How to Book a Speaker for Your Event

It starts with the right partner.

When you choose to work with The Harry Walker Agency, we bring decades of experience to the table. As your trusted partner, we leverage our exclusive relationships with the world’s best speakers – from world leaders to Hollywood celebrities, from sports icons to Nobel Prize winners – to make your next event an unforgettable experience for your audience.

Whether you’re booking a speaker for the first time or looking to build a conference that will transform your industry, we have your back. From the outset, our team of experts will handle the logistics, help you select and prepare the speaker for your unique event, and protect your budget, every step of the way.

What people say about working with us.

The Harry Walker agency is a family company – and when you program an event with us, you become a part of our family, too. We hold our collaborators in high esteem and are proud of the relationships we’ve built.

What our speakers say about working with us >>

What event planners and hosts say about working with us >>

 

Booking a speaker is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3!

There are so many things to think about, and we’ve got you covered. There is no question too small, and we love to say: “Questions are free!” Reach out to The Harry Walker Agency and let us help you make your event a success.

 

1.

Tell us about your event

The first step in booking a speaker is telling us more about your event – who is your audience? What is the theme? Would you like the speaker to appear in person or virtually? What are the goals for your event, and what is your budget?

It may seem like a million questions, but there is no pressure to have all the answers when we get started. As we learn the basics, we can begin to partner with you on finding a speaker who will make a meaningful and memorable impact.

Start filling out our event questionnaire >>
2.

Collaborate with us to select your speaker

When we partner with you to find the perfect speaker for your event, we want to hear your dream vision. You can explore our roster of stellar speakers, searching by the topics that would engage your audience or the speaker’s experience and expertise. As you browse, use our My Speaker List tool to save your ideas – this list can be shared with your team and with us as we get to work.  

If you prefer to collaborate, then you can reach out anytime! Our speaker specialists are more experienced than any team in the industry with an average of 17+ years in the business each. Our recommendations are informed and honest, and we will work together to build the agenda that captures your organization’s goals. 

Browse our incredible roster of speakers >>

 

3.

Design your program and send a firm invitation

Whether you’d like to schedule an interactive workshop, a book signing, a meet and greet, or another memorable event with your speaker, our experienced team can help you build an agenda that meets all your organization’s needs. Our speakers can tailor their remarks and presentations, and we will collaborate with you to communicate the themes and goals for your event clearly.

When you’ve chosen a speaker that is a fit for your audience, event, and budget, our team will encourage you to send them a firm invitation – a binding commitment on your part to enter a contract with the speaker if they accept. Once we get an enthusiastic “Yes!” to your firm invitation, we take care of the contract to secure the date on the speaker’s calendar and begin working on the logistics. It's official!

Let's get started! >>

 

 

What happens next?

Now that your speaker has been secured, our Speaker Relations team will work closely with you and the speaker to ensure a smooth and successful event. Our logistics team is the best in the business – they have worked on White House campaigns, in the scheduling offices for Senators, and as advance staff for past and current world political and business leaders. At each step, your designated speaker relations account manager with coordinate publicity materials, aid in arranging security and travel, work to guarantee the itinerary is perfect and well communicated.

Once your event takes place, we will reach out with congratulations!

We will be eager to hear how everything went. Our speakers love your feedback, and so do we. We will ask if you have any photos or video of the event you’d like to share and will handle all of the paperwork and accounting quickly and transparently.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my speaker isn’t available / doesn’t accept my offer?

Sometimes we can get a quick 'yes' from the speaker and sometimes the 'yes' takes some time depending on the complexity of the speaker's calendar. If it just doesn't work for that speaker, don't worry, we have an extensive roster of speakers and we'll keep working together until you get the 'yes' you need.

What can I expect in terms of fees?

There will be no surprises when it comes to fee. Most contract terms require a 50% deposit, with the remainder due one month before the date of your event. Travel expenses are handled separately and will be communicated to you in detail – our industry-leading team will work with you to make sure you understand these expenses. Your contract amount includes the complete HWA fee for all services rendered, and we’ll answer all your questions as they arise.

Will the speaker customize their speech for my event?

Our speakers are incredible at what they do, and many tailor their program to suit your event and audience. If you’re interested in working with a speaker to build a unique program, please let us know – we schedule calls for you and the speaker’s team to connect to communicate your goals, event theme, and organization’s mission. If you’re interested in an interactive presentation or workshop for your event, we also work with speakers who are renowned for their workshop presentations.

Why do I need to send a ‘firm’ invitation?

We believe strongly in the power of a firm invitation. While you are able to reach out with an inquiry and place a ‘hold’ on a date in a speaker’s calendar, this does not ensure they are able to save your date. Our speakers know that when we bring them a firm invitation, we have thought through all the details. We encourage firm offers so we can reach an enthusiastic ‘yes!’, and you can focus on the rest of your event planning details.

If you still have questions, or are ready to get started, please reach out to our team today!

Let's get started!

Tell us about you and the event you're envisioning. One of our speaker specialists will be in touch to answer all of your questions. It's ok if you don't have all the answers just yet; we'll figure it out together!




We look forward to working with you!