Our guest this week is ethical futurist Alison Burns. Alison is going to be talking about what it really means to be an ethical speaker in relation to content, conduct and influence.  As this is our last show of the year James and Maria will be reflecting on what has been good and bad for them in 2020.  Plus we will be sharing our Tool of the Week, and this week James has found an excellent solution to a big problem faced by many when presenting virtually so make sure you stay tuned.  And we have a special musical finish to fill you with Christmas cheer.

Following the London Speaker Bureau annual conference last week where performance was highlighted as one of the most requested topics of 2020 Maria and James have invited performance expert Sir Clive Woodward to join them.  Clive has accrued more than 30 years' experience leading high performing teams all over the world and is particularly known for the work he has done in rugby and in the 2012 Olympics.  Clive will be talking about how he has taken his work online.  James and Maria will then be discussing the importance of the debrief following an event, whether in person, virtual or hybrid.  Plus they will be sharing their Tool of the Week, an app or a gadget that they are loving.

Our guest this week is not one guest but 3 guests - they are the No.1 selling classical crossover act - Tenors Unlimited.  They will be sharing with us how they have managed in COVID.  Hopefully we will hear some music from them.  Maria and James will then be talking about how speakers can up-sell a  speech to other services. And of course they will be sharing their Tool of the Week, an app or gadget they are making good use of.

This week our guest is London Speaker Bureau’s Global Ambassador, Harry Whitbread.  Harry is going to be sharing what the bureau is seeing in the market place - according to Harry the market is fragmenting into four main groups.   He will be telling us what those are and what clients are telling him about 2021 and beyond.  James and Maria will then be asking the question - Do speakers need a virtual speaker showreel?  And of course our regular feature of Tool of the week - an app or a gadget Maria and James are loving - or a person that is a total Tool

This week our guest is virtual photographer John de Mato - yes you read that correctly, a photographer who takes pictures virtually.  John will tell us how he has found a new niche and is owning it. James and Maria will then be talking about the importance of differentiation and standing out in a crowded market, specifically with regards to speakers. And of course, they will be sharing their Tool of the Week - app or gadget they love, or a person who is a total Tool

We have another information and fun packed episode of This Week in Events planned for you. Our special guest is top futurist Jim Carroll.  He is going to be talking about the future of events and what we need to be thinking about in 2021. We will also be asking him if and when we will get back to normal. Jim will also take us behind the scenes of his virtual studio - the best we’ve seen so far. And of course Maria and James will be sharing their Tool of the Week, a useful app or a gadget - or a person who is a total Tool

Our guest this week is dressage rider, former ski instructor, author and speaker Sophie Bennett.  She spent the first three months of COVID taking time out to rest, recharge and learn new skills. She came back into her business reenergised, full of creativity and ready to hit the virtual world running.  She hasn’t stopped since. She will share how she has created new ways of engaging virtually, how she has raised the usual Zoom meeting game and attracted lots of new clients.  She will be sharing exactly how. James and Maria will then continue their conversation about how to build relationships with speaker bureaus. And lastly they will share their Tool of the Week, an app, a gadget they love ….. or a person who is a total Tool

Every week James Taylor and Maria Franzoni get together to talk about tech, news and insights relating to the world of corporate meetings and events, with a bit of a bias towards speakers and speaking. This week on the agenda we invite speaker Erica Sosna to joins us to share what she has done to be busier in 2020 than she was in 2019 with the added challenge of having given birth just before going into lockdown. James and I talk about what it takes to get listed with a Speaker Bureau And of course our regular feature - Tool of the Week; an app, a gadget we love or a person who is a bit of a Tool

This week Maria and James discuss: Guest of the week - introducing a new feature and how it will work. We will be focusing on people in our industry who are having great success and sharing how they have done it. Topic of the week - This week we will be asking “Where are all the female speakers?” Why is the industry still 70% male? Share your views. And finally - Tool of the Week, James and I will share an app, gadget or person who is a total Tool A slightly different feel to this week’s episode as we will be broadcasting from our homes and not the studio - WFH

This week James and I discuss: 1. Creating experiences with energisers sessions for virtual events 2. Virtual speaking contracts 3. Trending topics And of course our tool of the week, a great app or gadget, or a person who is a total Tool. Link to the green screen: https://www.scan.co.uk/products/elgato-green-screen-mt-20x18m-wall-ceiling-mount-chroma-key-panel-precision-roller-drive-wrinkle-res?gclid=CjwKCAjwiaX8BRBZEiwAQQxGx4I8fFyyb7eTvyb97JQoiqkxqrbOPmK8Yi-9V_egH9tW1DzwmydfoxoC4jQQAvD_BwE