| event, the keynote is the principle theme and | | | | from a specific group of people. Sometimes |
| message. In music, art and literature this is underlying, | | | | controversial figures will be invited to give a keynote |
| however in a commercial and business setting there | | | | speech and this is a trick often used when you want |
| is a greater importance on the keynote speakers and | | | | to attract a more diverse range of attendees to the |
| their speech. The term keynote originally comes from | | | | conference or meeting. For example, celebrities are |
| cappella singing, particularly the barbershop style | | | | often used by charities as they bring the spotlight to |
| where one not is sung at the beginning of the song. | | | | the organisation and the celebrity’s followers |
| This would be the key that the song would be sung | | | | are more likely to start supporting the charity to |
| in, thus it was the key note. | | | | replicate their favourite stars. |
| When a keynote speaker is invited to attend a | | | | For most people, being invited to give the keynote |
| conference or course of seminars, they will work | | | | speech at an event is an honour and thus they are |
| with the event organisers to deliver a speech which | | | | not paid for their time. Others will get enough |
| sets down the programme of events and agenda for | | | | advantages by the publicity they get from their |
| the following days. Additionally, it might focus on one | | | | speech. However, some keynote speakers will charge |
| particular story be it a musical piece, piece of art, | | | | a fee for their services, especially if the event they |
| scholarly work or business achievement. | | | | are attending is for commercial and business |
| The keynote speaker is chosen for a number of | | | | purposes. The sums that have been paid to keynote |
| reasons which the organisers of the event will have | | | | speakers in the past have reached hundreds of |
| decided upon. At academic events, they might be an | | | | thousands of dollars and these numbers keep on |
| influential scholar who has published great works on | | | | rising. |
| their particular subject or made a great discovery. At | | | | Popular keynote speakers include ex-presidents and |
| political events they might be a party celebrity who | | | | influential politicians as well as world-renowned |
| will bring glamour and promote further public interest | | | | businessmen and women. Sports stars and |
| in the event. For cultural events the keynote speaker | | | | adventurers are often used as motivational speakers |
| is often chosen because they are respected in their | | | | and academics are used to present the keynote |
| field, especially as these type of events are less | | | | speech at university and college graduation |
| concerned with public interest and more for those | | | | ceremonies. It is a good idea for event organisers to |
| already involved in the sector. | | | | sit down and think about the type of message they |
| Overall however, most event organisers will choose | | | | want to portray, the type of person they think |
| their keynote speaker to attract a higher degree of | | | | would be best for this and if they have a budget or |
| publicity to their event, be it from the wider public or | | | | need to find someone who will speak for free. |