The term keynote speaker arises from the fact that speakers are able to set the underlying tone for an event, similar to how the key of a musical piece is able to help a composer convey certain emotions to an audience. Public Speakers are able to take the listeners for a journey or inform them about important issues through their speaking abilities. For individuals or organizations thinking about organizing an event and need to hire a keynote speaker, you can expect to pay at least $2,000. Speakers, just like every other type of worker, need to take into account basic hidden costs like taxes and benefits when setting the cost of their service. Speakers that use an agency or a speaker working with a speaker’s bureau will charge more because of the additional fee the agency has to charge them. A speaker’s speaking price may also vary based on factors like time and speaking quality. To get a general idea of how much one can expect to pay for a keynote speaker, here is a list of fees and what one can expect at each set price range.
Free- A speaker may be willing to speak for free for a couple of reasons. New speakers, who are just searching for experience, will sometimes speak for free. In some cases, speakers are able to make money by simply speaking at an event. The speaker may have a book or service that they are offering, and by speaking to an audience for free, their business or book can receive exposure in return.
Travel Expenses- Speakers who are willing to speak at an event and only have travel expenses covered are generally doing so for exposure. Of course, if an organization is lucky, there will be an inexperienced speaker who is willing to speak for free in exchange for the experience.
$500- $ 1500- $500 to $1500, is normally below the minimum fee a speaker would charge, but in some cases, a speaker may seriously want to participate in an event and will make an exception. Including traveling expenses, may convince most non-famous speakers to speak at an event.
$1,500 – $3,000 – In this price range, an organization can expect a speaker with a small amount of experience, or if an organization is lucky, it will be a speaker who speaks for a living and needs work.
$3,000 – $ 5,000 – A large percentage of speakers with experience will accept a fee within this range.
$5,000 – $10,000 – Within this price range, an organization can expect to receive a speaker who has plenty of experience speaking or an individual with some noticeable accomplishments.
$10,000 – $20,000 – This fee range would be acceptable for large conferences. At this fee range, an organization could expect a speaker with some very noticeable accomplishments.
$25,000 – $ 50,000 – In this price range, an organization can afford speakers like Aaron Ashmore, a tv actor, or Malcolm Gladwell, a writer for the New Yorker. An organization can expect to receive a speaker with a large portfolio of experience or someone with a noticeable name.
$50,000 – $100,000 – This price range is enough to pay for a famous celebrity speaker. An organization that expects to make a large sum of money from an event can afford to pay speakers within this range. Speakers who are limiting the number of speaking events they speak at can charge within this range to reduce the number of requests they receive each year.
$,100,000 plus – For $100,000 plus, an organization can expect a famous politician. Major names like Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter become plausible at this price range.
