mel jacobson on sun 4 apr 04
i have some very serious thoughts on
public demonstrations and teaching.
here are my rules. (and yes, they are my rules. others may
find them lacking.)
consider your audience and respect them.
what do they want from me for their dollar paid?
is the teaching about `me` and my work, or about
what my clients need and want?
be prepared for any event.
don't be a pimp for your own sales. teach first. they just paid you.
research the venue, know what has gone on
before, and what does not work.
research the technical aspects...slides, microphones, video
systems. i will sink or swim depending on technical problems.
several other rules of presentation.
you are in charge of the audience, if you lose them, it is
your fault.
if your audience does not give a damn about what you are
saying...find out why.
don't blame the audience if they hate your ideas. it may be
your ideas that are wrong.
don't take money for a bad presentation.
( i have told every workshop director `if you are unhappy
with my work, i will give you back my fee. if i insult your folks
or belittle them, i will give back my fee. if any participant feels
threatened, i will give back my fee.`
(for example, i base my fee for teaching workshops on numbers.
if i cannot draw a crowd, i take a lesser fee. it is up to me, and
my reputation to draw in clients. if i get a great big crowd i would
like to share in that monetary number. )
i expect that those sponsoring me make some money. they do not
work free. but, they should not make huge profit on me, and not
take care of me.
(for example. if clayarters and potters pay $175 dollars each for nceca
and that
is almost a thousand people...that is $175,000 dollars. what do we
get for our dollar? what did we get from a demo on knitting, crocheting?)
anyway, technical information is boring..`quote`
rule number one, always number one.
`treat every person attending with respect and decency.`
i am not in a debate with anyone about their presentation.
each person has to live with what they do, and how they teach.
there has never been a standard, and probably will never be.
some do it well, some do it badly. most often they get the same fee.
just the way it is.
i expect more, that is all.
mel
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
new/ http://www.rid-a-tick.com
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