Why Can’t I Get My Fee?

If you’ve been in speaking or performing for any length of time, the question, “Why can’t I get my fee?” may have come up a time or two (million).

Here’s the issue: We see others getting the fees we want.

We figure we should get that much because we figure we are better.

We raise our fees too quickly.

And then we wonder why we can’t get the higher fee.

It comes down to the market determining your value.

If you are finding that you can’t get your fee upon raising it after years and years, or even a few months, it’s ok to re-establish things.  Come back to planet earth.

Look over your web presence.  Does your social media convey that you should be getting higher fees?

At some point, you may want to take a hard look at your presentation style, your material, your true value when it comes to take-away.

If you are an Entertainer, you will reach a ceiling on your fee unless you become famous.

If you are a Speaker, you will be paid for the value you deliver and the sky’s the limit, including could be double or triple the not-yet-famous Entertainer for the Speaker who has yet to hit the big time.

Trust me, I have watched this work in my career.

For the past decade I have received in the low 5-figures consistently for a GREAT Show, but I am not super famous.  So I reached the limit of fees a company or client could justify paying.  I was even told my Show, at the price paid, was more valuable than famous show performers receiving 10x what I got.

Frustrating to hear it, but it was true.

Yet the market wouldn’t bear me making more!  To the client’s mind, anyone can entertain us, let’s find someone in our budget.

However, once I made the very strategic shift to become a Speaker who delivers joy, has a message of great value and takeaway (The Promise), the next thing we have found is that clients will now pay DOUBLE what I was making before, because it is worth it to them in that context.

It now becomes “Education” or “Inspiration”, rather than the (in their minds) “expendable entertainment only”.

Truly, I hate to use such harsh truths, but this is the case from the buyer’s perspective.

So, whether you are Entertainer looking to become Speaker, or Performer looking to get your fee, the question continually lands on what it is worth to the customer, and the level to which you can convince them to pay you.

You may need to find a NEW Audience.

Or you may need to up your game to such a level that people take notice and will pay much higher to get you and only you.

Until then, keep your fees at a nominal place, stop driving yourself crazy, and embrace where you are.  If you’re making a living in performance just remember – you are blessed!

Eventually the market, and potentially your desired shift in lifestyle (time on planes, time with family, etc) will determine when it’s time for you to move up.

 

~ jason

 

Jason Hewlett, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame, is a Keynote Speaker for the largest corporate events in the world. His primary message, The Promise, is essential for Leadership, Management, Sales, Marketing, Direct-Sales Companies, and is a combination of engagement and entertainment meets inspiration. Jason has even received standing ovations from IT guys. He has been acknowledged as life-changing by Conference Attendees, C-Level Executives and Hollywood Elite. jasonhewlett.com

Please click here to learn about how Jason Hewlett, Speaker Hall of Fame, introduces the opportunity for you, or someone you love, to have the gift of learning how to create a Career From the Stage and begin moving toward fulfilling a lifelong dream as a full-time speaker, performer, or entertainer.

To hire Jason to speak at your next event, inspire and uplift, entertain and engage, please contact Karen Harris at jasonbookings@cmispeakers.com