Speaking industry jargon

The professional speaking industry has its own jargon.

A conference or event manager may hire a professional speaker for one of the following roles at a conference or convention:

In New Zealand speakers often fulfil more than one role at a conference. 
Companies and organisations may hire a professional speaker to:

Speakers may also run their own public seminars or workshops, or run webinars, teleseminars or teleclasses.

Glossary: What the different terms mean.

Keynote/Plenary Session/Platform Presentation:
A presentation made to a whole conference of between 30 to 90 minutes. Purists would say that only one speech should be referred to as the Keynote, and it is the major speech that sets the “key note” for the whole event.

Many conference organisers now adopt the term keynote for any plenary session, and many professional speakers refer to their major speeches as their “keynotes” whether the speech be delivered pre or post conference, at a break-out session or as the true event “Keynote”.

In the USA it is common to find speakers who have a particular keynote speech that may be the only speech they deliver. In New Zealand most speakers are versatile, and adapt their keynote themes to serve the needs of the particular audience.  A speaker may deliver a keynote or plenary speech, and, at the same conference also conduct a workshop going into an aspect of the material in more detail or MC the awards dinner or speak after dinner too.

Plenary Session: 
A session delivered to the whole conference. 

Break-out Session:
A session delivered to a sub-set of conference attendees. This can also be a platform presentation, delivering similar material to that in the speaker’s keynote, or it can be delivered as a seminar or workshop.

Seminars or Workshops:
Seminars or workshops may run from half a day to several days. A seminar will focus more on the speaker, but have some discussion.  A workshop may be more interactive than a seminar, and will involve participants engaging in intensive discussion and some kind of activity.

Master of Ceremonies:
The Master of Ceremonies (MC or Emcee) works with the organiser to make sure a conference or event runs smoothly. They may introduce and thank the speakers, keep the meeting running to time, provide segues and links and fill in any gaps.  They may also work with the organiser to develop an overall theme for the event.

Training Programs:
In a training program participants will learn/are trained in a particular skill, or set of skills, that they should be able to demonstrate and apply at the end of it. 

Facilitation:
A facilitator’s role is usually more process than content focused. The facilitator is responsible for guiding a group through a process. Some professional speakers also work as facilitators, or deliver material through a facilitative process. 

After Dinner (or Lunch or Breakfast) Speeches:
After dinner speeches are generally 20-45 minutes long. Speeches are usually expected to be informational and entertaining. A breakfast speaker is likely to have an inspiration/informational element; the later in the day the speech is delivered the higher the expectation of entertainment. 

It is essential that an after-dinner speaker and organisers discuss in advance the audience’s expectations so that the speaker can get the balance between information and entertainment right.

Teleseminar/Webinar/Teleconferences:
May involve a presentation to hundreds, or to a handful of people. Teleconferences are conducted by a telephone bridge line, where participants ring in. Webinars are presentations conducted via the web.

There are many companies now offering the technical services to present Teleclasses/teleseminars and webinars based both in New Zealand and overseas.

Signature Speech:
Speakers may develop a speech which is their signature keynote, that covers material completely unique to them, and which only they could deliver.    

Signature Story:
A speech containing a 'signature story' developed by a speaker, based on their own experience. Signature stories are important intellectual property belonging to the speaker. It is unethical to use another speaker’s signature story without permission.