So you are looking for a youth keynote speaker for your school?  You’ve come to the right place!  We have tips on how you can find the best speaker for your class, event, or student conference.

Identify the purpose and projected outcome for your event

The first step you need to take before hiring a youth keynote speaker is to determine what your purpose in doing so is. To identify your purpose, first start by writing down who the audience will be and what you want them to walk away knowing. Maybe you want to put on an event for an independent school in their first semester to get students inspired for the new year. Or perhaps you’re hiring a speaker for high school students to get them motivated for their future in college. 

Identifying who your audience is and what you want them to take away from an event will allow you to quickly narrow down the type of speakers to include in the vetting process. 

Consider the time of day for your event

A part of determining the presentation purpose may also involve choosing the date and time of day for your event. First, schedule in your event so it coincides with themes throughout the year. The topic of a presentation should be different at the beginning of the year versus the end of the year. Look at your school’s calendar and monthly holidays to place a speaker presentation during the perfect time of year.

After you’ve chosen the time of the year for your event, you can determine the schedule for the day of the presentation. Remember that the younger your students are, the shorter their attention spans. With that being said, speakers that have a lot of energy should be placed during the times that your students have the focus and energy to listen to and engage with the speaker. For example, a high-energy speaker is recommended for the start of the day versus after lunch when your students are tired. 

Bring the students into the process

Including your students in the process is a fun and helpful idea to narrow down speakers. An idea is to have the students watch “speaker reels” or speaker example videos to see what presenter resonates with the kids. Another idea is to have students conduct a Google search on their own and submit three speakers they found and why they would like to include one of those presenters in the upcoming event. As you get further into the process of hiring a speaker, a good idea is to include students on an interview panel so they can ask them questions. 

Oftentimes, students can see through the agenda of speakers and they’ll share with you who they connect with most. After all, the event is for them, right?

Look at a speaker’s content on different platforms

With so much information available out there, it is best practice to look far beyond a speaker’s website. Do they have YouTube videos or content on their Instagram and Facebook profiles? There will likely be other places where they showcase content. This will be helpful as you learn more about their message and speaking style.  

Hire for your audience

You understand the purpose of your event more than anyone else, including who your audience is and what the purpose of your event is.  

Try to think critically about your event and a speaker that would best meet the needs of your audience. Asking the right questions [LINK BLOG 2] will make this decision easier. 

View your speaker as a partner

If you have a creative idea, share them with your speaker and collaborate on building a mutually beneficial event. Based on their past experience, the speaker may have insight or ideas on how the message might be best received, what should be spoken on, and what should not. Share your ideas and ask for the speaker's ideas too. A great event results from thorough communication from everyone involved. 

Look for themes in a speaker’s testimonials

Look at a speaker’s reviews and see if there are common themes in the titles and descriptions of the feedback they’ve received. By doing this, you’ll be able quickly figure out if a speaker aligns with your audience. If your peers have great things to say, that provides hope that you’ll have a successful event on your hands. 

Lastly, looking for themes in a speaker’s testimonials will also help you identify if they have energy in their speeches, if they build personal connection with their audiences. 

Conclusion

The key in hiring a youth keynote speaker is to do thorough research and to choose a speaker who you know will resonate with and inspire lasting change in your students. By going through the steps outlined above, you’re sure to make the right decision for your next event. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darryl is an International Speaker, Author, Husband, Father, and Founder of the Fearless Inside movement. Darryl uses his experience as a student leader, and the thousands of fears collected from students to help them act beyond their worries and fears

Darryl's Fearless Inside movement has inspired thousands of students to have more fearless moments.

Learn more about the movement here.