Pre-Engagement Questionnaire

Thanks for your help. These questions will help Brad to give you the best program possible. This stuff isn’t meant to be homework; it’s Brad’s desire to tailor his programs to fit your group. The more specific details are, the better!

Here is a good rule of thumb: if this stuff isn’t obvious to at least 65% or 75% of the group it isn’t appropriate and you can skip the question. In order to be helpful – and funny– it has to apply to (at least most of) the entire group. (Note: Brad often works with groups where many of these questions don’t apply.If you feel any of these questions don’t fit your group, just skip it. No sweat.)

Warning: All of this info helps me to better understand your group. But it is very hard to know what information in advance will make it into the program. It is impossible to predict at the beginning of the process where the jokes will come from. But please understand that all of your effort is appreciated and – with any luck at all – we’ll find plenty of fodder for the program. Finally: thanks! I’m glad to be on your team, and really appreciate your help to give it my best shot. Any questions? Please don’t hesitate to call us at 800.624.4280.

Name of Group

Date of event

eg – 08/25/05
Your Name
Your Email
Number of people in Audience

Male / Female Ratio

% Male

% Female
Age of Audience Members

How long have they worked there ?

What will the Audience be wearing ? Suits? Biz Casual? Semi-Formal? Swim Suits?

How will they be seated?

Is there anything I should NOT mention? Sensitive areas to be avoided?
If Brad’s program were a movie, how would you want it rated?

President’s (or CEO’s/Manager’s/Boss’s) Name? Title?

Will he/she be in the audience?

Ok to call attention to/gently tease this person?

*Who is (are?) your main competitor(s)?
OK to mention them?

What does your group do? Make? Sell?
What is unique about your group?
Who are your customers by type?
This one is important: Please wrote a several sentence state of your industry.
Where does your group fit in with this? Leading the pack? Right in the middle? Bringing up the rear? Why?
What do the people in the audience do? Responsibilities? Specific Job Titles.
What are Brad’s objectives for the program?
If you were at the door after the speech, how would you like to hear your people respond as they leave?
Why did you pick Brad for this event?
Who determines success for this event? How will it be determined? Measured? (Evaluations? If the boss is happy? Who is Brad trying to please?)
If we were to get together one year after the program, what would have to happen in order for you to think you made the best speaker investment ever?
Note: these three questions are
very important to Brad
**What are 2 or 3 very specific challenges your people face? (Example: XYZ software is difficult to learn, the competition is gaining ground, new XYZ procedures are difficult, new XYZ rules/legislation, etc.) Specific. Specific. Really, really specific.
**Name 1 very specific task your people absolutely hate? (Example: Filling out form 123-B, completing the monthly reports, monthly CRM Audits, reporting to the off-site managers, etc.)Again…. Specific. Specific. Really, really specific.
**How can Brad refer to the entire group by job title or function? (Example: As you know, for you Financial Advisors/Nurses/Health Care Professionals, … Brad needs a specific phrase to use in a specific joke.)
Name a group of people your folks hate. (Example: internal auditors, OSHA, the IRS, Oversite boards, Section Managers, etc)
*Are there inside jokes that may be helpful? What are they?
*What is the most recent “buzz” around the water cooler? What would the be bitching about? (NOTE: Everybody in the audience must know about these points for them to be helpful.)
Specifically, what phrases or jargon do your people use? Acronyms? (What do the acronyms mean?)
What are some specific things that co-workers/clients/bosses might do that might cause stress?Please… specific things. Exactly what?
Are there any messages you cannot give that I can give for you?
Are there any highlights (or disasters) from past meetings that your people would call ‘memorable?’ (Great speakers, disasters, fires, horrible food, bad venues, weater, etc.)
What are some specific duties your people might have to do that cause stress?
Specifically, what changes are your people dealing with? (New boss, new software, new duties, new expectations, etc)
Are there here any immediate past, resent or pending issues I need to be aware of? (This is Huge!)
What would your people gripe about… After the 3rd beer? (Come on! Dig deep… what do they whine about? What is the little, petty stuff that makes them nuts? What is the big stuff they might think about but not mention?)
If you had a magic wand you could use to make things at work better, what would you do?
Which Speakers did you use in this slot for the last 3 years?
Perspective
This is your chance: You’ve hired a professional speaker. Take advantage of Brad! What message do you want him to communicate?What is it that your people need to hear?
What do want them knowing differently? Feeling differently? Doing differently?
What would your people want Brad to tell YOU? What would your group want you (Managers/Administrators/Executives) to hear?
Resources
Many clients are interested in providing a learning resource, such as a book, a Humor Took Kit, or a CD to their attendees to extend the Brad’s message beyond the event itself. Would you be interested in learning more about this?
Most clients ask Brad to make his books, humor-in-the-workplace toys and gags, audio recordings, etc. made available for purchase after the program. (Brad NEVER sells from the platform… never. He just takes about 90 seconds to explain that this stuff is available.) Would you like Brad to set up a table of these resources to sell?

If you would like Brad to set up a table, can you provide a couple of volunteers to help him staff the table during and after his presentation? (Brad always makes these volunteers happy they helped!)

Brad publishes a monthly newsletter about the Power of Humor and Laughter; reminders about using humor at work and at home.To subscribe your group, simply send a list of names and emails to brad@bradmontgomery.com Note: We have a very strict anti spam policy. We do not share emails. Ever. And your group can easily unsubscribe.
Brag About Your People
What specific example can you share where one of your people uses humor, levity or lightheartedness? Who did it? (Names please… you’re bragging about them.) What was it? What do they do? What was the result?
Name a specific individual(s?) in your organization who creates fun and laughter—who personifies happiness-at-work. (Who is that one person that seems to always be upbeat even when others are not?) What do they do? (Crack jokes at meetings? Play practical jokes? Arrange games? Start a Nerf gun ritual? Be specific!) How does this person’s positive attitude affect others? How does this person help the organization?
Specifics
Fly into what city?

Estimated time between airport and event site?

Ground Transport Instructions? Taxi? Car Service? Special
Directions ?
Hotel Name

Phone

Directions to Hotel
Meeting Location (if it isn’t at the hotel)

Is there theme to the meeting? What is it ?

WWW address if any :

Meeting Time :

– Begin

– End

Brad Montgomery Motivational Keynote Speaker, Humorist, Very Funny Guy.

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