Notes from the booking desk

Planning · 6 min read

How to write a speaker brief that gets results

A good brief is the single biggest factor in whether a talk feels tailored. Include who is in the room (roles, seniority, mood), what happened in your organization this year, what you want people to do differently after the session, and any sensitive subjects to avoid.

Share your agenda so the speaker knows what comes before and after them. Finally, give them one or two people to interview — a quick call with a team lead often produces the stories audiences remember most.

Budget · 5 min read

Speaker fees explained: what you are really paying for

A one-hour keynote usually represents several days of a speaker’s time: research, customization, travel and the event itself. Fees also reflect demand — speakers who are booked most weekends charge more.

Ask whether the fee includes a book signing, a breakout session or a recording license. Bundling these can add value without much extra cost.

Virtual · 4 min read

Five ways to keep a virtual audience from multitasking

Keep sessions shorter (30–40 minutes), use live polls in the first five minutes, invite questions throughout, send a pre-event worksheet, and choose speakers who are trained for camera presence.