Ask Before You Book

Questions to Consider Before Your Next Retreat or Conference

Planning a retreat or event where you‘d like to feature an outside speaker? Based on our experience speaking before law firm audiences, we’ve devised a checklist of helpful questions to ask and ideas to consider:

What is the objective of your meeting? 

How will you measure the success of your meeting and your speaker? 

Who will be in attendance? Partners, associates, staff, spouses? 

What is the venue and have you worked with them before?  

What is the size of the audience and what is the seating plan?

What are the sound system plans?

What topics interest you? Skill-building training session? A motivational talk? Informational session? Some combination?

Does the audience have any pre-dispositions toward certain topics?

Is there anything specific or unique to the firm the speaker should know? Any issues or landmines to avoid?

How much time is available for the session?

What types of speakers worked well in the past? What types did not work well?

What is your overall budget for this meeting? What is the budget for speakers?

What are your dates and planning deadlines?

How do you want your audience to think or feel after hearing the speaker?

What do you want the intended audience to do after hearing the speaker?

What actions do you want audience members to take?

Contact Craig Brown about speaking at your firm or event.