Here are some suggestions for locating a high profile speaker through speaker's bureaus or a person's agent.

Original inquiry

Justine M. Kalka
March 10, 1998

My firm would like to obtain a speaker of national caliber for a client function. Most of the speakers' bureaus we are finding via the internet and other methods are turning up people who are not as well known as we would like. Does anyone know who handles bookings for speakers who are really interesting and really in demand?

Amelia Kassel
March 10, 1998

Marquis's Who's Who, File 234 on Dialog, often lists a contact person or agent for celebrities.

Dan Ream
March 10, 1998

Have you tried the Index of World Speakers' Bureaus at the http://www.lectureagent.com website? They also have a service for determining the availability of speakers that you select. Haven't tried this myself, but perhaps it will help.

Deborah Smith-Cohen
March 10, 1998

Have you tried these:

National Speakers Association http://nsaspeakers.org
Speakers Platform http://www.speaking.com/ or
Noble Directory of Experts & Spokepersons http://www.experts.com
Medianet 717-243-4285 uslifeline@aol.com
Profnet 800-776-3638 profnet@sunysb.edu
USC Experts Directory http://www.usc.edu/dept/News_Service/experts_directory.html
Yearbook of Experts, Authorities & Spokespersons http://www.yearbook.com or
Meetings Industry Mall http://mim.com/
Meeting Planners Finder http://www.mmaweb.com/
Meeting Professionals International http://www.mpiweb.org

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Annamaria Profit
March 10, 1998

Justine, There are only a few top-shelf speakers bureaus...I'm pretty sure William Morris Agency is one of them. If I were you, I would call a large pr agency and ask them if they can give you some names. Then I'd go to the WEB or the NYC/LA yellow pages. After that, I'd take all the specialized recommendations you get. I particularly liked that astronauts suggestion! ; )

Jerri L. Gibbs
March 10, 1998

If you know the person in whom you are interested, it might be easier to locate his or her agent. For instance, if he/she is a professional athlete, you can then contact the players association for his or her sport OR his/her employer. They should be able to tell you the name of the agent for that person. If he/she is an actor, maybe the Screen Actors Guild can help? Congressperson -- call his or her office? Have you tried the Washington Speakers Bureau? I understand they are one of the largest speakers bureau in the U.S. and represent numerous famous personalities. Washington Speakers Bureau 310 S. Henry Street, Alexandria, VA. 22314 (703) 684-0555

Lastly, e-mail me privately if you know who you are looking for and if he/she is in the sports field. I may be able to tell you who represents that person.

Marydee Ojala
March 10, 1998

The Leigh Bureau, W. Conston Leigh, INc., 5082 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 301, Washington DC 20016; 202-364-8600; info@Leighbureau.com. They represent Nancy K. Austin, John Perry Barlow, Robert Fulghum, George Gilder, Anita Hill, Kevin Kelly, and tons of others.

Marie Wallace, from "Tips on Finding a Speaker," LLRX, September 15, 1999

Use a speaker database designed to help locate speakers by topic, location, fee, agency and experience, such as,

http://www.walters-intl.com/

http://www.speakersearch.com/

http://www.speakers.com/

www.lightbolt.com/speak.html

http://www.speakerservices.com/

Use several browsers, such as AltaVista, to search using "find a speaker" or do a search using a combination of expertise + speaker, i.e.,

genetics + speaker

globalization + speaker

airbags + speaker