Charli Jane Speaker Services Blog

I share this out of the disappointment from my members and clients and would like to get everyone’s feelings on this…

How many of you have spent endless hours on a proposal…written…thrown it out and rewritten it again 20 times until you feel it is absolutely perfect?  You then send it to the planner/organizer per their request and then get no return call or email? You tried leaving several VM’s and communication via email with no luck! We know it is part of the job when being a professional speaker – or is it?  Does it really have to be?

This happens to be the case once in awhile due to either the planner not knowing how to deal with rejection and having to tell the speaker no we did not select you (this would be one of the hardest parts of their job) or the event was cancelled, rescheduled, etc. Or simply the planner is overloaded with tasks trying to get the event organized or overloaded with proposals whatever the case, still…no return communication from the planner or organizer.

I respect and adore Meeting Planners with all my heart, so please do not misinterpret my post. I have built some wonderful relationships with Planners over the years and they have been extremely helpful in assisting my clients build their speaking business.  Meeting Planners are busy professionals and have a lot on their plate to deal with in making a successful event.

I write this not to start a controversy but to see what we can do to all come together to resolve this problem to everyone’s mutual benefit.

My question to all of you speakers out there who have been in this situation is how do you handle it? Do you give up? Keep trying to communicate? Does it color your perception of the Planner and make you hesitant to work with their organization in the future?

Do share your take on this. Planners and organizers feel free to jump in on this one…we know you’re busy but would love to hear how we can help resolve this problem, make things easier for you and keep the line of communication open between you and the speaker.

I look forward to the feedback. ~Wendi