My Life from the Podium: Teaching vs. Selling

We’ve all done it. We’ve seen an ad for a speaker, we’ve gotten excited, gone to the gig, picked a good seat up front, and then gotten stuck there when the speaker started hyping their product line. With no graceful way to escape, we’re stuck in the 2nd row for several hours and walk away with slightly more information than we’d get from a Sham-Wow commercial.

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. <—read here for my own experience.

I was a Girl Scout. For a really really long time. On my honor, I won’t do the same thing to you at any of my gigs. I think you can take my word on that, I sold a LOT of cookies and was pretty serious about the Girl Scout code. And I still eat tons of Thin Mints. That should count for something.

Here’s the deal. Some speakers lock up their studio and take their show on the road. The studio isn’t making any money while they’re on the road, so they must replace that income. And they usually do it by charging speaking fees and selling a product line. I get that. You just can’t drop everything and lecture for the love of photography. You’d be a poor businessperson if you left your studio and clients floundering while you went on tour.

But I ain’t them. My studio isn’t open every day. I can shuffle my days around and take some time off without too much trouble. I can speak within a 2-3 hour drive of my home without incurring too much more than gas expenses. So, if you feed me and hit me up with some gas money (PPA speaking merits are a BONUS!), I’m usually cool. Which works out really well, because I don’t have a damn thing to sell.

Yeah, I co-authored a book. But, I got paid to write it and don’t get royalties for sales. It’s a cool book, suitable for gifting to your photography enthusiast friends. If you have one with you, I’ll autograph it. For free. If I have a few copies with me, I’ll probably just give them away to audience members for answering a question I just gave them the answer to, but I can’t remember ever trying to sell a copy of the book.

As a speaker, I speak. Sometimes non-stop. In the course of that, sometimes I tell you about things I like. Because I like them. Period. And only *IF* the company is in any way related to the subject matter at hand. If we’re talking competition prints, I will tell you about the lab that prints mine. If we’re talking about stage photography, I’ll tell you what tripods fit over theatre seats and where to get them.

In the past, (on this website) I have done reviews of photography items, books, workshops, labs, products, camera bags, etc … you wanna know how many of them asked for that review? None. You wanna know how many of them knew about that review in advance? Nada. I believe in really really free speech. And I believe if you’re being paid or compensated by a product manufacturer or organization, you may be inclined to say what they want to hear. And if you aren’t so inclined, those listening may assume you’ve been compensated, anyway.

So I have a rule. You don’t pay me and I say what I want. I think it works out really well.

Recently I was asked if a presentation of mine could be video-taped to show group members that speakers do not “plug” a certain company, thereby encouraging future attendance. I said “no”. Generally I say “yes” to just about everything, within reason, but I didn’t find this within reason. It really sucks that other speakers have messed up speaking gigs so bad that people would rather stay at home and watch a video than risk attending an educational lecture because they might get “sold to.” That really really sucks.

So, no. I want you to haul your butt into wherever I’m speaking, grab yourself a drink and some snacks and sit there and listen. Please.

I’m here to tell you this:

I *may* mention my book. I *may* give out copies. It won’t be for sale, but if you ask, I’ll tell you to get it from Amazon.com because it’s cheaper there than I can buy it from my publisher.

I probably *will* mention that I get my black and white competition prints from Buckeye Professional Imaging. They don’t sponsor me. I just like their B&W prints. And since I’m currently speaking about competition prints, it just makes sense to tell you where I get them done.

If you print at home, and we are talking about that subject, I will recommend that you use Red River Paper. I am a featured Pro on their website and and I usually wind up giving some sample packs away. I really really love their Polar White glossy 60# paper. Really. When I print at home, it’s what I use.

If you shoot Canon, I’ll make some lame joke about how Nikons are better.

I’ll definitely promote this website (www.wootness.net) – because I write it and I’d like you to read it. I might even have some Wootness t-shirts to give out.

I will definitely promote PPA membership and the Certified Professional Photographer program, as well as being involved in your state and local photography associations. Because I believe that each of these led me down the path of becoming the photographer I am today. But again, they don’t sponsor me, and other than a brief outline of how I am involved in each, that’s all you’ll hear. I don’t even bring membership forms.

If a there happens to be an overall sponsor for the speaking gig, I will thank them for hosting and say how cool they are for doing so.  If it weren’t for them, you wouldn’t have a seat to be sitting in and I’d be at home, so I think we can take 15 seconds to acknowledge their generosity in providing the venue.

Other than that, I don’t mention any other manufacturer or organization unless I am specifically asked a question about an organization or product. I promise.

I’m there to teach, not to sell. Mkay?