Comments on: The American Idol Strategy Of Picking Conference Speakers http://jeffhurtblog.com/2010/03/05/the-american-idol-strategy-of-picking-conference-speakers/ Helping improve your annual meetings, conferences & education Fri, 18 May 2012 21:32:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Howard http://jeffhurtblog.com/2010/03/05/the-american-idol-strategy-of-picking-conference-speakers/comment-page-1/#comment-6367 Howard Mon, 11 Oct 2010 03:33:01 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=1609#comment-6367 The American Idol strategy is made up of good guy, bad guy in order to have a strong audience response. This in my mind is what makes this such a popular show, aside from the talent and the occasional celebrity guests. I believe that a good facilitator in the sense of conferencing, must be a diplomat and be capable of engaging the audience to recognize themselves what needs to be addressed and how the meeting should progress. The American Idol strategy is made up of good guy, bad guy in order to have a strong audience response. This in my mind is what makes this such a popular show, aside from the talent and the occasional celebrity guests. I believe that a good facilitator in the sense of conferencing, must be a diplomat and be capable of engaging the audience to recognize themselves what needs to be addressed and how the meeting should progress.

]]> By: Jakob Bertel http://jeffhurtblog.com/2010/03/05/the-american-idol-strategy-of-picking-conference-speakers/comment-page-1/#comment-5939 Jakob Bertel Mon, 23 Aug 2010 18:54:02 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=1609#comment-5939 Somehow, that's innovation - casted keynote speakers! Too bad they're missing out on their travel opportunities with their own friends: http://abc4trip.eu/the-art-of-conference-reunion-keynotes-and-keynote-speakers/ - JK Bertel Somehow, that’s innovation – casted keynote speakers!

Too bad they’re missing out on their travel opportunities with their own friends:

http://abc4trip.eu/the-art-of-conference-reunion-keynotes-and-keynote-speakers/

- JK Bertel

]]> By: associationjam.org http://jeffhurtblog.com/2010/03/05/the-american-idol-strategy-of-picking-conference-speakers/comment-page-1/#comment-3791 associationjam.org Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:49:59 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=1609#comment-3791 <strong>Midcourse Corrections » The American Idol Strategy Of Picking Conference Speakers...</strong> "On American Idol, it's all about viewers picking up the phone or texting their vote for a finalist. For your conference, it's about your attendees voting by picking up the evaluation and letting you know that they feel as if they got their money’s ... Midcourse Corrections » The American Idol Strategy Of Picking Conference Speakers…

“On American Idol, it’s all about viewers picking up the phone or texting their vote for a finalist. For your conference, it’s about your attendees voting by picking up the evaluation and letting you know that they feel as if they got their money’s …

]]> By: Amada Wiesen http://jeffhurtblog.com/2010/03/05/the-american-idol-strategy-of-picking-conference-speakers/comment-page-1/#comment-3619 Amada Wiesen Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:23:39 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=1609#comment-3619 I will confess that American Idol is getting a little boring but I still like it because it is an "easy" watch for my family. I will confess that American Idol is getting a little boring but I still like it because it is an “easy” watch for my family.

]]> By: Dave Lutz http://jeffhurtblog.com/2010/03/05/the-american-idol-strategy-of-picking-conference-speakers/comment-page-1/#comment-3563 Dave Lutz Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:04:28 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=1609#comment-3563 When searching for great presenters, I think you can adopt some of the same tactics that you might use for recruiting star employees. These days when one of my clients is looking for a superstar sales or management person, I'll toss it out to my network on LinkedIn, Twitter and maybe even Facebook. The more detail I can give about what the ideal candidate is. the better. If I say that my client is looking for a good sales person in Chicago and they pay great money, I'm going to get a flood of unqualified crap. If I say that they are looking for someone with exceptional relationships with C-Level execs w/ Medical Associations in Chicago, plus the candidate must have experience selling high ticket stuff, we narrow the field. So don't just look for a speaker on social media. Keep drilling into what it is about social media that can be applied to the business of your key attendee segments to make them win more. One association exec in Atlanta told me that he sources some of his speakers using LinkedIn search tools. He was pleased with the results. It doesn't hurt to select a speaker with a strong network! When searching for great presenters, I think you can adopt some of the same tactics that you might use for recruiting star employees. These days when one of my clients is looking for a superstar sales or management person, I’ll toss it out to my network on LinkedIn, Twitter and maybe even Facebook. The more detail I can give about what the ideal candidate is. the better. If I say that my client is looking for a good sales person in Chicago and they pay great money, I’m going to get a flood of unqualified crap. If I say that they are looking for someone with exceptional relationships with C-Level execs w/ Medical Associations in Chicago, plus the candidate must have experience selling high ticket stuff, we narrow the field.

So don’t just look for a speaker on social media. Keep drilling into what it is about social media that can be applied to the business of your key attendee segments to make them win more. One association exec in Atlanta told me that he sources some of his speakers using LinkedIn search tools. He was pleased with the results. It doesn’t hurt to select a speaker with a strong network!

]]> By: Justin Locke http://jeffhurtblog.com/2010/03/05/the-american-idol-strategy-of-picking-conference-speakers/comment-page-1/#comment-3547 Justin Locke Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:07:40 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=1609#comment-3547 thanks jeff, i learn more about this biz from you than anyone. --jl thanks jeff, i learn more about this biz from you than anyone. –jl

]]> By: Jeff Hurt http://jeffhurtblog.com/2010/03/05/the-american-idol-strategy-of-picking-conference-speakers/comment-page-1/#comment-3542 Jeff Hurt Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:56:26 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=1609#comment-3542 @Justin I have a confession to make. I was [and am at heart] that average overworked underpaid association staffer that was tasked with finding speakers for meetings and events. In one of my previous jobs, my salary and raises were directly related to the overall average score of all the speakers I used. How's that for putting the pressure of their performance on an employee. Finding speakers is not that hard, really. First, to turn your network - ask other association education and meeting professionals who was successful for them. Second, look at other association education programs. Who are they using? Are their any topics of relevancy for your group? Third, Google the topic along with the word speaker. You'll find lots of speakers with their own blogs and websites. Typically, you can find a short marketing video or clips on their website and get an idea if they have good delivery skills. And if they don't have a website or blog...we'll that would cause me to think twice about hiring them. Fourth, several speaker bureaus still offer speaker showcases today where you watch 20-30 speakers in a eight hour day to see for yourself. Last and not least, and the obvious, ask a speaker's bureau. @Justin
I have a confession to make. I was [and am at heart] that average overworked underpaid association staffer that was tasked with finding speakers for meetings and events. In one of my previous jobs, my salary and raises were directly related to the overall average score of all the speakers I used. How’s that for putting the pressure of their performance on an employee.

Finding speakers is not that hard, really.
First, to turn your network – ask other association education and meeting professionals who was successful for them.

Second, look at other association education programs. Who are they using? Are their any topics of relevancy for your group?

Third, Google the topic along with the word speaker. You’ll find lots of speakers with their own blogs and websites. Typically, you can find a short marketing video or clips on their website and get an idea if they have good delivery skills. And if they don’t have a website or blog…we’ll that would cause me to think twice about hiring them.

Fourth, several speaker bureaus still offer speaker showcases today where you watch 20-30 speakers in a eight hour day to see for yourself.

Last and not least, and the obvious, ask a speaker’s bureau.

]]> By: Justin Locke http://jeffhurtblog.com/2010/03/05/the-american-idol-strategy-of-picking-conference-speakers/comment-page-1/#comment-3537 Justin Locke Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:33:04 +0000 http://jeffhurtblog.com/?p=1609#comment-3537 so jeff, this is fab... but... where do you suggest we send the average overworked underpaid assn staffer to find such talent? apparently the current standard channels are not doing it. so jeff, this is fab… but… where do you suggest we send the average overworked underpaid assn staffer to find such talent? apparently the current standard channels are not doing it.

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