Comments on: No consultants… Go figure http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/ Conversation. Collaboration. Community. Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:35:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Gary Barber http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/comment-page-1/#comment-2884 Gary Barber Sat, 15 Sep 2007 16:07:33 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/#comment-2884 Doing you a favour... I know the event organisers you are talking about and the event. I can say that these second tier (from my view) conferences are usually run by people that don't really have a good understanding of the industry and go a lot of the views of what they are told by the sponsors, attendees and a few speakers. That said they are not all like that, just a few of them. I've always wondered on this one. Knowing what the costs are for putting on a conference event, I know it can sometimes be tight to pay speaking fees on top of the travel and accommodation costs. Still the organisers owe something to the speakers, that will often take quite a bit of personal unpaid time to prepare a presentation. This leads me to an interesting point. If you are having to pay for your own travel and accommodation (especially to the US) you're really going to want to start to see a ROI (sorry cold business consultant) for the speaking gig. Otherwise what real benefit is it going to bring you, besides some minor inter industry networking. Doing you a favour… I know the event organisers you are talking about and the event. I can say that these second tier (from my view) conferences are usually run by people that don’t really have a good understanding of the industry and go a lot of the views of what they are told by the sponsors, attendees and a few speakers. That said they are not all like that, just a few of them.

I’ve always wondered on this one. Knowing what the costs are for putting on a conference event, I know it can sometimes be tight to pay speaking fees on top of the travel and accommodation costs. Still the organisers owe something to the speakers, that will often take quite a bit of personal unpaid time to prepare a presentation.

This leads me to an interesting point. If you are having to pay for your own travel and accommodation (especially to the US) you’re really going to want to start to see a ROI (sorry cold business consultant) for the speaking gig. Otherwise what real benefit is it going to bring you, besides some minor inter industry networking.

]]> By: Ben Winter-Giles http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/comment-page-1/#comment-2882 Ben Winter-Giles Sat, 15 Sep 2007 13:43:19 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/#comment-2882 Hi Stephen, well I have to agree with you on this one, I wouldn't have spoken either. Phh. they're doing ME a favor? are you serious? I'm speaking at Web directions south this year, and they have done everything right by me, travel and what not. They have absolutely no issue with me representing as a consultant. Well that's what I do so if they want me to speak about what I know, then that comes packaged with what I do right? You made the right call I reckon. Anyway, have a great delivery at OzIA. Hi Stephen,

well I have to agree with you on this one, I wouldn’t have spoken either. Phh. they’re doing ME a favor? are you serious?

I’m speaking at Web directions south this year, and they have done everything right by me, travel and what not. They have absolutely no issue with me representing as a consultant. Well that’s what I do so if they want me to speak about what I know, then that comes packaged with what I do right?

You made the right call I reckon.

Anyway, have a great delivery at OzIA.

]]> By: jasmin Tragas http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/comment-page-1/#comment-2880 jasmin Tragas Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:07:55 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/#comment-2880 I totally understand where you are coming from Stephen. I get a thrill just to receive flowers or wine for speaking! I totally understand where you are coming from Stephen. I get a thrill just to receive flowers or wine for speaking!

]]> By: Stephen Collins http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/comment-page-1/#comment-2879 Stephen Collins Fri, 14 Sep 2007 21:15:39 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/#comment-2879 Jasmin, thing is, I <em>don't have and don't ask for</em> a fee. There are other folks in this industry I'm aware of that do, and do very well off their fees. Like most people I've spoken to, I appreciate a comp, think I'm doing well if I get travel costs, and am very pleased if I get some form of speaker fee. I will ask if travel costs can be covered if they aren't offered, but often take the gig anyway if they aren't available. Depends on the conference. I didn't ask for them at Oz-IA for example as I was going to Sydney that weekend anyway. My whole issue was that this particular organiser tried to make me feel they were doing me a favour by having me speak and was not prepared for me to speak as a consultant - I <em>had to represent an "employer"</em> - based on some fairly unsupported criteria. When I explained that I was self-employed, I had to represent a client. I just isn't in my interest. Jasmin, thing is, I don’t have and don’t ask for a fee. There are other folks in this industry I’m aware of that do, and do very well off their fees.

Like most people I’ve spoken to, I appreciate a comp, think I’m doing well if I get travel costs, and am very pleased if I get some form of speaker fee. I will ask if travel costs can be covered if they aren’t offered, but often take the gig anyway if they aren’t available. Depends on the conference. I didn’t ask for them at Oz-IA for example as I was going to Sydney that weekend anyway.

My whole issue was that this particular organiser tried to make me feel they were doing me a favour by having me speak and was not prepared for me to speak as a consultant – I had to represent an “employer” – based on some fairly unsupported criteria. When I explained that I was self-employed, I had to represent a client. I just isn’t in my interest.

]]> By: jasmin Tragas http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/comment-page-1/#comment-2878 jasmin Tragas Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:45:01 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/#comment-2878 heh heh seems to me you need to put your speaker engagement fee on your profile Stephen! :) Doesn't the fee depend on your notoriety - or at least your self-imposed importance? The art of negotiation - always ask for more and work back from that :p If they really want you - they'll come back with an offer. heh heh seems to me you need to put your speaker engagement fee on your profile Stephen!
:)
Doesn’t the fee depend on your notoriety – or at least your self-imposed importance? The art of negotiation – always ask for more and work back from that :p
If they really want you – they’ll come back with an offer.

]]> By: Raymond Camden http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/comment-page-1/#comment-2877 Raymond Camden Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:36:42 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/#comment-2877 I sometimes get travel paid, but not always. I sometimes get hotel - but not always. If hotel is not paid for, then I will normally say no. To me that is the bare minimum (and a free conference pass of course). Also - I'm with you on the representation thing. I think it is fairly standard for a presenter to begin with a quick bio. I'll spend 60 seconds saying who I am, who I work for, etc. I sometimes get travel paid, but not always. I sometimes get hotel – but not always. If hotel is not paid for, then I will normally say no. To me that is the bare minimum (and a free conference pass of course).

Also – I’m with you on the representation thing. I think it is fairly standard for a presenter to begin with a quick bio. I’ll spend 60 seconds saying who I am, who I work for, etc.

]]> By: Andrew Muller http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/comment-page-1/#comment-2875 Andrew Muller Fri, 14 Sep 2007 08:51:07 +0000 http://www.acidlabs.org/2007/09/14/no-consultants-go-figure/#comment-2875 Prolly would have something to do with scale. WebDU for example I know charges a very modest fee for what it delivers - consequently I have spoken at every MXDU/WebDU since the start and have certainly never expected anything in return save a comp. ticket to the event. Daemon do know how to look after their speakers so there's some other benefits... Prolly would have something to do with scale.

WebDU for example I know charges a very modest fee for what it delivers – consequently I have spoken at every MXDU/WebDU since the start and have certainly never expected anything in return save a comp. ticket to the event. Daemon do know how to look after their speakers so there’s some other benefits…

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