All about "exclusive" representation
Answers to frequently asked questions

Please note: If you do not want exclusive representation CommissionFreeSpeakers.com is an online directory for all speaker who do NOT want to be represented.

1. What does "exclusive" representation mean?
It's like dating someone seriously and agreeing to have an exclusive (monogamous) relationship: we both agree to stop seeing other people and see only each other. Here, we agree to not represent another speaker with your expertise and you agree to not be listed with other agencies and bureaus nor accept any speaking engagements without having Andrea Reynolds participate. (That would be like accepting a date with someone else and not telling your partner. Sleazy behavior after promising to be exclusive, isn't it?)

Exclusive means you agree to have Andrea Reynolds handle ALL your bookings -- even the little ones which, as a professional, you have likely phased out by now. We urge you to have us assist you in getting higher fees and better contract terms with organizations who contact you first, by referring them to Andrea within the first minute of contact.

2. With exclusive representation can I still accept speaking engagements on my own?
No. If you do we would have to stop representing you as a speaker.

3. With exclusive representation is it OK if I speak for free?
No. We represent professional speakers who expect to be paid for their work. At some time in the future you may wish to speak for free (a favorite charity or a cruise) once or twice in a year. After booking six paid speaking engagements for you, we will negotiate/ book one free speech for you.

4. With exclusive representation can I be represented by speaker bureaus also?
No, you would need to discontinue all other forms of speaker representation but Andrea Reynolds. With exclusive representation we are happy to work in tandem with bureaus who contact us because they have a speaking engagement for you. But all negotiation is handled through Andrea Reynolds.

5. What do you look for in a speaker you represent?
We look for speakers who are single-niche, how-to specialists (rather than generalists) exhibiting daring, bravery, courage, tenacity, chutzpah, nerve, guts, audacity in some aspect of their lives, who have good platform skills and have had considerable experience as paid speakers. (See Representation.)

6. Do you represent performers, motivational speakers, and coaches?
Our expertise is representing specialists: single niche how-to speakers. We will represent celebrity speakers who give motivational presentations on a specific passion -- like landmine elimination or greyhound adoption -- , but we find most coaches and motivational speakers are generalists rather than specialists. Motivational speakers have multiple, unrelated subjects, or speak on very broad subjects like "leadership", "communication", "small business" or "success". If you're a motivational speaker and have one specific passion, not several, we will consider representation or you may wish to try visibility on our directory.

7. Do you represent beginning speakers?
We look for experienced speakers to represent exclusively who have been receiving professional speaking fees consistently for quite some time. If you can show me you have consistently received a minimum $5,000 per engagement -- excluding book sales and travel and other expenses -- you would qualify for exclusive representation.

8. Are book signings considered speaking?
We don't regard book signings as speaking engagements because the speaker isn't paid to speak, therefore we don't recommend speakers do them. Book signings at book stores are geared to promote books, not the expert. The expert rarely sells more than a few dozen books - often only 4-20 books - for which they probably receive only a small percentage of the sale (royalty). We think it makes more sense to get paid to speak, have your travel expenses paid, and make larger book sales. Don't you?

9. Do I have to pay you a commission?
You do if we negotiate a paying contract for you. Because we work for you, the speaker, it is you who pays us a commission. Contrary to rumor, we are not a charitable organization. It is our intention to make a profit beyond our expenses. Our commission is schedule is:
35% for speaking fees up to $2,500,
30% for speaking fees over $2,500,
25% for speaking fees over $5,000,
22% for speaking fees over $10,000,
20% for speaking fees over $20,000,
18% for speaking fees over $30,000,
15% for speaking fees over $50,000.

10. Will you help me set my fees?
Yes. You have two options. You can buy the special report we produced to assist speakers who may be uncertain about how to set their fees. Secrets for Setting Your Speaking Fees is a report available from us. We can also provide one-on-one consultations by telephone ($225.00 prepaid for 30 minutes). Check to see if a consultation comes with your speaker package. We can answer specific fee-setting questions. Appointments are recommended.

11. Must my speaking fee also cover my expenses?
We urge organizations to cover these expenses and our commission is not charged on these necessary expenses. Incidentally, we produced a report, 33 Ways to Get the Most from Guest Speakers, free to the meeting planners who hire you to speak at their event.

12. Will you give out my fee information to anyone who asks?
No. We don't give out your fee or contract terms information to other speakers. With organizations, we wait to discuss fees until we have received enough details about the event to warrant fee discussion. We also check out all inquiries received before divulging fee information.

13. Do you charge for setting up my web page?
If you are represented exclusively there is a fee for placing the page on our site and linking from the directory page. If all speaker information and photos are sent electronically -- by email message or email attachment we charge no setup fee. (Or if we have your permission and page link to copy from your own web pages.) If we have to scan photos or retype information from hard copy or fax on your speaker page, a fee of up to $250.00 (nonreturnable) will be charged.

14. What do you mean by an honor system?
Speakers represented exclusively by Andrea Reynolds promise -- are on their honor -- to contact us immediately if they have been contacted directly by an organization wishing to hire speakers and turn the engagement over to us to be negotiated. Please note: We will automatically stop representing any speaker who does not honor the terms of our Exclusive Agreement. If you feel you cannot honor our agreement we ask you not to agree to exclusive representation.

15. How often must I communicate with Andrea Reynolds?
At least once a week. All exclusive speakers agree to notify Andrea Reynolds of all speaking events requests - even for "freebies" - and vacations so that we will know when a speaker is available -- and not available -- for new events.

16. Will you represent a speaker I regard as my competition?
As an ethical speaker agent I prefer to not represent competing speakers so I ask that you choose a single, narrow area of expertise that no other current speaker has. To represent multiple speakers with the same expertise would make us a bureau rather than a speaker agency... and I don't want to be a bureau. As a speaker agent I represent only our speakers' interests. If you regard someone as a competing speaker please tell us right away. We will check with you before accepting a speaker who may have similar expertise.

17. Is there an upfront fee I must pay?
Yes for non-clients; no for clients. (To be a client you must have hired us for a promotional campaign for a minimum of 1 month to 12 months at $6,000 per month.) For non-client speakers who wish to have a web presence on our site there is a listing fee required. A fee is required when:
a. A speaker's info, photo, book cover are not provided electronically and must be scanned, retyped or edited. An administrative fee of up to $250.00 may be charged. We produce a helpful manual, The Speaker's Promotion Kit, which contains examples of speaker promotional materials.
b. A speaker wishes to place a web page on our agency site. A membership fee of $89.00 (prepaid) will be charged, and Andrea Reynolds will provide booking or negotiation services only as requested.
c. A speaker wishes to have all contacts and referrals directed to him/her, the fee in (b) above will apply.

18. How will you promote me as a speaker?
We actively promote only those speakers who retain our marketing services through Andrea Reynolds International. We utilize methods we have tested since we were first founded in the late 70s to generate opportunities for you so you don't have to knock on doors.
Those speakers who choose not to hire us to position and promote them understand that while we will work to get meeting planners to visit the speaker directory page, we have no control over who a meeting/event planner chooses to hire. Not every event will require someone with your specific expertise.

19. Will my book's media kit be acceptable in lieu of a speaker kit?
No. There is a difference in the content and a difference in purpose between a media kit and a speaker kit. There is a list of materials required to assess your experience as a professional speaker and also for your page on the CommissionFreeSpeakers.com web site.

20. Can I use a tape of a television appearance as my demo tape?
No. We need to see a video or hear an audio recording of you speaking live. We do not accept tapes of TV appearances in lieu of platform speaking, nor artificially created presentations. We feel these are contrived and lacking in authenticity, not to mention expensive. Poor quality tapes are quite acceptable... we want to see your presentation style and hear your voice and speech without interviewer prompts.

21. How high must I set my fees?
We urge you to set fees that will generate a good profit for you (and us!). If you set them too low -- and many speakers offer fees lower than organizations are prepared to pay -- you won't generate the respect you deserve and we will have less incentive to promote you. If you set them unrealistically high, you will be disappointed when you are turned down.
But really this is a moot point because we endeavor to get you the best fees and terms we can without causing bad feelings.

22. On the application what do I list in the section "contract terms"?
We want you to list the "perqs" you consider essential and those we can use as "bargaining chips" when negotiating on your behalf. We have a report which gives you dozens of ideas. Give us at least 10.

23. What will be cause for termination of a speaker?
We must terminate our exclusive representation with any speaker who violates the terms of his/her exclusive agreement with Andrea Reynolds by any of the following actions:
1. Attempting to undercut his/her stated fees by negotiating directly with an organization,
2. Offering a speaking engagement to another speaker without going through Andrea Reynolds' office,
3. Turning over a booking request to another agent or bureau,
4. Discussing, negotiating, confirming a speaking engagement with an organization who found the speaker on www.AndreaReynolds.com and then contacted the speaker privately,
5. Choosing not to ask meeting planners if they originally saw their speaker listing on AndreaReynolds.com, and/or choosing not to indicate on their personal web site speaking page that they are represented exclusively by Andrea Reynolds,
6. Refusing to tell contacts you are represented by Andrea Reynolds, in promotional materials, ads and on your web site,
7. Making messages from our private discussions available to non-clients.
8. Not communicating with Andrea Reynolds for long periods at a time, not replying to requests for information, and not advising us you are on extended vacation.

24. Where is the agreement to sign for exclusive representation?
It's not on the web site. We will send it to you after we have received your Speaker Data Sheet and confirmed you would be a good candidate for exclusive representation. Please complete the Data Sheet first. We will then have information about you if we get a request for a speaker on your subject.
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Speaker Data Sheet