Start with the outcome, not the name
The best conferences pick a theme first, then the speaker who owns that theme. Chasing a famous name without a fit is the most common (and most expensive) mistake.
Speaker fee bands (UK, 2026)
- Rising industry voice: £1,500–£5,000
- Established expert / author: £5,000–£15,000
- TED-level thought leader: £15,000–£35,000
- Household name / former politician / world-class athlete: £35,000–£100,000+
The brief that gets a yes
- Event date, city, venue
- Audience — size, seniority, industry
- Theme and the outcome you want
- Slot length (30, 45, 60 min) and Q&A
- Fee range and travel budget
- Bookable window (best 3 dates)
What you're really paying for
Not just the 45 minutes on stage. You're paying for: content tailoring calls, travel time, private meet-and-greet, social posts around the event, and (for authors) book stock at cost.
Contracts to watch
- Travel class and hotel category
- Recording rights (usually not included)
- Content approval window
- Cancellation ladder (150+ days, 90 days, 30 days, event week)
- Force majeure and virtual-delivery clause
"Never book a keynote without seeing an unedited recording of them speaking to a room of the size and seniority you're planning."
Shortlist speakers by topic and fee band.
Find a speaker
