Are you paying your IWD speakers?

This year I've had a record number of Women of Colour (WoC) contacting me asking for advice on speaker fees and speakership in general.

It's great that WoC are being asked to speak at IWD events, however, are you paying your speakers? If not what's the whole point of IWD? *mind blown*

I say this not only for WoC but for all women and people who are being asked to share their story, MC or sit on a panel as part of a IWD event.

As someone who has run all kinds of events for over 20 years (inclusion and non inclusion related), I understand the challenges for event organisers and even though I myself am a speaker, as an event organiser self funding my own events (and imperfect human living in an imperfect world) I have made mistakes with speakers because of a lack of budget and trying to get an event off the ground - so I get it; and I know this is a journey; and if you are a corporate entity - no excuse around a lack of budget.

As an inclusion practitioner, the irony of not paying speakers for an IWD event is something that gives me a physical migraine.

Here's what I've learned (the hard way, through many mistakes) as an event organiser:

1. The first thing you need to do is secure your budget for speakers. Not book the date. Not book the catering. Not invite your employees/customers.

=> Secure the $$$$ first

2. The second thing you need to do is communicate your budget to speakers to book them in. This should be the first sentence in the first email when you reach out to them. If the budget is below the commercial rate (anywhere from $1000-25K depending on the event, if it's ticketed, and if so at what price etc) you need to be completely upfront and transparent about why the speaker fees are below the commercial rate, where the profits are going and if there is anything additional you can offer them to ELEVATE them

3. If your event is ticketed, you a corporate and you can't pay your speakers for whatever reason, then ...well....good luck

4. If you are an independent person wanting to run an event, or a not for profit for example and you don't have a budget but are ticketing the event to cover costs then again be upfront and transparent about this and think of other things you can do to ELEVATE that person such as pay for parking/transport costs, promoting their business etc (and be prepared for backlash, rightfully so as this can be diminishing to a person. That said, some professional speakers will opt to do 1-3 charitable events per year as their way of giving back).

In the past I've had a general rule for myself when running my own personal events => if, despite my efforts, I don't have a budget to pay my speakers or can only offer them a small fee that is below the commercial rate, then I don't pay myself and I don't keep the profits. If I make any profits (and most event organisers will know you are lucky to break even) I donate it to a charity like Indian Care or split it amongst the speakers. On top of this, I give away lots of free tickets. I am upfront about this rule and make it clear as well as my intention for the event (cover costs and make an impact not make a profit).

Here is what I know as an inclusion practitioner:

- Every time we share our story it is an emotional burden or emotional tax we pay. If you have an event for our equality, why should we be the ones to pay the tax?

- Sharing your story/lived experience is just as taxing (if not more) as delivering a corporate keynote - pay up.

- If you are a corporate and you don't pay your speakers - you obviously don't get inclusion - don't run the event.

- Community talks. If you are a large corporate, historically margainlised and excluded communities expect you to have the budget, regardless if the event is ticketed or not, and rightfully so - this is true equity and equity is an expectation not a nice to have when you feel like it. When we realise this, we discuss, run it through each other and share it with others - it spreads like wildfire damaging your brand image and reputation. You lose our trust - big mistake.

- Inclusion starts with your approach. Inclusion is not only about the end result. Put wonky materials into a manufacturing plant, or have a wonky manufacturing plant you will get a wonky product. The same is true for inclusion. Look at your setup/design/approach. To achieve an inclusive outcome (output) means we need to first look and scruntise our approach (inputs). This means paying your speakers and making sure you create a safe and nurturing experience from the moment you reach out to them to the moment they leave your event.

- IWD events go beyond pink/purple/morning teas/cupcakes. Would you do this for a 'male' event? Again inclusion starts with your approach, not the end result. Think about the message you are sending with how you approach your IWD event - what's the subconscious messaging in the format, decor, audience etc?

Don't skip this part...

What's wrong with lasagne or pizza instead of cupcakes and morning teas/breakfasts? What about a workshop for allies instead of a morning tea for women where we are also expected to do all work (including planning, implementing, running, speaking and cleaning up the event)?

As someone that grew up playing with trucks/trains, didn't own any barbies/dolls and often shops in the 'male' clothing department - I find this stereotyping deeply offensive because of the below:

Morning teas and cupcakes is messaging that can be viewed as oppressive - that is, the stereotyping of women as 'ladies' - that we 'should' act/talk/behave like 'ladies'...that we all gather over morning tea (which is also quite a colonial not just patriarchial).

Sure, being born in England I love my gluten free cake with tea, but please, not for IWD.

When designing your event think about what stereotypes you are playing into.

Inclusion is about the setup/approach not only about the outcome. If you want an inclusive outcome (output) think first about your set up (inputs).

Last word

If you need help with inclusion, don't sit there and try and figure it out on your own - send me a message. I'd love to help.