After-dinner speakers are a staple feature of formal dinners and corporate events. The key to complete audience engagement, after dinner speakers confidently and effortlessly inspire audiences and are masterful storytellers. Whether they are sharing their daring feats as an adventurer or their thought-provoking stories of overcoming adversity after dinner speakers resonate with audiences on a personal level.

What is an After Dinner Speaker?

An after dinner speaker is an inspirational, entertaining name brought in to share their experiences at events. Booked by event planners to provide head-turning speeches infused with humour, insightful anecdotes and life lessons – they add a unique quality to any engagement.

Contrary to popular belief, an after dinner speaker is not only somebody who rounds off a gala dinner with a killer speech but the meaning extends to a speaker whose aim is to entertain. So, whatever the event, an after dinner speaker is your go-to for a night – or day – of amusement.

Why Are After Dinner Speakers Hired?

1.) Entertainment & Engagement

After dinner speakers have one main goal; to entertain their audience. Booked to complement the overall success of an event, they work in collaboration with the catering and decor to create a well-rounded experience. A good event can be measured by how engaged its audience is, so many organisers book an after dinner speaker to ensure that guests are captivated from start to finish.

Johnny Herbert – former British Racing Driver & Announcer for Sky Sports F1

2.) Storytelling

Rather than discussing industry trends or just providing business insight, after dinner speeches are often driven by their life story. Though audiences can take away beneficial business or sporting strategies, the main purpose of such a speech is to learn about an exciting speakers' career. This trait makes after dinner speeches stand out from the rest, as they provide audiences with a truly unique experience.

Jason Robinson – former Dual-Code International Rugby League & Rugby Union Player for England National Team, first Black man to Captain the England Team

3.) Complement the Theme of Your Event

From business networking events to awards ceremonies, after dinner speakers are handpicked with the overall theme of the occasion in mind. When done properly, these speakers should perfectly complement all factors of the event, from the target audience demographic down to the atmosphere.

Dame Kelly Holmes – 2x Olympic Gold Medallist, Honorary Colonel of the Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment & Founder of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust

4.) Leave Guests Inspired

After dinner speakers are commonly stars of the stage or screen, track or business boardroom. They have earned a positive reputation within their respective fields, and with that, a substantial fanbase. When you book a famous after dinner speaker for public events, you are more likely to build excitement for the occasion and therefore drive ticket sales.

Jo Salter MBE – First Female Fast Jet Pilot of the Panavia Tornado & Director of Global Transformative Leadership for PwC

How Much Does it Cost to Hire an After Dinner Speaker?

Each after dinner speaker tailors their service to a specific event, factoring in all aspects of an event from the venue to the size of the audience into their delivery. Due to this, the cost of an after dinner speaker varies considerably, with each speaker having their own set fee dependent on their service and expertise. The best way to find out what budget you need for a specific speaker is to contact Champions Speakers’ dedicated booking agents. Call one of our booking agents on 0207 1010 553 or complete our online contact form to begin your journey in hiring an after dinner speaker!

Jeremy Schwartz – Former CEO of Pandora, Managing Director of L’Oreal, Director of Innovation & Marketing for Coca-Cola, Chairman & CEO of The Body Shop

How To Hire an After Dinner Speaker:

If you are interested in enlisting the services of an after dinner speaker at your next event, contact us to hire an after dinner speaker TODAY! Our roster of after dinner speakers are experts at motivating and inspiring audiences of all demographics, all you have to do is decide which speaker is the perfect fit for your event. Here at Champions Speakers, we have over two decades of experience in selecting and hiring after dinner speakers, so make us your first port of call when it comes to selecting an after dinner speaker who will leave your guests in awe.

Let Champions Speakers use their exclusive connections to secure the best after dinner speaker for your corporate event today! Give us a call at 0207 1010 553 or complete our online contact form to begin the process of hiring an after dinner speaker. 

If you are interested in hiring an after dinner speaker, but need some guidance on who the best speakers to hire are, take a look at our ultimate list of the top 25 after dinner speakers for your next corporate event!