Events & Vendors

Free Speaker & Performer Contract Template (PDF)

A speaker or performer agreement sets the terms for booking someone to speak or perform at an event — the topic or act, the fee, technical and hospitality requirements, and whether the session may be recorded.

When to use it

Use this when booking a speaker, panelist, or performer for a conference, corporate event, or private function — it covers the details that are easy to assume and hard to fix later, like recording rights and cancellation terms on both sides.

What's typically included

• Engagement description
• Event details
• Fee and payment
• Technical/hospitality requirements
• Cancellation terms
• Recording and usage rights
• Liability
• Governing law

How to fill it in

• Describe the talk or performance specifically, including its duration — "a 45-minute keynote on remote team management" sets expectations more clearly than "a talk."
• Set cancellation terms for both sides, not just the organizer — this template expects language for what happens if the organizer cancels and separately what happens if the speaker or performer does.
• Decide the recording and usage rights up front (internal use, promotional use, or public release) and get the speaker/performer's sign-off in writing where the template calls for it, rather than assuming it after the event.

This template is a general starting point, not legal advice — customize it and have it reviewed for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Can the organizer record and publish the session afterward?

Only for the use specified in the recording and usage rights section (internal, promotional, or public release) — fill this in explicitly rather than leaving it ambiguous, since publishing beyond what was agreed can be a real point of friction.

Are travel and lodging expenses included in the fee?

Not by default — there's a separate line to note whether travel, lodging, or other expenses are reimbursed on top of the fee, and any caps on that reimbursement.

Is an electronically signed speaker agreement legally binding?

Yes, under the U.S. ESIGN Act and state UETA laws, the same as any other contract.