Phase 1 · Before You Contact Speakers
What Information Should a Speaker Inquiry Include?
Your first inquiry does not need to be a finished event brief. To approach a speaker or representative, the Mollie Plotkin Group needs:
- Your budget
- The event date
- The precise appearance time or best available window
- The event title
- A description of the audience
- Expected attendance
That is enough to present the event as a credible opportunity and begin checking availability. You can work out the full production plan later.
Why the time of day matters
A speaker can be available on your event date without being free all day. A morning keynote might fit around another engagement or travel when an afternoon appearance would not. If the time is still being set, give us the best window you have. Tell us as soon as it changes so we can check whether the speaker can still make the appearance.
The budget, audience and type of event help us identify speakers who could plausibly fit. We can discuss options with you even if leadership has not made its final choice. How Far in Advance Should You Book a Keynote Speaker? explains when to begin the availability conversation if your schedule is still taking shape.
What can wait until you move forward
You do not need to settle every arrival, AV and presentation detail before we make the first inquiry. Once your team chooses a speaker, we send a formal event questionnaire to collect the details needed for the agreements. That is when the specific program, arrival time, production requirements and requests such as recording, Q&A or a book signing need to be made clear.
There is time to discuss those requests, but they should be clear before the agreements are finalized. Speaker Agreements, Deposits and Payment Terms explains what formally secures the date.