Create an Oscar Award Winning Event with Eric Maddox
Gail Davis, 09 January 2013
As a former meeting planner I know the importance of timing when it comes to booking speakers.
I have a tip that I am certain will be a home run for your next event! I suggest you book Eric Maddox, the interrogator who masterminded Saddam Hussein’s capture.
Eric was recommended to me by one of my long term clients. I respect his opinion tremendously so when he suggested I get to know Eric I wasted no time. I immediately invited Eric to my office to give his presentation to my entire team.
Cruising into 2013
Gail Davis, 08 January 2013
I am back refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to create an incredible 2013. This fresh approach is the result of 16 days on Crystal Cruises Symphony. I am a huge fan of the Crystal Cruise experience and its restorative powers. This blog is dedicated to anyone who’s ever been curious about cruises - corporate event planners, individual travelers and those planning family trips. There is something for everyone.
When I share that I love cruising, I often get the comment, “I have never been on a cruise.” To me it’s like someone saying, “I have never stayed at a hotel.” You can’t lump all cruising together any more than you can lump all hotels together.
The experience of staying a moderate priced chain hotel and a five star resort are very different.
Hope for the Holidays
Gail Davis, 10 December 2012
Simon Sinek is currently a very popular speaker. I love his main concept: “Know Your Why.”
I have known my “why” since day one of establishing GDA. I love the feeling of working with great speakers who have the ability to change the world. It is a lofty “why” but it’s what drives me nonetheless.
When I met Nando Parrado, it was the beginning of that “why.” I founded GDA based on a commitment to share his story with the world. He was our first speaker. From his New York Times bestseller, Miracle in the Andes, to the recent History Channel documentary, “I Am Alive,” to the audiences he addresses, his story is incomparable.
Don't Wait to Book Your Speakers Part 2
Gail Davis, 15 November 2012
If you missed the last blog, click here to read part one of "Don't Wait." I listed the reasons why you don't want to wait to book your speaker - from fee increases to travel issues, I’ve covered it all.
First choice, availability and budget are usually the initial criteria to cross off the list when choosing a speaker. Now, are you ready to pitch your speaker options to your leadership team or committee?
Now is the time to get started - don't wait until the holidays pass you by to line up your strategy and key decision criteria.
In my experience of dealing with the "C" level decision maker (CEO, COO, Chief Sales, etc.) or high level committees, I have found it is best to give fewer options. Make a short list of options you are passionately prepared to discuss. It is always easier to go back and widen the search net. Once you let the suggestions get into a “free for all” it’s easy to lose control of the process.
Don't Wait to Book Your Speakers
Gail Davis, 19 September 2012
Tick Tock! Beat the clock! Don't get caught in the speaker scramble!
You know the situation: You’ve known for months, maybe even a year, you need to start your speaker search. You have a dream list of possibilities.... the budget gets changed … the leadership changes. You know the slippery slope and I get it.
From my experience “on the other side,” I know the thinking. Why engage my leadership or committee before they really need to be concerned? It’s valid. However, don’t become a victim of waiting! Why?
You don’t want to lose your first option. It has happened several times in the past week at our office; clients have missed out on their first option. The speaking business is thriving, which means calendars are booking up much faster than in the past few years. The early bird gets the worm! No one wants to headline their event with their second choice.
A Guest Blog From Kristina Wandzilak
Gail Davis, 24 August 2012
Season Two of “Addicted” will premiere Tuesday, August 28, 2012 on Discovery Fit and Health at 10pm/9c, and I am asked each day how I am feeling about the day approaching.
Being a part of an award winning TV show was never on my radar, not planned or even dreamed about. Nineteen years ago, I was hopelessly addicted, homeless, hungry, cold and in despair, wanting to die every second I was alive. Finding recovery at 21 years old, I slowly rebuilt my life, healing my spirit, facing the viscous and haunting memories of the street. I made amends and peace with the people I harmed and began to walk into a future that was uncertain and with sobriety, wide open.
- 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
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- Women Bred, Women Led
- Buyer's Remorse: Signs & Solutions
- Dear Celebrity...
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- 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
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- What Flavor Is Your Speaker?
- 2022 Events Forecast
- The Anniversary
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- 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?
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- Nando, Sonia, Tim and 2008
- Timing is Everything ... and Steve Forbes, too.
- Rex Lewis-Clack and Cathleen Lewis