wmartin@brl-tgr.ARPA (Will Martin ) (08/08/85)
Just out of curiosity... What is the generally-accepted formula for paying "star"-type guests at cons, like the actors that have played the Doctor at Dr. Who cons, or the Star Trek actors at ST cons, or noted authors at SF cons? Do they get just free room & board and travel expenses, or are they paid a rate equivalent to what they would get as actors in a stage production lasting that long (and if so, how are author's fees determined?), or do the con committees negotiate a fee with the personalities' agents, or what? In general terms, do these people attend these cons out of the goodness of their hearts, or for the publicity value, rather than to make money? Or do they do it as a job and charge "commercial" rates for their time? Thanks for info! Regards, Will Martin UUCP/USENET: seismo!brl-bmd!wmartin or ARPA/MILNET: wmartin@almsa-1.ARPA
nyssa@abnji.UUCP (nyssa of traken) (08/10/85)
The way I understand it, payment of guests varies from con to con.
If a local club decides to try to run a con, the stars will get less
than they'd get from Spirit of Light. Room and board are both covered
(of course), as is all transportation. Cons which do not provide this
often turn out to be terrible ones, for many reasons!
Precise figures, I do not know. Probably around $1000 or so for Colin
Baker, less for companions. Planning on running one? :-)
--
James C. Armstrong, Jnr. {ihnp4,cbosgd,akgua}!abnji!nyssa
"If she doesn't scream, the wedding can take place!" Doctor
"Don't I have a say in the matter?" female companion
"Be quiet" Doctor
Which companion, what story?ariels@orca.UUCP (Ariel Shattan) (08/12/85)
> Just out of curiosity... What is the generally-accepted formula for > paying "star"-type guests at cons, like the actors that have played the > Doctor at Dr. Who cons, or the Star Trek actors at ST cons, or noted > authors at SF cons? Do they get just free room & board and travel > expenses, or are they paid a rate equivalent to what they would get as > actors in a stage production lasting that long (and if so, how are > author's fees determined?), or do the con committees negotiate a fee > with the personalities' agents, or what? > > In general terms, do these people attend these cons out of the goodness > of their hearts, or for the publicity value, rather than to make money? > Or do they do it as a job and charge "commercial" rates for their time? > > Will Martin Guests at media cons are often paid appearance fees. At most SF cons, the guests of honor get transportation, room, maybe board or a per diem for themselves and a companion or family. Authors and artists who aren't guests of honor may get free membership in the convention for themselves and maybe a guest or companion. This sort of thing depends on the policy of the con committee. Most authors I know go to cons not for publicity or any sense of altruism, but because they enjoy cons. They get to get fawned over by fans, hob-nob with fellow authors, party, make business connections, and write it all off on their taxes as a business expense (which it is!). To get an author at your convention, just write directly to the author and ask. A few authors will direct enquiries to agents, but most handle their own corespondence. I don't know the details of getting a media personality to a convention because I've never been on the con-com of a media con. Ariel (Come to Orycon!) Shattan ..!tektronix!orca!ariels
dmak@watarts.UUCP (Derwin Mak) (08/12/85)
Guest fees are negotiated between con committees and the guest's agents. As a general rule, cons pay for accomodation, airfare, meals and entertainment ON TOP OF a public appearance fee (usually ~ $3000). This makes it very difficult for smaller cons to get guests and is probably the direct result of some of the mammoth cons held in a certain city beginning with a C and ending with a O.