We’re Paying Our Speakers a Percentage
We just launched our speaker proposal page for the 2008 New Media Expo in Las Vegas. We made a few changes to the submission process for next year including A) not taking requests for panelists and B) we’ve decided to pay our speakers. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now. Although many people are happy and willing to speak at the event for the exposure we give them, there has always been a quiet grumbling about how trade show organizers charge for the conference and don’t pay their speakers.
I don’t know that we will make the change to paying our speakers at all the different events we produce, since the New Media Expo is more of a “how to” event, I think we will get higher quality presentations from those we do select because we have decided to pay them.
In trying to determine exactly how much to pay, I researched and pondered everything from a flat fee to a fee based on attendee satisfaction surveys - the happier your audience, the more you would get paid. In the end, I decided to go with a percentage of net profits from the conference. 20% of the net profits will be divided among the workshops equally. Another 5% will be allocated based on how many attendees (free or paid - doesn’t matter) the speaker brings to the event based on their own efforts (email blasts, website banners, etc.). Emile (our CTO) has built a pretty sophisticated tracking system that will make this very easy to calculate.
This also ups the ante for our speakers, who must agree when they submit their proposal, that even a subtle sales pitch in their session will result in not getting paid their percentage. Like everything else, it’s a work in progress, but the goal is to deliver the most compelling content possible so that attendees walk out saying it was the best conference they’ve ever attended.
October 5th, 2007 at 11:37 pm |
I’m a little concerned about the “even a subtle sales pitch in their session will result in not getting paid their percentage.” Like advertisers and sponsors to podcasts, the producers likely endorses products they genuinely appreciate and use. If, during a presentation, I were to mention or demonstrate the use of product X, would I then be penalized accordingly?
An example: Don McAllister gave a very interesting presentation on techniques he uses to produce screencasts. While doing so, he demonstrated a Mac-only software package he uses called Mouseposé 2, to the delight of those attending. Immediately after that part was completed, someone near me said in a voice loud enough to be heard throughout the room, “Congratulations, Don, you’ve just sold 200 copies of Mouseposé!”
Maybe I misunderstand or I’m just over-reacting, but in that case would Don be precluded from receiving compensation for an otherwise excellent presentation?
My alternative suggestion would simply be: If you lead a session, no expo registration fee for you.
October 7th, 2007 at 4:19 pm |
Hi Charles -
No that’s not what I’m talking about. A fan of a product who likes a product enough to recommend it in a session is not doing a sales pitch. But I think we all know deep down when someone is pitching a company or product they are affiliated with or employed by rather than just telling people about something they like.
We already give a free full-conference ticket to our speakers, but I’m ready to take the conference to an even higher level, and to me that means having the speakers compensated for what they do.
Tim
November 17th, 2007 at 4:28 pm |
Kudos to you for realizing the value of what your speakers provide!
As a speaker and occasional event organizer, I see both sides of this dilemma. However,
my speaker side usually wins. Here’s a comparison I often use:
“You go to the dentist and he says you need a root canal. You tell him how much you
appreciate his expertise, but don’t feel like you should have to pay for his services.
Instead, you’ll be happy to recommend him to all your friends — he’ll have free exposure!
Now, how likely will your dentist agree to this arrangement? I’m guessing not!”
Likewise, when speakers take the time and energy to create a presentation for a conference
(often a custom one), they deserve some type of compensation. Without that, a planner is
just asking for trouble, with speakers who are happy to speak for free, knowing that
they’ll use it as an infomercial for their company or product.
So thanks for recognizing that information is a valuable tool and worthy of compensation.