Booking keynote speakers under $5000 isn’t always difficult – but it’s not always rewarding either. That’s because you’re generally not in a budget range that’s large enough to retain well-known names or national-level talent. On the bright side, especially if you’re planning a virtual or online event, you may nonetheless be able to secure the services of a solid presenter. Simply look down to find out what sorts of keynote speakers under $5000 might be available to you.
Shopping at a $5K level, you might be looking at the likes of…
- Local academics – Professors from community colleges or lesser-known regional universities. In other words, pros who have academic credentials but limited fame.
- Unknown authors – Self-published authors or writers from small niche publishers without major book sales.
- Obscure politicians – Former mayors or local officials from small rural towns and municipalities.
- Entry-level speakers – Recent graduates, young professionals breaking into speaking by taking unpaid or low-paid gigs, etc.
- Unconventional picks – Ordinary people with compelling stories and perspectives like teachers, nurses, social workers and so on.
- Small business owners – Local entrepreneurs and small business founders with niche appeal.
- Friends of organizers – Trusted contacts with presentation skills who agree to speak for low fees.
- Sponsor representatives – Company employees speaking on behalf of event sponsors in a content-focused session.
- Niche specialists – Hobbyists or enthusiasts very prominent in specific narrow communities.
To be up-front: If you require the services of keynote speakers under $5,000, you’ll need to get creative and set expectations accordingly. But lesser-known voices can still deliver value and new perspectives. Focus on aligning speakers tightly with local audiences.