Professional Speakers

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about working with our speakers—from booking to event day and beyond.

CONTACT

Industry

If you have a specific speaker in mind, you can see if they have a website and the website will often give you contact information for their personal office, manager or agent. If you want information about a few speakers to choose from, reach out to a Speaker Bureau or Speaker Management Agency. At Go Leeward, we are happy to help you with both our speakers, or recommend a Bureau or Agency partner.

Jesse Cole, Tyler Gillum, Mike Michalowicz, Alex Ramon, and Kevin O’Connor are all exclusively managed by Go Leeward. You can alternatively hire through a third-party Bureau or Agency, but bureaus and agencies will still be connected to these speakers via Go Leeward.

Go Leeward specializes in business subject matter experts who come at business from unique and unexpected directions. Our speakers are disruptors, innovators, and creators.

Go Leeward offers speaking video for every speaker we support. Each speaker page links to multiple examples of speaking. Other good places to search for speaking video include YouTube and speakers’ websites.

Testimonials are available on each speaker page. If you are seeking a testimonial from a specific industry, please let us know. We generally have many more testimonials than are posted. 

A Speaker Bureau generally acts as an agent between a client and a wide variety of speakers. They might have hundreds or thousands of speakers that they can contact on the client’s behalf. Speaker managers generally work directly with a small number of speakers with who they have direct relationships.

Management

With Go Leeward, you are about as direct as you can get. We’ll take care of all details including calls with speakers. You can contact some speakers via their websites if they have in-house support. However, many popular speakers utilize bureaus or managers to support them because of the volume of requests they receive.

Go Leeward primarily manages only the speakers listed on our website. We have deep personal relationships with our speakers and can offer the best experience with them. We do have relationships with a number of speakers who are not listed on our site. However, if we don’t have a strong connection with a particular speaker, we can generally recommend an agency that does. We don’t contract with speakers we don’t know.

A speaker manager provides communication, marketing support, contract support, and can answer the event planners’ questions. Speakers are often traveling and working with clients on location. The manager is readily available for the planner.

Speaking is a business, not just an art. It is a highly competitive industry. As with any new business, many fail because of a lack of knowledge, resources and grit. Learn the business, hire a coach, and once you start working on your craft – practice! Getting an agent will NOT create a speaking business for you.

Event

Pre-Event

Hiring a speaker 6-12 months ahead of an event is optimal. But, last minute options do exist. A speaker might be booked a year ahead, but it is still possible that they have a date open here and there. It doesn’t hurt to ask. Any date within three months is considered “last minute”.

Any event within three months is considered “last minute”. You can reach out to any Bureau and check for last minute speakers. At Go Leeward, we are happy to help. If you have a speaker cancel or need someone last minute, let us know.

A pre-event meeting either with the speaker themselves or the speaker’s representative is a good idea. Plan a meeting 2-8 weeks ahead of the event. Not all speakers offer pre-event calls, but many do.

Almost all speakers provide basic materials that can be used for promotion including an image and a bio. Some will create a custom promo video. Some keynote speakers offer an array of promotional materials and will even promote to their own websites or social media platforms. Promotional material varies widely from speaker to speaker. Ask what they will include and what permission you need to use the materials before you hire the speaker.

Every keynote speaker has a different policy. This should be spelled out in the contract. At Go Leeward, most speakers offer a 12-month reschedule in the event of force majeure, and a refunded fee if the event is cancelled at least 90 days prior to the event.

During the Event

Most, but not all, professional speakers offer virtual presentations. Quality of virtual presentations can vary greatly. Before hiring a speaker for a live stream or virtual keynote, review video of them working in that format. Do they have a studio dedicated to presenting? Do they have professional grade video and audio? Do they have multiple camera angles? Does their energy come through on video? Are they engaging?

Go Leeward speakers can present to groups of 10 – 10,000. Presentation styles and formats vary depending on the size of the group.

AV needs vary greatly. Ask the speaker for their requirements so that they can give heir best performance. Most speakers need an AV check for their mic and presentation. Most accomplished speakers don’t need a full rehearsal but many will meet with AV for a brief run through or to get a feel for the room.

Length varies by speaker. Many speakers can adjust their talk durations to fit the time available. There is no “best” keynote length. Every event and every speaker has their own style.

Some speakers customize talks. When asking for customization, consider this. Some events want “brand new material that has never been heard before”. New material is not always the best because it hasn’t been tested. The speaker doesn’t know what will land and what will flop. The speaker should present on material on which they are subject matter experts. Minor customization is often better than asking for unique material.

Speakers use various techniques to engage an audience. Examples include music/video, handouts, polling/group discussions, on-stage volunteers, games/contests, Q&A. The best way to judge a speakers engagement style is to watch uncut video of them connecting with an audience.

Speakers can provide a list of takeaways or learning points. Motivational speakers will talk more about their own experiences while educational speakers will leave the audience with more action items. Ask the speaker what their style is.

Post-Event

Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the contract, the keynote presentation and content belong to the speaker. Keynotes are often based on the speaker’s copyright material.

Go Leeward would love to work with you even after the event. Our speakers come from unique angles, but all in the business space.

Cost

At Go Leeward, most of the speakers fall in the range of $5,000 to $150,000. In general, keynote speaker fees, sometimes called honorariums, vary widely. The fee depends on celebrity status, knowledge and experience, and skill level and demand. Speakers can range from $0 to over $1Million for a single appearance.

At Go Leeward, generally all fees are explained up front. Quotes include the speaking fee and all described extras as well as travel. Books and swag items are generally not included in quoted fees unless explicitly mentioned. Hotel accommodations are usually additional. In most cases, events hold a “block” of rooms and it is easier for them to book a room for the speaker.

For Go Leeward speakers, the client generally books the hotel.

For Go Leeward speakers, the speaker generally books their own flight. The cost of the flight is included in the travel fee.

Most speakers require a deposit and full payment prior to the event. Bureaus generally don’t pay the speaker until after the event, but they still require payment from the client up front and then the bureau holds it in escrow. Common payment terms are a 50% deposit upon contract and the balance paid 30 days prior to the event date.

Go Leeward will consider other value for speakers in additional to exclusively a cash fee. 

Many organizations ask speakers to “speak for free” because they, themselves are raising money for a cause, or simply don’t have funds. Speaking for “free” actually costs the speaker.  “Free” means that they have to incur their own travel expenses and they are also taking time away from their primary business – whether that be speaking or something else.  When organizations don’t have the full speaker fee available, they should consider what other value they can offer. 

Perceived value will be different for every speaker.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Zane_Clark_web
Li Hayes has proven time and again to be a great resource when searching for professional speakers. She takes the time to really understand your needs, expectations, audience, and resources. Far from just a transaction, Li works to build a lasting partnership through great service and great speakers (that are easy to work with)!

Zane Clark
Senior Director of Education Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA)
https://www.sema.org/
Stephanie Scheller
Li Hayes is simply the best speaker agent I’ve worked with. She understands the need for professional speakers who are as good people as they are speakers! She carefully curates her selection of speakers and works with me to fill many of my speaker needs. I’ve come back to her repeatedly and she’s never failed or disappointed me. She’ll be a great connection for you to have!

Stephanie Scheller
Founder, The GROW Retreat
www.GrowDisrupt.com
angela-kurkian-a4422760
Li Hayes has been an invaluable resource for Professional Photographers of America. She has provided dozens of engaging educational business speakers through her Go Leeward Speaker Management Company. Li gives us a turnkey method to consistently provide content to our members and Facebook followers. She makes the process efficient for my team and personally, she’s just great to work with. As the Director of Education for the Professional Photographers of America, I understand the importance of constantly providing content to our association members and creating as much opportunity for live interaction as possible. The PPA is an association of over 30,000 members that has been supporting our small business owners for over 150 years. It is a fulltime effort to keep membership growing and keep attrition low. I strongly recommend the services of Li Hayes and Go Leeward Speaker Management company.

Angela Kurkian
Director of Education, Professional Photographers of America
https://www.ppa.com/
Gennady Polonsky
There are people who one can trust fully, enjoy working with, share experiences and have fun with – even if they have never met before. There are thousands of miles between Li, based in the US and myself, living in Ukraine (out of all, other 30+ countries I lived and worked!). We have different backgrounds, sung different songs and believed in different leaders. However, surprisingly, we share the same values, beliefs, like, that being honest is the natural foundation of any relationship, delivering value to our customers is of paramount importance, and many others, which make us what we are. Li gave herself her word to work only with delightful people and she keeps that word by having in her wonderful speaking boutique only bright, kind and sparkling personalities. Being a management development consultant, university professor, trainer, speaker, and educational events facilitator, I found similarities with Li’s approach to people she works with, and gave myself my own word too, to work only with people I like and admire, and not to work with someone whose values I do not share, no matter how profitable it may be. Li has chosen on many occasions to work with me and that is an honour, and proof that I am a bit delightful to work with, too! Li naturally and gracefully sets up high standards to the speaking industry. She is a wonderful example for all of us to follow!
Gennady Polonsky
Speaker Agent and Podcaster, Ukraine
Danielle Mulvey
Li Hayes helps us reach business decision-makers at events that are otherwise private and unavailable to myself and my competitors. Her GoLeeward speakers act as trusted spokespeople who promote our involvement and sponsorship in a meaningful way that has produced a great ROI for our spend.
Danielle Mulvey
www.daniellemulvey.com

How to Have a Winning Event

Creating an amazing event doesn’t necessarily mean hiring the most expensive speaker, or someone “famous”. 

Memorable events have the RIGHT speakers – the ones that engage the audience and motivate or inspire them by taking them on a journey or leaving them with something that will enhance their businesses or lives.  The best speakers put the audience first.

When I founded Go Leeward speaker management, I decided that I would only work with delightful people – speakers who put the client at the forefront with the focus on making their experience and your event the best they can be. They listen and research and prepare so that they position their material so the specific audience can engage with the message.  

CONTACT

Contact me. I’m happy to answer your questions and help find you the perfect speaker.
203-314-2441 or SID@goleeward.com – Li Hayes

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