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20 Questions to Ask BEFORE Hiring your next Speaker
This public speaking book gives you many good
solid questions that you can ask a speaker before you hire them. Here are 20
of those questions
to help you find the best speaker to suit any type of speaking engagement.
It was designed to help you determine their skill level and abilities.
- Is the public speaker's topic right for my audience?
- Does the speaker have good references?
- Does the speaker have audio and/or video demonstration materials?
These materials should show you what the speaker is like in front
of an audience. Caution: Don't get hung up on the topical information
on the demo tape. Remember that you are looking to see how the speaker
or trainer works at the front of the room.
- Does the speaker customize his presentations? To what level?
- Is the speaker entertaining and fun as well as informative?
- Does the speaker do thorough pre- program research? Will the speaker
be interviewing employees or members of the organization, or getting
information about the organization and industry to prepare for the
presentation?
- Does the speaker provide handout masters and/or finished handouts?
Often your organization's name, logo, and particulars can be incorporated
in the handout.
- Does the speaker involve the audience? Depending on the type of
presentation (is this a lecture or a training workshop?), the speaker
should speak directly to the audience, and encourage questions.
- Does the speaker use only clean and appropriate humor? Off-color,
racial, ethnic, gender, or even slightly blue jokes or comments can
turn your audience off in a second. Ask the speaker's references
about this.
- Does the speaker have materials for hearing and sight impaired audience
members? (i.e., Handouts in Braille, audio tapes, etc.)?
- Is the speaker accessible to all attendees before and after the
event? Make sure the speaker is willing to arrive early and
stay for a while after the event. The audience will want to
shake hands, ask questions, get autographs, and ask about materials
for sale. Tip: Always include a break after each speaker.
- Does the speaker "hardsell" products from the platform?
- Is the speaker's office responsive to requests for information?
Will the speaker's bureau help you get answers to all of your questions?
- Is the speaker easy to get along with (Determined from references
and personal conversations)? Does he or she make very strict demands?
Is he or she willing to make last-minute adjustments?
- What is the speaker's fee?
- Is the speaker's fee negotiable? If yes, what do you have of value
to give in return for a fee reduction? Possibilities might be
a video tape master, list of attendees, testimonial letter, referrals,
extra night accommodations, choice of time slot, choice of date, multiple
performance contract, extra publicity, spouse airfare and meals, products,
or services.
- Does the speaker offer any discounts on his or her fee? (For
certain geographical areas, resorts, time of year, non -profit organization)?
- Can the speaker fill more than one slot which will save money on
hiring another speaker and paying additional travel costs?
- What are the payment terms of the speaker's contract? Typically,
a 50 percent deposit is required to hold a speaker's date.
- Can you arrange to preview the speaker at nearby functions to get
a clear picture of the speaker's delivery, manner, language, and poise?
The decision
to hire a speaker will be a lot easier after they have answered
all of these questions to your satisfaction. The skills taught in my
public speaking book will help you to pick the right speaker for
the job. Don't settle for someone doesn't have the style your looking
for--it's worth the time to find the right one.
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