Las Vegas Executive Speakers Bureau FAQ

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Our Services Cost You Nothing…we are paid by the speakers!

We provide our "turn-key" service to you at no charge because we are paid by the speakers. Why would speakers pay us rather than take your call directly? Speakers do it because it's good business - we handle all the details. It is very difficult for a busy speaker to return your calls when traveling between speaking engagements. It is even harder for them to promptly mail demo tapes and press kits. They know if they are a good speaker, we will recommend them to our other valued clients.

We Handle Emergencies

The thought of a speaker's plane being delayed, a traffic jam on the way to the convention center or, even worse, a speaker who cancels at the last minute, haunts meeting planners. Flights do get canceled (our speakers always have back-up flights), roads do get iced and a speaker could get sick. However, this is when we really shine. All of our resources, our knowledge and our contacts can be put together to find a replacement speaker ASAP.

Speakers Respect Speakers Bureaus

How often do you hire a speaker to come to your organization on a monthly basis? An annual basis? Very rarely. You may hire a speaker once every few years, but we may hire that same speaker many times a year. How does this affect you? If you hire a speaker directly, they will work hard to please you. Hire the same speaker through us, and they will work doubly hard to please both of us. Speakers know that if they are going to earn repeat business from a bureau, they must perform well at every outing. It makes a difference!

We Do All the dirty work

You can spend a great deal of time sifting through brochures and other materials in search of the perfect speaker. Then you have to call your top candidates to see who is available. Then once you select the speaker, you have to call the ten you didn't select and let them know why. And so on. At Las Vegas Executive Speakers Bureau, we first listen to your needs and objectives. We then provide you a proposal with bios, photos, topics and fee information for the best candidates that meet those needs. You only have to look through one packet to find just the right speaker. And then once you make your choice, we will check availability, take care of pre-event details… EVERYTHING!

Accuracy and selection allows you to relax

You may have sat through presentations where a root canal would have been preferred. There is nothing worse than the realization that you have hired the most dreadfully dull speaker on the circuit, and that the next thirty minutes will seem like the longest in your life. Some boring speakers have spent thousands of dollars on promotional materials to make them look good. How can you know for sure whom you are getting? We have previewed our speakers and we know their qualifications. If you schedule your speakers through Las Vegas Executive Speakers Bureau, you can rest assured they will earn rave reviews, and so will YOU.

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1. Q. What types of speakers are available to us?

A. There are thousands of speakers who speak on hundreds of topics. Speakers are available in different demographics, genders, ethnicities, proficiencies, prices etc.

2. Q. Can LVESB get me any speaker?

A. YES, absolutely! Besides the thousands of speakers in our database (one of the largest in the industry), our affiliations and worldwide contacts gives us access to all speakers, celebrities, business leaders, authors, media personalities, sports stars, and corporate entertainment.

3. Q. Do I pay more for a speaker when I book him/her through Las Vegas Executive Speakers Bureau?

A. Absolutely not, here’s why…

a. In most cases, we receive our entire fee from the speaker. On those rare occasions where a celebrity or entertainer does not pay the bureau’s fee, our markup is among the most modest in the industry.

b. Our consultants strive for your long-term, return business, and they will always try to find for you the best speaker at the best price. We do all we can to earn your repeat business and keep you as a valued client.

c. Since LVESB generates a significant volume of business for many speakers, this puts us in a more favorable position to negotiate for you. In many instances, we can actually save you money from the speaker's normal fee.

4. Q. Will I be able to preview a speaker before I book him/her?

A. In most cases, LVESB has videos (or DVDs) and promotional packages on our talent. For those meeting planners who prefer to see a live performance before committing, permission must be granted for a visitor to attend the event. LVESB is always happy to seek permission for a live preview.

5. Q. Will I be able to speak with a speaker before I book him/her?

A. YES! A telephone conversation with a speaker can sometimes give you helpful clues to their personality and their understanding of your organization, audience, and objectives. For that reason, LVESB encourages a telephone visit with a speaker before you make a final decision. Whenever possible, we’re delighted to arrange a telephone interview.

6. Q. Does the price quoted for a speaker include travel expenses?

A. Well....maybe. Normally, airfare, ground transportation, overnight accommodations, food, incidentals and technical equipment are additional expenses to the client. However, the industry is evolving to a "flat-fee" structure. This means that many speakers are including ALL additional expenses in the quoted fee. It depends on the speaker. However, you will always know which structure is being quoted by the speaker.

You will never be surprised or caught of guard by hidden charges when you work with LVESB. Your program coordinator will always explain all charges to you up front. All charges are negotiated, understood and approved before contracts are signed. Your LVESB consultant will guide you through this “financial minefield.” It is our job to make sure you, the client, fully understand what you are paying for and to make sure that we get you the best deal.

7. Q. Who makes the speaker’s travel arrangements?

A. Since a speaker’s travel itinerary is subject to frequent changes, most speakers prefer to make their own travel arrangements. This is the most convenient and expedient arrangement for all concerned. LVESB is fully responsible for supplying to you, prior to the engagement date, the speaker’s final (detailed) travel itinerary and all other pertinent information. Travel and incidental expenses (as agreed upon and delineated in the contract) are usually billed after the engagement.

8. Q. Will the speaker customize or tailor his/her presentation for my particular meeting and audience?

A. In most cases, YES. At LVESB, we encourage the speakers we hire to customize and tailor their presentations to your audience. Most speakers conduct interviews with key people in your organization to more effectively tailor their presentation.

9. Q. Do I get to speak with the speaker before he/she comes to our event?

A. Absolutely. We always insist that speakers get in touch, weeks in advance of the event, with the person in charge of the program. Most of the professional speakers we recommend are accustomed to personally speaking with the organizers of the event.

10. Q. Will the speaker join us at our dinner, cocktail party, or golf outing?

A. It all depends on scheduling and the speaker’s preference. Many speakers welcome an invitation to join the group for dinner and/or other social functions. Some speakers enjoy socializing with an audience before making their scheduled presentation, while others prefer that the audience meet them, for the first time, when they are formally introduced. Also, the toll of a hectic travel schedule may preclude a speaker from socializing before their presentation. Because a golf outing requires a commitment to a certain block of time, accepting to join the group for the outing will depend on the speaker’s schedule. Special arrangements can sometimes be made, for an additional fee, to have a “celebrity” join the group on their golf outing. We are always happy to extend your invitation to the speaker. These arrangements must be made well in advance of the event.

11. Q. Will we be able to purchase the speaker’s products, books and tapes, etc.?

A. Absolutely. Most speakers who have books, tapes and other specialty items are usually more than willing to sell their products. A speaker’s product can add tremendous value to a speaker’s appearance. It gives an audience member a useful reference source to the speaker’s message and a memento of the speaker.

There are several ways these products may be purchased:
(i) A speaker may display his/her products on a table for sale to the audience after his/her presentation at the back of the forum. This arrangement is strictly at the discretion of the client. Speakers must have prior approval to display and sell their product at the back of the room.
(ii) The most effective and elegant way is to pre-purchase the speaker’s product (book or tape) to be given as a gift, from the organization to each member of the audience. The product may be shipped to attendees in advance of the event, included as part of the conference materials or given to each member of the audience at the time of the presentation. Most speakers will be more than delighted to sign each book and/or product. LVESB will negotiate with the speaker to achieve a wholesale price for you.

12. Q. Why should I book my speakers through Las Vegas Executive Speakers Bureau?

A. For several reasons:

a. LVESB is free to recommend any and all speakers, including those that are exclusive with other bureaus and agencies. At LVESB, you are our client, not the speaker.

b. Our program consultants are among the most knowledgeable and experienced in the industry. Whether you need a Speaker, Trainer, Business Expert, Celebrity, Sports Star or Banquet Entertainer, we can help you.

c. LVESB is an “all-inclusive” speakers and entertainment bureau. Through our strategic alliances, we can satisfy all your convention planning needs. Our comprehensive network of vendors makes us a most convenient one-stop-shop resource. Meeting planners enjoy working with us because they avoid the hassle of having to locate several different vendors in an unfamiliar vicinity.

d. Our reputation is our most cherished credential and we guard it with passion. We have built our reputation on diligent research, attention to details, meticulous follow-through and unsurpassed client support. These are the kind of things that meeting planners have come to expect from the Las Vegas Executive Speakers Bureau.

13. Q. How can I be sure that I am getting the best possible speaker for my particular meeting and audience?

A. When you work with an LVESB representative, you are actually getting a whole team. Our consultants collaborate with each other to recommend the most appropriate speaker(s) available for your group. We want to keep you as a client. We will tell you if someone is not right for you. That's our job. That's your assurance.

14. Q. What is a “HOLD?”

A. A speaker will put a “hold” (reserve) on your date prior to finalizing the engagement LVESB rarely recommends a speaker to you without first checking to make sure the speaker will be available to accept the engagement. In the event the speaker, receives a firm offer for the same date, you, as the first hold, will have 24 hours to either book the speaker or release the hold.

15. Q. What is a “FIRM OFFER?”

A. Some celebrities and high profile speakers require a “firm offer.” This is a commitment, on the part of the buyer, to book a specific speaker for a specific date at the specified fee. Some celebrities and high profile speakers will not consider an engagement without a firm offer. This does not guarantee that the speaker will accept the offer, only that he/she will consider it. If, however, the speaker accepts the buyer’s offer, it is legally binding. Firm offers are usually made in writing and can either be mailed or faxed. LVESB has a special “firm offer form” that we e-mail to you when and if it is required.

16. Q. What happens when a speaker is unable to attend my event due to an accident, illness or travel difficulties?

A. Although this rarely happens, LVESB is here to help you twenty-four hours, seven days a week. In the event of a last minute emergency, we immediately spring into action to find you a comparable replacement. Our knowledgeable Program Coordinators always have access to LVESB’s database and, in most instances, can secure another excellent professional speaker to fill the void. Of course, fees will be adjusted.

In the event the speaker fails to make it your event in time for his/her scheduled engagement and you do not wish to accept a replacement, your full deposit will be immediately refunded.

17. Q. How do we pay for speakers?

A. The most common arrangement is that 50% of the fee along with the signed contract is sent to LVESB. The balance is due prior to the presentation. Expenses for travel and other incidentals will be billed after the event.