Who Needs a Speaker Agent?
You Can Do it Yourself!
Negotiating Brilliant Speaking Contracts and Fees
conducted by agent/former bureau owner Andrea Reynolds
Speakers: $______________
Agents, bureaus: $____________
Online Class for speakers who want to negotiate their own speaking fees/contracts... brilliantly.
$________ for speakers with advance registration; $________ for bureau owners and agents.
Next class scheduled for July 2023
THE CLASS: Negotiating Brilliant Speaking Contracts and Fees
Why this class?
1. Without a speaker agent or advocate you likely do not have someone looking out for and protecting your interests.
2. Publicists usually do not have the experience to construct a speaking contract that covers all the circumstances you may encounter.
3. Speaker bureaus don't work on behalf of speakers' interests. Their contract is slanted in favor of their client, the hiring organization.
4. Most contract templates that are free on the Internet do not address your own specific needs.
5. You will learn to increase your fees by 50% and in some cases even double or triple what you've been getting.
6. You'll have the advantage of feedback from other unagented, but more experienced, speakers.
Why you should participate:
1. As an unagented speaker you'll develop the type of agreement and receive the kind of advice to which only agented speakers have access.
2. This class is more affordable than having an agent negotiate your contracts each time for a 15-35% commission.
3. This class answers the question: What happens if they cancel the event?
4. This class answers the question: How can I find out if they can afford to pay me more than they offered?
5. This class answers the question: Am I leaving money on the table?
6. This class answers the question: What kinds of benefits can I insert into the agreement that I'd enjoy without sounding like a prima donna?
7. This class answers the question: What creative solutions are there to get paid (better) when they say they don't pay speakers?
8. This class answers the question: What can I do when the group won't let me sell my book or promote my services at the event?
9. This class answers the question: Am I asking for too much or too little?
10. You can bring your own questions to the class and have them answered.
Content: Over the course of _____ days you will create your own speaking contract with my support so you'll have a personalized contract just like the one I use. I've negotiated speaker contracts on behalf of such noted speakers as Canadian novelist and poet Margaret Atwood. We'll construct a contract like the one I write for celebrity speakers... but without their fees, terms and conditions which, necessarily, are confidential.
We will cover these elements:
1. The Agreement
2. Your Program Offer
3. Time and Place
4. Fees
5. Payment
6. Expenses
7. Inability to Appear
8. Cancellation
9. Facilities
10. Equipment
11. Additional Activities
12. Modification
13. Governing Law
14. Signing and Distribution
Question and Answer period follows for 2 additional days.
Who should participate:
- Un-represented speakers.
- Unpaid speakers.
- Authors inexperienced as speakers who earn only a $25 honorarium or have only their expenses paid.
- Experienced, but un-agented speakers who already earn as much as $500 to 5 figure speaking fees.
(There is a different class offered for speaker agents, publicists and speaker bureau employees and owners. A licensing arrangement is necessary for these professionals.)
How the class is conducted:
1. You will be invited to join a private discussion group on Facebook so you can interact with Andrea and your classmates.
2. Two email "lessons" are posted each day, for _________.
3. Go at your own pace. You don't need to be at your computer at any particular time.
4. You may choose to work alone or with a buddy in the class. (If you have a working partner, ask about a multiple person discount so they can be added to the discussion.)
5. You can ask Andrea questions at any time through/on our private discussion forum. You'll receive all communication between students and Andrea (instructor) and will be subscribed only for the duration of the class.
6. Receive support and inspiration from your classmates.
7. Through hands-on assignments you should reach your goal of developing a customized speaking contract that allows you to negotiate your own contracts without an agent.
Instructor: Andrea Reynolds
Andrea Reynolds has been speaking professionally (i.e. paid) since 1977 and has been a speaker agent-advocate since 1990. Her clients (speakers) have included lawyers, literary luminaries, lateral thinkers, and linguists; and she consistently gets fees for speakers that are 50% to 100% higher than their last contract and sometimes as much as 500% more.
Comments from participants in other classes taught by Andrea Reynolds
"I do want to take this opportunity to thank you, Andrea, and to thank everyone else who has been in the class. You have all given me a lot of food for thought, and that is worth gold."
"The class helped me see more positive viewpoints and possibilities."
"I've really enjoyed this class and learning about all of the experts involved here I look forward to seeing you all succeed. I want to thank Andrea for her knowledge and wisdom. I also want to thank everyone who helped me - your advice was appreciated!"
"Great value and I received greater clarity in the planning of my new business."
"I'd like to thank Andrea and all of you for this class; it's been very stimulating and helpful."
"You do a fine job of teaching and provoking the right kind of responses from your students."
"This discussion also introduced a couple of new ideas that I find will help me further."
"You gave us such positive feelings. I came away feeling as though anything is possible if we make up our minds to make it happen."
"I liked your personal examples, especially selling that $10,000 fur coat. My teenage children thought that was terrific."
"More. Honest! Her course was invaluable, practical, down to earth."
"Andrea is an excellent teacher. Keep her teaching."
"I needed to hear/know this message at least 20 years ago. I'm considering re-taking the Consulting Seminar in the future."
Registration FEE: Speakers: $_________; Bureaus agents and others who represent and market speakers: $__________
Please contact Andrea with any questions you have about the class I prefer contact by email.
Can't or don't want to attend this program? Here are some alternatives:
Alternative to this class #1: Speaker Contract Template and Tutorial Package with Andrea Reynolds
Alternative to this class #2: Speaker Trilogy : 3 of Andrea's publications for speakers
Alternative to this class #3: Book a private critique of your current speaker contract with Andrea Reynolds
Alternative to this class #4: Have Andrea negotiate your next event's speaking fees and contract terms.
