Call For Submissions

Speaker Guidelines and Helpful Hints

Deadlines:

Proposing a seminar topics for all upcoming events: May 31, 2012
Speaking submission -Chicago: May 1, 2012
Speaking submission -Miami: June 1, 2012
Speaking submission -Detroit: July 1, 2012

The Divorce Expo audience is unique and ever changing. I have assembled a few guidelines to help you with submitting proposals and speaking at The Divorce Expo as I have received many inquiries about planned changes in the The Divorce Expo format.

Please read the speaker guidelines below before submitting a proposal.

Event timelines, when and where to send requests

Seminar outlines and event information will be posted to the TDE Blog as they are finalized. Please send your requests to us by using our registration form to expedite your speaker seminar or main stage request.

Quality and quantity

There will be no more than three or four speakers in each session with very few exceptions. Please keep this in mind when pitching a session. Sessions generally run 50 minutes (depending on the topic) so bear in mind the odds of one person speaking more than 50 minutes will be unlikely.

Moderating a session is a highly regarded (yet difficult to execute) role. It is the moderator’s job to ask questions, generate arguments, involve the audience and tell a story through the interaction of all participants. The moderator also summarizes the discussion, highlights key points of agreement and contention, identifies resources for further information and ends the session in time to do Q&A with the audience. Before you ask for this role, be sure you are able to guide the discussion and audience.

It’s not about you

Speaking engagements build awareness of and credibility for your organization. The best speakers know that being perceived as an expert through delivering quality content for the benefit of event attendees is far better than delivering a hard sell.

Keep your company profile and contact information down to one or two slides. Your audience will thank you and you will stand a far better chance of being invited back to speak at TDE.

Presentations will be available for download post event based on availability. You will need permission to release any information other than your presentation at a session (e.g. handouts or other promotional material).

Presentations style and format

The Divorce Expo will have a session PowerPoint template available for download for each event. All speakers will be expected to use this template when preparing presentations for the event. Each session will have its own format and if you are unsure, ask the moderator.

Seminar Relevance

Remember your audience. TDE only selects topics of relevance. From time to time, at select events, there may be “sponsored sessions” but those will be clearly labeled as such and are not part of the TDE programming docket.