SPEAKER
MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Also known as swiss army knife, juggler,
shoulder to cry on and life guard.

SPEAKER
MANAGEMENT

Also known as swiss army knife, juggler,
shoulder to cry on and life guard.

What is Speaker Management Services?

Speaker management is a complex art. Successful speaker managers not only understand where their clients come from, but they also have the ability to help them discover where they want to eventually go to, and the expertise and experience to guide them to that destination.

Successful speaker managers are characterized by great levels of honesty and vast experience. They are very careful with which speakers they take on board. Basically there are simply two categories of speakers. The great and recognized ones and the rising stars. The recognized speakers need a speaker manager in order to maintain and strengthen their position and the rising stars are usually discovered by a speaker manager and rely on the manager’s expertise and experience to help them grow and accomplish their objectives.

Which case is yours?

Well, if none, then you first need to develop your profile before having a speaker manager. Have a look at Personal Branding, Online Presence, and Presence & Inspired Leadership to understand the basic elements that will build your brand. You can always book a free 45 minute assessment with us. We’re always in the hunt for new amazing speakers, you may be our next rising star!

Speaker Manager Q&A

In order to help you understand what a speaker manager actually does, have a look at the Q&A below. We’ve tried to keep it as simple as possible.

No. A speaker agent usually works at a speaker bureau and suggests speakers to end clients based on the briefs they receive and based on the roster of speakers their bureau holds. A speaker manager works solely for the benefits of the speakers he/she represents, making sure they’ve got the right positioning, content, branding and promotion and are put forward to end clients in the best possible way in order to be aligned with their status.

A speaker manager is responsible for all the branding & positioning, the content formulation and/or screening, the business development and sales plan, the online presence (from website development to social media strategy), the administration and support, the finance functions, the speaker bureau relationships, the PR strategy and even the psychological support that we all need from time to time. The aim of the speaker manager is to allow speakers to have the time to concentrate on what they do best (from writing books to delivering great content on stage).

Speaker managers’ fees vary. In MSC we charge a startup fee depending on where the speaker stands at the beginning of our collaboration and the amount of work required to develop the basic marketing material (such as web site, speaker kit, show reel, etc.). Besides the initial fee, we charge either a percentage commission or a minimum monthly fee. Commissions are per booking for a duration of minimum 2 years. The commission amount depends on the number of bookings the speaker has on an annual basis – the more bookings the less our commission per booking.

Not at all. We work with speakers from both Europe and the US, we couldn’t possibly be in the same area as our speakers. There is no need for the speaker manager to physically meet with the speakers. In very rare occasions where there is a lot of strategic work involved, the speaker manager will meet with the speaker in person if considered more appropriate. Speaker managers also deal with clients from all over the world. It is very important for the speaker manager to be very well aware of cultural differences and etiquette issues.

Well, it takes two to tango. It is extremely important for the speaker and the manager to be a good fit for each other. For the speaker, it is very important to have a discussion with the prospect speaker manager prior to committing to a partnership. During this discussion, the speaker must try and evaluate the chemistry between the two. Any professional speaker manager will have done some homework prior to this discussion and prepared an assessment for the speaker, in order to spot strengths and weaknesses. If the speaker manager has not performed a free assessment prior to the call, our suggestion would be to avoid working with that particular speaker manager. The speaker should also ask the right questions.

Interview questions:

  • How do you keep informed of industry trends and prospects?
  • Are you familiar with the subject I’m an expert in?
  • With which other speakers have you worked with?
  • With which other speakers are you currently working with?
  • With which speaker bureaus have you developed a close relationship?

If you work with us you will be working directly with Maria. Find out more about Maria here.

Thank you for your trust

Maria is an outstanding Personal Branding Strategist. But that title does no justice to her breadth and quality of service. She has been instrumental in helping me develop, grow and market my brand. She is truly a trusted advisor who goes above and beyond to ensure your success.

Ravin Jesuthasan, Author, Futurist & Thought Leader on the Future of Work

Maria Papacosta is an exceptional Strategist for the top experts and thought leaders. Maria adds even more value to her clients by using mastery as a Presence & Impact Coach. This is a privilege to work with Maria.

Dr. Oleg Konovalov, Thought Leader, Author, #1 Global Leading Coach, Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches

One of the most refreshing feelings to experience, especially in times of crisis and uncertainty, is the one of pure kindness. Met Maria Papacosta not a long time ago remotely through our network. She has been surprising me ever since with her kindness and generosity which are way over and above from what her professional role includes. Maria, people like you are blessed with the gift of energizing everyone around them and spreading inspiration. Keep up the amazing work!

Dr. Savvas Trichas, Keynote Speaker & Executive Coach

The Fast Track Strategy Session was eye-opening, informative, and inspiring. It helped me define my personal brand with clarity and passion!

Maria is the consummate professional who I trust fully because she consistently has exceeded my expectations. I would highly recommend MSC Bureau and their strategy process to anyone seeking to elevate their game.

Dr. Elia Gourgouris, President of The Happiness Center, Author, Speaker

If there was a “Genie” for speakers and consultants, its bottle would say MSC Bureau. These guys are ridiculously good at what they do and at the same time, the most kind and generous people you will ever meet. If you are a speaker, a consultant or anyone who wants to build a brand out of yourself, you can’t afford not to work with them.

Konstantinos Karypidis, Peak performance coach & motivational speaker
Maria’s deep knowledge and many years of experience in the speaking industry along with her marketing expertise and coaching skills make her one of a kind. She works with professionalism, integrity and mindfulness and always delivers extra value to her clients.
Cosimo Turroturro, CEO Speakers Associates

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