Re: Setting fees, Garden Rant and freebies

**j* e* m* s* <h*@sbcglobal.net>**

Last year, I raised by base fee to $300 for central Indiana 
garden-related venues, up from $150 at the encouragement of Mary 
Walters. For business groups, the base is $500. Some of the 
organizations I've worked with at the lower rate seemed overwhelmed 
by the increase and didn't hire me. That was fine with me. This past 
year, I had fewer opportunities to speak, but made about the same 
amount as last year from this activity. I also started speaking at 
more professional venues, such as the statewide landscape architects' 
conference.

As a Master Gardener, I usually speak for free at the city's two MG 
groups (helps satisfy my MG requirement for education) and for 
one-half my fee for other MG meetings. I determine each year how many 
(usually three) 'free' talks I'll give and when those are used up, 
they are gone and no more freebies. I, too, have a book that I sell 
at speaking engagements, or sometimes, the venue will sell them.

I'm on a local organizing committee for the 2008 statewide Indiana 
Master Gardener conference, and can say that with a little effort, 
you can come up with the funds needed to pay speakers. We contacted 
several possible speakers and ended up using all members of GWA, 
including Tim Wood (finding new plants and hydrangeas) from Spring 
Meadow Nurseries in Michigan, John Friel (plant nominclature and new 
perennials) from Yoder/Blooms of Bressingham in Pennsylvania, Bob 
Hill (the four-season garden) from public radio in Louisville, Ky., 
and the Courier-Journal, and owner of Hidden Hill Nursery. We're 
negotiating with another GWA member for an unfilled slot. We are 
paying between $500 and $1,000 for each of these speakers, plus 
travel expenses. We were able to negotiate two one-hour talks or 
workshops for the fee with some of the speakers. We've sought 
underwriters for the speakers from various groups, such as the 
Indianapolis Museum of Art's Horticultural Society and the Friends 
groups of some city parks. We particular targeted organizations where 
MG do volunteer work. We worked with most of the independent garden 
centers in the city/county, asking for $300 each and got 12 to 15 to 
say yes, to help sponsor the awards banquet.

jems
-- 
Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp
Garden writer, speaker, author, photographer
Region III Director Garden Writers Association
Phone: (317) 251.3261
Fax: (317) 251.8545
E-mail: hoosiergardener@sbcglobal.net
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