Your Event Deserves a Speaker Who Delivers — Every Time
When you’re organising a conference, the speakers you choose carry the weight of your event’s reputation. One speaker who misses the mark can undo months of careful planning. One speaker who truly delivers can make your event the one people talk about for years.
So how do you choose wisely? Here’s what to look for.
Relevance and Relatability
The best conference speakers don’t just turn up with a generic presentation and hope for the best. They take the time to understand your event, your audience and your theme — and they tailor their content to fit. When there’s genuine alignment between a speaker and the conference theme, audiences notice. It strengthens the whole event and gives it a coherence that people remember long after they’ve gone home.
The Right Speaker for the Right Slot
Not every speaker suits every time slot. The post-lunch session is notorious — energy is low, attention is scattered and an average speaker will lose the room within minutes. An experienced speaker knows how to read the energy, lift the room and deliver regardless of where they sit on the program. Before you book, find out how they handle the tough slots. Their answer will tell you a lot.
Influence, Inspire and Back It Up
Look for speakers who have genuine runs on the board — not just the ability to talk about a topic, but a proven track record of delivering it in a way that influences, inspires and leaves audiences with something genuinely useful. Testimonials matter. Real-world experience matters. The combination of deep expertise and the ability to deliver it compellingly is rarer than you’d think.
The Power of a Great Story
The most memorable speakers are almost always the best storytellers. A well-chosen story that supports the message does more for audience engagement than any amount of data or theory. When a speaker’s stories are relevant, real and well-told, the message sticks. Look for speakers who use storytelling as a tool, not a filler.
Humour, Energy and Genuine Engagement
A great speaker doesn’t need to tell jokes — but they do need to keep the room alive. Humour woven naturally through the content keeps audiences alert, receptive and engaged. The best speakers know how to catch an audience early and hold them right through to the final word.
The Courage to Interact
There’s a significant difference between a speaker who delivers a polished scripted presentation and one who has the confidence and skill to interact genuinely with the audience. The ability to go off-script, bounce off the energy in the room and respond to the moment is what separates a good speaker from a truly great one. It’s also what makes your conference genuinely memorable rather than just professionally run.
Respecting Your Schedule
Going over time is one of the most disrespectful things a speaker can do — to you, to your audience, to your staff and to the speakers who follow. A seasoned professional understands this without being told. They will keep to their allocated time, every time.
And if circumstances beyond your control push the schedule out? Here’s a real example of how an experienced speaker handles it.
At one event, David was the closing speaker scheduled for 3pm. By the time he walked on stage it was 4pm — the two previous speakers had both run over time and the audience was restless and frustrated. His opening words: “We’re an hour later than scheduled and I know you’re all keen to close. Would you like me to speak for the full hour or would you prefer something shorter?”
The audience chose 40 minutes. David instantly restructured on his feet, delivered a tight, high-energy closing session and left the room on a high. That’s the difference experience makes.
Emcee Tip — How to Handle a Speaker Who Won’t Stop
If you’re emceeing and your speaker is running over time, here’s a proven approach that works. Move closer to the stage so the speaker can see you. If they don’t take the hint, move closer still. Begin walking across the stage toward them. When the moment is right — at the end of a point or a natural pause — walk to the centre of the stage, thank them warmly and begin applauding. The audience will follow your lead immediately. The speaker has no choice but to stop. Thank them and move the program forward.
It takes courage the first time. It gets easier with practice.
What David’s Keynotes Actually Look Like
Every conference organiser wants to know what they’re actually getting. Here’s the honest answer.
David’s presentations are interactive — the audience is involved in an appropriate way so they’re energised and engaged. It could be a 20-second illustration or a 12-minute story. He senses what the audience needs and knows how to lift the energy when it’s low, or slow things down when that’s what’s needed. He’s not afraid to leave the stage and move among the audience.
He’s streetwise — the content is real, practical and current. He knows what challenges the audience is facing and he’s not afraid to tackle the elephant in the room. There nearly always is one.
He’s uplifting without being fluffy. There’s humour with nothing inappropriate. There’s inspiration but no empty motivational speak. There’s always plenty of laughter. There’s a reason his catchphrase is “You’ll learn, you’ll laugh, you’ll learn some more.”
He’s respectful — David never sets out to embarrass anyone. When telling stories he always shines a light on the positives and never identifies negative sources.
He’s flexible — his presentations are always structured well, but if it’s obvious the audience’s energy is going in a different direction, David shifts gears to suit. He’s also inclusive — relevant conversations and comments made by the group before and during the event are woven into the presentation so the audience feels genuinely part of it.
Programs Available for Your Conference
David offers three keynote, breakout and workshop programs that can be tailored specifically for your industry, profession or event.
Raising The Bar A completely different view of high jump and pole vault through a leader’s lens — how to stand out from the crowd and rise to greater heights of achievement and success. Ideal as an opening or closing keynote, or after lunch. Themes: Leadership, Disruption, Achievement, Success.
Raising The Bar On Your Meetings A humorous look at the different personalities and power plays, the hidden agendas and what really happens in meetings — and how to make them worthwhile and productive. Perfect for the after-lunch slot. Themes: Productivity, Leadership, Future.
Raising The Bar On Communication and Collaboration An entertaining and humorous exposé of how communication in organisations and projects goes off the rails — and how to make collaboration work. Ideal after lunch. Themes: Productivity, Leadership, Decisions, Staff Engagement.
What Event Organisers Say
“By gauging the audience with their different learning types, David’s speaking and learning style connects with all.” — Stuart Jamieson, Governance and Risk Manager, City of Albany
“David is a five star trusted advisor and thought leader. His generosity is matched in size only by his intellect and sense of humour. He genuinely is a consummate professional and a gifted communicator.” — Dr Troy Hendrickson, Global Educator, Speaker, Facilitator, Adjunct Professor
“I’m incredibly impressed by David Julian Price — a man who, along with his tremendous background, wisdom and sense of humour, has the ability to match the market with his message. To say things that are so appropriate, so empowering and spiritually uplifting — you’ll feel as though your life has been transformed.” — Joel Bauer, Author
Ready to Make Your Next Event Unforgettable?
David Julian Price is an Australian Speakers Hall of Fame inductee, Certified Speaking Professional and one of fewer than 40 Global Speaking Fellows worldwide. He brings 35 years of experience, genuine warmth and the kind of presence that makes conferences memorable.
Let’s talk about how David can make your next event one people are still talking about.