How to Brief Your Speaker

Now that you’ve found the perfect speaker for your next conference, you have to be able to create a great speaker brief. Speakers are a significant part of your Florida corporate event, so you want to do everything you can to ensure your speakers feel confident, prepared, and supported! Your brief should say: “You’re important. This event is important. We support you. You are the right choice, and you benefit too.”

What Exactly is a Speaker Brief?
In short, this is a short document that you’ll send someone immediately after they show interest in speaking at your event.

Yes, The Event is Happening
It may sound odd, but start your brief by confirming that the event is definitely happening. Once your speaker knows that it’s not just hypothetical, they’ll be more likely to take your event seriously and commit. Make sure to highlight your event’s theme, goals, and content that you hope to have presented.

Why You Benefit
Explain to your speaker why they will benefit from taking the time to come to your event. Consider the 4 P’s: People, Purpose, Prestige, and Perks.

  • People: Talk about the other people involved! Mention anyone notable who will be in attendance, connections you have with reporters, past speakers, the audience, and other speakers who have already agreed to come.
  • Purpose: Why is the event happening, and what does your audience hope to gain from attending?
  • Prestige: Will this event be covered by the press or even a big-name blogger? Has this been a large event in the past? This is your time to really brag on your event, and highlight any facts or statistics that show how special it is.
  • Perks: Describing the perks you offer to speakers is a great way to set your event apart from another, and it could be the deal breaker if your speaker is deciding between two different gigs in the same weekend. Note if you’ll be providing meals, covering travel, putting them up in a fancy hotel, or sending them home with an awesome gift bag.

Flattery Is Everything
Okay, flattery isn’t everything — but it’s a big deal, and it can help you book your dream speaker. Show them that you know who they are! Talk about another event when you saw them speak and how it impacted you, or reference some of your favorite blogs of theirs.

An Audience Breakdown
Share your audience demographics, including their experience level, their companies and job titles, and what they’re coming to learn. This is your golden opportunity to make a connection between what you know about your speaker and what you know about your audience! Demonstrate that they are the perfect match.

Session Support
While every speaker has their own style and presentation preference, it may be helpful for you to provide a suggested guide, or a “how-to” structure their presentation. This can give insight into the direction you’re hoping to take the event, the tone you want to convey, and the information you want to be provided.

Reiterate Details
What day is the conference, and when does your speaker need to be there? How long will they stay? What time slot are you offering them? Exactly what content should they plan to cover, and when should they have that sent over to you for review? This is your time to solidify and confirm their commitment.

When it comes to Florida corporate events and picking the perfect speaker, Fun Planners has your back. Whether your event needs catering, audio equipment, lighting, or even interactive rentals, make sure to reach out to us at 407-955-4949.