{"id":2204,"date":"2019-08-15T15:40:30","date_gmt":"2019-08-15T15:40:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/3.232.143.211\/?p=2204"},"modified":"2019-09-27T12:47:09","modified_gmt":"2019-09-27T12:47:09","slug":"4-meeting-planner-hacks-customizing-your-events-keynote","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.getswitchedon.com\/index.php\/2019\/08\/15\/4-meeting-planner-hacks-customizing-your-events-keynote\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Meeting Planner Hacks Customizing Your Event\u2019s Keynote"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a meeting planner<\/a>, you can tell when someone is giving a speech they\u2019ve given a hundred times. It\u2019s never been changed \u2013 not personalized for a specific audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember about 14 years ago I was speaking at a convention for Culligan. They had General Norman Schwarzkopf do the opening speech and I was the closing speaker. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was there sitting with Mike, the CEO. I remembered several years before we had the General speak at a Mastery Event with Tony. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He delivered the exact same speech, word-for-word, I had heard when I was an audience member years before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike asked me what I thought after he was done. Diplomatically, I said, \u201cHe certainly added a lot of gravitas to the event. but if I did what he did, I would not have a business.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike asked what I meant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I said, \u201cDuring his talk he did not even mention Culligan once!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mike replied, \u201cI had breakfast with General Schwarzkopf and I asked him if he wanted to know more about the company and he said no.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, a reputable name like General Schwarzkopf may be inspiring, but without customizing the opening and closing keynotes to your event, that\u2019s all it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this has happened to you  before, it\u2019s time to regroup and come up with some strategies to make sure this doesn\u2019t happen EVER again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are four ways to customize your event and avoid a canned-speech-catastrophe, audience boredom, and failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Have a clear theme and an action-oriented tagline.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s no better way to tank your event than to not give it a specific direction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your internal team should be working together \u2013 with you and each other \u2013 before the event to choose a theme and action-oriented tagline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also crucial that they work closely with the speaker to make sure everyone has the same vision and goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you ask the different players what their desired outcome is, they\u2019re more likely to buy in and create a seamless experience for the attendees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a good idea to encourage your opening and closing speaker (as well as workshop presenters) to keep the presentation to three main points. This ensures that your chosen conference theme<\/a> doesn\u2019t get lost in a bunch of unnecessary, off-topic information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Less IS more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Communicate early.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Communication is one of the vital components for any meeting planner to put on a successful event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the conversations should begin well in advance of the actual occasion.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let the speakers know that they should communicate their plan at least three weeks out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This prevents them from creating a presentation on the fly<\/a>\u2013 like, literally on the airplane en route to the event! This is often the standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get them the necessary information they need to interview key individuals before the event takes place \u2013 and with plenty of time to get a hold of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure you also discuss the specifics of how he or she will handle customer service, sales, distribution, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Before you hire a speaker, ask about process.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a meeting planner, you understand that a keynote speaker\u2019s presentation at the opening and closing of the event will be different than a speaker you bring in to do a training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First and foremost, make sure you choose a speaker who can bring the right kind of energy for your event. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s also important that you find out how they\u2019ll customize and personalize their presentation for your specific audience and organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s an example of the process a speaker may follow to prep for a fresh, customized, non-canned speech:<\/p>\n\n\n\n