demonstrator fees

[Hugh]

How come when a known demonstrator goes to do a demo in an area - they charge a fee for the demo and then charge for travel fees? Why don't they just charge a fee that includes everything? I realize that they have to stay somewhere and they may be put up by a club member (usually). It just seems an odd way charge. Just one of those wierd thoughts that goes through my sawdust brain.
Hugh

 

[Curt Fuller]

I'm just guessing, but I would guess that they do charge a flat fee for the actual demonstration. But travel costs would vary depending on location so they would break them out separately.

 

[john lucas]

Exactly what I do and why I do it. Also if you do two clubs in the same area somtimes you can divide the travel fee among them. I don't know if others do that but I do. I believe when Richard Raffen came down several clubs in our area split the travel fee. At least that's the way I understood it, I wasn't on that board.

 

[Ian Robertson]

I do the same as John.

 

[davidwalser]

Good explanations

Hugh,

You've received some good explanations as to why the demonstrators typically charge a fee for a demo and then ask to be reimbursed for travel expenses. Allow me to add that this practice is not limited to woodturning demonstrators. I've arranged for speakers for a number of professional organizations. My experience is that travel expenses and speaker fees are almost always treated separately.

Usually, the organization has the option of making the travel arrangements -- allowing them to save some money if they buy wisely. The speaker (or demonstrator) has little incentive to do a lot of shopping for the best airfare.

 

[Matt Lewis]

Demo Travel

Hey John,

Costs for the leg of the journey from the previous stop (Hampton Roads) to your location.

Regards,

Matt

 

[hockenbery]

Hugh,
You've received some good explanations as to why the demonstrators typically charge a fee for a demo and then ask to be reimbursed for travel expenses. Allow me to add that this practice is not limited to woodturning demonstrators. I've arranged for speakers for a number of professional organizations. My experience is that travel expenses and speaker fees are almost always treated separately.

.

David, the same fee structure usually applies to any consultant you hire. So much an hr + expenses + travel time.

Professional turners who demonstrate loose work days when traveling and often a day prepping.


Happy turning
Al

 

[John Jordan]

I would never let a club make air travel bookings for me, but I am always price conscious, be it a school or club. I did that once, and flew to NZ in the middle seat of five across-never again. I wouldn't add an extra stop to save $20, but I will schedule at times I might not prefer etc. I schedule exactly as I would if its personal travel, and I'm paying.

I usually just ask for a reasonable fee split among clubs if I'm visiting several venues on that trip and driving, otherwise $.50 mile.

John

 

[Dale Bright]

Travel costs would not be taxable as they are a reimbusred expense. Where the demo fee would be income and taxable. I am not an accountant or tax expert but I used to travel and teach and that is the way I remember it.

Dale

 

[davidwalser]

I would never let a club make air travel bookings for me, but I am always price conscious, be it a school or club. I did that once, and flew to NZ in the middle seat of five across-never again. I wouldn't add an extra stop to save $20, but I will schedule at times I might not prefer etc. I schedule exactly as I would if its personal travel, and I'm paying.

...

John,

I hear where you're coming from. In general, I think it's best for the demonstrator to arrange for his or her own travel. The demonstrator knows their own preferences and the club is unlikely to have a travel department staffed with agents who can save a few dollars on airfare.

Circumstances are different at a large professional conference, where the attendees will fill a few hundred hotel rooms. There, the conference organizer may have enough buying power (through the hotel and/or the airlines) to get substantially reduced airfares for the speakers at the conference. To obtain these savings, the conference organizer typically makes the travel arrangements for its speakers. To avoid riding in the middle seat next to the rest room, the speakers will typically insist that their contract specify the type of ticket they'll receive (business class, aisle or window seat, on a major airline, etc.). This isn't a universal practice, but it's a common practice.