Tips On Booking Professional Speakers

I'm an association executive on a small budget - help

2006-07-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

Just received and request from an association executive who is looking to book a good motivational speaker and he has a small budget. We can help. It's important to have your details, budget and requirements in advance. (Same is true if you are going car or furniture shopping.)

One important thing to remember, if you give the motivational speaker the information you want covered, well in advance, then you have good odds of meeting, or exceeding, your expectations.

Make sure you know the date, time, city, venue, topic you want covered, plus be sure to know the demographics for your audience.

Have questions? Email us or call us 407-826-4248

Frank Candy
President
American Speakers Bureau

How Much Advanced Time Is Needed To Book A Professional Speaker?

2006-07-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

At meeting planner from Atlanta wants to know: What's the time line for booking a professional keynote speaker...

Virtually, every keynote speaker, motivational speaker and professional speaker is booked months, if not years in advance for events. Don't allow this to discourage you, many bookings happen in under 90 or 60 and even 30 days out.

If it's less than 60 days, we will often label it a "routing date" and special considerations are needed to get your speakers travel plans rearranged and prepare for your event.

In a previous post on in Feb 2006 I discussed lead times and how you can book keynote speakers and seminar leaders. Three things to ad here:

1) The cost could increase because of changing travel schedules and increased ticket costs.

2) It could decrease because you may be able to split the cost of travel with other clients.

3) It never hurts to ask and make offers. As my great teacher told me - "If you don't ask, you already know the answer".

Do you have some thoughts or questions about this trend? Write to us though the American Speakers Bureau website. Or give us a call we always enjoy hearing from you.

GO Make "IT" Happen

Frank Candy
President

Trends: More Customization By Speakers

2006-02-28T07:37:00.000-08:00

In this segment, we will discuss how professional speakers from American Speakers Bureau customize their programs and why clients require it.

For years many speakers have been categorized as a "One Trick Pony" meaning they have one speech or a maybe a couple speeches. This is not a bad thing, as long as it's a great speech... The late, great Ira Hayes once said: It's a lot easier to get a new audience than it is to get a new speech.

Ira was a very smart man. I have witnessed some of the best customizers in the business and it is truly impressive.... and I must admit, I am a bit jaded from being in the business for over 30 years.

One of the worst I ever expereinced was a keynote speaker who believed the speech was customized because he used the associations name in the speech several times. He even had trouble remembering the name and had to keep turning around to read it of the banner hanging on the wall behind him.

The best in the business who do a great job of research and customization are Daniel Burrus, Rick Searfoss, Dr. Story Musgrave, Terry Bowden, Jeff Thredgold, Phl Steffen, Pat Williams, Ross Shafer, Nate Booth and Art Turock.

We base our finding on audience evaluations and consistency of quality and value.

The advantages of a customized program can have far ranging effects for the group.
In one case with the board of directors for a large health care organization, were provided with facts about trends in health care and how to plan and prepare for it.

In different situation a group of independent representative were given solid research done by a reputable consultants firm, on why the sponsors products were the best in the industry, thus reinforcing the message from the company and providing them with the inspiration to work harder.

And in a very unique situation, our speaker of the year award winner, Col. Rick Searfoss, a former NASA Astronaut and now a test pilot for some secret stuff I can reveal here (because i don't know about it... except it is very high level stuff) was hired to give a talk to a group of California investors about the future of space flight.

Here is some more information on Rick:

Former astronaut Rick Searfoss was the Chief Judge for the highly successful and innovative Ansari X Prize competition for a $10 million prize to the first private team to develop and fly a reusable human-carrying spacecraft.

The X Prize Foundation chose Rick for this crucial position because of his combined expertise as a real-world leader and Space Shuttle mission commander, key spokesperson as a noted expert professional speaker on leadership, teamwork, and innovation, and technical expert as an experienced astronaut and test pilot.

Rick continues to stay right in the middle in some of today's most innovative leading-edge projects: Vice President of the Zero Gravity Corporation, XCOR Aerospace Corporation flight test, leader and spokesperson for numerous space entrepreneurial ventures.

These ventures offer the most innovative team-based development projects of the new millennium and are incredible models for nimble, effective, exciting business ideas in all industries. Rick's out-of-this-world presentations are timely, content-rich, exciting the perfect real "right stuff" to launch your next event!

If you would like more information on how people make this happen please contact us by phone listed on our web site or by email, also on the www.speakersbureau.com web site.

Thank you,

Go Make "IT" Happen

Frank Candy
President
American Speakers Bureua

Trends: Shorter Lead TImes

2006-02-27T12:41:00.000-08:00

At American Speakers Bureau, we have been noticing a trend of shorter and shoter lead times to book keynote speakers, motivational speakers, inspirational speakers, business speakers and all the professional speakers. Suzan Bunn, CMP, Executive Director of the Seminole County Convention and Visitors Bureau, told me "This can be a good trend for certain markets, yet a difficult one for other markets. Either way if you are palnning a meeting, what you have to choose from and negotiate will become less and less the longer you wait and experice the shorter lead times."

Karen Segee, CMP, CPCE from All That and More Special Events in Orlando, Florida said that this trend of sorter lead time can cost more because of the premium travel, specialty employee oursourcing, and certain vendors placing a premium on last minute orders. But the hardest part is all the re-scheduling caused by short lead times.

At American Speakrs Bureau we find it difficult because of the time required to customize a program gets compressed tightly, short lead times usually require costly airline tickets and hotels, plus the extra man hours to process the job can effect our bottom line.

Do you have some thoughts or questions about this trend? Write to us though the American Speakers Bureau website. Or give us a call we always enjoy hearing from you.

GO Make "IT" Happen

Frank Candy
President

The Right Athlete For Your Group.

2006-02-13T18:52:00.000-08:00

In the background I am watching the Winter Olympic Games.
How many of these very talented young people who are on the worlds stage today will be on your stage in the future.

One of the best to come out of past Winter Olympics, is Nikki Stone.

http://www.speakersbureau.com/speakers/stone/short.htm

We will provide more soon, but for right now rememeber that the adreniline of skiing down a mountain, or racing a car, is about the same as giving a speech in front of a huge audience. When I raced my biggest competitor was myself. By shutting out everybody and everything else, I was able to focus on the moment.

How hard are you focusing today?

Frank Candy
American Speakers Bureau

I want a professional speaker with something to say

2006-01-15T12:28:00.000-08:00

We just had a call (on Saturday) from a client who wants to book a professional, keynote speaker who has something of real value to share with his group.

We book professional speakers and keynote speakers who have great programs that have been tried and tested and very successful for many years.

Sometimes they just have one speech... "Sometimes people have called them, "the one trick pony". If it's a great speech, they can build a whole career on it.

And then there are professional speakers and keynote speakers who customize programs for different industries and different levels of people who are in the audience.

Over the years we have booked motivational speakers who customized their programs to include topics like: teamwork, or team building, customer service, leadership, change, innovation, creativity, marketing, management, negotiations, thinking outside of the box, - you get the idea.

When you want to book a speaker, just don't ask if they customize programs. . .
Ask to what level they customize and if you can see their pre-program questionnaire

You should ask about their experience in your industry such as high0tech, retail, automotive or finance, and then find out what kind or depth they can offer.

Make it Happen

Frank Candy
President
American Speakers Bureau

It's My First Time Booking a Professional Speaker

2006-01-14T04:07:00.000-08:00

This is my first time booking a professional speaker. What do I need to consider?

This was sent to us by Lisa in California. She shared that she is a college graduate, majored in event planning, and needs to hire a motivational speaker who specializes in leadership.

Contracting the Engagement: It is important to clearly outline the activities in which you wish your speaker to participate in the original contract. For example, if you contract a professional speaker to deliver only a keynote address, the contract fee is for this service only. Requesting an autograph session or participation in a VIP reception after the contract has been signed may result in additional fees.

Payment Terms: A non-refundable deposit is collected at the time a speaker is booked for the event. This deposit guarantees the date will be reserved for you on the speaker's calendar. In the event of a cancellation by your organization, the deposit will be forfeited. If a cancellation occurs within 60 days of the event date, the entire fee and any already-incurred travel/preparation expenses will be due.

Send me you questions or give us a call,

Respectfully,

Frank Candy
President

American Speakers Bureau AWARD for Professional Speaker of the Year

2006-01-03T07:51:00.000-08:00

American Speakers Bureau AWARD for Professional Speaker of the Year

Professional Speaker Colonel Rick Searfoss has won the coveted International Professional Speaker Of The Year Award by the American Speakers Bureau Corporation in Orlando, Florida. Rick Searfoss was chosen from thousands of professional speakers, motivational speakers, keynote speakers and inspirational speakers.

Colonel Rick Searfoss, has over twenty-five years experience as a leader in some of the most demanding team endeavors possible - human space flight, test flying, and tactical military aviation. Rick has unsurpassed credibility and experience coupled with "out-of-this-world” speaking skills! Since leaving NASA, Rick has become involved in a series of dazzling entrepreneurial ventures with Burt Rutan as the Chief Judge for the highly successful and innovative Ansari X Prize competition for a 10 million dollar prize to the first private team to develop and fly a reusable human-carrying spacecraft. Rick continues to stay right in the middle in some of today's most innovative leading-edge projects: Vice President of the Zero Gravity Corporation, XCOR Aerospace experimental rocket plane test pilot, and as a flight test, leader and spokesperson for numerous space entrepreneurial ventures. Plus he was invited for a guest appearance on Donald Trump’s hit show, The Apprentice.

Each year American Speakers Bureau picks just one professional speaker who has demonstrated the true spirit of leadership and teamwork in our industry.

Rick Searfoss joins a distinguished group of professional speakers who have won this award including, Dr. Nate Booth, (three times) Dr. Johnny Miller, (twice) Mr. Pat Williams, founder of the Orlando Magic Basketball Team, and Astronaut, Dr. Story Musgrave.

Rick is the sixth professional speaker to win this prestigious ward in eleven years. The founder and president of American Speakers Bureau, Mr. Frank Candy said: “Rick Searfoss has demonstrated sophistication, style and professionalism above and beyond all the rest. Rick is a class act a great vision for the future and outstanding wisdom for every level of business people. Rick uses out-of-this-world stories about the right stuff and outstanding delivery skills that move the audience to believe they can achieve anything. Rick is a true American hero and we are honored to give him this great award.”

2005-12-27T14:55:00.000-08:00

Just had calls from several meeting planners telling us how helpful this blog is.

Nancy from Washington asked me: "Frank, what information do I need to have before I call a speakers bureau to book a professional speaker or keynote speaker?

In an 'ideal world' you want to have the exact date, time, length of program, side of the audience, audience make up - demographics, psyhcographics, the location of the event, the format - keynote, seminar, workshop and the budget. It's always helpful to know how much total budget you have to work with, and if it includes travel, and any limitations like only coach air travel.

More to come...

Make "IT" Happen!

Frank

MAKE IT HAPPEN Professional Speakers Who make a Difference!

2005-12-18T08:07:00.000-08:00

MAKE IT HAPPEN
Professional Speakers
Who make a Difference!

As the Founder and President of American speakers Bureau, I am asked for advisement at many different levels - from motivational speakers, keynote speakers, inspirational speakers, authors and business speakers. So as requested by Ralph,

I am going to write about optimism.

Before I go further, I must apologize to my readers for "dropping out" for a week. I took a trip to Arizona to visit my good friend, Clay Cotton. Clay has been a dear friend for many years. And he is a very talented web master, musician and a great speaker ... because he speaks from the heart and talks about delivering content rich value. Clay has MS and refuses to use the word disabled.

Clay told me he is "Alterabled"

Clay is far more optimistic than most people I know. My Mom, who is going on 90 years old, is more optimistic than everyone I know. I could give you hundreds of examples of people who are optimistic . . . but the secret combination to optimism is three things. Choosing to believe in it, having the faith that all things will go well, and taking focused action so they do!

That's it. Belief, faith and action. This belief system has served countless people for centuries. This has served me well over the last 30 years, plus as the CEO and President of American Speakers Bureau it has been an invaluable mindset to maintain.

Since 1989 American Speakers Bureau has worked with great keynote speakers, and many of the worlds best motivational speakers, inspirational speakers and many of the finest professional meeting and event planners.

Tomorrow I will reveal more about the "IT" factor.

Make "IT” Happen

Frank Candy
American Speakers Bureau Corporation
Orlando, Florida
407-826-4248

MAKE IT HAPPEN Booking Professional Speakers

2005-12-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

As the President of American speakers Bureau, I am constantly asked for advisement at many different levels - from motivational speakers, keynote speakers, inspirational speakers, authors and business speakers. So as requested by Ralph,

I am going to write about ADVISEMENT.

1976 was a good year. It was the first time I was paid as a speaker and a consultant. My grandfathers taught me about a few valuable lessons about consulting and advisement that have served me well over the last 30 years, plus as the CEO and President of American Speakers Bureau it has been invaluable. To sum up their wisdom, it involves listening, gathering information, and presenting it fairly, with optimism and common sense. So it leads me to the question -

What happened to optimism and good sense?

Since 1989 our firm has worked with many of the worlds best motivational speakers, keynote speakers, inspirational speakers and many of the finest professional meeting and event planners. Some of them I met through the Meeting Professionals International, and the National Speakers Association. As I BLOG away, I will refer to them often. We could all learn to be better listeners.

Tomorrow I will address the optimism and common sense issue along with reveal the the "IT" factor is.

STAY TUNED!

Make "IT: Happen

Frank Candy
American Speakers Bureau Corporation
Orlando, Florida
407-826-4248

MAKE IT HAPPEN Booking Professional Speakers

2005-12-05T07:16:00.000-08:00

Ralph from California asks:

How does American Speakers Bureau help us book specific keynote speakers and professional speakers for our unique organization?

At American Speakers Bureau we have booked professional speakers, motivational speakers, keynote speakers, seminar leaders and facilitators for live speeches and on-line programming for many different groups. If you have an organization, company or institution, we will assist you to find just the right person to meet your requirements. We have identified seven critical components of the role of the speaker.

Status: The speaker’s role as the “expert” in the field. Celebrity Status or Marquee Value can be a determining factor.
Astronaut Story Musgrave was a mission specialist on six space shuttle missions.
Astronaut Rick Searfoss had the right stuff and chosen by NASA as Shuttle Commander for two missions and flew on three total missions.
Rocky Bleier played for the Pittsburgh Steelers who won four Super Bowls.
Ross Shaffer won six Emmy Awards for his outstanding work in television.
Lyn St. James, as a race car driver has won the 24 hours at Daytona, the 1992 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of The year (First woman to win.) and a long list of credentials.

The key issue here is all five of these people have achieved greatness, praise and respect of their peers in their fields, but important to you and me… they are outstanding professional speakers and keynote speakers.

There are thousands of people who are less known in the market place who are very good professional speakers, motiational speakers, keynote speakers and inspirational speakers. They just have not acheived the certain things which they have received praise and recognition for. So based on supply and demand, they charge more or less. it's a positioning issue.

Tomorrow we will discuss - Advisement: Knowing what to do and when to do it. Click and Clack the Tappet brothers, aka, Tom and Ray Magliozzi, experts in their field of cars and car repair said: (I am paraphrasing here – I heard it on their radio show.) Information is what you find in the manual. Knowledge means you know how to fix the car. A person with knowledge and experience usually has wisdom. He knows how much to charge because he has a boat payment due.

For this week I will post thoughts about Advisement, application, positioning, accountability, affiliation and techniques… please email your thoughts. Make “IT" happen!

Frank Candy President
American Speakers Bureau®

Tools for meeting and event planners to work and communicate with professional speakers and keynote speakers

2005-12-02T06:06:00.000-08:00

Professional speakers and keynote speakers use tools for delivering great keynote speeches, workshops and seminars that set them apart from the amateurs I promised to deliver some of the tools I have used for decades.

One of the tools we developed is the extensive preprogram questionnaire. It is safe to say the more time you give a professional speaker to deliver a keynote speech or motivational speech, (Example: 30 minutes vs. 90 minutes) the more time and information you will need to provide and discuss.

One of the valuable experiences I had over the last two decades is serving on boards and committees for Meeting Professionals International, The international Special Event Society, and the Central Florida Society of Association Executives, Florida Society of Association Executives, and many more.

These wonderful experiences gave me valuable insights to the challenges meeting professionals in the corporate and non-profit world face every day. It helped me understand how difficult the their job is and the big risks they take when hiring professional speakers for keynote speeches and trainers for workshops and seminars.

So here are a few statements and questions I use that Make "IT" Happen -

Help me to understand... tell me what you want, and tell me how you want it.

Here is the second one: Help me understand - what do you want the audience to know, and do, and feel, when the speaker is done?

Stay tuned,

MAKE IT HAPPEN

Frank Candy
President
American Speakers Bureau_®

What Can I Expect When Booking a Professional Speaker Or A Keynote Speaker For My Event?

2005-12-01T07:12:00.000-08:00

To Frank Candy, President, American Speakers Bureau:
What can I expect when booking a professional speaker or keynote speaker for my events?
This question came from an event planner named Jane R. in New Hampshire.

There are dozens of directions to go in with this topic. This will take more than one blog entry so please stay tuned, come back and let me know if you agree or disagree and PLEASE, let's stay focused on the positive, there are plenty of blogs trash talking about the bad experiences. As far as I am concerned, this is about the positive and good stuff... How to MAKE IT HAPPEN. I always want to stay focused on doing it right the first time.

As the founder and president of American Speakers Bureau I have worked hard to manage the expectations of meeting and event planners by practicing three things. 1) Communicate effectively. 2) Establish the expectations up front. 3) Work hard to exceed the expectations.

With all that said, it is not an easy plan to follow. Many people have different expectations, agendas, and beliefs about the outcome when they hire professional speakers, keynote speakers, motivational speakers and trainers for keynote speeches, seminars and workshops.

Tomorrow we will reveal some the great tools and questions we have developed and use every day at American Speakers Bureau for booking professional speakers, keynote speakers, motivational speakers and trainers for keynote speeches, workshops and seminars.

Stay tuned,

MAKE IT HAPPEN

Frank Candy
President
American Speakers Bureau

MAKE IT HAPPEN Booking Professional Speakers

2005-11-29T12:19:00.000-08:00

Public speakers and professional speakers are asking me: How do corporate and non profit event planners book keynote speakers and professional speakers for their events that require public speakers like motivational speakers and inspirational speakers?

My question back to them is two fold: First as the founder and president of American Speakers Bureau and second as a speaker who is represented by other bureaus.

Their are at least ten professional competencies I have identified over the last 20 plus years of working in the profession of professional speakers, motivations speakers and public speaking.

Their are at least ten professional competencies I have identified over the last 20 plus years of working in the profession of professional and public speaking.

Professional meeting and event planners, have collectively agreed that a high degree of professionalism, very good deliver, (unique and entertaining) and being relevant for the time and audience, will usually achieve the objectives set forth by the group. However meeting or exceeding the expectations of the group for pubic speakers and professional speakers, seems to be as difficult finding the perfect apple pie recipe just like grandma's!

Here is a link to our American Speakers Bureau web site to guide you in your search for professional speakers, keynote speakers, and motivational speakers.

Click here to review details for what and how to prepare.

· Date and Location: (hotel/training center/your facility or ours?)

· What kind of meeting: (convention, symposium/trade show/annual event/party/banquet)

· How many training slots will you want to fill? (HINT - often times the same speaker can deliver a keynote address and a seminar/workshop for your group. You will save money on travel and expenses.)

· Number of people in the group/audience:

· Demographics: (age/sex/career level/other)

· Preferred topics: (sales/customer service/time management etc.)

· The specific goals and objectives for the meeting: (be as specific as possible)

Well it's a start - have questins about booking professional speakers, keynote speakers, motivatinal speakers and public speakers? Give the experts at American Speakers Bureau a call 407-826-4248 or send us an email
info@speakersbureau.com

Booking Professional Speakers - submitted by the EXPERTS

2005-11-27T07:23:00.000-08:00

Because it is a holiday weekend, I have seen many old friends and a few distant relatives.

Some of them are doing well, a few are doing great, and some are not doing well. That's putting it mildly. They are overcome by the loss of loved ones and the recent natural disasters in the world.
They are grieving so much; they are missing the beauty around them and the opportunities right in front of them.

I remember a quote from Rose Kennedy, President John Kennedy's mother, who lost her first son Joseph in the war, then her husband, her second son John, and third son Robert, to assassins bullets, and even more unspeakable tragedies with her grandchildren. She said,

"After a natural disaster, like a storm, a hurricane, a flood, or an earthquake, every morning the still birds sing. Why not us?"

We all experience challenges and problems everyday. Some days are better than others.
Some people throw money at problems, others throw resources and yet others waste their health and emotions and grow old before their time.

As a professional speaker, one of my most requested speeches is: Choice, Chance and Change, The challenge For the Future.

In the speech I quote some famous and not so famous people. This is something my grandfather told me almost 50 years ago - it has served me well.

Remember -- it is not the money, it's the ability and the willingness to adapt to change that is the most important asset for the future.

GO MAKE IT HAPPEN

Frank Candy
www.frankcandy.com

Booking Professional Speakers - submitted by the EXPERTS

2005-11-24T11:10:00.000-08:00

Booking Professional Speakers -
Submitted By The EXPERTS
In The Business

American Speakers Bureau Corporation®

This great company was started with a dream and faith. The dream that we could carry a message of hope for a better world to millions of people and the faith that we would do it well for a long time.

Since it is Thanksgiving this morning, it feels like the best thing to write is
THANK YOU because our dreams came true.

And to say Thank You to our dear friends, great clients,
joint venture partners, business associates and the hundreds of
outstanding professional speakers, keynote speakers, motivational speakers
and inspirational speakers, who we have had the distinct pleasure to
work with for decades at American Speakers Bureau Corporation®

American Speakers Bureau®
is a Federally Registered and Trademarked company and
member in good standing of the International Association of Speakers Bureaus

Perhaps you will find the time, or resources, to reach out to those good people who are less fortunate than us today. With so many disasters and wars around the world, we all need and want to hear messages from professional speakers, keynote speakers, motivational speakers and inspirational speakers, that can offer hope, understanding, and most of all most of all, love.

Here is one closing statement I have used in hundreds of speeches all over the world.

"We can restore our lives and build opportunities like none before.
All we need to begin with is a dream that we can do better than before.
All we need to have is faith and that dream will come true.
All we need to do is act, and the time for action is NOW!" author unknown

We would be interested in hearing your thoughts and comments, answering your questions and most of all developing a working relationship with you.

Please visit our web site and send us an email through it.

Put the words BLOG QUESTION or BLOG COMMENT in the subject line.

Thank you,

Frank Candy, MBA, CPC
Maximizing your business is our business
http://www.frankcandy.com/
CEO, President, American Speakers Bureau Corporation®
http://www.speakersbureau.com/
Booking many of Americas finest professional speakers
President, & Creative Director, Absolute Publishing & Promotions, Inc.
Co-Founder & President, I-MEG, Internet Marketing Enterprise Group
Former Chairman - Technology Partners Global, Inc.
Former Director of Public Relations for H.O.G. Harley Owners Group
Co-Chairman, United States House of Representatives Business Advisory
Council
Winner of 2003 State of Florida Businessman Of The Year Award
Winner of the 2004 Ronald Reagan Leadership Gold medal
Former Board Member and Vice President of Education for ISES –
International Special Event Society
Former board member and leader for 43 organizations
10151 University Blvd. # 197
Orlando, Florida 32817
407-826-4248