The Biggest Mistakes Event Planners Make When Choosing a Speaker

Hiring the right keynote speaker can turn a major speaking event into an experience people will remember for a long time. The wrong speaker, however, can result in an expensive time that fails to connect with the audience or accomplish the event’s larger goals.

For professional event planners, choosing a speaker should be about much more than finding a recognizable name via their status as a celebrity, influencer, or some other form of social media personality. 

In this blog, we will take a look at some of the biggest mistakes event planners make when booking keynote speakers, and how to avoid them.

Choosing Someone Famous Over Being The Right Fit

One of the most common mistakes is assuming that someone will automatically make a great keynote speaker because of their high following as a celebrity or social media influencer.

Someone with a big name may attract attention because they have a big following, but recognition does not guarantee the speech will be relevant to the audience they are speaking to.

This is not to say that a celebrity or social media personality can’t perform well for an audience and write a great speech, but you do have to be asking the important question: “Why does this person belong in front of this particular audience?”

A speaker who understands the challenges, interests, experiences, and aspirations of the attendees can create far more value in their speech than someone who is simply famous and nothing more. The goal isn't to book the biggest name; it’s to book someone who has the right voice and intentions in mind for the people you want to come back for more events and can change their lives for the better.

Don’t Forget The Purpose of the Event

A keynote speaker should serve a purpose beyond just filling up a 45-60 minute time slot. Before selecting your preferred speaker, event planners should understand what the event is supposed to accomplish. Is the goal to inspire your employees? Introduce a new direction for your business? Strengthen company culture? 

Without a clear goal in mind, it becomes difficult to determine whether a speaker will be successful when they give a speech. A great keynote speaker is going to understand that there’s a broader strategy to the event besides just the words they say, and this helps reinforce the message organizers want attendees to take away.

Assuming a Great Reputation Equals a Great Keynote

Being successful in business, entertainment, sports, health, academics, or another field doesn't mean someone is an effective keynote speaker. Speaking to a large audience is a specialized skill that not everyone has. Professional keynote speakers understand how to structure the message, tell a good story, connect with different types of people, manage the room, and deliver on their ideas.

Event planners should start with the audience. A person can be fascinating by their intent and still deliver a disappointing speech. Event planners should evaluate not only what a speaker has accomplished, but also how effectively they communicate those experiences from the moment they set foot on stage to give their speech.

Don’t Treat the Speaker as Just a Standalone Thing

Finally, event planners sometimes evaluate speakers independently from the rest of the event. The keynote speaker should fit the event's themes, the audience, and other programming. A powerful speaker can become even more effective when their message complements the overall experience for the rest of the attendees. 

One of the biggest missed opportunities is failing to consider what attendees will remember after the event. That's why the selection process should involve thoughtful questions, careful research, and a clear understanding of the event's desired outcome.

The best keynote speaker isn't necessarily the most famous person you can find online. It's the person who can understand the audience and support the event's objectives while delivering on their inspiring message. Answer the call to those objectives first, and then go and choose the right keynote speaker, book them, and they will take care of the rest. 

If you need help, Human Connections Speakers has you covered! We work with some of the best keynote speakers around the country. Speakers who have won awards for their work and have given speeches for all kinds of people and in different industries. Our speakers at Human Connections all have a great resume to work with if you are looking for someone. Read up on their portfolios, and then give us a call when you’re ready!