If a famous name helps attract your target audience or provide a ‘wow’ factor then book a celebrity. Do not book celebrities purely because the powers-that-be assume they will automatically be better received than a less well-known name. Fame commands a premium for good reasons, but audience appreciation is not directly proportionate to profile – or fees.

And do not forget: A smart person knows what to say, a wise person knows whether or not to say it.

The four key considerations are audience, objectives, budget and venue. The speaker or performer should match the audience’s demographics, meet the aims of the brief and feel comfortable with the space – whether intimate or cavernous. Clearly they must also be affordable. What really shouldn’t matter, if it clashes with any of these criteria, is the personal taste of the host or the decision maker.

Think carefully before booking anyone described as a ‘guru’! It’s an over-used term (avoided by Inspiring-Speaker), often applied to a speaker with a theory for solving every management problem but little experience of having solved anything in the real business world. On the other hand, speakers who have run organisations and who have the ability to articulate and draw from their experience can add real value to a conference – even if they come from a very different industry.

Our experienced programme consultants will work with you to understand your schedule and event needs, give you customised recommendations, and provide you with the tools you need to properly evaluate each option for your event. We have a number of targeted catalogues that make finding the right speaker a breeze, and we also encourage you to browse through Our recommendations videos, testimonials, and profiles of speakers on our website. If we don’t have a video or testimonials on a speaker’s profile page, then please contact us to see if we have it offline.

Generally, yes. Attending dinner offers an opportunity for the speaker to familiarise him/herself with the organisation, and for the host to introduce the speaker to the guests. However, a number of speakers do not attend dinners – please ask your Inspiring-Speaker agent to advise before confirming a booking.

Controls on the use of language cannot in practice be incorporated into a contract. Speakers/Performers are booked ‘as known’. If you fear a speaker/performer might cause serious offense, do not book him/her. On the other hand, most speakers/performers will be pleased to receive guidelines on what is and isn’t considered appropriate in terms of references to the host organisation, sponsors and clients.