I’ve borrowed a concept from International Trade Negotiations called the “Most Favored Nation” principle.
It is usually found and applied in tariff and commercial trade situations between friendly nations.
The principle just means that equal and equitable treatment is sought for both me and the venues I use.
I try to take a “Most Favored Nation” approach to
remuneration, in that I ask to be paid at the rate similar speakers and
presenters are compensated under parallel circumstances in the same
forum. In this way I can speak to High Schools, non-profit
groups, Corporate, and scientific audiences, each time on an
“equal footing” with appropriate sensitivity to budgets of
the organizations I visit. In effect, some audiences subsidize
others, but my message can reach a wider range of listeners this way,
and everybody wins. As you certainly know, my talk is (very
heavily) science oriented, and I steer away from personal attacks on
people taking one position or the other; I like to let the hard science
and evidence focus the discussion, and my slides and videoclips drive
home points on their own.
I visit mainly university, college and NOAA/NASA audiences throughout
the nation and occasionally secondary school, corporate, and community
groups. To keep expenses down, I usually do so by group in the
same region by prearrangement.
My presentations at corporate annual meetings, etc. are keyed to the
industry of the particular audience and higher fees under those
circumstances make sense. Audience adjustment is part of the
service anyway, and level of detail is always adjusted as appropriate
for the venue in question.
Now if your potential audiences never pay outside speakers for somewhat
similar presentations, then I shall do so at absolutely no
charge. If either has ever provided honoraria or reimbursed
expenses on somewhat similar occasions, then I expect to be treated in
a like manner. The "Most Favored Nation” approach" just
means that I am treated equally - no better, no worse. Promptness
of reimbursement is not an issue. If a quarter or semester has to
end before accounts are settled, that is not a problem.
Please e-mail me at < tom@colderside.com > if you have
questions. As I travel internationally for these presentations
too, I hope you understand that occasionally my usual rapid response
may take a bit longer.
Thanks for your patience and interest !!!