Re: Speaking,networking,fees,technology

**"* P* D* <m*@dargan.com>**

This is the best forum discussion yet! Since 1972, I've honed speaking
skills to horticultural and museum groups across the US and the UK, but
most intensively in the SE region. 

Early on as a safety net, I hocked my college ring and purchased  the
best projector I could find (now obsolete, but still works!) shlepped it
thru airports with extra bulbs and charged $25 a gig plus travel
expenses. Had my first book out in 1981 and shlepped them along, too.
Travel was easier then. Times have changed. Now, the floating fee
structure ranges $800 to $1200 per gig plus expenses. Negotiate higher
if it is a keynote and offer to do an extra lecture the next day.  I'm
happy to stay with a host, but insist I'm in bed by 9:30am-otherwise get
fed to death and hung over-most will comply! I prefer a hotel for
internet, but miss the friendship of hosts, their neighborhoods and
gardens. Great stories here! 

This 2007 season with a seriously new book found me contacting old
friends 3-12 months in advance to extend the edges of a major lecture.
Speaking of warm fuzzies. Did 140 lectures in 14 states with no help
from publisher, except ONE bookstore. Grass roots are everything.

So with a little help from my friends, the book did well and I've
bookings now for 18 months out...and made money. I sell the books and
REQUIRE this in my contract (be sure to remind them!!) , but will cave
in if the beg and pay me enough to come anyway! 

Travel is now a terrible bear to schlep anything. UPS is my friend;
Atlanta Regional Airport a necessary evil. Nobody will pay you for
sitting in an airport. 

I'm MacBook Pro, bluetooth mouse and keyboard, all the way...oh yes, I
always ask for a hi-lumens projector and remote mic... 

Take public speaking courses (Buckley School of Public Speaking in
Camden SC is excellent (Founder Reid Buckley is Wm F's Brother and a
theatre coach). Build confidence by being taken down by your classmates
or interviewed by a mean journalist in class before you get out there
with a really important group.  

Arrive at least 1.5 hrs early to trouble shoot and find someone to help
sell YOUR books well ahead of time. Its really fun. Just sold 200 books
to 180 people in Knoxville, TN. Take credit cards, but prefer checks.
Something really clicked! 

Oh yes, people out of your region need a CD or DVD with a brochure to
convince them that you are worth it. Don't forget to flaunt your TV,
magazine or newspaper experience...they want a knowledgable expert with
pizazz.

I now pass out a sheet to the audience to capture e-mail for a
newsletter that will lead them to my newest venture:
GardeningwithPoppy.com an earth friendly lifestyle and horticulture site
due out early 2008.

Yes, lets have a roundtable on this topic for war stories and
streamlined techniques! 

Cheerio, 
mary palmer

On Sat, 29 Dec 2007 14:25:00 GMT, "carlobal@netzero.net"
<carlobal@netzero.net> said:
> Short answer: yes, I accept engagements where no topic is specified...BUT
> I always work out a topic WITH the organizers after accepting the
> invitation and well in advance of the date. I usually ask lots of
> questions about what topics they've had recently, what other speakers (if
> applicable) will be speaking about, etc. I want my presentation to stand
> out...not duplicating the efforts of others or repeating recent
> presentation topics.
> 
> If I'm put in the position of having to decide I suggest several
> alternative topics and ask what the organizer thinks attendees would be
> most interested in.
> 
> 
> Carlo A. Balistrieri  
> The Gardens at Turtle Point
> Tuxedo Park, NY 10987
> Zone 6  (845.351.2049)
> Visit:   www.botanicalgardening.com 
> _____________________________________________________________
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-- 
Mary Palmer Dargan, MLA, ASLA, APLD, RLA, CLARB
Author, Timeless Landscape Design (Gibbs-Smith, Feb 2007) sold out in 30 days and is now in its 3rd printing! 
To order an autographed copy for the holidays: contact www.dargan.com. 
 800-454-3889 ext 4 & 404-354-1715 mycell  Dargan Landscape Architects

Tip: Visit English gardens by Sir Harold Peto at Buscot and Iford in Wiltshire and Avon, also must see Sir Roy Strong's formal garden at the Lasket in Herefordshire (by appointment)

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