Benefits of working with a Speakers Bureau

The Benefits of Using a Speakers Bureau

Working with a speakers bureau to secure talent for your events ensures that booking speakers, programs and entertainment for your event is the easiest part of your planning process. From developing creative programming ideas to securing the speaker to managing contracts to arranging logistics and travel plans, our experienced staff will be there with you at every step in the process.

Working with a speakers bureau like Simply Life offers the benefits associated with the close relationships we have developed with our speakers over the years; giving you inside access to their schedules and insight as to when there is flexibility in honorarium. In addition to the experience , we’re flexible, so we are always prepared to handle any unforeseen situation that may arise at any point during the process. Ultimately, we work hard to help ensure that your event is a great success!

The speaker you choose for your event will have a huge impact on that event’s success and will be one of the most-remembered aspects of the event to those who attend. This being the case, it is clear that choosing the right speaker is a make-or-break decision that you cannot afford to make on the fly or trust to amateurs. Some of the most important benefits of using a speakers bureau are mentioned below:

• Quick access to a wide and diverse talent pool. Speakers join speakers bureaus to access a larger customer base, and customers look to them to access a concentrated speaker talent pool. Seeking talent haphazardly or on an individual basis would be very time consuming, costly, and unlikely to succeed.
• Assistance in narrowing down the field. At a quality speakers bureau, you will receive expert advice and helpful suggestions on how to pick the best possible candidate out of a large selection. As staff at speakers bureaus keep up relationships with numerous speakers and keep current on the latest developments in their careers, they will have the knowledge-base to help you make a wise pick.
• A source of up to date information on the latest trends in the industry, along with a deep-seated, experience-honed knowledge of what does and does not work in specific situations. Alongside an appreciation for innovation and an unswerving commitment to conform to each client’s wishes, you will benefit from the “long view” wisdom of seasoned personnel.
• A greatly simplified procurement process. The speakers bureau can handle event details and coordinate time-tables. They can deal with contracts, fee negotiations, transport and accommodations. And once you become a return customer at a particular speakers bureau, the process becomes yet more streamlined. Speakers bureaus take the hassle and stress out of scheduling a speaking event.
• By far the most important benefit of all in using a speakers bureau is hiring superior talent. Many of the best speakers choose to connect themselves to events through speakers bureaus, and they may not always be reachable without going through their bureau.

Cautions in Choosing Your Speakers Bureau

While reputable speakers bureaus will be able to help you plan your event and match it with a speaker who will make it significantly more successful, there are also problems that can develop when a low-quality bureau is used. These include:

• Overly high commissions may be charged. The bureau has done you a crucial service and has earned its profit, but take time to check out the general market to see what a competitive rate looks like before making a final decision.
• Only the highest-fee speakers are on their database. Speakers, understandably, vary in the fees they charge based on demand and the value of their time. However, a good bureau should offer a reasonable range of fee levels so clients with different budgets can still use their services.
• Newer speakers barely exist on their roster. A variety, both of old proven and fresh new, talent is desirable. Look for new names and faces, lesser and more widely known personalities, and “intense variety” in the bureau’s speaker selection. 
• Constrictions placed on speakers that curtail communication and customization. It is not unreasonable for a speakers bureau to have some criteria they expect their speakers to abide by, but overkill on contract controls and a ban on communicating with speakers could cripple your ability to organize the event. The best bureaus trust their speakers and have reasonable rules.

​Conclusion

Using an experienced speakers bureau is one of the best ways to ensure you find the best possible speaker to fit your event. Matching speaking talent to specific speaking opportunities takes a large talent pool and a dedicated, highly skilled agent who is willing to work with you through every step of the process. Take the time to choose a superior speakers bureau, and choosing superior speakers will become as simple and stress-free as possible.