WHAT DOES A SPEAKER BUREAU DO, EXACTLY?

If you’ve ever organized an event that featured a well-known speaker, chances are you worked with a speaker bureau to make it happen. But what exactly is a speaker bureau, and what role do they play in the world of public speaking?

At its core, a speaker bureau acts as the connection point between event organizers and the professional speakers they need to draw a crowd and deliver an impactful presentation. Think of them as a boutique talent agency – but instead of representing actors or musicians, their exclusive rosters consist of motivational speakers, subject matter experts, celebrities, and other skilled orators.

The primary service a speaker bureau provides is maintaining those selective speaker rosters, vetting talent, negotiating fees, and handling all the logistics of each speaking engagement. This frees event hosts from having to track down, vet, and book speakers directly. The bureau ensures their speakers match the client’s needs and handles all the contractual details.

Beyond just booking speakers, leading bureaus offer full-service event marketing and promotion. This includes providing speaker bios, photos, video reels, and press material to help drive registration. They can also assist with features like meet-and-greet opportunities or coordinating book sales at the event.

Another leading function of speaker bureaus is ensuring both the client organization and the speaker have a seamless, professionally executed experience. They oversee travel arrangements, accommodation, AV requirements, and any other rider needs for the speaker. Bureaus also provide relevantinformation to help speakers customize their presentations for maximum impact.

For speakers, being represented by a top bureau offers significant benefits and amenities. In addition to securing paid engagements at prominent events, they receive coaching, exclusive professional development opportunities, and assistance with branding and promotional activities to raise their profile.

Whether you’re an event marketer for a Fortune 500 company, ameeting planner for a trade association, or representing a university, speaker bureaus are oftentimes the simplest path to booking the thought leaders, personalities, and skilled orators that will elevate your event. These experienced intermediaries and speaker managers smooth the entire process – making successful speaking engagements look easy.