Need help streamlining the speaker selection process?
We are so pleased to have you visiting our website. We have always looked at the World Wide Web as the perfect opportunity to develop a resource community center for meeting planning professionals. To that end, we are in the process of creating a one-stop center with information, articles, and Internet links where new ideas and concepts can be shared. Don't forget to click on the "Survive" image on the menu bar to request your free copy of Diane's "Survive the Search" guide.
Download Industry Articles by Diane Goodman
Over the years, we have seen an increase in the need for professional speakers in the insurance and financial services area.
So, we responded by creating a new division specifically focused on those areas. By working closely within this arena, we have become fluent in the issues and trends surrounding the insurance and finance industries. This is a crucial element that helps us strategically work with you to define your exact needs in a speaker.
What to look for when
hiring a Professional
Professional speakers often are the highlight of many meetings and conventions. People sometimes attend meetings for the sole purpose of hearing the featured speaker. Or, attendees will find the keynote speaker was the most meaningful or inspirational part of a meeting. However, sometimes a speaker can be completely inappropriate and can be a disappointment for a company or organization ...
Speakers that Strive to Blend Work and Life
Get up. Go to work. Come home. Eat. Sleep. Get up. Sound familiar? While this may be a daily routine for much of the nation’s workforce, it is not conducive to a well-balanced lifestyle – one that contributes to better health, better family lives, more time for creative endeavors, and more personal satisfaction...
Getting the Most Out Of Your Speaker
So, you've hired a professional speaker to deliver a presentation at your company meeting. You've worked diligently with your speakers bureau to find an appropriate keynoter, you've gotten on the speaker's schedule early enough, and now you're waiting for the big day to come ...
Find a Speaker that Fits
Speakers bureaus do more than just send out glossy catalogs. A good one will learn as much as possible about your company, your meeting, your audience, and your budget in order to help you find a professional speaker who fits your needs. The aim of this guide is to prepare you for discussions with a bureau, and to get you thinking about all the factors that affect your speaker choice ...
Avoid Getting Webbed; Determining when 'low-tech' is best
Speakers bureaus, like much of the corporate world, have made the leap to the Internet, with robust websites that tout some of today's hottest technology. These sites often are enticing. Offering video clips of various speakers along with comprehensive forms that help meeting planners narrow their search by entering price, topic, and other variables. Of course, searches on websites can be conducted any time of the day, any day of the week And planners can get more information about speakers with one or two clicks without having to wait for information to arrive via snail mail. So what's the downside? ...
Speakers Don't Always Have to be Famous
Four years ago, an industry trend landed in my lap. This may be a bit of an exaggeration, but looking back, it was one of the first times I clearly saw the evolution of a need and desire for insurance and financial businesses to hire "expert speakers" -- industry experts and insiders -- in addition to professional speakers to address their corporate meetings ...
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I choose Goodman Speakers Bureau as my speaker source?
Since 1979 Goodman Speakers Bureau has taken pride in providing our clients with CUSTOMIZED solutions to their professional speaker needs. As the customized service specialists, we believe that catalogs are the last place anyone should look for a professional speaker. Instead, we believe the first place to begin your search by working one-on-one with us. When you call the Goodman Speakers Bureau you will begin a partnership, which will produce the best product for your organization and event.
Is there a charge for the services Goodman Speakers Bureau offers?
There is no cost to you for using our services. Our fee is paid by the speaker, through their honorarium. The time we spend personally with you, the materials and resources we employ, and the effort we expend to meet your needs are free of charge. If you choose not to book a speaker, there is still no charge to you.
what is the average cost of hiring a professional speaker?
Hiring a professional speaker will vary based on experience, skill, reputation and notoriety. Additional expenses are separate from the fee. Expenses, such as travel, hotel accommodations, meals, and any out of pocket expenses are usually considered additional to the speaker’s fee.
Do I have to arrange travel and lodging for the Speaker?
Goodman Speakers Bureau will work with you and the speaker directly to ensure that the right accommodations are found to fit the speaker’s needs and to fit within your budget.
There are so many good speakers, how do we go about choosing the right one for our event?
At Goodman Speakers Bureau we start where most bureaus end up. We begin with our Survive the Search guide to get a basic understanding of your organization and its needs. With that information we spend the following months with you, personally customizing your meeting down to the finest details. With thirity years of experience, we know what works and what doesn’t. We know our speakers and their topics. We will get to know your organization, event, audience, and you, equally as well to provide the best speaker for you.
What if I'm interested in a speaker
and I don't see him or her on your website?
Goodman Speakers Bureau works with many speakers, not just ones listed on our website. If you already know of a speaker you may be interested in, we will get you all of the resources necessary to facilitate your decision and getting you matched up with your speaker.
Does it cost more for a longer presentation?
Generally, yes. Since each speaker sets their own fee, fees vary from speaker to speaker. Some have a flat cost, others will have a 1-hour (keynote), half day, and full day cost.
What if we have a small budget?
Spending a lot of money does not always mean you will get the best speaker for your event. We have relationships with a variety of speakers from which to find you a speaker that best fits your needs, at a price you can afford. Our professional speaker fees generally start at $1,500 and up.
Can I speak directly with the speaker before I make a decision?
Most all of our speakers are available before you have made a selection and after you have made your final decision. Since we insist on a personal and customized approach to meeting planning, we will facilitate the best communication between you and your speaker possible. Whatever it takes to make you comfortable and content that your decision is the best, Goodman Speakers Bureau will be there at every step.
Can audio or video recordings of a speaker be made at the event?
Speakers vary in regard to the protection of their intellectual property. Your Goodman Speakers Bureau representative will be happy to advise you on a speaker’s attitudes about recording.
