Sometimes the proper voice from the podium is all it takes to turn a boring event into an exciting one. Suddenly everyone’s phones are off, ears are wide open, and whispers fill the room like an old jukebox turning on. Invite a Celebrity speakers. People cling on every word; they do not merely listen.

Celebrity speakers attract large numbers for a legitimate cause. Their stories go much beyond buzzy headlines or red carpets. Their hard-earned wisdom is, in some respects, wrapped in charm and sincerity, done up with a little starduster. With cameras running, they have tripped, flown, and managed it all. That creates stories you cannot simply read about online—they are real.

Booking one is not as easy as pointing at a magazine cover and waving a checkbook, though. Every well-known face with a message is behind a well-oiled system. Agents pick over the fine text. Planners balance dates, demands, and greenroom treats that would cause your head to whirl. Riders who might cause a rock band blush, negotiate contracts akin to high-stakes chess, and have schedules more in line with rush hour traffic. Sometimes a single script modification can set off a chain reaction none had anticipated.

A little secret: Many of the viewers hope for outrageous stories or drama straight out of the headlines. Usually, what transpires is something more deeper. There is comedy, sensitivity, even a hint of rough love. One speaker might joke about past disasters, turning mistakes into lessons worth their weight in gold. Another could relate honest anguish about their toughest mistakes, so causing everyone in the room to forget they are famous at all.

See the change when a famous person sprinkles inside jokes or sharp comebacks throughout their speech. Laughing permeates the seats like popcorn exploding. People lounge around. Inspired ideas slink in sideways between “aha” events and laughs. The actual magic occurs at that point. Eyes brighten and minds open; you could almost hear aspirations brushing off, ready for another trip.

The secret is not only selecting someone with name familiarity. It’s identifying the people who connect with actual integrity and leaving egos outside. Some speakers consider their personal stumbles as stepping stones. Others ignite viewers with bubbling over passion. In any case, the objective is obvious: move people, challenge ideas that linger long after the cheers.

Have you ever seen someone leave a lecture carrying a fresh idea blinking behind their eyes? That is the unseen memento left behind by a top-notional celebrity speaker. Perhaps it’s a dosage of perspective, a clearer sense of direction, or the bravery to attempt something audacious and messy. Sometimes the words of a well-known person, delivered with the appropriate punch, open doors in others long closed.

And let’s face it—you listen even if only to hear the joke about a lost shoe or a live interview gone wrong when a celebrity speaker relates a story. Though it originates from the red carpet, everyone enjoys a story with a twist.