We like you, but not that much
Today seems like re-hash day, but a couple new twists have come up on the issue of speakers at conferences. I feel a “10 Things Not To Do When Requesting to Speak at an Expo” post coming on, but for now I’ll just relay a couple of things that have been on my mind recently. This is going to be a bit of a rant, so prepare yourself.
A Google PR person contacted us a few days ago. She wanted to know if we would like a speaker from Google for the Podcast & Portable Media Expo conference. Sure I said, that might fit nicely into a panel on video, since Google seems to be getting into that area - do you have a bio on someone you have in mind? Instead, I got a 19 essay question “Speaker Request Sheet” I was suppose to complete. It felt a bit like getting invited to a party, and then being asked to book the entertainment and catering. Thanks Google, but it would take me three days to complete your homework assignment and I have a few other details to tend to for my little tradeshow.
I received an email from a company that had a panelist in one of our sessions last year, letting me know how much they helped us last year and asking if we would like to have someone from their company speak again. I replied that it was great to have them speak last year and I was happy to promote their company, but would they be interested in also perhaps sponsoring a coffee break or have an ad in the printed program? Her email reply: “Unfortunately, your audience is not a substantial enough target for our services to justify the spend in our marketing budget.” I see. So let me get this straight. We’re important enough to have us promote your speaker and company for free, but not important enough to spend any money on. Gee, that sounds great - can you send us two speakers?
And finally, Rob Greenlee posted recently that he didn’t understand why the Podcast Expo doesn’t have any sessions talking about podcasting on mobile phones. The truth is, we had to make very tough decisions about what subjects to cover and we weren’t able to cover everything I wanted to. But also, 5 of the mobile podcasting application companies have asked - some nearly insisted - they speak. Yet not one has spent a dollar to get exposure in other ways at the show.
Our conference is anything but quid-pro-quo. 99% of our speakers are not affiliated with exhibitors or sponsors - and most of our sessions aren’t panels at all but single-instructor workshops. I challenge other tradeshow organizers to fight the addiction of adding business development execs to their panels.
But the truth is, it costs money to put together tradeshows and bring an audience together. And until the convention center and audio/visual companies take “goodwill” and awesomely designed speaker powerpoints as payment, we’ve gotta find a way to pay them in cash.
June 30th, 2006 at 10:15 am |
[...] Check out tradeshow startup man Tim Bourquin’s thoughts on speakers and [...]
July 6th, 2006 at 9:03 pm |
I think it’s important to compare apples to apples and sour grapes to sour grapes. As a trainer/speaker, I seek opportunities to gain exposure. However, the majority of my presentations are insight- and how-to-based programs that are delivered without ever detailing my company’s services. The attendees aren’t there to hear about my company, they’re there to learn. My critical audiences would not receive a sales pitch well.
Yet, I am routinely invited to appear as a “featured presenter,” only to then be informed that: (choose any or all of the folowing)
1. I will not be compensated for my time or reimbursed for expenses.
2. The “speaker selection committee” will look more favorably upon MY PROPOSAL if I will also be exhibiting (read, “paying 500-2000 dollars for booth space”)
3. I will be required to register as an attendee and pay a registration fee.
4. The entity has no budget for reproduction services, thus I will be required to provide 300 copies of any handout materials.
So, how do you tell the difference between a speaker and a marketer? The difference is in the message. If your audience will learn concepts, that’s a trainer. If your audience will learn about my wonderful product and what it will do for you, that’s a marketer (though many are excellent presenters). The latter is nothing more than personally-presented advertising. The former is knowledge-based, and your audience will not have to purchase a thing to utilize the content. Be willing to pay for the former.
July 24th, 2006 at 8:14 am |
Traynor,
I agree that many conference organizers not only do not pay their speakers, but don’t treat them well. Although we only pay our speakers in links and exposure, we:
a) never make them pay for a full-conference ticket
b) never make a proposal that includes buying a booth in exchange for speaking
c) never make the speaker pay for handout printing
d) give their spouse a free conference ticket if they will be attending as well.
Furthermore, we have breakfast and lunch every day for our speakers - whether or not they are speaking that day.