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From: ariels@orca.UUCP (Ariel Shattan)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers,net.tv.drwho
Subject: Re: Payment to guests at cons
Message-ID: <1659@orca.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Aug-85 11:35:45 EDT
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Posted: Mon Aug 12 11:35:45 1985
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> 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