Booking a speaker, if you're not an event planner, can be a nightmare.  Perhaps you were told by your manager or boss that you need to find a speaker for an upcoming company function or training session.  You might not know where to start.

You were told, for example, that you should find a speaker on fraud, ethics or making good choices in business and/or life in general - and, "Make sure the speaker is funny." - and, make sure they don't cost too much.  (If you've never been handed the task of booking a speaker before, you would have no idea of the cost.  Since your boss or manager didn't give you a budget or price range, you're really in the dark.)

You'd probably do a Google search for "public speaker on fraud", or "speaker on ethics" and you would probably come across my web site.  You might watch my videos, read about my comedy background, check out my past clients and the kind words they had to say about me (testimonials) and might think, "This guy could be just the right speaker for our event."  But, you really wouldn't know me.

You shoot me a call and we talk.  (This is probably the single best thing you can do.  Imagine that - a speaker telling you to call a speaker to speak to him about speaking at your event.  Shocking huh?)

You tell me about your event and that you're looking for someone who: speaks on the topics of fraud and ethics, is inspiring, riveting, funny, humorous, engaging and - doesn't cost too much.  At the end of our conversation, we both get the feel that I am a "right fit" for you and your company or organization's event.  We have talked about cost and I gave you a range (I say that it will be some amount under $100,000), but it depends on several factors.... blah, blah blah.  Mine is $5,000 plus expenses - just in case you're wondering.

Hopefully you've gotten a good feel for me and you tell me that you have to take this information back to your committee.  You have no idea whether or not this fits into your budget so you tell me that you'll have to get back to me.  (Speakers just hate that!  But really, who cares, you're the buyer and you have the right to shop around.)

By the time you walk into your event planning meeting, you've called a couple other speakers; some you liked and some you didn't.  You present the information you've gathered to the other members of your event planning committee.  They like them all.

Then the boss, or the head of the event planning committee, tells you the budget - it's $7,500.  But wait, it's not just the budget for the speakers and trainers, it's the budget for the whole conference, convention or company meeting!

It often boils down to price.  Unfortunately for many organizations, keynote speakers and trainers; budgets are thin.  Therefore, you and your event planning committee have to find a way to make it work.  As a speaker, I am biased and I cringe when I hear that, because the budget is thin, the committee wants to book someone who is not a professional speaker; perhaps someone from one of the event sponsors or from one of the vendors.

Yes, they may speak for free.  Yes, they may be very very smart an knowledgeable on the topics of fraud and ethics - or whatever topic you need.  BUT... it is rare that they will be able to: connect with your audience, engage them, entertain them, inspire them to do or be better, and give them something more than just "information."  There are exceptions, but not many.

So, you call each speaker back and tell them that your committee really likes them.  You also talk about the fees and costs.  Each speaker might handle this differently.  To sum it up, competition is fierce right now in the speaking business and even good speakers are negotiating.

Here is how the conversatin might go when you call me back.

You: "Hi Jerome, this is the Event Planner (not your real name) calling you back.  We like you more than the other speakers we considered but the fee of $5,000 plus expenses is too high."

Me:  "I understand.  Budgets are tight.  Here's the deal - if your group decided that I am the 'right fit', for your event, I'll speak at your event.  Since the $5,000 doesn't work with your budget, can you tell me what will?"

I always assume, perhaps naively, that people are honest and will not try to beat me up on my fee, just to, "see how low we can get this guy."  I assume that if they say they can't go higher than $3,500 for example, then that's the truth.

You: "We can't go any higher than $3,500 - will that work?"

Me:  "I think I can do that, but I'd also like to talk to you about perhaps giving me a mention on your web site, with a back link.  And, maybe a few other simple things like that."

You: "Oh, I don't think that will be a problem.  This is great!  We are so excited to have you."

This is just one example of how to find a speaker for your event.  I don't envy the folks who have to

do this, but hopefully this insight, from a speaker's perspective will help.

Do you have a "speaker nightmare" story?  Send it to me in an email and I'll send you something for free?

You can also find Jerome Mayne by searching:

Business Ethics Speaker - Ethics Keynote Speaker 

White Collar Crime Speaker - Fraud Prevention Speaker

California Motivational Speaker - Minnesota Motivational Speaker

Speaker Public - Ethics in the Workplace