Phase 1 · Before You Contact Speakers
Booking Through a Speakers Bureau vs. Booking Directly
You can approach a keynote speaker directly or have a speakers bureau handle the booking. Working through a reputable bureau should not increase the speaker’s published or quoted fee. Established speakers and representatives generally keep their fees consistent across legitimate booking channels. The practical difference is who helps you assess the fit, manage the conversations and prepare for the appearance.
Who helps decide whether the speaker fits?
A speaker can tell you about their program and experience. It can be harder for them to step back and judge whether that program is right for your particular audience. The Mollie Plotkin Group looks at your budget, audience and type of event, then puts together a range of credible options. That does not mean there is one perfect speaker for every audience, or that you and your leadership will always be drawn to the same person.
Frontline salespeople, for example, may connect with a speaker whose experience feels close to their own work. Senior executives may be looking for a different kind of authority. Those are useful starting points, not rules about either group. Even if you have a speaker in mind, it is worth talking through the fit before committing to a program.
Who handles the booking conversation?
If you book directly, you and the speaker or representative work out how to move the conversation forward. A speaker may handle that well. When the Mollie Plotkin Group manages the booking, the agency presents your event to the speaker or representative, follows up on the response and, when appropriate, asks for a soft hold while your organization decides.
When leadership is considering several names, the agency:
- Tracks each speaker's response, calendar and hold
- Offers suitable alternatives when someone declines
- Lets you know when availability changes
- Releases a hold when your team is no longer considering that speaker
Names may come in several batches. That means keeping up with separate conversations while your team works toward a decision.
A soft hold gives you time to consider the speaker; it is not a confirmed booking. Once you make a selection, the agency coordinates the agreements and the move into preparation. The required signed agreements secure the date, subject to their terms.
What support continues after the selection?
There is still work to do after a speaker says yes. The Mollie Plotkin Group coordinates scheduling, materials, speaker preparation, travel and production requirements. If a problem comes up during the event, you can call or text its logistics manager.
The bureau has relationships with both you and the speaker to uphold. It can negotiate and coordinate on your behalf, giving you another party accountable throughout the engagement. Booking directly can also work, particularly when the speaker or representative can manage the planning and follow-through. The useful question is who will handle each step after you choose the speaker.