Frequently Ask Questions!
Have a question? The answer may be found here!
John at John@SpeakersQuest.com
or
Carrie at Carrie@SpeakersQuest.com
or
just call our toll free number 1.888.446.2572 or
call 423.318.8783 for additional information!
What are the benefits of working with the SpeakersQuest Speakers Bureau?
What makes your web site helpful in choosing the best speaker for my event?
Can we make an audio or videotape the event?
Billing Issues ~ who do we send the check to?
What are typical travel expenses?
How can I prevent the RealPlayer® from timing out due to network congestion?
How much does our service cost?
I'm a speaker and I've sent in my application, now what?
I've still got another question!
What are the benefits of working with the SpeakersQuest Speakers Bureau?
The SpeakersQuest leadership team has over forty years of customer service, event planning, and business management experience. The strength of our team stems from the combined expertise in hospitality management, professional speaking and training, customer service, and technical areas. This has produced outstanding results.
Another benefit is the high caliber of speakers, celebrities, and entertainers we represent. We are very selective in the people we actively represent and recommend to you. We can provide the "best of the best", but we also recognize that sometimes you have to live within a budget and need a "rising star".
Please remember, just because a speaker, celebrity, entertainer, or concert attraction is not in our online database, doesn't mean they are not available. Our off-line database contains over 5,000 professional speakers and entertainers. Plus, we are able to secure virtually any other professional speaker or celebrity not listed on our web site through our established network of talent agents, personal celebrity assistants, and our bureau associations.
Plus, We Offer These Additional Exciting Benefits:
Conduct searches anytime ~ day or night, by name, topic, and budget.
Visit the speaker's web site and see complete bibliographic information and pictures.
Preview a streaming video or audio sample of a live presentation lasting up to 30 minutes!
Custom creation of a CD-ROM Showcase with several different speaker's demo videos!
Overnight service availability at no charge!
A video catalog with more than 150 speakers on a single CD-ROM and 25 hours of video!
Enthusiastic SpeakersQuest team members ~ ready to go the extra mile.
And; of course, there is never a fee for our service!
What makes the SpeakersQuest web site helpful in choosing the best speaker for my event? Our web site features an easy to use, unique and innovative database design that is searchable by name, topic, or budget. Plus, when the list of speakers matching you requirements is presented, you see additional topics they are experienced in and a graphic of their key affiliation is displayed. When you visit a speaker's web page you find complete, detailed, bibliographic information and pictures. More than 98% of our speakers have a streaming video available for you to preview. In most cases, we have digitized and streamed the entire video showcase so you can get a real taste of the speakers technique and style. This means that some of the streaming video showcases are 30 minutes long! Most celebrities do not use demo videos. Whenever you are ready, you can request additional information from the web site or just call us at 1.888.446.2572 and we will send you a VHS video tape or a custom CD-ROM using full motion MPEG video. Overnight shipping is available at no charge!
Can we make an audio or videotape the event?
Many of our speakers will allow an audio or videotape of their program be made for archival purposes. However, you must obtain prior written consent.
Billing Issues ~ who do we send the check to?
In most cases, when a contract is executed, a 50% deposit is required for the speaker to reserve the date. This deposit and a signed contract must be returned to SpeakersQuest. The deposit (corporate check, money order, or credit cards accepted) is payable to SpeakersQuest and sent to our main office.
SpeakersQuest
5840 Brights Pike
Russellville, TN 37860
The remainder of the program investment is payable to the speaker on the day of the event.
When the event takes place in a foreign country, the full investment must be paid at least 14 days prior to the program date.
What are typical travel expenses?
Typical travel expenses include all those expenses incurred from the time the speaker leaves home (or in some cases, their last program), to the time he or she returns. They may include round trip airfare, ground transportation, appropriate meals, and other expenses specified in the contract. Each speaker's needs and requirements are different. Some will require first class travel (for one or more persons), while others are happy to travel coach. These are negotiated on a individual basis.
How can I prevent the RealPlayer® from timing out due to network congestion?
Real Video is the best and fastest growing streaming technology on the internet. But it's not perfect... and several factors will influence the quality of the video.
There are actually two ways that we know of to stream video using the Real Video technology. One method will play regardless of the quality and speed of your connection. Using this method provides very poor viewing. The images will get stretched and distorted. The video will often freeze for several seconds while the audio continues to play. You can sometimes see this when you connect to sites like CNN.
The second method (and the technique we used) forces the video to be loaded into a "buffer". Typically, the video will be "buffered" for a minute or so, then begin to play. It will likely pause due to "net congestion" after a couple of minutes. If your phone line has "background noise", or if your actual internet connection is less than 33.6 Kbs, or "net congestion" is excessive, Time Out Errors can occur. If this happens often, the Time Out Setting can be changed by looking under the following menu:
View ->
Preferences ->
Connection ->
Network Time Out Settings ->
Then increase the two settings on that page.
How much does our service cost?
All of our services are on a "no fee" basis to meeting planners. We are paid a commission by the speakers when we book them. This
in no way affects your total investment. We receive a fee directly from the speaker for our national and international marketing efforts.
I've sent in my application, now what?
In order for us to be able to thoroughly review and evaluate your promotional package, it is important that we receive all of the following items as soon as possible:
A professional demo video is a requirement.
A "bureau friendly" biography or "One Sheet".
Include a List of Topics, along with a brief description.
Photograph (black & white or color).
Web site address (if availabile).
Your Gross Fee Schedule. These are the same fees quoted by your office, and are to be inclusive of the generally accepted bureau commission rates.
Most of the speakers on our web site and CD-ROM Catalog are from recommendations from our clients, personal recruitment efforts, and other referrals. On average, we receive 7 to 10 press kits and demo tapes a week. It is a lengthy process for us to review and evaluate this material. Please be aware that it will likely take 30 to 60 days to complete the review process. And please be advised we are selective and do not include everyone on our web site and CD-ROM Catalog.
If you have not already done so, you may wish to join the National Speakers Association. They are an outstanding organization with numerous state chapters. They can help you gain the tools necessary to become a success in professional speaking.
You can contact NSA at:
National Speakers Association
1500 S. Priest Drive
Tempe, AZ 85281
Phone: 480-968-2552
Fax: 480-968-0911
I've still got another question!
At SpeakersQuest, we welcome your questions and comments. Just fill in your name, e-mail, and your question, and we'll get back to you in 24 hours! Thanks ~ You SpeakersQuest Team!
