[stylist] Talent Fees, off topic

Tue Oct 18 12:02:41 UTC 2011

Lori,
    In more than 20 years of doing regression work - both past life & age 
regression - I have only encountered one person who was uncooperative. 
Furthermore, there are many techniques for doing the regression. Taking the 
time to learn about the person and their expectations is a key element. In 
addition, my fundamental philosophy in all of my work is empowering the 
individual to take charge of their life. Therefore, I teach people how to do 
their own regressions and other naturalistic methods to glean the 
information. Maybe we can do a regression together at convention.

Fraternally yours,
Marion


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <loristay at aol.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 7:26 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Talent Fees, off topic


> Marion--Past Life Regression and reincarnation are also interests of mine. 
> I've done some hypnotic regressions (Pity they don't work on me!).  My dad 
> taught me how, though I'm not sure he realized he was doing it.
> Lori Stayer
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Marion Gwizdala <marion.gwizdala at verizon.net>
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Mon, Oct 17, 2011 12:57 pm
> Subject: Re: [stylist] Talent Fees
>
>
> 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
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Writers Division web site:
>>> http://www.nfb-writers-division.net
>>> <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
>
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