WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND GUEST SPEAKERS?

06 Dec WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AND GUEST SPEAKERS?

Posted at 11:35h in Uncategorized by

Among the most common questions we get asked is – what’s the difference between keynote speakers vs. guest speakers? It’s no surprise, given that professional speaking leaders occupy an uncommon niche in most businesses, and that your average working pro only encounters them at meetings, conferences and conventions. Unless you’re an event planner, the differences that define keynote speakers and guest speakers are often highly nuanced – and hard to wrap your head around.

That said, for convenience’s sake, our team thought we’d serve up some handy definitions – and a quick hit explainer. Hopefully, the below expert guide will give you a better idea about the difference between keynote speakers vs. guest speakers and how all plug into different education and networking programs. If you have further questions, keep in mind that you’re free to reach out to our booking and events team at any point as well.

Anyways, all that being said, let’s get to the crux of the matter, shall we? To wit, we’d point out that – in general – the main differences between guest speakers and keynote speakers are:

  1. Role in the event – A keynote speaker is the highlighted talk that anchors the theme and sets the tone for the whole event. A guest speaker is one of several speakers that supplement the keynote.
  2. Time allotted – Keynote speeches are longer, often 45-60 minutes, allowing the speaker to give an in-depth, comprehensive presentation. Guest speakers usually get 15-30 minutes.
  3. Setting the agenda – The keynote speaker helps establish the overarching topics and ideas that frame the event’s discussions. Guest speakers add specific perspectives within that framework.
  4. Drawing power – Keynote speakers are big names that can draw an audience on their own based on their expertise and reputation. Guest speakers typically supplement already attended events.
  5. Fee differences – Because they are the headlining act and have more time and materials to prepare, keynote speakers usually charge higher speaking fees than guest presenters.

 

Hopefully, all of that makes sense and renders the topic a bit clearer at a glance. If we had to give you the short version, we’d basically say that the keynote speaker has higher visibility and more responsibility for structuring the event’s narrative, while guest speakers fill in supporting ideas. The keynote is the main attraction and guests provide ancillary value.