I won’t be on the roster for Skepticon this year. Which means I have nothing scheduled for November, and I’m looking for an event to do then. So are you in a group, maybe one a long way from Skepticon and thus whose members usually don’t get to go, who’d like to have me out as a speaker around that time? My requirements aren’t too demanding (details here), and if you coordinate with other groups for multiple events or a mini-tour, you can get a discount.
It occurs to me that not everyone might know my basic requirements for speaking (not everyone has read that last link), and I am looking for events in any month of this year or next (although most of this year is booked, I have a few openings here and there, besides all of November).
So here is an excerpt from my booking page:
… For any speaking engagement I require expenses, a $250 honorarium, and (usually) an opportunity to sell my books at your event. If you want to do a teleconference, I charge only $150 (per hour), and no expenses. But even for having me appear in person, normally the only expenses you have to cover are transportation and lodging.
The largest expense is always transportation. I live in California … The lowest expense is often lodging, as I actually prefer to stay as the guest of a local freethinker … all I need is a warm bed and a hot shower. …
Consider teaming up several organizations for a single joint event, or more. I am willing to stay several days for multiple events. You will have to board me for those extra nights, and I charge only $50 for each additional debate or speaking engagement, but informal events are free (e.g. dinner parties, meet-and-greets, etc.). Just feed me copious amounts of alcohol. To give you an idea, I once spoke at a university, the costs of which were split three ways by the campus freethought group and two different academic departments that were interested in the subject of my talk. On another occasion I spoke to two separate atheist community groups in cities near each other, a volunteer driving me between them, and the two groups split my honorarium and airfare. So feel free to be creative. My time is flexible.
Interested? Shoot me an email.
Dear Richard.
I have been a fan of your work for many years. You are a highly intelligent man.
Yet man you are.
And a white man at that.
Also, as far as I am aware, you are fully able bodied.
Don’t you think your time would be better spent finding a speaking position for a person of colour? Perhaps a female person of colour? Maybe one with a disability or some other disadvantage?
Thanks Richard. You are better than this.
I already advocate that. And indeed, that’s one of the reasons I’m not attending Skepticon this year, to open up a slot for a woman or minority speaker.
I think you have an illogical take on how this works. Making room for half the population does not mean bowing out. It just means taking half the gigs.
But half is still not zero.
If you sincerely want a woman or minority speaker for an event you are organizing or a monthly meeting you have, I have lots of great recommendations.
But if you organize ten events or meetings, having me at one of them does not contradict having women and minorities at the others. Or even together in the same venue. Because golly, sometimes more than one speaker appears at the same event, don’t you know.
Hi Richard,
I’m a member of the Atheist Community of San Jose, where you gave your excellent OHJ speech a few months ago. I’d certainly like an opportunity to buy an autographed copy of OHJ, since they weren’t available during your visit.
I haven’t spoken yet to any of the other members, but I personally would like to hear something about your research into ancient science and technology, perhaps how the Romans were even more advanced than we give them credit for, or maybe how the Dark Ages could have been avoided or mitigated. Do you have a speech worked up along those lines?
I’m sure there would still be a lot of Jesus/Bible related questions for you, but since you already spoke about OHJ to us, some more-or-less non-religious topic might be better this time.
(I open-posted this in the comments because I think your answer might be of general interest.)
I certainly do, slides and all. And it’s well honed from repeated delivery. I love getting the chance to give talks about that.
I don’t have one prepared, but I have a chapter sort of on the subject coming in an anthology soon. I could produce a speech on that if there is interest. But you might find the answer boring: a more democratic constitution, reduced income disparity, and smarter fiscal policy.
“But you might find the answer boring: a more democratic constitution, reduced income disparity, and smarter fiscal policy.”
Yeah, it’s a good thing we don’t have to worry about stuff like that in 21st century America. /sarcasm
Thanks for the reply, Richard. I will ask the other members about this at our next meeting.