Re: Subject: Re: Finding Places To Speak

**E* Z* <e*@acmeplant.com>**

I'm w/C.L. on this one; I love to speak and I think it shows.  I know  
my first career (on B'way) helped hone my presentation skills, and  
speaking is one of my favorite parts of garden communication.

I also think that years of negotiating theatre contracts taught me to  
value my work.  I'm a professional.  I put on a good show and deserve  
to be compensated accordingly.  We may love what we do, but that  
doesn't mean it isn't work; you shouldn't be afraid to ask for a  
decent wage.  I schedule most of my speaking engagements between  
January and March, when garden work doesn't keep me busy, and I  
expect those speaking engagements to pay the rent during those winter  
months.  They do.  (And that's NYC rent.)

Of course there are always things that go wrong.  One of my favorite  
stories is about the slide projector bulb that blew on the second  
image of a lecture for a Long Island garden club.  (I carry a spare  
for my own projector, but when I use someone else's projector,  
there's no telling which bulb they use.)  I finished the presentation  
holding up images from a coffee table perennial book that was on  
hand, and everyone appreciated my willingness to go with the flow.   
In fact, just last month they invited me back.  If this kind of thing  
drives you nuts, spare yourself the agony.  If you can roll with it,  
and you enjoy improv, it can be a rush.  (P.S.  Buy yourself a USB  
remote control for PP presentations.  It's a small investment and so  
worthwhile.)

A few details:  I prefer not to sell my own books (for schlepping  
reasons) but I'll do it if there's no retail venue nearby, e.g. if  
I'm speaking for a club or MG group.  Travel expenses are always  
extra (mileage + tolls, airfare, meals, etc.).  I'd rather stay in a  
hotel than with a host from the group that hired me, but there are  
exceptions.  Handouts should be copied by the hosting organization.

Over the years I've refined my criteria for what makes a gig  
worthwhile.  Your final price will depend on where you are in your  
speaking career and what your relationship is to the speaking venue.   
The key is to charge enough so you can give 100% to your audience.   
Nobody benefits if you feel resentful because you under-priced your  
presentation.  (You'll wish you were home in your garden and it will  
show!)  Put a decent price tag on your lecture then do good work.   
That's a win-win situation.

Ellen Z.

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