The Speaker Briefing Playbook
Gail Davis, 20 November 2025
Great events start with true alignment between event planners and speakers. The secret? Intentional conversations. Learn the key questions to ask before your event that make all the difference.
Why Successful Event Planners Don't Book Alone
Gail Davis, 22 October 2025
Successful event planners know one thing: booking speakers alone comes with risk. Working with a speaker bureau isn’t about outsourcing - it’s about gaining a partner who knows who delivers, customizes, and truly connects with your audience. Read why top event planners don’t book alone.
The Risky Speaker Shortcut
Gail Davis, 26 September 2025
One of the biggest risks in event planning? Believing internal speakers are enough. Outside voices bring fresh perspective, energy, and impact that turn good events into unforgettable ones. Read the latest Event Planner Strategies & Secrets to learn why.
4 Ways to Measure Event Success
Gail Davis, 25 August 2025
Too many event planners measure the success of an event with standing ovations and 5 star reviews - but that's not the best measurement. Gail Davis shares 4 ways to measure the true success and lasting impact of your events!
Want a Speaker Partner Who Gets It Right the First Time? Here's What to Look For.
Gail Davis, 25 July 2025
When your event’s reputation is on the line, you can’t afford second-best. You need a partner who works like an extension of your team - someone who listens first and delivers fast. Learn why working with a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) like GDA can be a game-changer.
Not Just a Podcast: An Event Planning Tool Built for YOU
Gail Davis, 23 June 2025
Built on years of industry experience and shaped by what our clients truly want to know, Backstage Pass is more than a podcast - it's an event planning resource. With each episode curated for clarity, we help answer the questions that matter most when choosing a speaker, with real insight and real connection.
- The Speaker Briefing Playbook
- Why Successful Event Planners Don't Book Alone
- The Risky Speaker Shortcut
- 4 Ways to Measure Event Success
- Want a Speaker Partner Who Gets It Right the First Time? Here's What to Look For.
- Not Just a Podcast: An Event Planning Tool Built for YOU
- Your GDA Advantage: Our Client Portal & Polling Feature
- Secrets to a Speaker's Overnight Success
- Celebrating John O'Leary: A Gold Star Speaker & an Inspiring Journey
- The Evolution of DEI: A Shift Toward Personal Culture
- The Future of Event Planning: Trends and Tips for a Seamless Experience
- Celebrating Nando Parrado: A Journey of Friendship, Impact, and Inspiration
- Celebrating 25 Years Part 9: Providing Value Through Decoding the Speaking Industry
- Celebrating 25 Years Part 8: Revolutionizing the Ultimate Client Experience
- Celebrating 25 Years Part 7: The Village Behind The Vision
- Celebrating 25 Years Part 6: The Three-Legged Stool
- Celebrating 25 Years - Part 5: The Cornerstones of GDA's Speaker Family
- GDA's Top Trending Speakers
- Celebrating 25 Years - Part 4: New Office, Same Mission
- The Husband & Wife Duo That Every Event Needs: Sandra Joseph & Ron Bohmer
- Celebrating 25 Years - Part 3: Cultivating Culture
- Dandapani: The Risk Worth Taking
- Celebrating 25 Years - Part 2: Turning Points
- Meet our NEW Gold Star Speaker: Liz Murray
- Celebrating 25 Years of Setting Stages Worldwide
- Nando's Timeless Story: Coming Soon to Theaters & Netflix
- Introducing Ankit Fadia 2.0
- End of Year Speaker Booking Tips
- Staying In The Learning Lane
- Why NOW Is The Time For Nando
- Nicole Malachowski: Nobody Wants To Live A Scripted Life
- Ken Schmidt: Standing Out Among The Competition
- Why ESG Matters for Business: Insights from Fortune's Geoff Colvin
- The Message of Hope that Supersedes Media Clickbait
- Adding Value with Emcees & Moderators
- Women Bred, Women Led
- Buyer's Remorse: Signs & Solutions
- Dear Celebrity...
- The Power of Momentum: Insights from Suneel Gupta
- Nando Parrado: Celebrating 50 Years of Influential Impact
- IASB Convention Recap
- Making the Client the Hero: GDA's Client Portal
- Meet Our NEW Gold Star Speaker!
- Meeting & Event Planning Tips
- Speaker Fees: To Negotiate Or Not To Negotiate
- How Speaker Fees Are Like Handbag Shopping
- 23 Years of Unforgettable Experiences
- GDA Polling Feature: Speaker Selection Just Got Easier
- The VIP Experience: Going Out of Style, Or Just on Pause?
- What Flavor Is Your Speaker?
- 2022 Events Forecast
- The Anniversary
- Visualizing and Training for Success
- The Journey Never Ends...Sharing What We Learn Along The Way
- Business Growth Speakers
- The Other F-Word You Don't Want to Hear
- Celebrity Booking Tips
- A Woman Owned Business
- 2021: To Smoother Roads Ahead
- Virtual Events are Fun, Engaging and on the Rise.
- Case Study: "Quarantine...let's binge watch our meeting"
- When will large and in-person events make a comeback?
- Case Study: "Virtual Made it Possible"
- You need a good moderator/host for your event. Here's why.
- How are fees being adjusted for virtual appearances?
- Celebrating 20 Years- Part 8: Staying Tech Savvy
- Celebrating 20 Years- Part 7: IASB and EO
- Celebrating 20 Years- Part 6: Gratitude
- Look Who's 20!
- Celebrating 20 Years - Part 5: New Discoveries
- Celebrating 20 Years - Part 4: The Big Move...the Rebrand
- Celebrating 20 Years - Part 3: Growing Pains and Gains
- Celebrating 20 Years - Part 2: Turning Points
- Celebrating 20 Years - Part 1
- 18th Anniversary Celebration - Founder's Talk
- GDA Podcast Recap | Nando Parrado Episode 7
- GDA Podcast Recap | Richard Resnick Episode 6
- GDA Podcast Recap | Dr. Michael "Misha" Auslin Episode 5
- GDA Podcast Recap | Herb Meyer Episode 4
- GDA Podcast Recap | David Polinchock Episode 3
- GDA Podcast Recap | Jim Carrol Episode 2
- GDA Podcast Recap | Jeff Kirschner Episode 1
- The Story of the GDA Podcast
- The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same: 30 Years Of Perspective
- An Inspirational Story of Perseverance
- Less Is More
- Six Speakers, Six Days, Three Cities….. Impressions.
- The Entrepreneurial Spirit
- Top “Plan B” Questions When Bad Weather Strikes
- Business Advice From a Veteran
- Top A-Team Traits That Deliver Successful Results
- Setting Your Moral Compass
- Don’t Drop the Ball on Introductions
- A Role Model for Those Who Stay, Leave and Everyone Else
- Secret Weapons
- Celebrating 15 Years With HR Houston
- A Unique Speaker You Need
- Rex Lewis-Clack: Class of 2013- A Guest Blog from Cathleen Lewis
- A Magical Event
- The Impact of a TED Talk- A Guest Blog From Leslie Morgan Steiner
- The Day That Changed Our Lives- A Guest Blog From Steve Palermo
- Everyone Should Book John O'Leary
- Eric Saperston is Another Gift
- Create an Oscar Award Winning Event with Eric Maddox
- Cruising into 2013
- Hope for the Holidays
- Don't Wait to Book Your Speakers Part 2
- Don't Wait to Book Your Speakers
- A Guest Blog From Kristina Wandzilak
- A Guest Blog from Nando Parrado
- Do You Take the Stairs?
- Dr. Gary Chapman Brings the Love to Our Office
- DON'T HIRE MOVERS!
- Designing Women
- TEDxSMU - What a day!
- The End of the Up Experience Didn’t Leave Me Down
- Up, Up, Up. The Up Experience Part 3
- Round 2 of the Up Experience
- The Up Experience, Truly Uplifting
- An Audience with the Dalai Lama
- The Best Email Tip I've Ever Heard
- Don't Just Book a Speaker, Create a Revolution
- Kids of the Suburbs Take Note
- Visiting Their Cells Emotional. Energy.
- Sex, Mentors and Thank You ... An unexpected sort of day.
- Powerful. The only word for today.
- The Give Back Tour Begins
- Andre Norman and Giving Back
- Energy and Synergy with Ankit Fadia
- Momentum, Passion and Transformation
- Partnerships
- An Epic Trip
- Tom Martinez- A Story of Hate, A Message of Hope
- Kids and Speakers
- Ethics
- Live From New York
- Growth
- Customer Service: Going Above and Beyond
- In Remembrance of Randy Snow
- A Sense of Connection
- Event Wisdom: Simple things that make a difference
- International Events
- A CEO Who Gets It!!!
- Celebrating 10 Years of Inspiration
- Domestic Violence
- Milestones and Celebrations
- Meeting...No meeting? Speaker...No speaker? What's a planner to do?
- It Was No Coincidence
- Let's Get Healthy with Todd Whitthorne and Gail's Tips for Healthy Meetings
- Nando, Sonia, Tim and 2008
- Timing is Everything ... and Steve Forbes, too.
- Rex Lewis-Clack and Cathleen Lewis