Raise your hand if this has happened to you. You decided to hire an experienced and entertaining keynote speaker for your virtual conference. You saw this speaker in a live conference and gave them a solid 10. They knocked your socks off! Now, you’re SO excited to have this person for your virtual meeting. You are certain this speaker will bring their A-game and your whole company will talk about what a memorable, enjoyable virtual session they attended.
Then….disaster. The keynote speaker looks great but their connectivity is bad in the AV check. Their background looks fuzzy and the Green-Screen distortion is distracting. Their audio is off and it sounds like they are speaking from a cave.
You’re now in a panic!
Planning a virtual or hybrid event comes with an entirely new set of rules and rule number one is to secure a skilled, professional speaker who has put in the work to create a seamless virtual presentation. It’s a little trickier than hiring for a traditional in-person event. Whether you are planning a straightforward webinar, a hybrid event or rescheduling an in person event to a virtual format, it’s vital that you cover your bases and make sure you are hiring the best presenter for the job.
Here are 3 sure-fire ways to rest easy, knowing you’ve done your meeting planner homework:
1.Ask for recommendations
Our first piece of advice is quite simple: ASK! Start the hiring process by reaching out to trusted colleagues (Hint: This is where a relationship with a non-exclusive speaker bureau like The Keynote Shop comes in handy!). Have a specific set of criteria in mind and communicate exactly what kind of event you are planning and what sort of speaker you are looking for. Even better, think through what do you want your attendees to accomplish? What kind of budget do you have to work with? Write a short, but detailed inquiry and post to your professional association’s page, or reach out to your trusted colleagues. Folks love to recommend people when they’ve had an outstanding experience. Call or email your favorite bureau rep and rely on their expertise to steer you to the top choices.
2.Do the research
So, now you have a handful of highly recommended speakers. Don’t just pick up the phone! Now is the time to do some internet sleuthing. At The Keynote Shop we suggest taking the time to research multiple media outlets to discover what each speaker candidate has to offer and how proficient they are at handling virtual presentations. Go through their website, read testimonials, look at their LinkedIn page. Twitter, Instagram, YouTube or VIMEO. Video channels are especially valuable when researching a remote meeting. What kind of video resources does the speaker have? What kind of (and how many) virtual happenings have they been a part of over the last 18 months? For most speakers, you’ll see there was a noticeable uptick in video content when the pandemic started in the spring of 2020. A viable speaker candidate will have a plethora of video samples to demonstrate both their level of technical knowledge and their overall experience with virtual.
3.Request samples
You’ve narrowed it down to a handful. It’s time to reach out and talk specifics like dates and dollars. But, wait! Don’t miss this critical step! Not only do you want to request a speaker’s video reel and look for examples on YouTube, but you will also be wise to ask for specific full-length samples. If you are planning a 3-part virtual training, ask to see an example of a similar recording they’ve done in the past. If you’re working on a hybrid event, be sure the speaker has done something like this already and ask for clips and highlights. Most speakers retain the rights to their recordings for this very reason, so providing access to samples should never be a problem. High-quality candidates will have several ready for this very reason.
What traits does the best candidate have? This will vary depending on the event, but these are three non-negotiable qualities I like to see speakers bring to the virtual table:
1.Interactive
This is a big word when it comes to online meetings! From the audience perspective, the experience of being in a ballroom amongst peers is very different from viewing from the comfort of one’s office. A keynoter needs to be ready to pull out all the tricks to keep a meeting engaging, interactive, and challenging. Ask your candidates what unique tools they use to keep the session moving in a positive and entertaining direction.
2.Tech-savvy
Remember the scary tale at the beginning of this article? Even the most professional of on-stage speakers can struggle with an online platform. Be certain your speaker is well versed in the virtual platform you are using. Anyone can Zoom, but can the speaker navigate the presentation tools while staying engaged and focused on the message and the attendees? Not all speakers or meeting planners utilize eSpeakers, but when the pandemic began, eSpeakers offered a Virtual Tag for speakers that have qualified as a Certified Virtual Speaker. Look for this specific tag or inquire with the speaker if they have solid virtual experience, a professional background, and the correct audiovisual tools.
3.Consistent
Another quality to keep in mind is consistency. As mentioned, the ability to present effectively doesn’t always transfer over evenly from an in-person event. By asking for samples of a range of virtual offerings, you’ll get a good feel of a speaker’s consistency.
Bonus! We’re pleased to share The Keynote Shop’s set of 10 questions to start your conversation with virtual candidates. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD.
Ready to contract with your perfect Keynote? Read how to avoid common mistakes with contract negotiations HERE.
Who are the most influential thought leaders in the business world? The Keynote Shop is a professional speaker bureau representing business experts who speak, business consultants who speak, motivational and inspirational speakers for conference openers, corporate entertainers, and celebrities for corporate appearances. We are a 100% woman-owned and woman-founded bureau for professional keynote speakers. Collectively we offer over 30 years of experience with matching professional speaking and entertainment talent with conferences and events. Need a negotiation speaker or sales speaker for your next event? Click here for a list of recommendations.
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Who are the most requested professional keynote speakers for 2022? Contact us at The Keynote Shop for recommendations and introductions to the highest-rated professional speakers. Our top picks include:
These are some of the premier thought leaders in the industry and they are prepared to guide your organization through these changing times. Contact Gina Davilla at gina@thekeynoteshop.com to reserve a date and book the very best professional speaker for your next meeting.
