What I wish every event organiser knew about booking speakers

After years of standing on stages (and occasionally tripping over cables behind them), I’ve learned a thing or two about what makes an event soar and what sends it crashing faster than a dodgy microphone.

If you’re an event organiser, here’s what I wish you knew about booking speakers. Consider this your insider’s guide from someone who’s been on both sides of the stage.

1. A Great Speaker Doesn’t Just Deliver a Talk - They Elevate Your Entire Event

Speakers aren’t just a line item in your budget. They’re your energy source, your audience connector, and often the reason people rave about your event long after the catering’s forgotten.

When you book the right speaker, you’re not just buying 45 minutes of talking. You’re buying engagement, credibility, and emotion. You’re buying the moment the audience sits up, laughs, cries, takes notes and remembers your event as a turning point.

So when choosing, think beyond “Can they fill a slot?” and ask, “Can they create a moment?”

2. The Best Events Are Built on Partnership, Not Transactions

The best event organisers I’ve worked with treat their speakers as partners, not hired help. They brief us properly, loop us into the theme and goals, and trust us to craft content that hits the mark.

If your speaker knows your audience’s biggest challenges, they can weave stories, humour, and solutions that land perfectly. Give us access to your vision not just the run sheet  and we’ll deliver magic.

3. A Clear Brief Beats a Fancy Backdrop

I’ve seen events with fireworks, drones, and enough dry ice to rival a Bon Jovi concert but no clear direction.
A simple one-page speaker brief that outlines your objectives, audience demographics, and desired takeaways is worth gold.

We can bring the energy, but we need to know what “success” looks like for you. Is it laughter? Action? Transformation? Clarity makes connection possible.

4. Please, Respect the Clock (And the Tech Check!)

A 30-minute keynote isn’t the same as “around half an hour after lunch if we’re running late.” Speakers rehearse pacing, jokes, and stories to the minute. Start cutting chunks mid-event and you risk chopping out the emotional crescendo or worse, the call to action.

And don’t even get me started on missing clickers, dead lapel mics, or background music that won’t quit. A quick tech check can save everyone (especially the audience) a world of awkwardness.

5. Value the Value

If you want a speaker who brings their A-game, don’t ask them to “do it for exposure.” Exposure doesn’t pay for childcare or airfares. Professional speakers spend years honing their craft — researching, rehearsing, and investing in their brand.

When you pay for expertise, you’re buying confidence that your event will shine.

Event organisers and speakers share one goal: to make your audience feel something unforgettable. When we work together with clear communication, mutual respect, and shared purpose - that’s when the real magic happens.

So next time you book a speaker, remember: we’re not just here to talk. We’re here to transform your event.