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John Simonett Biography
John Simonett is a professional, adept and experienced after dinner speaker, motivational speaker and conference speaker.
Background and career
A former schoolmaster and sportsman, John Simonett was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh, and obtained a First Class honours degree from Bristol University, majoring in Psychology. He played Premiership Rugby Union and was a cup winner with Gloucester against the Leicester Tigers at Twickenham.
He left teaching to become a professional after dinner and keynote speaker and is now one of the most original and entertaining speakers on the conference ‘circuit’.
John's 'tailored' presentation:
While John Simonett's main objective is to be funny, clean and entertaining, he specialises in the ‘tailored’ presentation and likes to be able to make his remarks relevant to the group in question. In fact the more ‘inside knowledge’ he can acquire beforehand about a company's people, products and philosophy the better.
Memory man
John also has a phenomenal, trained memory and uses this to telling effect - he does his ‘homework’ for each event and learns numerous names, details and relevant company information, which he skillfully weaves into his speeches.
A safe pair of hands
His attention to detail, professionalism and experience - born out of over 2,000 performances on the corporate circuit - provides organisers with the reassurance that what is often the most important aspect of an event is in ‘safe hands’. Equally at home with an audience of 500 - or at a board meeting for twelve, John's charismatic personality and presence, together with his unique combination of humour and memory- tailored to a client's specific brief - provides an original and refreshingly different alternative to the traditional after-dinner, keynote or motivational speaker.
Speaker in disguise
John Simonett can also liven up an event by pretending to be an ‘external guest speaker’ and has surprised many conference audiences with his inside knowledge, wit and relevant magic. As a ‘spoof’ John is often introduced as a ‘consultant’ (or other business expert) about to give a serious talk, until it gradually dawns on the audience that all is not quite what it seems! With a brief from his client to give him enough information to sound plausible, John will keep the audience guessing before all is revealed …… important lessons from this being ‘all is not what it seems - we tend to see what we expect to see - keep an open mind!’’
- BASF conference for pesticide distributors – John was ‘Professor Simonett’, the man from DEFRA there to advocate the benefits of a pesticide tax!!
- 3M Photographic conference - a Harvard specialist in ‘effluent disposal’ there to berate the audience on their poor environmental record!
- ICI dinner – John was introduced as ‘Dr. Ian Picits’ (an anagram of ICI Paints!) the new ‘Director of Quality’ from ‘HQ’, there to enforce stringent new company directives!
- John has played the part of a Health and Safety Expert, a VAT Inspector, a Parliamentary Advisor to John Prescott, an Industrial Psychologist, an expert in Welsh Mediaeval History and a former US Treasury Investigator acting as advisor to the Global Head of Citibank's Foreign Exchange Department!
Speaking Topics
Memory man and corporate imposter, John Simonett is one of the best After Dinner Speakers on the circuit and an exceptional motivational speaker.
- Education
- Psychology
- Rugby
For further information or to book John Simonett, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
John Simonett Video
John Simonett Speaker Showreel - Click play to watch a short sample video clip of John Simonett. For more information on John Simonett please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
John Simonett News
A selection of relevant news related to John Simonett, After Dinner Speakers and Keynote Speakers, Business Speakers, Change and Turnaround Speakers, Great Value Speakers, Innovation Speakers and Sport Speakers stories. For more information on John Simonett or details as to how to book John Simonett for your corporate event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
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John Simonett Reviews
John Simonett has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for John Simonett for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book John Simonett for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Everfyone thoroughlyenjoyed the questspeaker. He was witty, funny and interesting and never made any adverse comments. Excellent!
Very professional, outstanding memory. John manages to utilise the audience, creating much amusement but without causing any offence.
John amazed and delighted our audience. We booked a speaker to raise the energy after dinner and before the awards ceremony and John excelled at this task. His delviery was polished and he controlled the audienc ewith panache. Amazing memory!
John ensured the conference got off to an incredible start with a presentation that had the 200 delegates spellbound, fascinated and crying with laughter. Feedback was brilliant and many will be using some of his techniques in their own training roles.
I have already passed on your name, agency and recommendation to two other events organising companies since I can do so with absolute confidence that you will give an evening to remember. The verbal response from our members was stunning as they could not believe that you could refer to them all and pick and place them so well.
I wanted to pass on my thanks and appreciation of your speech. It was the general opinion that it was the best we had heard for some years. Humorous, different, brilliantly researched and very well received by all.
Just a quick note to thank you for a fabulous performance on the evening of our Sales Conference a couple of weeks ago. You are the best after-dinner speaker I have seen (and I've seen a lot). You combined humour, memory and audience observation, delivered in a most articulate and impressive way. I haven't laughed so much in a long time. We ask for feedback on the conference from all attendees, and having trawled through all 106 returns today I can confirm that my own praise is fully supported by the comments from my sales teams. Thank you again for an excellent evening.
Thank you! It would appear that you had an excellent night! The phone has been red hot this morning. The following are a few quotes for you today: Very entertaining terrific best we have ever had Excellent !
Thank you so much your skill to incorporate so many names in the time available, with such humour has drawn great comment. Greatly appreciated and most important of all, thoroughly enjoyed by all the guests.
We are still basking in the glory of what many reckon was the best dinner in a good many years, and it doesn't take a genius to work out this was largely due to you. John, you were absolutely superb. Through all the years I have seen after-dinner speakers I don't think I have seen anyone with such sharp humour, and who was so original, so topical and so thoroughly professional.
I am writing on behalf of the President, Board of Directors, Members and Guests of The Scottish Oil Club to thank you for your speech at our annual dinner on Friday. I have received much positive feedback. I know I especially liked your talk and I think it's the best that I've heard in the five years I've been doing this event. Thanks!!!
You are easily the best after-dinner speaker I have seen in all the years I have been involved in organising or attending functions, with a very refreshing and uniquely delivered performance. In my opinion you had a very difficult task by following our surprise the three waiters, but not only did you manage to follow them successfully you became the main conversation point for days afterwards.
Thanks for your efforts at our pre IMA lunch on the Thames. It went really well and feedback on your talk was fantastic - some clients came up to me and said it was the best thing they had seen.
John, thank you for being the core of one of the best ever MPMA annual dinners. You generate an interesting array of reactions - amusement, awe, amazement - and that's without delving any further into the alphabet! We were absolutely delighted with your contribution to the evening and I hope we have the opportunity of working with you again.
What can I say - you were fantastic! I have emailed out to all the guys and you have had such excellent feedback - 10 out of 10, excellent, fantastic, the best speaker we have ever had etc. Kind regards - and thanks again for so many laughs on the evening my mascara was running!
John was superb, very witty, charming and funny. He incorporated the information on staff into his own stories and amazed us all with his awesome memory. Would use John again and would certainly recommend him to others
John was extremely thorough in his preparation for the event, requesting much more detail about the conference and the organisation than we have ever been asked for before. He then also asked for names of attendees at different tables around the room during the dinner itself, and proceeded to memorise these, which was amazing! His talk itself was both extremely amusing and also very relevant to the nature of the event and the makeup of the audience. A number of people commented to me at the time how much they enjoyed his speech, and several also made similar comments on their event evaluation forms. I know some also spoke to John at the time and expressed their admiration! I would have no hesitation in recommending John to anyone wanting someone who can provide a little bit extra and more thought-provoking than the standard after-dinner speaker.
John was able to use his experiences and business knowledge in an engaging manner that was perfect for our event. John exceeded our expectations in terms of his ability to personalise his speech to our audience.
Q & A with John Simonett
John Simonett answered some probing questions for Speakers Corner. For speaking secrets revealed - read on! To book John Simonett for your event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Speakers Corner: How did the corporate speaking start?
John Simonett: “You should do this for a living” (heard many times while still doing a “proper job”)
Speakers Corner: Can you remember your first speaking engagement?
John Simonett: Post match dinner at Cardiff Arms Park – as losing Captain of the Scottish Schools U19 XV!
Speakers Corner: And your last event?
John Simonett: The Personal Finance Society conference dinner – for Speakers Corner!
Speakers Corner: Which event has been your favourite and why?
John Simonett: Kent Messenger Group Senior Management conference. Feedback score: 96% “Excellent”!
Speakers Corner: If you could speak at any event, past or future, what would it be?
John Simonett: My funeral eulogy
Speakers Corner: Who would you most like to share a platform with?
John Simonett: Derren Brown (as a volunteer from the audience in his show)
Speakers Corner: On average, how many times a year do you speak at corporate events?
John Simonett: 100
Speakers Corner: Do you use PowerPoint?
John Simonett: Only for fun stuff! (No “death by bullet points…”)
Speakers Corner: Are you as happy speaking to 50 as to 1,000 people?
John Simonett: Yes – though both require different approaches
Speakers Corner: How do you like to be introduced?
John Simonett: Low key (“under promise – over deliver!”)
Speakers Corner: Do you always like to do a briefing call before the event?
John Simonett: Essential!!
Speakers Corner: What are the most asked for topics?
John Simonett: Restless Curiosity…. which can then be applied to any conference theme.
Speakers Corner: Is your speech interactive with audience participation?
John Simonett: Always!
Speakers Corner: Do you have any funny/embarrassing speaking anecdotes you care to share?
John Simonett: Turning up in black tie at a casual dress dinner – via an inefficient agent! (not Speakers Corner!)
Speakers Corner: Your favourite film?
John Simonett: The Simpsons Movie
Speakers Corner: Favourite book?
John Simonett: My Autobiography by A. Simonett
Speakers Corner: Favourite holiday destination?
John Simonett: www.villaphuket.com
Speakers Corner: What’s your tipple – wine, beer, champagne?
John Simonett: VAT 19 Rum and ginger ale (a Trinidad staple on which I was weaned….)
Speakers Corner: Country or townie?
John Simonett: Oooo Aarrr
For further information or to book John Simonett, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
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