How to Hire a Motivational Speaker for a Graduation Speech

Many schools hire a motivational speaker to deliver a challenging and uplifting graduation speech. A good motivational speaker can enhance the entire graduation ceremony, but a bad speaker can make everyone long for the monotonous roll call of graduates. Read on to learn how to hire a motivational speaker for a graduation speech.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Transportation
• Accommodations
• Contract
• List of references

1. Look over the budget for the last couple of motivational speakers the school used at graduation ceremonies. There is no need to consider a $100,000 motivational speaker when the school has never paid more than $20,000 for a motivational speaker.

2. Look for a successful alumnus who has experience in speaking to large crowds of people. Oftentimes, an alumnus will be honored to speak at his alma mater and may not charge the same fees a professional motivational speaker charges. You should still provide the alumnus with an honorarium.

3. Contact a speakers bureau, such as the American Speakers Bureau, to help you find a motivational speaker (see Resources below). Speaker bureaus have a group of public speakers they book for events throughout the year. You can find famous doctors, athletes, actors and other people with inspirational stories to tell.

4. Review the credentials of the motivational speakers who fit in your budget and pique your interest. While you don't have to select the speaker with the best credentials, the speaker should have a proven track record of accomplishment.

5. Check the references provided by the speaker or the speaker's agent. Don't just read the names of people the speaker has worked with in the past. Call the references to discuss how well the speaker met their expectations.

6. Choose the speaker who you are confident will deliver a great motivational graduation speech to your students.

7. Hire the motivational speaker by signing the contract and paying any initial fees required by the speaker or speakers bureau.

8. Set up the hotel arrangements for the speaker. If you have to fly the speaker to your location, book the tickets at least a month in advance.

9. Arrange the transportation for the speaker a month before his arrival. You may want to provide a rental car for the speaker or a car and driver. The contract may specify the type of local transportation the speaker wants.

10. Pay the remaining portion of the fee to the speaker promptly after the graduation ceremony.

Tips & Warnings

• Always read through the entire contract (no matter how long it is) of the motivational speaker before you sign it. The contract will spell out your duties on the speaker's behalf and what you can expect from the speaker.
• If the alumnus does not have experience delivering speeches to large crowds, you may not want to hire him for the graduation speech.

Resources

• List of Motivational Speakers on the American Speakers Bureau