What is the role of a keynote speaker?

What is the true role of a paid public speaker at any event, conference or trade show? Of course speakers are there to entertain, to inform, and to inspire. But that’s a given. That’s the easy-button box checking type of answer.

A truly great public speaker is there to serve as an ambassador. They are there to represent the show — to represent the brand. They are there to be a public face for the event. In short, a speaker is simply a tool that is there to help the event planners and event managers achieve all of their stated goals.

In reality, it helps to recognize that even the main keynote speech is simply a very small facet of the entire event. And while the speech may seem paramount to the speaker, to the planners and event organizers, the talk is just one part of the whole.The keynote is an important part — and the speaker needs to nail every beat and to over deliver on every detail. But the speaker should never confuse their role or over inflate their importance in relation to the event itself.

And so with that mindset, how can a speaker best represent the event itself? That’s easy once the speaker acknowledges and thinks about their role within the big picture.

Here are 5 proven and effective tips to help speakers think about their larger roles.

1. Make it a point to learn as much as possible about the event, about the attendees, and about the exhibitors. Those people are the lifeblood of the show. You are there to serve them and to meet and exceed their needs.
2. Make it a point to get to know and to reach out to other speakers at the event. You can best help support the event organizers when you help support all of their guests. Make it your responsibility to ensure that everyone feels welcomed and comfortable.
3. Your job is not to simply speak at the show. Your job is to be available before, during and after the event. You should have your contact information on your event speaker bio page and you should respond to any and all guest questions within 24 hours (or as close to real time as possible.) Do not forget, you are a public face of the event. Your failure to respond does not simply reflect on you. It reflects on the show itself.
4. Same goes for being available before and after your talk. Unless there are extraneous circumstances that absolutely prevent you from making yourself available for questions, make sure to block out enough time to truly represent your hosts in the best light possible..
5. Go out of your way to acknowledge the event staff. In your talk, thank the audio and visual teams. Thank the event organizers. Thank everyone who makes all of this possible. It is a tremendous amount of work that happens behind the scenes to make everything appear effortless. A little public kindness goes a very long way.

In short, simply conduct yourself with the knowledge that it is an honor to get to share your subject-matter expertise. Remind yourself that it is a joy to get to speak and to represent the event. And most importantly, remember that you are a guest and that there is a giant machine of industry professionals putting the event together. Go out of your way to help serve them and everything else will fall into place.

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