Table of Contents
What kind of trainings do you offer?
Are your sessions any good?
Can you provide references?
How far in advance do we need to book our event?
How many events do you do in a year?
What do you charge and what do we get for our money?
We can't afford your fee, any other options available?
How do we book an event?
How do you handle expenses?
Do you require a contract?
Can we cancel in case of an "act of God"?
How many hours of training can you do in a day?
How many participants can you accommodate?
Can you do a book signing?
Can you do vending at our event?
Do you have any unique attendee give-a-way ideas?
What can you do to help publicize this event?
Do you need any special audio visual equipment?
What about room arrangement?
Do you have a confetti cannon?
Can you juggle, dance, or sing?
How long do your sessions last?
My sessions revolve around two main topics: Play-Based Early Learning and Caregiver Self-Care. Click Here to check out a list of training topics.
I sure like to think so. I have had a lot of great feedback from attendees of past events. Click Here to check out what some of them had to say.
Click Here to email me for references. I am happy to send you contact information for the organizers of some recent events I have spoken at so you can ask them about working with me and what they think about my presentations.
The more lead time the better. Most events are scheduled six to eighteen months in advance. If your event date is flexible, we can usually find a date that will work with two or three months notice.
In 2008 I did 29 events and in 2009 I will do around 35. That means over 50,000 miles of travel and over 40 nights away form home. Click Here to check out my training map and see where I have been in the last few years.
My current fee for an event is $2400 plus expenses. That includes as many hours of training as you want and 15 of my books that you can use as door prizes or raffle prizes. Expenses generally include travel, hotel, and a daily per diem for meals. There may be other expenses for printed materials or make-and-take supplies depending on the sessions you select.
There are a couple options:
Explorations Early Learning LLC can co-sponsor an event if your group or agency is interested. We can come in and do an event and even handle on-line registration, flier design, and other tasks.
Another option is to work with agencies and organizations in your area to "piggyback" events. If you book 2 or more events within 300 miles of each other in a week the groups can share expenses and I can offer a discounted fee to each group.
Every year I offer a discounted fee for a few small organizations that could not generally afford my services. These slots on my calendar fill up fast. If interested you need to contact me well in advance of your event.
Click Here to email me about any of these options.
To book an event all you have to do is email me and lock in a date on my calendar. If you have a specific date in mind, you can Click Here and see if it is open. I try to keep this calendar up to date. I can also "pencil in" dates if your group is still finalizing your plans. Then we can put the date "in ink" when you make a final decision. You can also Click Here to check out available training topics.
I make my own travel arrangements and usually take care of hotel arrangements too. These expenses are detailed in the compensation section of the contract I will send you. If you would prefer, your group can make hotel arrangements and pay that cost directly.
Yes, this just keeps things clear and outlines what is required of both groups. After you book an event, I will email you a contract to review. When we are both happy with the document you can print two copies, sign them, and mail them to me. Then I will sign them both and send one back for your files. You can Click Here to review a sample contract.
Can we cancel in case of an "act of God"?
Sometimes things come up and sessions have to be cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. If a session is canceled and rescheduled within six months of the original date, there will be no cancellation charge. If the cancellation happens six months or more before the event, and is not rescheduled the fee will be 25% of the contract agreement. If the cancellation occurs less than six months before the event, and is not rescheduled, there will be a 50% cancellation charge. This is covered in the contract I use for events.
How many hours of training can you do in a day?
I start getting tired after six hours, but have done up to eight hours in one day. At most one-day events I do four to six hours of training.
How many participants can you accommodate?
I can work with groups ranging in size from ten to 1500 or more.
Can you do a book signing?
I would be happy to. There are lots of ways to do this at an event. Feel free to contact me about a book signing at your event. Click Here to email me now.
Can you do vending at our event?
If at all possible, I prefer to have a table made available to sell books and other items from my website store .
Do you have any unique attendee give-a-way ideas?
If you are looking for something to give away to your attendees and don't want to do canvas tote bags again you can contact me for some different ideas that tie in to my presentations. I can find ideas that work with most budgets and would be happy to work with you on this even if you don't have me speak at your event.
What can you do to help publicize this event?
Once we have a signed contract, I can provide my bio, session descriptions, my photo, book cover photos, the Explorations Early Learning LLC logo, or other items needed for your program or flier. I will also list the event on my website calendar and post a link to your website if you like. You can also post your event on my website forum.
Do you need any special audio visual equipment?
For most sessions I will need a screen and projector to display my PowerPoint slideshow. I will bring my own computer. Depending on the size of the room, I may also need a microphone. If one is needed, I prefer a wireless lapel microphone.
What about room arrangement?
Different topics require different set ups, but I am pretty flexible and can make most setups work. The biggest concern is that the attendees are comfortable and not crammed into the room like sardines. It is also best to have the available seating match the number of attendees. For example, if the presentation will take place in a huge room with a medium sized group of participants, I request that extra seating in the rear of the room be roped off so that those in attendance are forced into a more intimate seating arrangement.
Do you have a confetti cannon?
I sure do, and it is a lot of fun during keynotes and other trainings. I can even fire streamers instead of confetti to make clean up easier. If you want your own confetti cannon (and who doesn't) here is a link to where I purchased mine.
Can you juggle, dance, or sing?
No, Sorry. I wish I could juggle, my wife does not allow me to dance in public, and you don't want to hear me sing.
How long do your sessions last?
Session length can be tailored to meet your needs. Most topics can be done as one to four hour sessions and a few are meaty enough to spend six hours or more exploring. I can also combine topics for day-long events. Let me know what you want for your event and I can it happen.
