If you’re trying to inspire a big group of people, you might be nervous about booking a motivational speaker. After all, you don’t want to look out into the crowd and see people drifting off or playing on their phones. So let us help guide you to finding the best person for your event!
Why hire a motivational speaker?
Hiring an inspirational speaker can be the spark that sets your event—and your audience—on fire (in the best possible way). Here’s why bringing in one of these powerhouse presenters is a move worth making.
🌟 Ignite energy and engagement – A skilled speaker doesn’t just talk, they connect. Their stories, insights, and passion can boost morale, refocus teams, and inspire personal and professional growth.
💡 Offer a fresh perspective – Sometimes, all it takes is a new voice to unlock motivation. Inspirational speakers share personal stories, hard-earned wisdom, and unique perspectives that challenge the status quo and broaden minds.
🎯 Drive home your message – Whether your goal is to encourage leadership, spark innovation, foster resilience, or reinforce your organization’s mission, a great speaker can tailor their message to leave a lasting impression.
🙌 Create a memorable experience – More than just a speech, this is a moment. A live presentation from a dynamic speaker can be the highlight of your event — the part attendees talk about long after the applause fades.
What kind of events are good for speakers?
A great speaker can elevate an event from ordinary to unforgettable, and they’re incredibly versatile. Whether you’re aiming to educate, inspire, entertain, or all of the above, here are the types of events where speakers truly shine.
💼 Corporate events and conferences – Bring in an inspirational speaker for corporate events and conferences to kick things off with energy or close the day with a powerful message. They’re perfect for leadership team summits, team-building retreats, sales kickoffs, and industry conventions.
🏫 School assemblies and graduations – Motivational speakers can make a powerful impact on students, whether they’re tackling topics like resilience, overcoming adversity, anti-bullying, goal-setting, or navigating the future after graduation.
🏥 Health and wellness retreats – Wellness-focused inspirational speakers can lead sessions on mindfulness, mental health, nutrition, or self-care, offering practical takeaways and empowering guests to thrive inside and out.
💖 Fundraisers and charity galas – A compelling keynote speaker can move hearts and open wallets at your fundraising event. Their message can amplify your cause, celebrate your mission, and inspire audiences to take action.
🏛️ Community events and civic programs – Keynote speeches at town halls, public forums, or cultural celebrations can help inform, unite, and motivate local audiences on issues that matter to your community.
✨ Faith-based events – Inspirational speakers are a natural fit for church conferences, youth camps, and spiritual retreats, offering uplifting messages rooted in hope and purpose.
5 qualities of a great motivational speaker
To help you identify what sets a great speaker apart from a good one, we turned to the pros who know the industry best. We asked two GigSalad speakers, Dr. Ronald Shapiro and Bob Prentice, to share their expert insight on what to look for when hiring an inspirational speaker for your event.
🧘♂️ Flexibility
This skill is valuable for any performer, but it’s essential for a motivational speaker. They should tailor their presentation to your audience, even if the core message stays the same. Be sure to tell them what you’re looking for upfront so you can gauge if they’ll be a good fit or not.
To help you nail this down, GigSalad motivational speaker Dr. Ronald Shapiro suggests asking yourself, “What is my objective for bringing in a motivational speaker?” He adds, “The better they know their requirements, the more successful the match will be. If you don’t know what your objectives are, ask the speaker to help you determine those before booking someone.”
✨ Charisma
Of course, you’ll want to make sure the speaker you hire is, well, a good speaker! This means someone who can captivate an audience and keep their attention throughout the presentation. Some use presentation tools, while others use charismatic storytelling skills. Be sure to watch videos of your potential speaker to get an idea of their speaking style. You may want to schedule a phone call with them to get a sense of how they speak and communicate.
🧭 Direction
Motivating your group is an awesome way to kick off a new year, but motivation is nothing without some action behind it. Your motivational speaker should have some action steps or tools/resources ready to provide your audience after the presentation. In fact, GigSalad motivational speaker, Bob Prentice, says, “Make sure to ask about your potential speaker’s aftercare plan for your audience. What will they do to support your attendees once the speech is over?”
✅ Credibility
A Health and Wellness Speaker who promotes a healthy lifestyle seems like a great idea, right? What happens if you see the speaker later lighting up a cigarette? All of their credibility just went down the drain! Do your due diligence when booking a motivational speaker and make sure they practice what they preach. Check out their website, social media pages, reviews on GigSalad, and even ask for additional references if needed.
Dr. Shapiro adds, “Make sure the speaker is an expert on what they are talking about. For example, are they recognized as a ‘fellow’ in a relevant professional society? If they are claiming their published book as a credential, what subject matter expert has reviewed the book in its entirety? What did (the expert) have to say?”
🎨 Style
Before booking a Motivational Speaker, consider your audience and the style of speaker you’d like to have. If your event is for a group of millennials, they’ll likely connect better with someone who has an informal, humorous style of speaking. A group of CEOs may want someone who is also a founder or CEO with extensive experience and can educate them clearly and confidently. On the other hand, a great storyteller may be the best choice of speaker for a school assembly. No one knows your audience better than you do, so think about what they’d relate to the most.
10 questions to ask when booking a motivational speaker
Thanks to feedback provided by our dedicated and experienced GigSalad speakers, Dr. Shapiro and Bob Prentice, we’ve gathered ten handy questions to ask when booking a motivational speaker:
- How did you come to be a motivational speaker?
- What is your favorite topic to speak on?
- Have you published a book?
- What is your experience with my type of audience?
- Do you use humor in your presentations?
- How can you help me reach my objectives for hiring you?
- If your audiences could describe you in one word or phrase, what would the top 5 be?
- How will you be promoting your own products (books, consulting work, etc.) during the presentation?
- Will you be available to the audience after the event? If so, how long?
- Do you keep in touch with audiences via email/newsletter?
↗️ Take your next workplace event to the next level: Exciting Corporate Events to Plan for Your Employees
Hiring a motivational speaker doesn’t have to feel like a leap of faith. With the right questions, a clear goal, and a little help from the experts, you’ll be ready to book someone who truly inspires — and leaves your audience feeling energized, empowered, and ready to take action. 🎤💥
Thinking about a motivational speaker for your next event? Book the best at GigSalad!
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.
I was recently put in charge of finding a motivational speaker for a youth conference that my church is going to be hosting later this summer. I thought it was helpful when you talked about it could be a good idea to find a speaker that is informal and humorous if the audience is a group of millennials. I will have to find a motivational speaker that includes a lot of humor so that the youth in my church aren’t bored at the conference. https://brandonleewhite.com/speaking/conferences/