Rules of Engagement for Speakers

Rules of Engagement by Richard John

Whenever we organise events - and it’s someone else doing the speaking - we use the following as an unofficial contract between ourselves and our presenters. It’s not designed to teach professionals to “suck eggs”; rather to make it clear what’s expected of them. After all, while this may be an everyday task for us, for our speakers it may be unfamiliar territory.


1. Public Speaking is an excellent opportunity to “sell” your company and yourself. However, delegates do not like being unsubtly “sold to”. So, give them valuable information, hints, tips and case studies, and leave the “selling” to the post-show chat, or the follow-up ‘phone call. We are happy to provide all speakers with a list of their delegates after the event.

2. Please remember that delegates pay to attend the seminars – albeit a small sum – and expect something in return. Please ensure you have copies of the presentation to distribute (we will be happy to arrange this). Be generous with information, and do not worry about “giving too much away” – if you impress your delegates, they will be back to you!

3. On the topic of notes, we would like to make a full set of seminar materials available at and after the workshop from all the speakers. We will be asking you to provide a master set of notes to us by the end of (date). When applying to speak, please ensure you can meet these guidelines.

4. Please give careful note to the time available. You will be allocated 90 minutes; running your session for 80 minutes is acceptable, as is running it for 100 minutes. Running outside this time frame either “short changes” your audience or causes havoc for the next session.

5. Most of you are already first rate speakers; however, if you need help in putting together any part of your programme, please feel free to ask. We promote your seminars as being “educational, entertaining and informative”; please bear that in mind when writing your material.

6. We appreciate that illness, or some other event can sometimes result in you not being able to deliver the seminar. However, under these circumstances we would expect you to find a replacement speaker. Please be prepared, and perhaps have someone forewarned – just in case.

7. We will endeavour to send you a list of those people who pre-book. However, if the numbers are smaller than you anticipated, please don’t think about cancelling – after all, these people have made a commitment (and a payment) to come and see you. And it only takes one person to provide that big contract.

8. Similarly, you may find that some of the delegates who book on your workshop are people you regard as competitors. Again, don’t think about cancelling – youshould be very flattered that they want to hear from you!

9. Please be accurate in describing your presentation, and remember that we may have to edit your text for the promotional material. Always bear in mind that the reader will be thinking WIIFM – that’s “What’s In It For Me”.

10. Do feel free to bring along fellow speakers – all we ask is that you let us know they are coming, so that they can be welcomed appropriately.

11. Finally, we appreciate your involvement, and all feedback on any aspect of the show is welcomed by the organisers. After all, how else will we get even better?

Richard is an event consultant, coach, trainer, speaker and presenter. Leading exhibition organisers use RJA to deliver powerful, entertaining and effective exhibitor training workshops. More information on: RJA (GB) Ltd

All rights reserved (C) 2009 Richard John. Please do not use without acknowledgement.