[stylist] Talent Fees

Mon Oct 17 20:55:22 UTC 2011

Ashley,
    I have been an entertainer since I was eight years old, performing in 
community theater. I began taking piano lessons around that same time, 
requiring me to do recitals. I really enjoy performing for others. When I 
was 14, I took up the guitar. My story is that the guitar was easier to fit 
into the trunk of my car than my piano. The truth is that I always wanted to 
play the guitar, but my mother insisted I learn the piano. "After all," she 
argued, "you have a grand piano in the front room!" (It was my sister's 
piano, though!) By the time I was 16, I started playing in clubs, getting 
$25 per night and all I could drink....soda, that is! I eventually became a 
music teacher and directed a performing ensemble.
    I don't know how I got into public speaking, but it was probably through 
the guide dog training program where I got my first three dogs. Around this 
same time, I became very active in the NFB, making presentations about 
blindness and guide dogs. I learned how to write news releases while at a 
national convention and this lead to doing radio interviews. It became a 
domino effect from there, getting invitations to talk about blindness and 
guide dogs.
    I also networked with others in the disability rights movement and 
learned a lot about the Americans with Disabilities Act, specifically how it 
applies to guide dogs. In addition, I got my master's degree in Mental 
Health Counseling, specializing in hypnotherapy, another topic a lot of 
people have an interest in learning more about. I took my public speaking to 
another level and did presentations about hypnosis to any group who would 
have me. The dominoes kept falling as newspaper reporters thought stories 
about the blind hypnotist were very interesting. I began doing workshops in 
my office on quitting smoking, weight management, enhancing athletic 
performance, and past life regression. Churches invited me to speak and I 
found that I could not only market my business but I could earn a pretty 
good living talking about the things I knew a little bit about.
    Public speaking is second nature to me. It began as a way to market my 
business. Actually, marketing my business is marketing myself. I still do 
workshops on topics of metaphysics, especially reincarnation and past life 
regression, but more and more, I am carving out a nitch as an expert in 
service animal issues and policy. I weave my music into my speaking, too, by 
performing songs that underscore what I am speaking on. The audience likes 
being entertained.
    My best advice is to find a way to make what you know about interesting 
enough to others to want to hear what you have to say. It just happens that 
some of the things I find interesting are things others have a curiosity 
about and are willing to pay to satisfy that curiosity. The key is 
networking. So, get out there and let people know who you are!

fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ashley Bramlett" <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
To: "Writer's Division Mailing List" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 4:13 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Talent Fees


> Wow, Marion. Do you do pr or something like it for a living? How did you 
> build your speaking and writing skills so you can actually charge for it?
> I'm impressed. What do you do for a living?
> I might speak at organizations on blindness with or without NFB members if 
> invited. I've read to children in public places; not really giving a 
> speech but still involving some skill in being vocal and keeping audience 
> interested.
> I also read at church voluntarily.
>
> I'd love to be paid for speaking someday. How cool. I'm not an expert 
> about anything except for maybe living as a legally blind person having 
> been visually impaired my whole life. I could also speak on topics which I 
> have a lot of knowledge of such as
> assistive technology, need for public transportation, or some parts of 
> American history.
> Keep up the good work.
> Ashley
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Marion Gwizdala
> Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 3:26 PM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: [stylist] Talent Fees
>
> Bridgit,
>    This is not necessarily off-topic, in my opinion. Writing is about
> communication and so is speaking. Many writers also do public speaking,
> especially those of us who write on a specialized topic. Public speaking 
> is
> also an essential element of marketing. Your writing can be a springboard
> for other revenue-generating activities.
>    I do professional fee-based public speaking. When someone asks me what
> my fee is, here is how I go about it. I begin by getting more information
> about what they want me to speak about and who my audience will be. I ask
> about the venue, what time of day the program will be, how long they will
> want me to speak, and what sort of budget they have for the event. This 
> last
> question is, really, one of my last. I want to know how much they are
> spending on other details in order to get a feel for what they might be
> willing to pay me. All of these factors are important for a couple of
> reasons. One reason is I need to know what to expect, how much it will 
> cost
> me to do the gig, and what other amenities, like a meal,  might be a part 
> of
> the appearance. It also gives them the assurance that this is something I
> have experience doing, so they are going to get a quality presentation. In
> addition, it gives them the impression that my fees will be based upon 
> these
> factors and not some arbitrary figure I will throw up to them, even if it
> is.
>    After I get all of this information, I tell them I will send them a
> proposed schedule of fees and an appearance agreement. I don't necessarily
> tell them what my fee is going to be at the initial contact. (If anyone
> would like to see an actual set of documents from one of my gigs, please
> write to me off-list at the address below my signature.) I always tell 
> them
> that what I will send is a proposal and I will do everything to make sure 
> it
> fits within their budget.
>    Having a formal agreement is very important, as well. I have had a
> couple of people question the need for an agreement, but I let them know
> that the agreement simply outlines what each of us expect so there are no
> ambiguities. Some of the provisions in my agreement include who will 
> provide
> sound support, the need for electricity and how far away it can be, the
> distance I need to be from pools and spraying water , the right to sell
> merchandise, what happens if an outdoor appearance is cancelled due to
> inclement weather, and how many brown and how many green M&Ms should be in
> the dressing room! (grin) (There is actually a very good reason this sort 
> of
> "eccentric" provision is in some agreements, but I digress.)
>    The original question is how much to charge. The amount is variable
> based upon some of the factors above. I will share with you the types of
> fees I have received. One contract I have is to do classes for eye care
> professionals to meet their continuing education requirements for their
> state licenses. My presentations include psycho-social considerations of
> blindness, rehabilitation resources, and diseases of the eye that cause
> blindness. Those who take these classes pay for them. I work for the 
> company
> that provides them and I am paid $154/hour with a two-hour minimum. My
> classes are all three-hour classes, so I get $462 plus expenses to teach a
> class. The expenses include transportation, hotel accommodations, and a 
> per
> diem. Hotel & per diem are only for those presentations that are not 
> within
> driving distance. My per diem is $50/day, including travel days. If it is
> within driving distance, transportation costs are based upon the distance
> and time. Likewise, I did a class for the Hillsborough County department 
> of
> Aging Services. My fee to them was $127/hour.
>    I would like to share with you one of my best bookings. A hospital
> contacted me to do a presentation on service animals in health care
> facilities. I told them I would let them know what my fee would be. I got
> the airline rates, taxi fares, hotel rates, and added in my fee. I called
> them and told them I could doo the appearance for $2521. They said that
> would be good. Then she said, I assume that does not cover the air fare,
> hotel, food, and ground transportation, right?" I paused for a second to
> realize she had just agreed to pay me $2521 as my appearance fee....plus
> expenses! It took everything I could muster to not let out a big "Yeah!,
> although I did as soon as I hung up the phone!
>    So, how do I arrive at my fees? First of all, I suggest your fees do 
> not
> end in "0", like $50, $100, or $150. This looks like an arbitrary figure.
> All of my fees add up to "10". The number  "10" is the number of 
> prosperity,
> representing fullness and emptiness. It also is the sum of the fingers on
> two hands, representing giving and receiving. Just my metaphysical
> perspective. You will notice the "10" in all of the aforementioned fees .
>    I have also done speaking engagements pro bono. Doing so enhances my
> network, so I view such engagements as part of my marketing. Even when I 
> do
> pro bono work, I always get a signed appearance agreement. It adds to the
> professionalism of my work and, as already stated, removes any ambiguity
> over what is expected from both parties. I also sell product at pro bono
> gigs, so I do get a little income from them.
>    If anyone has further questions, I would be happy to share my 
> experience
> with anyone who wants to further their work as a speaker or entertainer.
> After all, they are one in the same. If you are not entertaining, you will
> not be a good public speaker!
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion Gwizdala
> 813-626-2789
> Marion.Gwizdala at Verizon.net
> President at NAGDU.ORG
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
> To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 11:52 AM
> Subject: [stylist] Off-topic: Has anyone ever charged for speaking
> engagements?
>
>
>> Hello Stylist,
>>
>> I have a question. I've recently started booking speaking engagements. A
>> couple of places have compensated me for my services. Until last
>> Thursday, I was given a dollar amount by a group/organization that they
>> typically give to speakers. I was not asked about a fee. Last Thursday,
>> though, I spoke at a local community college and was asked what my
>> speaking fee is. I was not sure how to answer this. I had to be honest
>> and state that though I have experience speaking, I've only recently
>> been compensated for my services. She plans to send me a check with a
>> standard amount the college pays speakers, and she was a very nice lady
>> so I suspect she'll be fair.
>>
>> Nonetheless, since I seem to be booking more engagements, I should set a
>> fee, but have no clue what is appropriate. Has, or does, anyone have
>> experience with this? I'm no celebrity so I can't ask for exorbitant
>> amounts, but I want to be fair to myself as well. I thought a sliding
>> scale of sorts would be appropriate, but I still don't know what a good
>> starting point is. I'd welcome any suggestions and advice. Thanks.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
>> Read my blog at:
>> <http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/>
>> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
>>
>> "History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
>> The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
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>
>
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