| Speakers are amazing people! | | | | financial help: |
| They are gregarious, well-studied and tenacious, to | | | | * Be sure to cover her travel expenses. Most |
| name just a few of their traits. | | | | husbands put their foot down early-on if speaking |
| My friend, a public speaker and comedian, Carole | | | | engagements drain both his wife's energy and the |
| Leathem, is a great example. | | | | family resources. This is a legitimate concern and can |
| One fall she said, "I nearly had to cancel a retreat this | | | | be avoided by paying your speakers well. |
| fall. I fell and broke both of my elbows!" | | | | * At minimum, cover any other expenses she may |
| I asked, "You didn't cancel any of your retreats?" | | | | incur. In my earlier years of speaking, I often had to |
| She said, "Nope! I brought along an assistant and did | | | | pay a babysitter for the hours I was gone from |
| them all!" | | | | home, while being "paid" myself with a plant, a book |
| Her situation may seem extreme, but I know of | | | | or a thank you note. While appreciated, the payment |
| speakers who have taken the podium in the middle | | | | didn't meet my needs. Let us be careful to cover the |
| of horrific physical, emotional, and familial pain. | | | | expenses that our speakers incur on our behalf. |
| Your speaker deserves your best effort at making | | | | * If at all possible, pay her a nice honorarium. By |
| her feel valued. She has given up family time, other | | | | adding just $1 to the single-event per-person ticket |
| opportunities and countless hours of preparation time | | | | price, or $3-5 to the per-person weekend-event |
| to be with you. | | | | price, you can provide a nice fee for your speaker |
| 1. Assign Her a Speaker's Hostess | | | | without anyone feeling stretched. |
| The hostess should call the speaker 7-10 days ahead | | | | *Pay your speaker promptly. You may either give |
| of the event, introduce herself and confirm that | | | | her a thank you note, containing a check, at the |
| everything is arranged. She should tell the speaker | | | | event, or mail it to her within 10 days. Be sure to let |
| that it will be her meeting the speaker at the airport | | | | her know when she will receive payment. |
| or event location and caring for her needs until she | | | | One final note, if the speaker is a member or regular |
| leaves. | | | | attender of your own church/group, her services |
| Is a Speaker's Hostess required? Of course not! | | | | may be available to you as part of her ministry to |
| However, I was speaking at a large facility recently | | | | your church/group. In these cases, you would not |
| and needed a Kleenex. It was a simple thing, but I | | | | need to remunerate her with a financial gift: A small |
| didn't know my way around, didn't see anyone in | | | | gift and thank you note are sufficient. However, if |
| charge, and found the lines at the bathrooms too | | | | the speaker is from outside of your fellowship, she |
| long for my time constraints. I ended up using a piece | | | | needs to be paid for her service to the Lord and to |
| of notebook paper - which was fine, but you get the | | | | you. |
| point. A hostess simply helps in whatever way is | | | | 3. Following Up Afterwards |
| needed. She introduces the speaker to the event | | | | * Within 10-14 days of the event, send the speaker |
| coordinators, sound people, and others; she sees that | | | | a thank you note. If you haven't paid her yet, include |
| there is water at the podium, and in similar ways | | | | a check. |
| cares for the speaker so the speaker can focus on | | | | * Include a letter of recommendation, if at all possible. |
| the needs of the women. | | | | Every bureau requires these letters in order for |
| Encourage the hostess to use balance: She shouldn't | | | | speakers to be considered. They are a form of |
| "hound" the speaker, but rather make herself | | | | payment (if they are honest and sincere). |
| available via a cell phone number and frequent | | | | *Also, send a thank you note mentioning any |
| check-ins - especially between closely-scheduled | | | | comments you heard regarding her part of the |
| sessions. Ask about her food needs: Many speakers | | | | program. |
| prefer to speak on an empty stomach and may | | | | Even better, if you collected feedback forms at your |
| appreciate a light snack following a dinner | | | | event, be sure to forward to the speaker |
| presentation. Finally, do not disturb the speaker once | | | | thequotations, good or bad, that related to her |
| she has gone to her room. By retiring, she has | | | | ministry. She will appreciate it, but even more |
| indicated that her needs have been met for the day. | | | | importantly, it will help her be a better speaker in the |
| 2. Paying Your Speaker | | | | future, as she attempts to submit every detail of her |
| Experts claim that the best presentations require 1 | | | | life and ministry to God's direction. |
| hour or preparation per minute of presentation. That | | | | Treating your speaker right is not difficult to do if |
| statistic will only astound you if you have never been | | | | you remember that she is just a normal person, with |
| a speaker! | | | | average needs and that she desires to know that |
| While few speakers expect to be paid an hourly | | | | she has been appreciated. Showing her this with an |
| wage for the preparation, travel and presentation | | | | hostess, a reasonable paycheck, and a thank you |
| minutes they invest into your program, it is important | | | | note will make you one of her favorite hostesses! |
| to consider what you are able to provide in way of | | | | |