A keynote speaker is a person that gives a speech that identifies the main theme (or ‘key’) at a convention, seminar, conference or other event. Such speakers need to be familiar with their audience and the subject matter of the speech. Often they are chosen because of their experience or mastery of the theme of the gathering, are well known for other reasons or present an unusual or interesting perspective.
A good keynote speaker must be articulate and comfortable speaking in front of large groups. They should inspire and invigorate the audience about the theme of an event and prepare them for information that they’ll receive from other speakers. Often these speakers use humour to break down barriers and to make an audience more comfortable and receptive to their message. Listening and interacting with audience members is another technique that can help build rapport and get a message across.