What No One Tells You About Hiring a Speaker (But Should)

Hiring a keynote speaker seems easy, right? You check the sizzle reel, look at the name, read the bio—and boom, you’re done.

Wrong.

Behind every great event is a speaker who didn’t just deliver a talk—they elevated the whole experience. And behind every disappointing keynote? A planner who got sold the show but missed the substance.

Here are 10 hard-earned insights that most people won't tell you—but every event planner needs to know.

1. Off-Stage Presence Matters Just as Much as On-Stage Performance

A speaker can crush it on stage but kill the energy in the green room. Cocky, high-maintenance speakers make your team’s life harder. Choose someone who brings humility, ease, and partnership—not just volume and stories.

2. Communication is the First Test

You’re not just hiring a message—you’re hiring a relationship. How a speaker communicates with you before the event tells you a lot about how they’ll engage with your audience. If they ghost you in prep, they’ll ghost your goals on stage.

3. Customization is Non-Negotiable

You’re not buying a canned speech. You’re buying transformation. A great speaker will ask about your objectives, culture, and audience—and shape their talk accordingly. If they can’t customize, they’re not committed.

4. Relevant Experience > General Charisma

Charisma is great, but context is everything. Has this speaker worked with your kind of audience before? Can they adjust their pace, tone, and examples to meet your people where they are?

5. Speakers With Books Bring Post-Talk Energy

There’s magic in the post-keynote book line. Books extend the impact, create conversation, and keep the ideas alive long after the mic drops. A signing table isn’t a vanity move—it’s a value multiplier.

6. Use Both Bureaus and Personal Referrals Strategically

You can go direct to speakers—and many do. But a long-term relationship with a trusted bureau can save you time, reduce risk, and uncover voices you wouldn’t have found otherwise. Referrals + trusted partners = a winning combo.

7. Fame Doesn’t Equal Impact

A big name might get butts in seats—but that’s only part of the job. You want someone who can move the room, not just impress them. Book a speaker who knows how to tell a story, create a moment, and drive change.

8. They Should Elevate Your Whole Event, Not Just Their Session

A great speaker boosts buzz, increases social sharing, and adds value outside their slot. Ask how they’ll support your theme, promote the event, or even engage with VIPs. You’re hiring a catalyst—not just a performer.

9. Beware of Over-Polished, Under-Authentic Speakers

You’ve seen the type: same old jokes, recycled anecdotes, vague inspiration. You don’t want someone who’s “on script”—you want someone who’s present, real, and connected to the moment and the audience.

10. Energy Transfer Is Everything

This is what most people miss: you’re not booking content—you’re booking energy. Does the speaker bring the right vibe for your event? Do they elevate the room? Inspire new thinking? Make people feel seen? That’s the stuff they’ll remember.

Final Word:

Hiring a speaker is part art, part science, part gut-check. But when you get it right? The ripple effect lasts far beyond the stage.

Don't just hire a speaker. Hire a moment-maker. A culture-shifter. A catalyst.

That’s how you turn a keynote into a movement.

–––––

Adam Kreek is on a mission to positively impact organizational cultures and leaders who make things happen.

Kreek is an Executive Business Coach who lives in Victoria, BC, near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Seattle, Washington, USA, in the Pacific Northwest. He works with clients globally, often travelling to California in the San Francisco Bay Area, Atlanta, Georgia, Toronto, Ontario and Montreal, Quebec. He is an Olympic Gold Medalist, a storied adventurer and a father.

He authored the bestselling business book, The Responsibility Ethic: 12 Strategies Exceptional People Use to Do the Work and Make Success Happen. 

Discover our thoughts on Values here.

Want to increase your leadership achievement? Learn more about Kreek’s coaching here.

Want to book a keynote that leaves a lasting impact? Learn more about Kreek’s live event service here.

Other popular blog posts:

Discover the ViDA Values Framework, a structured approach to defining and living your core values. Read this

After 18 years and thousands of speeches, here’s what Kreek has learned about motivating any audience—without the fluff. Check it out

Most people set goals the wrong way—here’s how CLEAR goals are better than SMART goals, and how they can help you achieve more, with less frustration. Learn more