Do You Run Seminars, Workshops, Or Conferences? Quick Question.

8 replies
I have a question for those of you who are involved in running
your own seminars, workshops, and conferences.

I run a seminar business here in Boston, and have a local lead
pool of just over 500 people. Every month I run 2-3 seminars on
my particular subject, and I occasionally bring in outside
speakers to present to my group. In exchange for them delivering
their expertise, they get to sell their products at the back of
the room at my seminars.

My question is... how do you handle the profit split? The way I
did handled it at this last one was that I kept all the ticket
sales and let the speaker sell his book and keep all the profit.
He also pitched a back end seminar in which I get a cut of the
profits.

Here's where I need some specific guidance.

First, does the fact that he gave my audience two hours of great
content and I kept the ticket sales entitle him to keep 100% of
the back of the room sales, or should I still expect a cut of
that profit?

Second, I own the reprint rights to the book he was pitching (in
exchange for writing the sales copy on his website to pitch said
book). When he's not presenting to my group, is it reasonable to
assume that I can print up copies and sell them to my audience
and keep 100% of the profits even though he occasionally pitches
the same book to my readers?

He still makes out on the back end with his high end seminars
(which I still get a cut of), but I want to make sure that he
doesn't feel that I'm taking advantage of him (and I want to make
sure that I'm NOT taking advantage). How does the profit split
usually work when it comes to bringing in speakers to present to
your audience that you've worked hard to build up? Thanks.

Jason
#conferences #professional speakers #question #quick #run #seminars #workshops
  • Profile picture of the author polimedia
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    • I realize that there are no hard and fast rules, but is there a "best practices" as far as this is concerned?

      Jason
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  • Profile picture of the author Steven Carl Kelly
    I personally deliver many seminar presentations each year, but in my case I book my own venue, do my own advertising, and sell my own products. Therefore, I'm not really involved in splitting profits, I keep them all of them.

    That said, I agree with others who say you should simply negotiate a deal with which you are both comfortable.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ken Preuss
    My experience with this comes from the real estate investing arena.

    The standard split for this kind of arrangement is 50/50 of back-of-the-room revenues.

    The premise for this is simple. You are providing the lead - they are providing the product. Neither will make money without the other.

    If the speaker is seasoned and feels the group is too small compared to what they are used to, sometimes they will ask for a higher % unless a certain revenue threshold is hit - whereby the split would revert to 50/50.

    If the group owner (you) are not sure of a newer/unseasoned speaker's ability to convert, you could ask for a higher % unless a certain threshold revenue threshold is hit - whereby the split would revert to 50/50.

    Bottom line, unless there are unique circumstances there is nothing more fair than 50/50.

    Hope this helps,
    Ken
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
      Originally Posted by Ken Preuss View Post

      My experience with this comes from the real estate investing arena.

      The standard split for this kind of arrangement is 50/50 of back-of-the-room revenues.
      That's typical in the IM world, too.

      Speakers usually do not get paid just to speak and pay their own travel expenses, despite what many people think. So if they don't make enough sales they actually lose money when speaking.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chuck Evans
    If he is pitching YOUR product then you should get a bigger % of the split.

    I've done over 400 workshops/seminars and the when we don't put them on ourselves then the event organizer pays all of my expenses, a daily rate, and I keep all of my back table monies.

    This works because I am the one they are coming to see, almost 200K attendees came to these workshops. Before I go on though they usually pitch a product completely different from mine.

    chuck
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  • Profile picture of the author Maria Gudelis
    The split usually is 50/50 as you are filling the seats, some lately even go to 60/40 as in you keep 60%.

    You are doing all the work to put together the seminar - AND potentially giving up your precious 'paying' customers to the speaker (you never now what else could be sold in the future by the speaker to your list...yes -that happens)

    Also monitor his close rate - you have to think of this as 'there are other speakers out there that would jump at the chance to show up, teach a bit, pitch and share 50% of the sales...so your profits now depend on the close rate for that speaker.

    Hope that helps! Mia
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Silvester
    Hi Jason,

    The seminar business can be a very lucrative
    business when Its done right.

    Here in Australia, most of the Big "Main Event"
    type of seminars are worked out like this.

    Promoter (You) = Keep 100% ticket sales
    Promoter (You) = Keep 50% of back table sales
    Presenter (them) = Keep 50% of Back Table Sales

    You are putting bums on seats, you have to cover all
    costs to get them there. Your in the shit if you cant
    fill those seats.

    The presenter only has to turn-up and present to the
    people that you organised and leave with the cash.

    Another thing, Usually the Promoter (you) handles all
    the transactions and refunds for the first 30 days then
    after 30 days hands over the 50% commission to the
    presenter.

    This happens no matter how many presenters you
    have on the stage during your event.

    Hope this helps?

    Take Care,

    Michael Silvester
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  • I really see no point in doing that, but I do perform in concert and sell worldwide my music.
    And I love a huge crowd to play for.
    It's better than doing a conference.
    I love it !!
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