𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗕𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.

I was recently asked if I could share my slides after a conference talk. I had to say no — not because I was difficult, but because I wasn’t paid to be there. In fairness to my paying clients, I couldn’t justify giving away my work for free.

That’s also why you might not see some of the people you expected at an event.

My friend 🦉 Paul Craven put it best: 

𝘪𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦?

For employees, speaking is part of their job. They’re still on the clock. But for self-employed professionals, it’s time away from paid work. Travel, prep, and the event itself all take time — time that doesn’t pay the bills.

The usual justification? '𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦.' Sometimes, that's true. But exposure doesn’t cover rent, particularly when you're starting out.

In a 'must read' post on this topic, Benjamin White of Crafty Counsel pointed out a simple truth: 

𝘪𝘧 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘺? 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭, 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴. (https://lnkd.in/dniZNxyq?)

The problem with that? When events only feature those who can afford to speak for free — corporate execs, people selling something, or those with personal wealth — the audience misses out. The independent thinkers, the ones who might challenge conventional wisdom, simply won’t be there. 

That doesn’t mean we never speak for free. Occasionally, the stage, the audience, or the location makes it worth it. And, as good event organisers (like Ben) understand, there are ways they can make it more appealing if there really isn't a budget.

But when a conference can't afford to pay speakers, don’t be surprised when the most interesting voices stay home. And, if they are there, why they might not share their slides.