation at your event.