If you’re planning any type of event as a business owner, such as a conference or summit, where guest speakers will be involved, I already know that your to-do list is a million miles long. 

Find the perfect venue. 

Make sure there’s appropriate tech available.

Curate the most vibey playlist. 

Figure out the food situation. 

Create branded swag. 

Set up ticket sales.

Sift through speaker applications. 

And that probably doesn’t even cover half of it. 

Planning an event of any kind is a BIG deal! It often takes months and months of planning in order to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch. 

In between all of the big and small details – like buying extra microphone batteries and making sure guests know where to park – there’s often one thing that often gets left off the checklist. 

And unfortunately it’s one of the things that could end up giving you the BIGGEST headache as an event host. 

The thing in question? A proper contract. 📝

Whether you're the one on stage or the one running it, having the right speaker agreement in place is the key to making sure your event is smooth sailing for all involved. 

While speakers and hosts may have different responsibilities, both roles need protection, clear communication, and a written agreement that covers all the logistical and legal bases.

In this blog post, I’m breaking down why speaker contracts matter for both sides AND what to include if you want your next event to feel professional, seamless, and well-organized.

For Speakers: Why You Need a Contract (Even If You Trust the Host)

As a business owner myself, I know how exciting it can be for your application to be accepted or for you to be invited to a speaking event of any kind – whether it’s a podcast interview, summit, panel, or conference (in-person or virtually).

There’s no better compliment than someone seeing you as a thought leader with expertise that’s worth speaking on! I LOVE that for you and I totally want that for you. 

But I want you to go about it the right way. 

In the midst of planning for your speaking opportunity, you’re doing all the things – prepping your slides, mapping out your travel, and maybe even writing a clever opening line.

If I had to guess what you’re probably NOT doing during all that prep work is drafting a contract…

But here’s the thing: whether you're speaking for free, being paid, or offering your time as a promotional opportunity, having a written speaker agreement helps clarify:

✔️What’s expected of you, such deliverables, deadlines, promotional efforts, etc
✔️What’s provided for you, like travel, lodging, AV setup, compensation, etc
✔️Who owns what, especially if the event is recording or repurposing your talk

I know you want your slides to look amazing and you want your audience to remember every word you say. But there’s no amount of polish or prep that can protect you from unpaid invoices or someone reusing your talk without permission.

Only a solid speaker agreement can do that! 

Here’s what it should include:

• Event Overview – where, when, and what format the event is
• Speaker Deliverables – what you're expected to turn in (bios, slide decks, etc.)
• Compensation & Expenses – how you’ll be paid and what costs are reimbursed
• Intellectual Property Rights – who owns the presentation content
• Publicity Terms – how your image, name, or likeness may be used to promote the event.

For Event Hosts: How To Fully Protect Your Event (and Your Reputation)

Now that you know why speakers of events need a contract, let’s talk about why event hosts need them, too!

As an event organizer, you’re juggling logistics, timelines, budgets, and people. All of those things combined is the perfect recipe for something to go wrong… 

Speakers backing out. Missing deadlines. Disputing the terms after the event has gone live.

There’s room for a LOT of confusion and there’s really only one way to avoid it – having a contract on your end, too!

A speaker agreement for organizers helps you clearly outline what’s expected of your guest speaker AND what your own responsibilities are.

Having a speaker agreement as an event organizer will help you:

✔️Avoid last-minute no-shows or flaky guests
✔️Ensure promotional deadlines and materials are delivered on time
✔️Set boundaries around speaker content, promotion, and expectations
✔️Clarify who owns the recording, slides, or presentation files after the event

Not only does this protect the event you’ve worked hard to build, but it also builds trust with your speakers and shows that you run a professional operation.

Here’s what your speaker agreement should include:

• Schedule & Deadlines – key dates for presentations, recordings, and promotion
• Host Deliverables – what the organizer is providing (platform access, event tech, etc.)
• Compensation & Expenses – clear payment structure and expectations
• Intellectual Property Rights – whether the host can record and use the talk for replays or future content
• Confidentiality & Warranties – speaker guarantees their content is original and legal to use
  

If you’re collecting payments, sponsors, or simply want the peace of mind of a polished, buttoned-up event, this agreement isn’t optional – it’s essential!

Speaker Agreements Aren’t Created Equal

So yes, speaker agreements are incredibly important for both parties involved – the speaker AND the event organizer. 

But speaker agreements aren’t one-size-fits-all. The clauses you need as a speaker are different from the ones you need as a host.

While both contracts may include similar categories (like compensation or intellectual property), the roles and responsibilities are reversed, so the protections need to reflect that.

That’s why here at The Boutique Lawyer, I created two different contract templates so that BOTH parties can be covered when it comes to a speaking opportunity.

🗣️ One for the speakers
📋 And one for the hosts

Each one is written with the specific needs of each person in mind and covers everything you need to avoid miscommunication, confusion, or vague expectations. 

At the end of the day, speaking events should be FUN, not filled with sweaty palms over what happens if something goes sideways.

So whether you’re the one behind the mic or behind the scenes, a solid speaker agreement is THE best way to make the event one that people can’t stop talking about. 👏🏼

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