Addition October 30, 2014: in comments a meaty discussion has started on a subject that’s related but different – NDA’s (Non-Disclosure Agreements). They rarely arise in speaking engagements but they can often be part of “the business of patient engagement.” Have a look if you’re interested.

This is the latest in the Speaker Academy series, which started here. The series is addressed to patients and advocates who basically know how to give a talk but want to make a business out of it. I’ll try to be clear to all readers, but parts may assume you’ve read earlier entries.

I’m at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s 25th annual forum in Orlando, participating in a day of patient speaker training. In side conversations one thing that came up is the business relationship: getting paid. And that starts with the contract.

Do you need a contract?

Contracts weren’t important for me when I had few engagements and little pay. But when things got busy I needed structure. The contract I use (at right) provides:

• A clear record of logistical details: where, when, arrival & departure, how you can list it, etc.
• A clear record of finances: fee, expense reimbursement, and down payment
• Who’s expected to be in the audience. (Today one speaker told of a case where she was sure an audience would be nurses, and found out at the last minute it was patient advisors!)

And of course in the rare case where a relationship goes sour, the contract records who owes what to whom. It’s not that you’ll end up in court – to the contrary, it keeps you out of court, because the rules are already in writing.

I also added sections for things that kept popping up as problems: [Read more…]

This is the latest in the Speaker Academy series, which started here. The series is addressed to patients and advocates who basically know how to give a talk but want to make a business out of it. I’ll try to be clear to all readers, but parts may assume you’ve read earlier entries.

There seems to be a storm brewing around the issue of speaking for free (or not), which I’ve written about several times (most recently last week). I expect it’s going to get louder, so I want to clarify some points. Then I want to get back to engaging with the audience!

This may be controversial to some readers; fine – I’m open. Let’s discuss or (correct me) in the comments:

• Your time is your own. I’ve never said you should never speak for free.

• I do say that you should be thoughtful about how you spend your time, and not be suckered by event organizers who flatter you about your greatness but offer you nothing. Those people are usually parasites, making a living off your time and your thoughts.
  • My favorite low-life conference organizer, World Congress, once pumped my brain for an hour about who should speak at an event they were organizing. They were so enthused I assumed that after a couple of years wrangling with me, I was finally going to speak there. Nope: they didn’t know a single thing about the conference topic, so they were just pumping my brain! Then they went and got those people to speak – for free, I’m sure, while advertising that they’d convened a summit on the subject.

Particularly relevant at this moment is that some events truly do bring you good exposure, which leads on to good things.

My view isn’t the only view, but: in my view perfectly good reasons to do a freebie include (but aren’t limited to):  [Read more…]

This is a brief addition to the Speaker Academy series, which started here. The series is addressed to patients and advocates who basically know how to give a talk but want to make a business out of it. I’ll try to be clear to all readers, but parts may assume you’ve read earlier entries.

This post is particularly about how to deal with clients who say “We’d be really honored to have you speak for us. For free. We love your work, but it’s worth exactly nothing to us.”

Yesterday’s New York Times Sunday Review had a piece by Tim Kreider that’s so close to what we discussed here that a half dozen people tweeted it at me. :-)  It’s about freelancing as a writer or illustrator, but the lessons are identical for patient speakers. In the Times illustration at right, change the language from “artists” etc to “speakers” etc and you’ll recognize it.

Go read the piece. (It’s only 1600 words – 3-4 minutes for most people.) The author’s closing advice will sound familiar:

Here, for public use, is my very own template for a response to people who offer to let me write something for them for nothing:

Thanks very much for your compliments on my [writing/illustration/whatever thing you do]. I’m flattered by your invitation to [do whatever it is they want you to do for nothing]. But [thing you do] is work, it takes time, it’s how I make my living, and in this economy I can’t afford to do it for free. I’m sorry to decline, but thanks again, sincerely, for your kind words about my work.

Feel free to amend as necessary. This I’m willing to give away.

Tim Kreider is the author of “We Learn Nothing,” a collection of essays and cartoons.

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