Written by: Vickie Sullivan | October 08, 2024
The Future of Event Speaking: Adapt or Get Left Behind
While most of us were relaxing this summer, event professionals were venting about their sacred cows. Educational program formats, session lengths, cocktail party “networking,” pricing, and more are all under fire, according to a recent Convene article. The consensus: Burn it all down.
Unfortunately, keynote speakers and their presentation formats were big targets. Which begs a bigger question: How should you respond when event coordinators see you as part of the past that must be discarded?
Answer: By shaking things up.
How Event Speakers Can Remain Relevant and in Demand
If you want to keep getting speaking gigs, you must change. Saying, “This is how I’ve always done it,” is not an option. Fortunately, there are some easy things you can do to escape the “talking head” category. Here are two of them:
• Brand your collaboration. On your speaker brochure, skip the list of presentation topics and highlight how you create buzzy moments. By focusing on the “I’m willing to go beyond the standard formats” message, you can position your presentations as “not your ordinary keynote.”
• Set the stage in sales conversations. When talking to event organizers, change the lead. Instead of asking about outcomes, ask about experiences they want to create. What are attendees’ impossible requests? Let organizers know you will be as innovative as they need you to be—that you care less about seating and format and more about creating something that keeps attendees returning for more.
Yes, some organizers will innovate more than others. The industry faces huge hurdles, though, and speakers need to be seen as partners, not part of the problem. Start now by showing your willingness to make big changes. Get ahead of this trend.
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