Frequently Asked Questions

External speakers bring a fresh perspective, expertise and energy to an event.

They typically share insights drawn from their own experiences in business, sport, science or other fields, offering audiences new ways of thinking about their challenges and opportunities.

A well chosen speaker can inspire teams, spark conversation and help reinforce key messages in a way that resonates long after the event.

Absolutely. Recommending the right speaker is a central part of what we do.

Your account manager will take time to understand your event, including the audience, objectives and themes you want to explore. Core to this conversation is a simple but important question: what do you want your audience to be left with once the event is over? From there, we curate a shortlist of speakers who are well suited to your brief and explain why each one could work well for your event.

This consultative approach helps ensure any speaker is genuinely relevant and engaging for your audience.

Booking a speaker is simple. You can get in touch through our website enquiry form, by email, or by phone.

One of our account managers will usually respond within an hour to learn more about your event and what you are looking for. From there, you will receive a shortlist of recommended speakers who fit your brief, and your account manager will guide you through the next steps of the booking process.

Once we receive your enquiry, your account manager will ask a few questions to better understand your event, including the audience, objectives, and the type of experience you want to create.

You will typically receive a curated shortlist of five or six speakers, each presented on your own dedicated website page, which will include a biography, example videos and background on their speaking style.

We often arrange a follow up call to talk through the shortlist and help you narrow down your options. If it’s helpful for reassurance, some speakers are also happy to join a pre-booking call, giving you the chance to meet them briefly, discuss the event and ensure the fit feels right for your audience. Once you have selected your preferred speaker, we will confirm their availability and proceed with the booking.

From there, a dedicated event manager manages contracts, logistics, travel arrangements and briefings so everything runs smoothly right through to the event itself.

The more we understand about your event, the easier it is to recommend the right speaker.

Your account manager will usually ask about the audience, the purpose of the event, the themes you would like to explore and the outcomes you hope the session will achieve. A key question we often ask is: what do you want your audience to do, think or feel differently after the session?

This helps us recommend speakers who not only have expertise in the right topic but also connect well with your audience and support the overall objectives of the event.

Booking earlier gives you the widest choice of speakers.

For major conferences or high profile speakers, starting the process three to six months in advance can be helpful. This increases the chances that your preferred speaker will be available and allows more time for planning and briefing.

That said, many events are organised on shorter timelines, and we regularly help clients find excellent speakers with less notice.

Yes, although it is always easier with more notice.

In some situations, particularly when a speaker has had to cancel unexpectedly, we help clients secure a replacement within 24 to 48 hours.

More commonly, we see bookings where the event is one or two weeks away. These are usually very manageable, and we can still recommend available speakers and a strong fit for the event.

With a network of over 12,000 speakers and long-standing relationships across the industry, we’re often able to move quickly when timelines are tight.

Choosing the right speaker starts with understanding what you want the audience to take away from the session.

Think about the objectives of the event, the themes you want to explore and the type of energy you would like the speaker to bring. Audience profile is also important, as different speakers resonate with different audiences.

Your Speakers Corner account manager will help you navigate these considerations and recommend speakers who are well suited to your event.

Engaging speakers combine expertise with storytelling and authenticity. They communicate ideas clearly, connect their message to real experiences and adapt their delivery to the audience in the room.

A key factor is how well the speaker fits the audience and the event's objectives. The most effective speakers also take time to understand the organisation, its language and what the event is ultimately trying to achieve. When a speaker’s message aligns closely with the audience’s interests, challenges or industry, the talk naturally feels more relevant and engaging.

Often, the most memorable speakers are those who balance insight with relatability, energy and a message that resonates long after the event.

Yes. Most speakers tailor their content to reflect the audience and the objectives of the event.

The level of customisation can vary depending on the speaker, the topic and the format of the session. Some speakers adapt examples and references to make the talk more relevant, while others create more bespoke content around the event theme.

A key part of this is the briefing process. We always aim to organise a briefing call between the speaker and the client, giving the speaker the opportunity to understand the core objectives of the event, the audience in the room and the language and culture of the organisation. This conversation helps ensure the content feels relevant and aligned with the wider agenda.

Many experienced speakers will also review the event programme and may choose to arrive early on the day, allowing them to listen to earlier sessions and adapt elements of their presentation so it connects naturally with what has already been discussed.

This preparation helps ensure the speaker feels like a seamless part of the event rather than a bolt-on, delivering a talk that resonates with the audience and supports the overall objectives of the event.

Speakers are usually introduced to the event and its objectives before the booking is confirmed, so they can ensure the brief is the right fit and that they can deliver what the client needs.

Once the speaker is confirmed, we organise a formal briefing call involving the client, the speaker and your Speakers Corner event manager.

During this call, we talk through the event in more detail, including the audience, the key messages you would like the speaker to address and any additional context that may be helpful. This often includes helping the speaker understand the organisation itself: its values, culture, the language commonly used internally, and the key opportunities or challenges the business may currently be facing.

The briefing call is also where we review practical details such as the event schedule, the session format, and how the speaker fits into the wider programme, ensuring everyone is aligned ahead of the event.

When preparing to brief a speaker, it helps to think about the key elements of your event and what you want the audience to take away from the session.

Useful details might include the audience profile, the purpose of the event, the themes you would like the speaker to address and how the session fits within the wider programme. You may also want to share any important context about the organisation or specific messages you would like reinforced. A key question we often ask is: what do you want your audience to do, think or feel differently after the session?

Your Speakers Corner event manager will guide the briefing process and ensure the speaker has everything they need to prepare effectively.

Not always. Presentation slides are often designed to work alongside the talk itself and may not make full sense without the context of the speaker’s delivery.

Instead, speakers prepare their content based on the agreed brief and the objectives discussed during the briefing process. Many speakers also continue refining their talk right up until the event itself, adapting to the agenda and to what is being discussed throughout the day so their session feels timely and relevant.

Some speakers may also provide additional materials after the event, such as slides, reading recommendations or follow up resources for the audience.

There are many different types of speakers depending on the goals of your event.

For conferences and business events, speakers are often positioned at key moments in the agenda. For example, a keynote speaker may open the event, helping to set the tone and frame the theme of the day. Many programmes also include a high-energy session after lunch, designed to re-engage the audience and lift the energy in the room. Events often close with a memorable speaker who can bring the day together and leave the audience feeling inspired as they head away.

Beyond these keynote moments, events may also include keynote speakers who set the tone for a conference, motivational speakers who energise teams, after dinner speakers who entertain audiences at formal events, and workshop speakers who lead smaller interactive sessions.

Events can also benefit from conference facilitators or hosts who guide the programme, moderate discussions and help keep the event running smoothly.

Other roles may include awards hosts, panel moderators, industry experts and thought leaders who provide insight on specific topics.

A keynote speaker typically delivers a central talk that sets the tone or theme for the event.

A conference facilitator, sometimes called a moderator or host, guides the flow of the event itself. They introduce speakers, manage discussions and help keep the programme running smoothly.

Both roles can play an important part in creating a successful event.

An after dinner speaker is usually booked to close a formal event such as an awards ceremony or gala dinner.

Their role is to entertain the audience with engaging stories, humour and insight, helping the event end on a memorable and enjoyable note.

Yes. Many speakers offer more than one format.

Alongside keynote talks, some speakers also run workshops, smaller group sessions or roundtable discussions that allow audiences to explore topics in greater depth.

A popular format is for a speaker to deliver a keynote presentation first, setting the context and sharing the big ideas with the wider audience. This can then be followed by a workshop or smaller session, where the conversation moves into a deeper discussion around what those ideas mean for the organisation and how they can be applied in practice.

It is also common for speakers to offer follow up sessions after a keynote, such as consultancy, helping reinforce the message and bring ideas to life within an organisation.

Speaker fees vary widely depending on the speaker’s experience, profile and availability, as well as the format and location of the event.

Your Speakers Corner account manager can help you understand what is realistic within your budget and recommend speakers who are a strong fit for your event.

Read more in our guide: How much do speakers cost?

A speaker bureau helps organisations identify and book the right speakers for their events.

This includes recommending suitable speakers, checking availability, negotiating fees, managing contracts and coordinating logistics. A bureau also supports the briefing process to ensure the speaker understands the event and its objectives.

Working with a bureau gives you access to market insight, industry relationships and support throughout the booking process.

A reputable speaker bureau offers impartial advice and a deeper level of insight when helping you select the right speaker for your event.

Because reputable bureaux work closely with speakers across the industry, we are often able to vouch for their experience, style and reliability, giving you a clearer understanding of how they perform with different audiences and why they may be a strong fit for your event.

A bureau should also manage the contracting process, logistics and briefing arrangements, giving event organisers additional reassurance and helping ensure everything runs smoothly in the lead up to the event.

Just as importantly, a well-established bureau has an extensive network of trusted speakers. In the unlikely event that something unexpected happens, such as a last-minute cancellation, a reputable bureaux is able to find a suitable solution quickly.

While cancellations are rare, we always have contingency plans in place.

If a speaker is unable to attend due to an unforeseen emergency, our team will work quickly to identify suitable replacement speakers who match your event brief as closely as possible.

Our strong relationships across the speaking industry allow us to move quickly and minimise disruption to your event. In fact, after more than 25 years in operation, we have never been unable to source and secure a suitable replacement speaker for a client.

Yes. If your event includes book signings or you would like to provide copies of a speaker’s book to attendees, our team can often help coordinate this.

As a registered bookseller, we are able to source books directly and manage bulk orders for events. This allows us to organise quantities in advance and often secure favourable rates for larger orders.

We can also assist with the logistics around book signings, ensuring books are available on the day and that the process runs smoothly for both the speaker and your attendees.

Payment schedules can vary depending on the speaker and the event, but our standard terms are 50% payable upon signing the contract and 50% payable eight weeks prior to the event date.

An invoice is issued once the booking has been confirmed, and your Speakers Corner event manager will guide you through the process so the payment schedule is clear from the outset and there are no surprises along the way.

Yes. The speakers featured on our website represent only a portion of the wider market.

Through our industry relationships and research, we have access to a network of more than 12,000 speakers worldwide. If you have a particular speaker in mind who is not listed on the site, we can often still help secure them or recommend similar speakers who may be a strong fit for your event.

Our role is to explore the full market and help you find the speaker who best fits your brief.

Speakers Corner takes an impartial approach to speaker recommendations.

We do not represent specific speakers or have commitments to book particular individuals. This allows us to focus entirely on recommending the speaker who best fits your event, audience and objectives.

As a certified B Corp, we are committed to balancing commercial success with positive social and environmental impact.

Our team also invests significant time in getting to know speakers personally. Each year, hundreds of speakers visit our office to present directly to the team, giving us first hand insight into their content, style and impact with an audience. Every speaker we recommend is carefully vetted so we can confidently match the right voice to your event.

With more than twenty years of experience in the speaking industry and strong relationships throughout the market, we can guide clients through the process and deliver successful events.

Our speaker registration form will guide you through the key information we need, but it is helpful to be ready to provide details such as:

• a short biography and your speaking topics
• examples of previous speaking engagements
• a video of you presenting or speaking on stage
• the types of audiences you typically speak to
• links to your website or professional profile

This helps our team understand your experience and whether your content may be relevant for the types of events our clients organise.

Many professional speakers build successful careers sharing their expertise, experiences and insights with organisations around the world.

Becoming a professional speaker usually involves developing a clear message, gaining experience on stage and learning how to structure talks that resonate with different audiences.

If you are interested in developing your speaking skills or exploring speaking as a career, you may find Future Voices helpful. Future Voices is our partner company, specialising in training and coaching for both experienced and aspiring speakers.

Learn more about Future Voices: https://future-voices.com/