Sarah Fejfar 0:00
Another secret is consider booking your event in that guest speakers hometown, it is an easier Yes. If the event is taking place at home, right? So why not give that a try? If you have a guest speaker that's just really important to you that you get on to your roster of speakers at your event.
Sarah Fejfar 0:25
How are entrepreneurs like us daring bravely to build a stage? Ditch the sweat pants and step up to the mic? How do we create our own transformative events? So we can get our message out into the world in a bigger way. It's not only profitable, but it's actually something we can be proud of.
Sarah Fejfar 0:46
That's the question. And the answers are inside this podcast. My name is Sarah Fejfar. Welcome to greenroom Central.
Sarah Fejfar 0:55
If you've ever wanted to land a really special guest speaker for your next event, then this is for you. I've got five tips that are going to help you do just that. So I have in my day, I've hired very big name household guest speakers I've hired, not well known at all, yet, guest speakers, I've hired free guest speakers, I've hired paid guest speakers. And I'm going to tell you that these five tips that I have for you today are going to help you get anyone on that spectrum that your heart is set on having. I'm going to help you get them to speak at your next event.
Sarah Fejfar 1:43
So first thing is connection, I want you to be connecting all the time. And I know you probably didn't want to hear this one. But it's true. So the more that you network, the more that you build relationships, the closer you are to having a personal connection with the speaker that you want at your next event. Now, I'm not saying that you have to have a personal connection, but it sure does help. So I want you always to be connecting. And I want you building relationships, whether that's on social media, at networking events, with just having having on zoom as much as as you can to connect with people one on one, and build your network so that when it comes time to get a guest speaker to speak at your event, you have a connection that you can call on.
Sarah Fejfar 2:50
So that's one thing under be connecting. Another way that you can be connecting with these guest speakers without a relationship. A previous relationship with them is through an agency. So speakers bureaus are a really helpful tool for helping you get in touch with guest speakers who are bigger name. And I've used them with great success, I will say that they do have a couple things that you need to be aware of.
Sarah Fejfar 3:32
First, they're going to charge a fee on top of whatever the normal speaking fee is for that guest speaker. And that might push that guest speaker out of your budget. Second, they are to put this kindly, biased just a bit, in that they have a slate of speakers that their speaker's bureau recommend or like they have a slate of speakers that they promote as part of their work as their that bureau. And so those speakers they'll want to get Have you use them more than the one that you perhaps might have asked for that isn't on their list, they'll still get you whoever is on your list, but they will work harder for the ones that they represent.
Sarah Fejfar 4:31
So that's something to be considering using an agency using relationships that you've built using social media to be able to get in touch, just go to the person's website, and they often have information about how to get in touch with them or their team to inquire about their speaker, Fi or even if they are available. So be connecting. That's number one. Number two is I want you to be flexible and this is the secret to you are really is that if you have someone that is willing, be flexible with the day and the time and the schedule of your event, because that might allow that maybe to become a yes.
Sarah Fejfar 5:18
Another secret is consider booking your event in that guest speakers hometown, it is an easier yes, if the event is taking place at home, right. So why not give that a try. If you have a guest speaker, that's just really important to you that you get on to your roster of speakers at your event. So first is be really flexible with that date and time and schedule of your event. Second is location, you perhaps might have an easier time of getting them to a yes, if the event is taking place in their hometown. Third, under being flexible, is ask very early, lots of lead time to your event. And also ask last minute, leave some space for for magic and serendipity because they might not be willing to commit to your event really far out. But they might.
Sarah Fejfar 6:30
If you're asking them just a couple of weeks out their calendar might be a little more solidified. They might feel like they know how it could fit in. And so being flexible is also include that asking early and asking late. So that's number two being flexible. Number one was being be connecting to be flexible. Three is be clear. Ultimately, you're you're making an ask. And so be very clear about what it is that you're asking for. It is there's this whole spectrum of what people ask for when a guest speaker is coming to their event.
Sarah Fejfar 7:13
And I want you to be clear with what the ask is for your event. Is it? Is it a one hour keynote done? And they're out? Is it a one hour keynote followed by a q&a session just for VIPs? Is, is it something more, you get to decide what the ask is? And get creative? I would encourage you to do so. But ultimately, it's your ask. And the clearer you can be with what the parameters are on that ask, the easier it is for a guest speaker to say yes, that's a that's a heck yeah, for me or No, I met it's a no. So I, I need you to be clear. That's number three.
Sarah Fejfar 8:01
Number four is be generous. Yes, so often, people are willing to speak for free, but it's not always the case. And so be aware that it might simply take honoring that they have a speaker's fee, and paying that or, or and pay their travel expenses, their airfare, their food, their beverage, their transportation, their, their sleeping rooms, if you can fit that in your budget, and include that as part of the ask is what's on the table, then that can definitely help get to a yes.
Sarah Fejfar 8:50
Third is impact. So your speaker wants to make a difference in the world just like you do. And they want to impact as many people or make as big of an impact as they can. And so it's not about how many people you have at your event, but perhaps who is at your event, or what the mission is. So if you can include information about impact and what's in it for the guest speaker, do you know what is meaningful to them? What causes they support or what their current soap boxes and how can you weave that in to the Ask that you're making of them? Or perhaps do they have something that they're promoting?
Sarah Fejfar 9:44
Did they just write a book and are releasing it soon? And so could you say, Hey, I would love to buy a copy of your book for everyone in my audience. hence so that they can experience what you wrote, but also to help your numbers for your book launch. That could be part of the ask. So think about in being generous money, what could you pay them? Impact? What's in it for them? Could you pay their travel expenses?
Sarah Fejfar 10:26
And also, could you sweeten the offer with some sort of perks? Is there a is your event happening in a really cool destination that they would want to know about and be able to make a vacation out of it or bring their family or, I don't know, be creative with what perks that you could include, that would make it an easier? Yes, for your guest speaker. So that's be generous. That's number four. And number five, this one is so close to my heart. Because I have gotten this one wrong, is I want you to remember to be a player, not a fan.
Sarah Fejfar 11:08
And this is a nod to one of my favorite mentors Bo Eason, and he talks about how we need to consider each other as peers. So yes, you may be a huge fan of this person's work or their celebrity or whatever it is, but the end of the day, they're human too. I want you to remember to be warm, be friendly, be authentic, be a player, not a fan. And I think that's gonna get you so much further if you use that mindset. So five things to helping you get that big name, guest speaker that you're super excited about. First, be connecting. Second, be flexible. Third, be clear.
Sarah Fejfar 11:54
Fourth, be generous. And fifth, be a player, not a fan. I hope that you're fired up to land that guest speaker of your dreams for your next event. I sure I'm excited for you to do so. And if you need help brainstorming if this got you excited, just drop some notes into my DMs and we can go back and forth and I can help you out. Take care make it an outstanding rest of the day. Thanks for hanging out. Thank you for listening to the greenroom central podcast. If you love this episode, then please take a screenshot on your phone and post it to Instagram and be sure to tag at Sarah Fejfar.
Sarah Fejfar 12:41
And let me know why you liked it and what you'd like to hear or who you'd like to hear from in the future that will help me know what to create for you. The number one thing I'm asked by CEOs whether it's their first event, or the 20th is Sarah, how do I get more butts in seats. And so I put together a guide for you. Head over to filling events.com For your free copy of 107 ways to fill your event. I want to help you quickly master event marketing and fill your events.
Sarah Fejfar 13:10
Even if you've never done it before. I've scoured the online business world and found 107 of my favorite strategies working right now to fill your next in person or virtual event. Create the event promotion plan you need from these easy to implement customizable strategies for free over at filling events.com.
Sarah Fejfar 13:30
I appreciate your commitment to leveling up and learning the mindset and strategy of live events. Keep going, keep learning. If you want more, head over to bring them central.com For show notes and all the links from today's episode.
