POMA Outdoor Speakers Bureau

Q: What is the cost of using the POMA Outdoor Speakers Bureau (POSB) to book my professional speaker(s)?

A: POSB does not charge a fee for booking a speaker. POSB’s fee is paid by the speaker. In return, we provide the speaker with marketing and promotional services, negotiation of fees and contracts and handling engagement details and logistics (such as booking travel and accommodations). All POSB services are included in the speaker's set honorarium.

Q: How much do keynote speakers generally cost?

A: Speaker fees vary widely. They are based on speaker popularity, availability and the event location and presentation requirements. Fees can range from $500 for local/regional speakers to over $100,000 for top celebrities and politicians.

Generally, fees for national-event, keynote speakers begin at $3,000. The average national-event, keynoter fee is  $7,500 (source: NSA, MPI). For celebrity speakers and top business experts, keynoter fees start at $20,000. In most cases, travel expenses are in addition to the speaker honorarium. Travel fees include airline travel (coach/business/first-class), accommodations and limited out-of-pocket expenses such as meals and ground transportation.

Q: What type of speakers does POSB represent?

A: POSB is the only speakers bureau that emphasizes only traditional outdoor sports and associated topics. POSB offers informative and entertaining keynote speakers, television and print personalities, professional athletes and top-rated seminar and workshop presenters. In addition to covering all aspects of the traditional outdoor sports, POSB represents professionals who cover associated topics from nature photography and journalism, to marketing and public relations, to politics and policy.
 
Q: What does POSB do for its clients?

A: POSB is a full-service speakers bureau that provides professional keynote, seminar and workshop speakers who captivate audiences with entertaining and informative material. The POSB team consists of professional administrative support and contractors who ensure superior customer service. POSB:

• Provides one-stop access to the world's best outdoor industry and communications speakers. Select a speaker from POSB’s wide talent roster, or if you already know who you want to engage, we can locate and contact the person, check availability, negotiate fees and gather marketing information for you. If you would like POSB to make speaker suggestions, we can visit you regarding your needs and budget and provide a speaker list to review.

• Pre-qualifies the speakers we work with, so you know you are getting a qualified speaker with the expertise and communication skills to positively affect your audience and obtain your event goals. We have close relationships with our speakers and can check availability, provide review material and set up communications with our speakers to make the booking process fast and simple.

• Responds to questions and needs quickly via e-mail, phone, postal and overnight delivery services. Most speakers travel a great deal, have little or no staff, and are sometimes difficult to reach. However, we are always available and in touch with our speakers. We can get you the answers you need quickly.

• Assists with finding last-minute replacement talent if needed and negotiates special pricing.

• Streamlines the booking process by negotiating the dates, agreement stipulations, fees and travel expenses and performing accounting tasks for event planners and speakers. POSB is like an insurance policy for your event. We will partner with you to make your event a success.

Q: How can I learn about a speaker before making my decision?

A:  To help you make an informed decision, POSB provides complete speaker information including detailed biographies, photographs, speech/session descriptions, recent articles and recommendations from previous event planners. In addition, POSB often has book samples from authors and video samples from speakers available.

Q: Will I have the opportunity to make contact with the speaker prior to the engagement?

A: Yes. Most speakers are happy to talk the client prior to an engagement as their schedules allow. Ask POSB about the possibility of setting up a conference call to discuss your event needs with POSB staff and your speaker. This gives you the opportunity to clarify the expectations of your audience and get to know the speaker on a more personal basis.

Q: Can a book signing be arranged in conjunction with engaging the speaker?

A: Usually authors are happy to incorporate a book signing along with book or DVD sales into appearances. Check with POSB to arrange a signing or book/DVD sales offering. POSB also offers books and DVDs for sale at www.outdoorspeakersbureau.com. You may also inquire about a book purchasing rider that can put you in direct contact with publishers/authors to buy books at special discounted rates.

Q: Is it possible to tape (video or audio) the speaker?

A: Written permission must be obtained from the speaker prior to the event. Many speakers agree to taping for internal organizational use only (not for Web site feeds), in order to maintain their intellectual property.