Tips For Meeting Planners

1. Choosing a Speaker Bureau
   
2. Program Planning Guide
   
3. About Fees
   
4. About topics
   
5. Negotiating the Presenter’s Contract
   
6. Get the Best out of your Presenter
   
   

About Fees

The presenter’s fee is by far the best investment
you’ll make to guarantee your event’s success.

When one considers the presenter’s fee against the total expense of putting on a meeting or convention (which not only includes the cost of travel, food, lodging and promotion, but also the cost of continuing payroll for each attendee and the loss of revenues from being away from the job), then clearly the presenter’s fee is only a small fraction of that cost. Yet it is almost always the speaker, motivator, celebrity or entertainer who leaves the most lasting impression.

Your presenters and conference program will sooner make or break the success of your convention than will a great meeting site. The impact of a fabulous entertainer or the take-home-value from a tremendous speaker will have a longer lasting effect than even the greatest banquet meal. It would therefore be a mistake to relegate your presenter selection and speaker's budget to the bottom of your conference’s planning list.

Tip: Don’t keep your speakers’ budget a secret.

When working with a speakers and entertainment bureau always be specific about your budget range.

There are literally thousands of speakers and entertainers to choose from. Their fees can run from below a thousand dollars to five figures and more. A presenter’s fee is, in most cases, commensurate with his or her caliber, and only if we are aware of your budget range can we do our best to recommend the best presenter within that range.

Our mission at ETC is to earn your long-term, return business, and as such we will always try to find for you the best presenter at the best price. But we can only do that if we know what your budget is.

You can rest assured that you’ll never pay more when booking through Eagles Talent Connection, because in the majority of cases, we receive our entire fee from the presenter. On those rare occasions where a celebrity or entertainer does not pay the bureau’s fee, ETC’s markup is among the most modest in the industry.

In many instances, we can actually save you money. Since Eagles Talent Connection generates an appreciative volume of business for many presenters, this puts us in a more favorable position to negotiate for you. We are determined to always find for you the most appropriate presenters at the very best price.

IMPORTANT:

Don't forget that in addition to a presenter’s fee, you must also budget for their expenses. These generally include:

• Airfare
• Ground Transportation
• Hotel Accommodations
• Meals and incidentals (sometimes arranged as a per diem charge)

It is also possible to have additional expenses for such items as:

• Technical Requirements
• Purchase of handouts, books, and other products
• Surcharge for audio and video taping of program
• Surcharge for additional requests such as signing autographs, and attending golf outings or receptions
• Taxes and surcharges [Country, State, County, or Local]

Be aware of the hidden charges:

Working with ETC, you’ll never be surprised or caught of guard by hidden charges. Your program consultant will always explain all charges to you up front. All charges need to be understood, negotiated, and approved before contracts are signed. Your ETC program coordinator will guide you through this potential “financial minefield.” It’s our job at ETC to make sure you, our client, fully understand why and what you are paying for and to make sure that we always get for you the best and fairest deal.