Frequently Questioned Answers - Paying event speakers

Paying event speakers fairly for their time is strangely controversial. I've put together this Frequently Questioned Answers to help people who are still trying to get their head around this. (And a full article here).

Why should event speakers be paid fairly for their time?

By not paying your speakers you're perpetuating social and gender inequity. You're limiting the voices we hear from and continuing to disproportionately platform the privileged few that can afford to fund themselves.

Expecting people to work for you for free so that you can profit from their labour is bad. Are we still really asking this question?

Paying speakers isn't easy. Should I throw my hands up in the air and give up trying?

No, you shouldn't. Positive change is never easy. But sometimes it's easier than you think, and the biggest hurdle to get over is your own brain telling you that that's just the way it is.

Wouldn't paying speakers increase the ticket price, the sponsor fees, or reduce the event-owners profit?

Yes, very probably! In the same way paying your restaurant staff a living wage or minimum wage might have an impact on the price of your Humble Pie.

To live in a truly equitable world about 50% of us are going to have to make small sacrifices.

But I "do fine" without being paid for speaking...I'm happy to volunteer...what's the problem?

I'm delighted you've found yourself in such a fortunate position! But the world exists outside of you.

How about the speakers who need financial support just ask for it?

That's an option, yes - you could declare that speakers who need financial support request it or apply for it. But that's super embarrassing to put people in a position where they're expected to ask you for fair payment. And it again will disproportionately exclude people who don't feel they have the power, authority, or the right to ask.

How about instead the default is all your speakers are paid, and then the privileged speakers can choose to donate back to you or waive their fee so you can buy one more pull-up banner?

Shouldn't these speakers invest in themselves or just be happy with the exposure?

That's quite the investment - especially for people who don't have the initial seed capital. It also puts us in a position that skews speakers towards those that benefit from exposure. I'd argue those aren't necessarily the best speakers or the voices we need to be hearing from.

For example, the majority of charity employees aren't looking for exposure...that's an agency thing.

My favourite conference wouldn't exist if they had to pay their speakers!?

That's not a question. But...

If you can't afford to run your business without unpaid labour then you can't afford to run your business.

Seriously...are you genuinely saying those are the only two choices? Exploit speakers or go out of business?

What's your profit margin? What are your costs? What does your CEO earn? Please show me the financial accounts of this event that is running at such a tight margin and I'll happily tell you what they're doing wrong.

OK...I want to be on the right side of history...what should I do?

• If you're a speaker or potential speaker then know your value.?Ask for payment or true value exchange.
• If you're a sponsor then ask if speakers are being paid.?If not, why not? Offer to pay more to enable it (Don't worry about the cost...you'll get more exposure!).
• If you're an event organiser then prioritise speaker payments as a cost. Labour costs are priority number one.
• If you're an attendee then ask the event organisers what their speaker payment policy is.

You can read the Fundraising Everywhere speaker payment policy here.