Speakers - Setting Fees For Workshops and Other Speaking Engagements (Purposely Not Called 'Gigs')

Speakers (of every different ilk, i.e., keynoters, workshop leaders, consultants, trainers, etc.) often wonder what to charge and how to decide their fees. Since I have been a speaker (in all of these roles) for many years, I've given this question a fair amount of consideration. Here are some ideas on how to determine your fee:

Sometimes, I do have a flat fee, but rarely. For example, for me to do a Productivity Power Day(tm) in someone's office - in the area where I live - then it's a flat rate. If I have to travel, it goes up some because I will be spending the night out of town, etc. Productivity Power Days are quite similar in scope and process, so it's one of the reason I can quote an exact fee right on my website or when someone calls me. For essentially all other endeavors (speaking & consulting), there is much more involved in making the determination.

For speaking engagements even within my own area, I have a base rate and then I make a final determination based on some (or all) of the following factors:
Is this a brand new workshop (speech, etc.) or one I've done before and will be able to offer in essentially the same way or with minor modifications? Are the people ones who will be easy to work with (or difficult to work with)? Often, I don't know this until I've worked with them in the past...and then I know, believe me! What is the expected number of participants? It takes far more energy to work with a group of 100 or 200 (for a workshop, for example) than a group of 35. So, I need to know the number of people who will be in attendance. Is this part of a series of workshops/seminars I will be doing for this group or is it a stand-alone? I prefer to work with people over longer periods of time - developing relationships and building community and trust. When people are interested in that as well, they receive a different price than those who want a one-shot event. If I am going out of area, then I take the following into consideration, as well:
Time zones crossed (more of an issue as I get older!) I add a certain amount for each time zone I hop. Ease or difficulty in travel (flying all the way across the country in one plane vs. hopping 3 different planes, taking a bus, then renting a car to even get 1/3 of the way across the country).

Speakers - Setting Fees For Workshops and Other Speaking Engagements (Purposely Not Called 'Gigs')

So, these are issues I take into consideration, but each person needs to determine what it is that makes the work easier or harder for him/her.

Sometimes, one factor to consider is whether you are trying to build up a market -- and in order to penetrate that market, you choose to price yourself a bit lower than you will later on...I have certainly done that (and continue to) in certain markets.

Always, always, always, however....remember the value you're bringing to your clients and price yourself accordingly. And to go back to the title, for heaven's sake, don't call what you do 'gigs'! Unprofessional and unworthy, in my opinion, which is what you got in this article, of course!

Speakers - Setting Fees For Workshops and Other Speaking Engagements (Purposely Not Called 'Gigs')
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If you want additional ideas for moving your speaking and consulting business forward, be sure to consult the Life of E's blog:

http://meggin.com/lifeofes/wordpress/

Topics ranging from money to productivity to speaking to writing to coaching to business set-up and more are featured there.

And, to make sure you are productive in your personal and professional life, you'll want to access the resources at

**http://www.TopTenProductivityTips.com

(c) 2009 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., "The Ph.D. of Productivity"(tm)

Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh changes what people know, feel, dream, and do via seminars, workshops, writing, coaching, & consulting.

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Overcoming Communication Barriers Between People

When you send a message, you intend to communicate meaning, but the message itself doesn't contain meaning. The meaning exists in your mind and in the mind of your receiver. To understand one another, you and your receiver must share similar meanings for words, gestures, tone of voice, and other symbols.

1. Differences in perception

The world constantly bombards us with information: sights, sounds, scents, and so on. Our minds organize this stream of sensation into a mental map that represents our perception or reality. In no case is the perception of a certain person the same as the world itself, and no two maps are identical. As you view the world, your mind absorbs your experiences in a unique and personal way. Because your perceptions are unique, the ideas you want to express differ from other people's Even when two people have experienced the same event, their mental images of that event will not be identical. As senders, we choose the details that seem important and focus our attention on the most relevant and general, a process known as selective perception. As receivers, we try to fit new details into our existing pattern. If a detail doesn't quite fit, we are inclined to distort the information rather than rearrange the pattern.

Overcoming Communication Barriers Between People

2. Incorrect filtering

Filtering is screening out before a message is passed on to someone else. In business, the filters between you and your receiver are many; secretaries, assistants, receptionists, answering machines, etc. Those same gatekeepers may also 'translate' your receiver's ideas and responses before passing them on to you. To overcome filtering barriers, try to establish more than one communication channel, eliminate as many intermediaries as possible, and decrease distortion by condensing message information to the bare essentials.

3. Language problems

When you choose the words for your message, you signal that you are a member of a particular culture or subculture and that you know the code. The nature of your code imposes its own barriers on your message. Barriers also exist because words can be interpreted in more than one way. Language is an arbitrary code that depends on shared definitions, but there's a limit to how completely any of us share the same meaning for a given word. To overcome language barriers, use the most specific and accurate words possible. Always try to use words your audience will understand. Increase the accuracy of your messages by using language that describes rather than evaluates and by presenting observable facts, events, and circumstances.

4. Poor listening

Perhaps the most common barrier to reception is simply a lack of attention on the receiver's part. We all let our minds wander now and then, regardless of how hard we try to concentrate. People are essentially likely to drift off when they are forced to listen to information that is difficult to understand or that has little direct bearing on their own lives. Too few of us simply do not listen well! To overcome barriers, paraphrase what you have understood, try to view the situation through the eyes of other speakers and resist jumping to conclusions. Clarify meaning by asking non-threatening questions, and listen without interrupting.

5. Differing emotional states

Every message contains both a content meaning, which deals with the subject of the message, and a relationship meaning, which suggests the nature of the interaction between sender and receiver. Communication can break down when the receiver reacts negatively to either of these meanings. You may have to deal with people when they are upset or when you are. An upset person tends to ignore or distort what the other person is saying and is often unable to present feelings and ideas effectively. This is not to say that you should avoid all communication when you are emotionally involved, but you should be alert to the greater potential for misunderstanding that accompanies aroused emotions. To overcome emotional barriers, be aware of the feelings that arise in your self and in others as you communicate, and attempt to control them. Most important, be alert to the greater potential for misunderstanding that accompanies emotional messages.

6. Differing backgrounds

Differences in background can be one of the hardest communication barriers to overcome. Age, education, gender, social status, economic position, cultural background, temperament, health, beauty, popularity, religion, political belief, even a passing mood can all separate one person from another and make understanding difficult. To overcome the barriers associated with differing backgrounds, avoid projecting your own background or culture onto others. Clarify your own and understand the background of others, spheres of knowledge, personalities and perceptions and don't assume that certain behaviors mean the same thing to everyone.

If you would like to get custom-made advice about your communication problems, please feel free to email me at martinmim21@hotmail.com All requests will be handled professionally and your communication problem will be handled in strict confidence.

Overcoming Communication Barriers Between People
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Martin Hahn Ph.D. is an industrial sociologist with more than 20 years experience in teaching, management consulting, and corporate training. The above article is an excerpt from the ebook titled 'Overcoming Communication Barriers between People and in Organizations'. His ebook on communication can be purchased at http://www.martinimhahn.com

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How to Become More Confident - 10 Ways to Build Your Confidence

What is confidence, if not the difference between feeling like the sky's the limit and the world is out to get you? Having enough self-confidence can often be the "make or break" deal when it comes to securing a job, striking a business deal or even a matter as simple as asking someone out on a date. The key to successfully becoming more confident about yourself is how others perceive you through your own self-perception. Yes, this means, if you see yourself as an attractive, capable and energetic person, the others will see you the same way too.

Of course, there are many factors beyond your control in this world, but there are also many things that you can do on your own to give yourself more confident in preparation to go "get the gold". Follow these 10 tips for how to become more confident instantly, and you'll be able to face the world without worries.

Dress To Impress

How to Become More Confident - 10 Ways to Build Your Confidence

No, it's not cliché. Your appearance matters most to you and if you feel unattractive or dowdy, you'll give out that perception to the world. Dress smartly, not just by concentrating on your clothes, but also by paying attention to proper grooming. If you can't afford to buy expensive clothes all the time, don't. Cut the buying in half, but spend twice as much as you would normally, to buy high-quality clothes. In the long run, this reduces your expenditure on clothes, because high-quality clothing lasts longer and give a better impression,.

Brisk Walking

People who are confident walk faster and more energetically, because they feel important enough to hurry from place to place. They have people to meet, places to go to and have generally have a full agenda. So, even if you are in no hurry, add a little sprint to your walk and you'll instantly feel very confident and purposeful.

Good Posture

Remember the days when our grandmothers would yell at us to "stand up straight and don't slouch"? Well, they had a good reason to do so. A person without any confidence can be spotted a mile away because of the way they carry themselves - never looking up, huddled and ambling along, it's quite apparent they don't see any importance in what they are doing.

Advertise Yourself

Not literally, of course. Record or write a small speech about your positive attributes and read it or listen to it whenever you feel down and low. It's a great way to give yourself some confidence boosting.

Focus On Gratitude

The more you think about what you don't have, the less confident you'll become. Instead, always focus on what you do have, the positive sides of your appearance, character and abilities. Feel gratitude towards what you've been given and able to achieve.

Compliment Other People

We tend to project our negative feelings towards ourselves through insulting others and gossiping about them. Refuse to engage in such time-wasting activity and instead, start complimenting everything good about any person. When you look for the best in others, you'll gradually be able to see the best in yourself too.

Go Right To The Front

Whether you are at a lecture, conference or even church, if you have the tendency to go sit at the back, you are afraid to be noticed. This is a baseless fear, so take courage and go right to the front of an assembly.

Speak Up

Hiding like a mouse while in open discussions? Don't; speak up, join in the conversation. Unlike your belief, you won't say anything stupid. Most people battle with this notion in fear of public speaking, but it has not real cause, because unless you speak up, your issues will never get resolved. Public speaking will always contribute to increasing your confidence.

Exercise

Boost your energy by working out at least 3 times a week. It'll give you the energy and the "looking-good" confidence, so you can face the world with your head held high.

Contribute To Society

All too often, we as humans, are wallowing in self pity and desire. By concentrating on helping others and making a difference other people's lives, you have less time to think about your own self-perceived faults, which in turn helps to build confidence.

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Public Speaking - Practice, Practice, Practice

When I was in high school, I played clarinet in the school band. Every afternoon, I climbed up the hill from the bus stop carrying my clarinet case and every morning, I trudged back down the hill carrying my clarinet case, still unopened and untouched.

My performance on the clarinet failed to improve because merely carrying the clarinet was not enough to help improve my skill at playing it. The same is true for presentations. When you're preparing to speak to a group, no matter how small or large, it's not enough to think about what you're going to say or flip through your slides while you're sitting at your desk. That doesn't count as practice.

Practice means that you actually open your mouth and say the words out loud in as close to the real environment as possible. So, for example, if you're going to stand while presenting, stand while practicing. If you're going to present while sitting around a conference table, then practice while sitting around a conference table. The purpose of practice is to become comfortable enough with your material and the mechanics of presenting it in the environment that you will be able to deliver your presentation naturally and effectively.

Public Speaking - Practice, Practice, Practice

You should practice going through your presentation at least a few times. Memorizing it may make you more anxious since you'll be worried about forgetting the exact words you memorized. Instead, become familiar enough with your key ideas and message that you can use different words and phrases to express them each time you practice. If you choose to use notes, practice how to use them effectively without clinging to them or reading from them.

There are three major areas of content that you should focus on during your practice:

Introduction This is your opportunity to engage the audience and also to build your confidence. You should be so comfortable with your introduction that you can deliver it effortlessly, with full eye contact, a strong voice and few pause words (like "um" or "ah").

Transitions Presenters often get lost between points or slides. You want to practice how you will move smoothly and logically from one idea to the next. Having a well-organized presentation makes transitions easier because you can say something like, "the second reason we need a new process for handling customer complaints is --" or "the next phase of the project involves testing the software against the requirements -- "

Conclusion This is your last chance to remind the audience of your message. Don't just let your voice trail off with "well -- that's it, I guess --" You should end with a powerful conclusion such as a call to action or a strong reiteration of your message and its importance to the audience.

I learned the hard way -- it's not enough to carry the clarinet around and think about practicing. To improve, you actually have to open the case and play it. So the next time you have to give a presentation, make the time to practice the right way by saying the words out loud in as close the real environment as possible. As a result, your actual delivery of it will be smooth and effective.

Public Speaking - Practice, Practice, Practice
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Copyright (c) 2008 Gilda Bonanno LLC You may reprint this entire article and you must include the copyright info and the following statement "Gilda Bonanno is a speaker, trainer and coach who helps people from all walks of life improve their communication and presentation skills.

Subscribe to Gilda's free twice-monthly e-newsletter at http://www.gildabonanno.com to get short, powerful articles delivered directly to your inbox! These articles contain practical tips you can use immediately to improve your communication and presentation skills. Subscribe now at http://gildabonanno.com/newsletter.aspx and you'll receive a FREE Special Report, "Six Mistakes to Avoid in Public Speaking, So Your Presentation Sparkles."

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Product Marketing

For the first timers in the marketing world, product marketing may still be confusing. Also, it may come a bit more expensive. However, if you are a newbie in the marketing world and have a limited budget for marketing, you do not have to worry. There are plenty of innumerable amount of options that you can choose from that will help market your products.

Product marketing may be done with the help of social media. One good social media would be the Facebook. All over the world, there are over millions of users log in to this social media who log in everyday. With that much users, your potential clients can be a lot. You can put up a fan page in Facebook. You can be given the chance to give your clients information about your product as well as updates about your product. This is a very interesting marketing strategy because the fan page provides an open communication between you and the clients that you have. You can even provide product reviews about your product. You can even post pictures of people enjoying your product or service.

Video Marketing

If you want, you can even start up an online newsletter. Your clients would enjoy this as they will be given updated information about your product, promotions and such. You can hire few individuals to write some information on the newsletters. If you want to express something beyond the words that consumers can see, then you can create a video of your own. Your video may contain information on how to effectively use your product or service. You can even create a video that somehow relates to the product that you have. All these can be put on your website. If you want, you can even post it in top rated blog sites and have it back linked to your website after viewing the post.

Product Marketing

Another simple technique for product marketing would be the referral system. You can have a regular client of yours refer your product to their family and friends. This will cost you nothing because it is done by the word of mouth. Just make sure that your product or service would be substantial and worthy to be talked about and relayed to other people.

You can even put some helpful comments or link your website in the comment box of some industry blogs. You can state to the readers that your product showcases the same thing that the blog has mentioned. If you have time, you can email to clients and prospects related articles about your product. It is effective because they the readers would have a thinking that you personally emailed them about your product. The reader would feel special and would be regular client in the wrong. Just be sure to write something about your product in a simple way. Do not try to make it lengthy as people may have the tendency to delete it if they see that it is long.

Product marketing may take time but you can do it with the massive resources surrounding you. Just remember to market your product well enough so you can be able to get a good profit.

Product Marketing

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