| |
.
Answers
to Common Questions
| Q. |
I'm
about to start planning an
upcoming meeting. Do I need to
call several speakers bureaus to
get the best selection of
speakers at the best price? |
| A. |
Contrary
to popular belief, a legitimate,
full-service speakers bureau can
arrange almost any speaker you
choose. The key is to find a
bureau you trust, staffed with
knowledgeable, service-oriented
people who can help you match
the perfect speaker to your
audience. |
| . |
|
| Q. |
I
want to make sure the speaker I
hire addresses the special needs
of my audience. Will a speakers
bureau let me talk directly to
the speaker I choose? |
| A. |
Not
all speakers bureaus will
"allow" you to
communicate directly with
speakers. However,
SpeakerConnect USA encourages
you to talk with speakers -
before or after booking - to
make sure their messages are
right for your group.
Although SpeakerConnect USA
provides speakers with
background materials about your
company, additional information
you provide about the audience
and the meeting's goals can help
them customize their
presentations. Good
communication benefits everyone. |
| . |
|
| Q. |
What
does the term
"exclusive" mean in
relation to booking a speaker? |
| A. |
Speakers
bureaus sometimes have an
"exclusive"
arrangement with certain
professional speakers, meaning
that all bookings for those
speakers must involve that
bureau. However, 95 percent of
the time, any bureau can book
another bureau's exclusive
speakers. The two bureaus simply
"co-broker" the
engagement and split the
commission. Co-brokering does
not increase the fee for the
client. So when you're
interested in specific speakers,
don't worry if they are
"exclusives" of one
bureau or another. |
| . |
|
| Q. |
After
I've selected a speaker and
worked out the details, what can
I expect to receive from the
speakers bureau? |
| A. |
Typically,
you'll receive a contract in the
mail, which you're expected to
sign and return with a deposit.
You will also receive an
introduction, photo and
background piece about the
speaker. In addition, you will
receive audio-video requirements
and usually a questionnaire for
you to complete about your
company or organization. We also
request that you send any
additional company brochures,
annual reports, organization
charts, trade magazines and so
forth. You will also receive a
speaker evaluation form after
the presentation.
. |
Valuable
Tips
Keeping Meetings On Track:
Long hours, rambling speeches and
unresolved issues make most meeting
planners dread the responsibility of
handling key planning sessions.
One way to guarantee results from
your organization's next important
strategy meeting or planning retreat
is to hire an expert facilitator.
Often it takes someone outside the
organization to guide politically
charged and turbulent meetings to a
productive resolution. A facilitator
can do the following:
- Prioritize the agenda
- Research the key decisions to be
resolved and ensure discussion and
resolution for each issue
- Encourage all participants to
provide input by eliminating
criticism and political inhibition
- Conclude with specific
agreements and definitive action
plans to accomplish the agreed
upon tasks
- Start and end on time
- Prepare up-to-the-minute action
plans for distribution to
participants
.
SpeakerConnect USA, Inc.
Sherry Conner
P.O. Box 763
Helen, GA 30545
(Metro Atlanta)
|
.
Phone:
(706) 348-6632
Toll Free:
(800)
377-6424
Fax:
(706)
348-6632
Email:
sherry@speakerconnectusa.com
|
|
|
