The 3 Questions Every Aussie Event Organiser Should Ask Before Booking a Speaker
Before you book a keynote speaker for your Aussie event, ask these 3 smart questions. Save your time, your budget — and your reputation. No fluff. Just real advice.
The 3 Questions Every Aussie Event Organiser Should Ask Before Booking a Speaker
If you’ve ever booked a speaker who looked amazing on paper… and then watched them slowly lose the room by slide 6, you’re not alone.
We’ve all been there. The speaker comes highly recommended, ticks all the boxes, but just doesn’t land. And when you’re the one who booked them, guess who your team or client side-eyes during morning tea?
That’s why, whether you’re planning a leadership summit in Sydney or a team day in Townsville, there are three simple questions every Aussie event organiser should ask before locking in a keynote speaker.
Trust us — they’ll save you time, stress, and possibly a bit of reputation management.
1. “Do they actually get our audience?”
Sounds basic, but it’s the deal-breaker.
A speaker can be world-class on stage, but if they don’t connect with your people — the vibe, the culture, the in-jokes — it won’t matter.
Ask yourself:
Will they understand the mood of the room?
Have they spoken to similar industries or teams?
Can they read the room and pivot if it’s flat?
We had a Melbourne tech company recently book a rugby legend. Lovely guy, great stories — but half the team had no idea who he was, and the punchlines fell flat. The feedback? “Felt like Dad’s mate giving a toast.”
Brutal. Accurate. Preventable.
2. “Are they speaking for us or at us?”
There’s a massive difference.
A great keynote speaker brings the audience into the story. They’ve done their homework. They understand the brief. They make it feel like the message was written just for this moment, in this room.
So ask:
Have they customised their content for our event?
Do they care about what happens after the applause?
Will they hang around for a chat or Q&A — or vanish straight after the mic drop?
At Essential Speakers, this is one of the first things we look for. Speakers who actually care. It’s rare. But it’s what separates a standing ovation from polite clapping.
3. “Am I getting sold, or getting supported?”
Big agencies can be great — until you realise you’re being upsold the biggest name on the list, not the best fit for your event.
Here’s the truth: sometimes the best speaker for your audience isn’t the one with the biggest media profile. It’s the one who shows up, gets it, and delivers.
Ask your speaker agency:
“Why are you recommending this person?”
“What would you do if this was your event and your budget?”
“What’s something clients don’t love about them?”
If you’re not getting honest answers, you’re not getting the right agency.
There’s no shortage of speaker agencies in Australia. But the good ones? The ones who care more about the audience than the invoice?
They’re rare.
So next time you're booking a keynote speaker for your Australian event, ask those three questions. Better yet — flick them to us, and we’ll help you answer them properly.
No fluff. No pressure. Just straight-up advice from people who do this every day.
