How to Hire a Christian Youth Speaker

I found this great article about hiring Youth Speakers for kids.  It has some great content for planning your next youth event…

“As a Michigan Christian Youth Speaker, I know firsthand how important it is to hire the right Youth Speaker. It is absolutely essential to the success of your special event and to the momentum of your youth ministry. Christian Youth Speakers specialize at connecting with teens, so hiring the right one is worth the investment. Here are some tips for how to hire a Christian Youth Speaker who fits with your budget, your schedule, and your ministry culture…”

Read the entire article here: http://thechristianspeaker.com/2011/08/02/how-to-hire-a-christian-youth-speaker/

For more information about Kristen, visit www.kristenclark.org

Speaking From Experience

I found this great article, which I consider great because it includes a very helpful checklist for selecting a speaker, and I wanted to share it with you.  It’s dated (November of 2007), but very relevant for today’s event planner – some things are timeless and compelling regardless of age.

“An expert shares his tips on how to avoid disasters with your speakers, both during the selection process and once you’re on-site. A speaker can make or break your event, so selecting the right person requires careful consideration. At Meeting Professionals International’s World Education Conference in Montréal in July, Tony D’Amelio, executive vice president of the Washington Speakers Bureau, shared some tips for choosing and managing speakers….”

Read the entire article here: http://meetingsnet.com/checklistshowto/more/speaking_experience_2/

For more information about Kristen Clark, visit www.kristenclark.org.

Find Speakers by Networking with Your Peers

Friends and colleagues are often willing to share their experience and advice on just about any topic; after all, it’s a compliment to be asked for an opinion.  Take a few minutes to identify other people you know who also manage events and hire speakers, and ask them who they have used in the past and about their experiences.  Send an inquiry by email, schedule phone calls to discuss, or invite a small group of event planners to meet you for lunch.  Their insights might prove extremely helpful.  Here are a few questions to ask:

• Who was the best speaker you ever had?  Why?
• In what way was this speaker’s talk custom tailored for your audience and event?
• In what way did this speaker connect with your audience?
• How easy was this speaker to work with?
• How relevant and up to date was this speaker’s information?

You might also learn from your colleagues’ mistakes and ask for a list of the worst speakers.  This list is equally important.

One way to succeed in the business of event planning is to compare notes with other event planners, and especially when it comes to ideas and names for future speakers.  Don’t be shy.  Just ask. You might be amazed at just how much information your peers are willing to divulge.

Planning an Event? Why Not Consider a Fundraiser?

Events can be great fun and very effective.  So can fundraisers.  If you have already exhausted bakes sales, yard sales, soup kitchen days, carnivals, and water park days, or don’t have the funds available to work with an established fundraising company, you might do well to consider hiring a speaker for a fundraising seminar.

Simply promote the seminar to your members and surrounding communities as a fundraiser.   Have your speaker help you create a flyer for the event highlighting the topic and benefits.  Ask your organization to provide the venue and sell the tickets, and split the proceeds with your speaker 50/50.  Additionally, negotiate with your speaker for 10% of their gross product sales during the event.

It’s a win-win situation and a powerful way to raise money for your needs.

Contact Kristen at info@kristenclark.org or call 281-795-8890.

For more information about Kristen and her speaking topics, please visit www.kristenclark.org

How to Introduce Your Guest Speaker

As your event approaches, make sure your event emcee (and that may be you!) is prepared to introduce your guest speaker effectively.  Doing so will set the tone and mood for the rest of the event.

Here are a few helpful tips for your emcee:

• Ask your speaker in advance how he or she would like to be introduced; most speakers will have an introduction already created for you to use.
• Feel free to read any provided introduction verbatim, but make sure to practice the introduction out loud before the event and read it thoroughly for clarity, understanding, and pronunciation; your ability to articulate the introduction with confidence will show your confidence in the speaker.
• Make sure your introduction also includes the speaker’s topic, why it’s important to your audience, and why you chose this speaker for this topic; these are things your attendees will want to know before your speaker takes the stage.

Many speakers are poorly introduced, making it difficult for the speaker to get the audience’s attention and set the example for what your guests can expect throughout the remainder of the event.  Do your guests a favor and introduce your speaker in the same manner that you yourself would like to be introduced if you were the speaker.

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Ask Your Speaker for Input About Complimentary Activities For Your Event

Whether you are new to the world of event planning or a seasoned expert, you could likely use some help planning your next event and especially if you operate as a team of one!  With the myriad of details begging for your attention, you can ease the pressure by asking your speaker for input about activities for your event. Consider asking any of the following questions:

• What ice-breakers, games or group activities work well with your topic?
• What individual exercises do you recommend that compliment your topic?
• How long should these activities last and when would they best fit in the agenda?
• What ideas do you have for times of rest, relaxation, and meditation?
• Are there any special supplies or requirements for any of these activities?

Work with your speaker to keep the activities age and gender appropriate while focusing on opportunities that generate laughter, stimulate interaction, and build relaxation.  Try to balance physical, mental, emotional and spiritual exercises in the process.  And remember, you are simply asking for input; keep any ideas you like and leave the rest behind. 

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Should Speakers Sell their Products at Our Event?

My answer to this question is “yes”, especially if the products have a high-perceived value to your audience and compliment your event theme.

Speakers often have professional and compelling products to sell, like books and CDs. If a speaker is well liked and delivers a riveting session, many of your event guests will want to take home some of your speaker’s products as a small token of their overall experience. Providing an opportunity for your guests to do so will go a long way in driving repeat attendance at future events, especially if the products have a perceived value. But it is critical that the products compliment your event theme. Speakers often have books or CDs on a wide variety of topics, but not all of those topics will be appropriate to sell at every event. For example, a speaker’s book about loss and grief, no matter how touching and helpful, will not be a good compliment to an event celebrating healthy and natural living; more appropriate books would focus on health, nutrition, and exercise.

However, speakers should not use their podium time to sell their product, nor should their message sound like an infomercial. One way to avoid having your podium used for your speaker’s personal selling interest is to have your Event Emcee do the selling. After the speaker is introduced, and before he or she is welcomed to the stage, ask your Event Emcee to announce the speaker’s product table, where it is located, the items available for sale, and when purchases can be made. Ask your Event Emcee to reiterate this message immediately after the speaker has finished and exited the stage. This has two important benefits:

1. It sends a message to the audience that you support the purchases of your speaker’s wares (in fact, you even encourage it).
2. It removes the speaker’s need to self-promote the products and instead focus on his or her message and delivery.

Before hiring your next speaker, ask about his or her desire to have a product table and set reasonable expectations up front. You might find that having a product table can be an added benefit for your event in the long run.

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