Michael Jackson, internationally renowned professional speaker, master of ceremonies, writer and specialist, on how to choose the right speaker for next event.
What five things should an event planner consider when booking a speaker?
WELL KNOWN Choose a speaker with a good reputation PROFESSIONAL The speaker’s professionalism should reflect on their introductory documentation
TYPE OF SPEAKER The type/theme of your event should dictate the type of speaker you need. Does your event need a business to business, business to consumer, motivational, inspirational or icon speaker?
CONTENT The speaker’s content must be personalised to suit the theme/style and nature of the event as well as the audience
COMMITMENT Is the speaker willing to attend the briefing and post evaluation of the event sessions as well as add extra value to the event?
What is the role of a speaker at an event? That depends on the type of event you are having and what you want the speaker to do. There is the authority figure speaker who will talk on a certain industry-related topic; the motivational speaker who will inspire delegates to achieve greatness; the inspirational speaker who will share a personal story of how they overcame an obstacle and finally the icon speaker who has truly done something outstanding – think Mark Shuttleworth or Sir Richard Branson.
What about the celebrity speaker? Just because you are a celebrity, doesn’t mean you have the gift of speech. As an event planner, you need to decide what the celebrity will do for your event and how much you are prepared to pay.
What can an event planner expect to pay for a speaker?
Toastmaster level R5 000 to R10 000
A competent journeyman (Speaker has good knowledge of their subject but is not an known expert): R10 000 to R20 000
Expert level R20 000 to R40 000
Iconic level R40 000 +
The above excludes VAT, travel, accommodation and transfers.
