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Open Right

Why choose to work with Booked Out?

At Booked Out, we pride ourselves on tailored service. Whether we are working with schools, libraries, councils or other clients we aim to provide knowledgeable and expert advice. Our hope is that the recommendations we make provide a perfect match for each given event, taking into account the briefing we discuss with you, the audience, and the context of the event.

This is why, when we receive feedback we take it very seriously—positive or negative. Whether you are a speaker or have booked a speaker, would love for you to let us know what you thought of our service. You can do this via our evaluation form.

In the meantime, please browse some previous testimonials about our work, from our speakers and our clients.

Testimonials for our agency

3 July 2017

Oliver Phommavanh

I am very fortunate to be able to visit schools and engage with kids all across Australia as an children’s author. Booked Out are a pleasure to work with, and they always make sure that I am on top of all my bookings in VIC and beyond.

Oliver Phommavanh, author of Thai-riffic! and The Other Christy.

3 July 2017

Jack Heath

Booked Out has helped me engage and inspire thousands of young readers. I wouldn’t have a career without them.

Jack Heath, author of The Cut Out.

4 July 2017

Sofie Laguna

I love Booked Out. I love the team and I love Lauris and I so appreciate the support.

Sofie Laguna, author of The Choke and The Eye of the Sheep.

3 July 2017

Nicole Hayes

Always organised, supportive and all-round great. And they do my paperwork! What’s not to love?

Nicole Hayes, author of A Shadow’s Breath, One True Thing and The Whole of My World.

3 July 2017

Michael Gerard Bauer

Love these guys! Great people to work with.

Michael Gerard Bauer, author of Just a Dog, Don’t Call Me Ishmael! and The Running Man.

3 July 2017

Corrine Fenton

Always there to look after us authors and illustrators of books for children.

Corrine Fenton, author of Little Dog and the Christmas Wish and Hey Mum, I Love You.

24 September 2012

Sally Rippin

I have been with Booked Out ever since I was first published back in 1996. As a young and inexperienced author/illustrator, Booked Out were paramount in helping me connect with my readers as well as gaining support from teachers and librarians.

Booked Out also helped me supplement my then pitiful royalty earnings by finding me regular work, even at a time where author visits to schools were a relatively new phenomenon.

I am incredibly grateful to Lauris and everyone at Booked Out for supporting me over the years. Their knowledge, enthusiasm and professionalism is unparalleled and I couldn’t recommend them highly enough.

Sally Rippin

22 August 2012

Casey-Cardinia Library Corporation

We have been using Booked Out for years, for adult authors and speakers, and in particular for authors during Children’s Book Week. This year we have used the services of Booked Out to book award winning author John Marsden, author of the Wonky Donkey Craig Smith [all the way from New Zealand!], Specky Magee author Felice Arena for a Read Like a Demon session, nutritionists Lola Berry and Arabella Forge, teen authors Lili Wilkinson, Cath Crowley, Jack Heath and Scot Gardner. I have found all the speakers to be of high quality and the website is terrific for searching authors by state age or theme.

Bec and Simon have been fantastic at sourcing speakers on a particular theme, or trying their hardest to fulfil our wishes (e.g. John Marsden). [Booked Out] are always prompt and efficient and very flexible. I particularly like the personal touch…if someone becomes available from interstate they’ll email out an expression of interest to Libraries.

—Cenza Fulco, Community Engagement Librarian, Casey-Cardinia Library Services, Victoria

 

15 August 2012

James Moloney

I have had a wonderfully fruitful relationship with Lauris Pandolfini and her team at Booked Out since the mid-1990s. Over that time, I have received regular invitations to conduct talks and workshops in schools, libraries and seminars in Queensland, where I live, and also in Victoria which I enjoy visiting. All have been well organised and I can’t recall a dispute over payment or a crossed wire about times, venues or transport details. The team are friendly and I look forward to meeting up with them every August at the Book Week party. In fact, it has been a welcome highlight of my year, for more than a decade now, to spend the last two weeks of August in chilly Melbourne visiting schools and libraries on an itinerary organised by Booked Out. I wholeheartedly recommend them to writers, illustrators and public speakers seeking to build a profile and earn part of their living through similar work.

James Moloney

8 August 2012

Alice Pung

I don’t know what I would do without Booked Out. As my books are on high school curriculums, they’ve helped me balance my part-time legal work with my speaking engagements, and sent me to schools all around Australia. Their exemplary level of service and loyal representation of authors is unparalleled. Lauris and her team really care about education. I am grateful everyday for Booked Out, they’ve given me an opportunity to teach and hopefully inspire students.

Alice Pung

2 August 2012

Andy Griffiths

I’ve been proud to be part of the Booked Out family for almost 20 years now. Without Booked Out’s help recommending and connecting me to schools in the early lean years I’m not sure I would have survived the slings and arrows of a fledgling writers’ life. Have always appreciated the enthusiasm, care, knowledge and passion that Lauris and her team bring to everything they do.

Andy Griffiths

31 July 2012

Steve Biddulph

Booked Out managed school seminars for me for almost a decade. We reached thousands of teachers and received wonderful feedback all across Australia. They are an ethical and thoughtful speakers’ bureau with a personal touch, and know the education world inside out.

Steve Biddulph

 31 July 2012

Michael Wagner

As an author who’s worked with Booked Out for years (without ever experiencing a major hiccup!), I’ve found them to be professional, well-organised and supportive. Their attention to detail and ability to communicate clearly means everyone involved in a visit knows just what to expect – and things, therefore, run like clockwork. I can’t recommend Booked Out highly enough for their professionalism, communications and care. They really do a brilliant job.

Michael Wagner

30 July 2012

Sammy J

The team at Booked Out are some of the finest individuals I’ve had the pleasure of working with. They are courteous, professional, punctual, and always on hand to assist. In fact, the only thing they won’t do is perform my school presentations for me. Despite this shortcoming, I would heartily recommend them to anyone who values education and ideas.

Sammy J

30 July 2012

Scot Gardner

[Booked Out’s] payment arrangements, booking etiquette, client relationships, grace with referrals, communication protocols and cheery demeanour are second to none in the industry. [They} have a fantastic stable of staff/authors/speakers/performers and I’m proud to be on that list.

–Scot Gardner

11 July 2012

Upper Hunter Regional Library

Muswellbrook Libraries wanted to organise a three-week series of visitors to their libraries, to celebrate the National Year of Reading. As is often the case with councils and libraries, the funding was received on a short timeline, so we had to help them select three speakers who would suitable and able to travel to the area less than two months out from the event. The library ended up booking Jeannette Rowe, David Miller and Michael Wagner (all of whom had a great time in Muswellbrook).

Thank you for your patience and assistance as we bought the event together with such short deadlines. Your staff were always helpful and everything came together extremely well. David, Jeannette and Michael were perfect presenters for the event, and the feedback from school staff and the children was all overwhelmingly positive. Thank you again for all your help, we look forward to working with you again.

—Terry O’Keefe, Library Coordinator, Upper Hunter Regional Library Muswellbrook & Denman Branches

 

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