How producing a conference on my own dime changed my thoughts on speaker payments (and my behaviour as a speaker)
Producing conferences and events is not a new thing for me, in fact, I pulled together my first band night which attracted several hundred people at the age of 18. Through the years I’ve been lucky enough to find myself at the helm of most types of events from jam nights to sales events, corporate dinners, conferences to dance parties, an indoor skate band and punk music festival, a tattoo competition and even a busking extravaganza throughout more blocks than my poor, tired feed cared to count.
Over these 32 years if there’s anything I’ve learned about producing events it’s this… If you are going to pay for something it needs to either meet compliance or generate revenue (bare with me here).
Oddly enough this fact rested comfortably next to my belief that I deserved to be paid as a public speaker at every gig.
Until it no longer did.
Let me tell you. Shelling out a small venue hire fee for a jam night has nothing on hiring a whole resort and laying $100k of your own money on the table in the hope the thing you believe in will work.
I’ve tested countless models over the years from ensuring free drinks and admission to paying speakers their highest ever rates, from paying a top dollar keynote (the tickets literally flew out the door) to begging friends and family to jump in and share what they can. There has always been one common thread, I’ve always tried to do the right thing and make sure there’s something in it for everyone. And. Someone has always felt hard done by.
Thing is. I’m good at bringing people together and luckily I’m a good (completely up myself) speaker too.
But there’s one thing I know, for sure. At this point in my career (and it is my intention this will change) I will not pull a massive crowd on my brand alone.
When I ran jam nights the business model (i.e. the $46.95 I would earn) taught me an important lesson. It’s a numbers game. Invite enough performers, they invite their friends and before everyone knows it there’s a crowd and everyone has a great time, particularly the publican who is the only person actually making money.
So me + you + several of our best friends on the stage = revenue for someone.
So be it I say. If I’m in speaker mode, and I don’t have to work through the gazillion hours to put on the event and draw an audience I’m happy to turn up, usually with the caveat that my costs are at least covered.
So back to that $100k. In year 1 of my ‘big gig’ Social Impact in the Regions I really wrestled with speaker payments. On one hand I didn’t believe in asking people to speak for free and certainly didn’t buy the ‘it will enhance your profile’ line – on the other I knew that every speaker payment stood in the way of my own livelihood.
I made decisions that I will never regret and in the following year landed on a set of decisions that very comfortably reflect my values, and also ensure I can continue to run this event and live between gigs. Here’s the list:
- I’ve made a clear decision to not pay speakers for this event. This decision isn’t driven by the bottom line, it means there’s no big keynote who becomes the sole focus and everything that entails and it also means that I’m committed to working double time to ensure there is good value for the speakers who decide to attend anyway, even when they are traveling on their own dime (and many are). Yes, over the years we may have people who are in the ‘public eye’ attend and even speak. I want to find different and perhaps more non-hierarchical ways in which to showcase their influence and knowledge… This one is a work in progress.
- Speakers don’t pay. In year 1 I asked speakers for a donation leaning into many of the corporate events I’ve been asked to speak at AND purchase a ticket. I say no to these “opportunities” as a speaker and have since solidified my belief that our speakers are my personal guests. (there is small caveat here on the duration of the gig – some of our speakers only have 10 minute slots. That deems a still subsidised, but within reason discount). And in addition our speakers are treated well, they have a free ticket (tickets are $1,650 and cost the conference at least $350 in direct costs not to mention the additional costs of running the event) and I ensure they have a good time. Yes, their profiles are also shared far and wide.
- I seek out opportunities for the speakers to promote themselves at the event and wherever I can (remember, it’s me – not a cast of 1,000s) I share their work, promotions and keep them in front of our audience (and also noting, they need to feed this to me and I’ll happily share).
- I make sure they have strategic placements at the event also tailoring a range of connection opportunities from the lunches to dinners, panel set ups to putting the right people in the right rooms. Again, not perfect but always the intent.
- We make sure people are at the event for the right reasons. We are building a community – dare I suggest – a family. We want people who are just as happy sitting shoulder to shoulder as they are being on the stage. Yes, there are exceptions to the rule however it’s absolutely important to us that everyone in attendance at the event is on the same level and prepared to sit together as we co-create.
- We understand that networking is uncomfortable for many, and just because someone is on stage doesn’t mean they are comfortable in a crowd. This is reflective of my own experience and we do what we can to make sure the introverts in the audience, even if they are oK to be onstage are nurtured.
- Just a little speaker gift. While I shied away from this in our first year (and the budget just wasn’t there), in 2024 we gifted speakers locally produced honey which I sourced from a gorgeous young couple who I know give an enormous amount to their community. We all win here. (PS if you were a speaker and didn’t collect yours give me a yell)
- Professional photography. Every year I invest in a professional photographer who makes sure each speaker has at least one shot they can use in their own promotion. Getting this type of collateral together is expensive for an individual and (as a speaker) I know it’s a value-add.
- Equity. There’s something really special about everyone being on the same level. When nobody is paid, everyone has found their own way to the event and there are no special cases, in a way – everyone is naked and the same. That’s where great change can be created.
- Making hay while the sun shines. I’ve worked with many people through the years who have (essentially) danced with me in the knowledge that sometimes there’s budget – sometimes there isn’t. I’ve also very willingly been on the other side of this dance. Our loose agreement is that together we make hay when the sun is shining.
- Acknowledgement. I’ll say over and over, nothing is perfect and I’ve no doubt someone is reading this and thinking they didn’t get these things (get in touch will you, I’d really like to have a chat and make things right). But above all, acknowledging those who contribute, and that the contribution of getting on stage is perhaps just as important as the contribution of sitting in a seat and listening is so important. Right here, right now – I acknowledge both parties and give thanks to those who have supported not only my event adventures but also the adventures of those who have participated, attended and gone on to share. Let’s keep building this together.
- And, there are several other initiatives either in the pipeline or in development including:
- Enhancement of our alumni network – noting in only two conference years this has already reached well over 350 people who bridge those with their boots on the ground through to key decision makers in government and philanthropy.
- Addition of an alumni networking platform better enabling delegates and speakers to connect on similar matters
- Finding a variety of ways to thank our speakers (if you’d like to recommend any please don’t hesitate to share)
- Acknowledgement. Each year we showcase our speakers through our ever growing socials by creating customised tiles and sharing them. While it won’t always be this way – in 2024 I did those 54 tiles, uploaded the speaker profiles to the website and then uploaded and utilised my own social media following to share the posts. I loved this whole process as it was a way of giving thanks, albeit incredibly time consuming. In the process I spoke with numerous speakers about their bios and we co-created something that many continue to use now
- As a speaker (and noting if you have the budget I’m always more than happy to receive your payment as it assists me to do other good things) I consider it my responsibility to have other products, causes or reasons to be at the gig. That way I am finding my own value and I’m not relying on you alone to recognise it through your budget. Perhaps our speakers need some support in developing their own business models? That’s not our jam but I can assure you there is someone in our ever growing network who would embrace that with open arms.
More personally, the whole experience of coughing up the big bucks has made me more humble as a speaker. Just a little while ago I was incredibly grateful to have my costs covered by a conference, I was showcased as a keynote and also given access to a conference stand. I made damn sure that I was part of the gig supporting the initial table setup (not just my materials, the organisers too) and avoiding mindlessly puncing about as a ‘local celebrity’ and instead adding value where I could. I felt I was there to be with, not at and truly hope that shone through.
All of this brings me back to two key principles my Ready Communities co-founder, Dr. Chad Renando and I solidly agree upon (1) add value wherever you are and (2) don’t be a (he says dill), as a regional Australian with a solid grasp of the bogan dialect I have another word – let’s setting in the middle on don’t be a jerk.
Thanks for following. Would be wonderful to learn more about different ways conference organisers acknowledged your skills (particularly as a regional Australian) in addition to cash payments.
