Speaker Submissions

Guidelines for Speaker Submissions:
Tory Johnson’s Spark & Hustle National Tour 2012

Thanks for your interest in presenting at Spark & Hustle in 2012. Please read carefully before submitting a speaker for consideration. Tory Johnson and her team receive more than 1,000 inquiries from potential speakers each year for both Women For Hire and Spark & Hustle events. In order for our committee to evaluate the best presenters for each event, we request that all submissions follow these guidelines — even if you’ve spoken at a previous Spark & Hustle event.

Three important notes before you proceed:

1. We do not cover travel expenses or provide fees or honorariums for speakers.
2. Out of respect for our attendees, we have a strict “no selling from the stage” policy. Speakers who expect to sell, sell, sell, during their session need not apply.
3. We will not consider submissions that are incomplete or submitted except as described below.

Every Spark & Hustle one-day event features up to 10 speakers—a mix of small business owners and experts with a proven expertise in the topic they address. An example would be a session on product manufacturing with an entrepreneur who’s gone through the process of developing a prototype, finding a manufacturer, dealing with legalities and so on, as well as a manufacturing consultant who works closely with small business owners to take them step by step from idea to market. It’s important that all speakers are able to offer advice and anecdotes that convey first-hand application and experience—not just theory—on the topics they address.

To avoid the same old take on expected topics, our committee gives priority to speakers who can prove that they offer fresh, inventive, and unconventional substance and style to their content and delivery.  Most people say they meet this standard, but few actually do.

Below is a list of specific topics covered at our events. Please select the topic you would like to cover from the list below. Remember, this is a one-day event, so time is limited, we cannot accept submissions for session topics outside of this list.

Speaker Suggestion Submission Guidelines:

1. Name and contact information. Address, phone number(s), email address, name of business. Indicate name and contact details for speaker representative if this submission is made by someone else on behalf of a speaker.
2. Conference location. Based on the dates/locations provided online, indicated which events (in order of preference) you’re submitting for. (NOTE: Since we do not cover travel costs, please do not list events for which you’re not able or willing to travel as needed on your own.)
3. Specific topic(s) of expertise. Choose one topic from the list above—the area where you’re at your very best. Limited to up to three topics (in order of preference).
4. Session type. Indicate if your material works as a panelist or sole presenter or both. If solo, is it an interactive workshop or lecture style?
5. Web links. Speaker’s website(s), Facebook profile, Twitter page, LinkedIn profile.
6. Biography. Tell us who you are in just three sentences—remember—sentences are not paragraphs.
7. Video link. Provide a link to a video clip of you addressing an audience (ideally on this topic) within the last six months. If no clip is available, record a 1 to 3 minute clip of your intro using a web cam, flipcam or method of your choice. (NOTE: Do not send us the actual clip; include only a link to the clip. Submissions without a video link will not be considered.)
8. Session title. Must convey the topic with creativity and accuracy.
9. Session takeaways. Share five concrete takeaways that will provide actionable advice or direction for the audience during your session.
10. Why you. In 100 words or less, tell us why you should be the one to present on this topic.
11. Equipment needs. Indicate AV preferences: lavalier mic or podium with mic; Is PowerPoint essential or can speaker present without it? Video or other special needs?
12. References. Provide name, title, phone and email of at least two references who’ve hired or heard speaker on this topic in the last year or who can vouch for speaker’s expertise in this area. (References will not be contacted without your prior knowledge.)
13. Wrap-up. Finally, please share why this speaker is interested in speaking at this particular event. What does the speaker hope to gain by sharing his or her time and talent at a Spark & Hustle event?
14. Conference requests. Indicate what the Spark & Hustle staff could do to ensure that the speaker’s time was well spent.  Any special requests or specific needs the speaker would like the conference committee to consider?

There are rolling deadlines for speaker submissions given the staggered conference dates. Speakers are encouraged to submit now.

Fully completed submissions should be emailed—without attachments—to speakers@sparkandhustle.com.  If you’d like to submit supplemental materials (such as books, product samples, etc), please mail them, along with a copy of the speaker submission to:

Spark & Hustle Speaker Selection Committee
155 West 72^nd Street, Suite 403
New York, NY 10023

Because of the volume of inquiries, we are only able to contact those who are selected to speak.
Thank you very much for your interest in Tory Johnson’s Spark & Hustle National Tour 2012.  We appreciate your time and consideration.