One subject that is often debated is rates. We do agree that women should be paid the same rate as men. Speakers know there is value to our presentations. And most people say they prefer paid opportunities. But we don’t always agree on whether speakers should agree to present for free.
According to the feedback we’ve received from speakers, there are occasions when people might be willing to appear at no cost:
- Presenting at his or her alma mater
- Presenting to support a cause that’s important to him/her
- Presenting for a fundraiser
- Presenting in local venues to help build a speaking career
- Presenting to test an idea or strategy
- Presenting to gain experience
- Presenting to add the event to a speaker’s resume
- Presenting to stay active during retirement
- Presenting to get visibility when seeking a job or promotion.
These are all reasons we’ve heard for people to agree to participate in a speaker event at no cost. We’ve also heard from speakers who rationalize that these opportunities are their livelihood. We see both sides and understand that determining rates – or gratis appearances – is an individual decision.
What is your opinion? We’d love to hear from you! E-mail us at info@ineedaspeaker.com and share your thoughts. With your permission, we may share your point of view in an upcoming post or newsletter article.
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