Top speakers often circulate among them the names of speakers bureaus which act unethically, don’t pay, renege on promises, and so on. One of the worst offenders is someone named Thom Lisk. I want to warn anyone who speaks professionally, especially new people, to steer clear of him. Here is a typical piece of his spam sent to me today, although I’ve asked to be removed from all mailings and he’s repeatedly promised to do so. Note the lie that begins the piece, “I was reading about you today.” I think it’s a tremendous service in any community to prevent members of that community from wasting precious time and resources, and I despise the people who give professionals such a bad name. Stay away from this guy and his “bureau.”
Dear Speaker,
Today I was reading about you while doing a cross reference check for great speakers for our client needs.
We book lots of speakers as you can see by our bureau website–link below.
Your information sent to this email would be of great interest to us as we have a couple of clients right NOW that we would like to consider offering you to.
We work for speakers on a straight commission when we book speakers quoting you at whatever fee you give us, of course. Our President has successfully booked terrific speakers for 32 years and is the author of the top book in America about the business of how to be a success as a Professional Speaker.
I hope to hear from you ASAP.
Also, I hope you do not mind that I added you to a list today of speaker friends whom we send news to once in awhile… therefore, we may forward you a monthly newsletter sent to a few others earlier this week. Please do read it and complete the survey when you have time, okay? Thanks.
For now however please know we have excellent references booking pro speakers to the Fortune 500, local elementary schools, and every other type organization you could mention at one time or another.
Do send us specific Word Docs or PDF files, etc. about yourself and a link to your website even if you have never worked with “TOP QUALITY PRO SPEAKERS BUREAU” like ours before, we welcome your information. Learn about us via our website–link below. If you want to talk before sending materials call us during regular business hours M-F eastern standard time.
This is a confidential request for you only.
Forgive me please… if you have sent us info in the past I do not have that handy… we would like updated info. If you have a demo tape we would welcome that, if not that is okay too.
Thank you.
Respectfully yours, in service, for your success,
Emily Bright, Customer Service/Administration
Professional Speakers Bureau Int’l
I totally agree with you Alan. He must be on a marketing campaign because I received the identical letter. He is a big time scam artist who was kicked out of NSA quite a few years ago.
I am flattered to be in good company with you Alan!!
He has zero integrity. I want to unsubcribe, but I am sure he will never unsubscribe me so he will be listed as spam, if I can figure out how to do that. Regards pat
When you write to him, he quotes God, calls you a liar, and says something like “a new employee sent this out.” He is an emotionally damaged nut job.
Ah yes. He’s been spamming AZ, too. I asked him to Remove me from his list. I got another rambling email back. I sent a second one with it in larger type. He sent back a snarky email “Gee… are you with the Jewish mafia also? See further below…” He uses different “employee” names. Sigh. Sent him to spam assassin. Recommend we all do. Thanks for publishing this, Alan.
He’s not threatening to sue the National Speakers Association for slander!
Thanks Alan. This guy is now trolling linked in looking for suspects. Each time I see an entry I’ve sent a msg to the person Lisk is posting too. This guy has the WORST reputation in the industry. A real jerk.
He’s a liar and a cheat. Totally unethical.