Planning a meeting in Las Vegas or attending a convention in Las Vegas and having to organize satellite events?
| Identifying Essential Program Components |
When people are having fun and learning about one another from the experience, it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved. With a little thought and care, a team-building budget can go a long way.
Speakers for Streamlined Programs
Every meeting attendee has found themselves at an event with a keynote speaker and has thought to his/herself, when is this going to end? Planners must pay careful attention when booking speakers to prevent this from happening. They don’t want to lose the audience for even a few seconds. Generally, it’s always more interesting from the attendees’ point-of-view to book an outside speaker.
“It’s just not that special for the audience to hear from someone they may hear from regularly, says Robin Jay, award-winning author of The Art of the Business Lunch and president of the Las Vegas Speaker’s Bureau. “To create a memorable event, bring in someone who speaks professionally. They will bring fresh content and deliver an entertaining presentation. The audience will enjoy it and even the big bosses may discover something new! Audiences will always remember a fabulous speaker and talk about what they learned for months or years to come.”
Corporate events such as banquets or annual meetings have often used speakers as a way to get attendees motivated about the business initiatives for the upcoming year. Speakers are also great resources for attracting industry buzz. Therefore, if planners have the budget, they shouldn’t hold back when it comes to booking big names. “There is a huge difference between a $1,500 speaker and a $10,000 speaker – including professionalism, experience, and talent,” says Ms. Jay. “It takes a lot of experience and confidence for a speaker to charge $10,000. The chances are good that if you are able to book a speaker in that fee range, you will be able to find someone who is perfectly targeted to your audience and who will deliver an outstanding presentation.”
As a rule of thumb, when attendees are expecting to socialize and be entertained, it’s best to eliminate speakers from the agenda. Think about it: you’ve just invested ten grand in a speaker, yet, the main focus of the event will be networking. That’s not the best idea. Save speakers for theater-style events, such as opening and closing ceremonies, or during gatherings when there are little distractions. Since most events occur in the evenings, many attendees are already arriving mentally fatigued. Too many points of interest will result in minimal retention, which defeats the purpose of speakers in the first place. Likewise, the nature of speaking engagements are formal, which would mean that small, intimate groups are also not likely to draw much from an agenda delivered in the form of a speech.
If your event absolutely calls for a speaker, then go for it. Just make sure that your vetting process is concrete so that you are getting the best speaker for your buck. A one-on-one conversation with prospective speakers is always a good idea. “Ask to speak directly with the speaker so they can answer your questions and assure you that they are the right speaker for your event,” says Ms. Jay. “A seasoned speaker will also have a pre-program questionnaire for you, to help them deliver a customized, targeted session that will help you and your clients to achieve all of their conference goals.”
It also helps to watch a video of their last presentation. Seeing them in action allows a planner to discern whether or not they have the body language, posture and level of interaction needed to fulfill their assignment. A speaker’s previous work can also give planners an indication if a speaker can relate to a particular demographic. What works for one audience simply might not work for another.
Speakers for Streamlined Programs
Every meeting attendee has found themselves at an event with a keynote speaker and has thought to his/herself, when is this going to end? Planners must pay careful attention when booking speakers to prevent this from happening. They don’t want to lose the audience for even a few seconds. Generally, it’s always more interesting from the attendees’ point-of-view to book an outside speaker.
“It’s just not that special for the audience to hear from someone they may hear from regularly, says Robin Jay, award-winning author of The Art of the Business Lunch and president of the Las Vegas Speaker’s Bureau. “To create a memorable event, bring in someone who speaks professionally. They will bring fresh content and deliver an entertaining presentation. The audience will enjoy it and even the big bosses may discover something new! Audiences will always remember a fabulous speaker and talk about what they learned for months or years to come.”
Corporate events such as banquets or annual meetings have often used speakers as a way to get attendees motivated about the business initiatives for the upcoming year. Speakers are also great resources for attracting industry buzz. Therefore, if planners have the budget, they shouldn’t hold back when it comes to booking big names. “There is a huge difference between a $1,500 speaker and a $10,000 speaker – including professionalism, experience, and talent,” says Ms. Jay. “It takes a lot of experience and confidence for a speaker to charge $10,000. The chances are good that if you are able to book a speaker in that fee range, you will be able to find someone who is perfectly targeted to your audience and who will deliver an outstanding presentation.”
As a rule of thumb, when attendees are expecting to socialize and be entertained, it’s best to eliminate speakers from the agenda. Think about it: you’ve just invested ten grand in a speaker, yet, the main focus of the event will be networking. That’s not the best idea. Save speakers for theater-style events, such as opening and closing ceremonies, or during gatherings when there are little distractions. Since most events occur in the evenings, many attendees are already arriving mentally fatigued. Too many points of interest will result in minimal retention, which defeats the purpose of speakers in the first place. Likewise, the nature of speaking engagements are formal, which would mean that small, intimate groups are also not likely to draw much from an agenda delivered in the form of a speech.
If your event absolutely calls for a speaker, then go for it. Just make sure that your vetting process is concrete so that you are getting the best speaker for your buck. A one-on-one conversation with prospective speakers is always a good idea. “Ask to speak directly with the speaker so they can answer your questions and assure you that they are the right speaker for your event,” says Ms. Jay. “A seasoned speaker will also have a pre-program questionnaire for you, to help them deliver a customized, targeted session that will help you and your clients to achieve all of their conference goals.”
It also helps to watch a video of their last presentation. Seeing them in action allows a planner to discern whether or not they have the body language, posture and level of interaction needed to fulfill their assignment. A speaker’s previous work can also give planners an indication if a speaker can relate to a particular demographic. What works for one audience simply might not work for another.
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editorial@MeetingPlannerResources.org. We will contact you if your submission is chosen.