Speakers Bureaus 101

In this episode, Stephen, Tim, Richard, and Kelly discuss: 

• How to define a speakers bureau. 
• Various types of speakers bureau models, how they work, and why they are advantageous for both planners and speakers. 
• Advantages for working with a bureau who is a member of IASB. 
• How the speaker industry has changed over the last 10 years, and where it is going in the next 10 years. 

  

Key Takeaways: 

• Speakers bureaus work a lot like sports agencies, managing the logics and details for you. 
• Have a feel for the group for whom you are looking for a speaker – that needs to be formulated up front. 
• The internet is not the best place to start your search for a speaker – working with an IASB bureau brings credibility and ease to booking your speaker. 
• As a speaker, get the experience – do your 10,000 – that’s how you’re going to get noticed. 

  

"For a meeting planner, I would advise reaching out to a bureau. Not only to save your time, but also, this is one small part of what you do. The goal is to make it as easy and seamless as possible, because when a meeting planner puts up a speaker for an event, it’s their reputation on the line within their own company. And our job is to make them look like the hero." —  Kelly Eger 

  

Connect with Stephen Kirkpatrick & Richard Schelp at Executive Speakers Bureau: 

Twitter: @ExecSpeakers 
Facebook: Executive Speakers Bureau 
Website: ExecutiveSpeakers.com 
YouTube: Executive Speakers Bureau: Book Keynote Speakers 
LinkedIn: Executive Speakers Bureau 

  

Connect with Kelly Eger at The Harry Walker Agency: 

Twitter: @hwaspeakers 
Facebook: The Harry Walker Agency 
Website: HarryWalker.com 
YouTube: HWASpeakersBureau 
LinkedIn: The Harry Walker Agency 

  

Connect with Tim Mathy at SpeakInc.: 

Twitter: @speakinc 
Facebook: Speak Inc. 
Website: SpeakInc.com  
YouTube: speakinc 
LinkedIn: SpeakInc 

  

Connect with IASB: 

Twitter: @IASBWEB 
Facebook: International Association of Speakers Bureaus 
Website: IASBWeb.org 
LinkedIn: International Association of Speakers Bureaus 

 

Guest Bios:

Stephen Kirkpatrick, Executive Speakers Bureau

Stephen Kirkpatrick joined Executive Speakers Bureau in 2015. He serves in a dual role as an Account Executive and as head of  their Speaker Management Division. Before joining the ESB team, Stephen worked as the Senior Director of Development at Christian Brothers University where he also worked with the baseball team. 

Prior to his time at CBU, Stephen worked with an entertainment consulting firm in Los Angeles, California where he worked with clients like: Debbie Allen, Kathy Ireland, Ray Romano, and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Stephen was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and graduated from Ole Miss, where he played college baseball, with a major in English and a minor in Spanish. He now lives in Olive Branch, Mississippi, with his wife, two children and his pets---an ornery cat and a hyper bulldog . He enjoys spending his time bettering his community through involvement with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, his college fraternity and his church.

 

Richard Schelp, Executive Speakers Bureau

Richard Schelp is the President and Co-Owner of Executive Speakers Bureau. Richard has been with Executive Speakers Bureau for 15 years, and during that period of time he has helped lead the organization to an unprecedented level of growth. Known as a true expert in the industry, speakers and organizations from all over the world contact Richard for his insight on future trends and directions. In addition, Richard handles some of the bureau's largest and most significant accounts, including all of the state hospital associations, State Farm Insurance, American Rental Association, Chase Bank, Boston Scientific Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Allscripts, and American Heart Association.

Prior to joining Executive Speakers Bureau, Richard was in sales and sales management with a few top technology companies including IBM and AT&T. During his tenure with those organizations Richard received a number of awards for his sales performance. Richard has lived in the state of Tennessee for most of his life, and has a BS in Business from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from the University of Memphis. He is married to his lovely wife Angela and has four wonderful children. When Richard is not working, he enjoys sports, attends his children’s sporting events and shows, and participates in international missions with his church.

 

Kelly Eger, The Harry Walker Agency

Kelly serves as HWA's Chief Operating Officer. She began her career at the Agency two decades ago and in that time has worked in multiple departments, partnering closely with speakers and hosting organizations. Kelly has represented HWA as a board member and past president of the International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB). 

Kelly graduated from New York University, majoring in Public Relations and Marketing with a minor in Political Science. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband Eric and their son, Alex, and daughter, Sloane.

 

Tim Mathy, SpeakInc

Tim has been with SpeakInc since 1996 and was made Partner in 1999. He is actively involved with Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), Meetings Professionals International (MPI), Worldwide Exhibition for Incentive Travel, Meetings and Events (IMEX), and serves as the SpeakInc. liaison to the National Speakers Association (NSA). 

Tim is a graduate of the University of San Diego, but also studied abroad in Oxford, England. He and his wife Jennifer stay busy chasing around their three children, Kyle, Daniel and Sarah. Tim can often be seen on the weekends coaching his kids in one of their many sporting activities. In his spare time he enjoys playing sports, a good game of hold-em and diving into the latest bestseller. He currently operates our Denver office.

 

 

Show notes by Podcastologist: Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie 

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.