What's the Problem
What's
the problem?
I've always enjoyed getting more
money for speakers and ensuring that they receive the
royal treatment. But for some reason speakers with
low fees seem very reluctant to actually have someone
help them. They say they want better fees, but then
handle their own contracts and fees without
contacting me to work on their behalf... or sometimes
work without any agreement in writing.
I often get phone calls after a speaker makes a
mistake or doesn't get the terms he really deserves.
Example: One speaker called me late last night to
tell me two of his speaking engagements canceled at
the last minute and he won't get any of his fee. I'm
not sure why he wanted me to know this.... If only he
had asked me to step in at the beginning and handle
his contract I would have made sure he was treated
far better than he was. He lost $5000 because he
didn't want to give me a $750 commission.
There's nothing I can do after the
fact, so if
I'm not invited to participate at the beginning I
can't fix anything. What I can do in advance of any
problem is make sure your contract is solid and works
in your best interests.
Incidentally, the speaker above never returned to
have me critique his
contract, take the online class, nor to have me step in to act
as his advocate. What's the problem? Fear of
success?
Just for fun, why not send me your answers to the
survey on this site, "Why don't you have an
agent?"
