Re: What do you do about requests for fee-free talks?

**K* M* <k*@iol.ie>**

On 22 May 2009, at 01:54, N Sterman wrote:

> I would appreciate your collective advice and wisdom.
>
> I have given dozens of talks this last year and am being asked to do
> many more in the coming months.  As delighted as I am to be in such
> demand, I am struggling with what to do when I am asked to speak for
> no fee.
>
Normally I say "I'm sorry, I can't afford to do that. Speaking is what  
I do for a living."

That said, there is a substantial list of those for whom I do speak  
for free.

I will speak for free if I think I will get a lot more paying work out  
of it.
I will speak for free for local charities - but not very often. If I  
think someone has come to assume I will do it then I tell them  
politely but straight.
I will speak for free in a situation where I think they need me to do  
it for social or environmental reasons
And quite often someone in group inviting me has something to trade -  
I have several times taught a class for nothing somewhere where I  
wanted to take a class (and that has occasionally produced a really  
nice free educartional holiday in a venue I couldn't afford to stay at  
any other way)

kathryn
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