Motivational speakers can be a powerful force for good in the lives of young people. They can inspire them to reach their full potential, overcome challenges, and make a difference in the world. But with so many motivational speakers out there, how do you find the best one for your youth group or school?
Here are a few tips:
- Start by defining your goals. What do you hope to achieve by bringing in a speaker? Are you looking to inspire students to pursue their dreams? Teach them how to overcome challenges? Help them develop leadership skills? Once you know your goals, you can start narrowing your search for speakers who can help you achieve them.
- Consider the age and interests of your audience. Not all motivational speakers are created equal. Some are better suited for younger audiences, while others are better for older students. It’s important to find a speaker who can connect with your students on a personal level. For example, students might relate more to a speaker who comes from a similar background. On the other hand, a speaker with a unique life experience or completely different background might help the audience remember the lessons better because it was something new, refreshing, and interesting.
- Do your research. Read online reviews, watch videos of past speeches, and talk to people who have seen the speaker in person. This will give you a good sense of their style and delivery. You can even contact the speaker directly to see what they are like to work with.
- Get quotes from multiple speakers. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, get quotes from each speaker. This will help you compare their rates and availability.
- Trust your gut. Ultimately, the best way to find the right motivational speaker for your youth group or school is to go with your gut. If you feel a connection with a particular speaker, then that’s the one you should book.
Here are some additional tips for finding a motivational speaker for youth:
- Look for speakers who have a proven track record of success. They should have experience speaking to young people and a reputation for delivering inspiring and engaging presentations.
- Make sure the speaker’s message is relevant and applicable to your audience. Going back to the first principle of “defining your goal,” the speaker should be able to connect with your students and offer them practical advice that they can apply to their own lives. The “motivational” part of a motivational speaker is to energize the audience to take action on their core message to make real change in their lives. If the motivation is just pom-poms and fluff, there likely won’t be lasting benefits.
- Consider the cost. Motivational speakers can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. It’s important to factor in the cost of the speaker’s fee, travel expenses, and any other associated costs when making your decision.
Should I use a speaker agency/bureau or contact a speaker directly?
Speaker agencies and bureaus have relationships with a wide collection of pre-vetted speakers, which can make it very simple to contact the agency, provide your desired topic and price range, and get matched with one or multiple speakers who can help you. The agency/bureau will help coordinate pricing, travel, contracts, and more.
On the other hand, you can find a speaker you like and reach out to them directly through their website. Even many Hall of Fame speakers will have their own personal contact information available on their website, simply because they prefer to have direct, transparent communication with the client. For example, the phone number at the top of this page is my personal cell, which you can just text or call.
The vast majority of successful speakers do most of their own legwork, which means they are well versed in handling travel arrangements and contracts, and can often work through the process faster than if you used an agency or bureau, which introduces a middleman and additional paperwork. If you’re comfortable being up front about what you’re looking for and what budget you have, you can skip a lot of the cumbersome hoops by just talking directly to the speaker. Personally, I prefer to work with a client directly. It’s easier to make special accommodations or lower my fee for unique circumstances when I can just get to know the client myself.
I hope this blog post has helped you learn how to find the best motivational speaker for your youth audience. I recognize that as a speaker, these are my own personal feelings, and are, of course, somewhat biased. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask me. You now have my personal cell phone number, and even if I’m not the right fit for you, I’d be happy to introduce you to other credible speakers in the industry.
