Hi Greg,
   hmmm...  I won't comment on the tone of your message... it speaks for
itself....Nor will I comment on the going rates for speakers... I haven't
booked any for a couple of years for a national conference.... and yes I
have booked 'em in the past so that is why I am not commentting on it.

   But!  I do question why Franken was chosen as the keynote speaker for a
conference for IT Professionals....Does he have something to do with the IT
industry?  I personally don't think I have ever heard of the man... but then
I didn't usually watch Saturday Night Live (I'll ask the "Better Half" as
she is an expert on SNL hehe)

   Shouldn't Interex have someone on the par of Carly, Alfredo, George
Stachnick (sp) or someone that is shaping the IT Industry daily as a keynote
speaker?

   I agree that the keynote speaker isn't the reason for deciding on whether
or not to attend a conference... but at the going rates for keynote speakers
... the keynote speaker should provide IT training, guidance and/or insight
and have experience and knowledge of the IT industry.

Art "confused on what Interex's criteria is/was" Bahrs

----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Cagle" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2000 5:29 PM
Subject: Re: [HP3000-L] HP WORLD 2000: $20K to $25K for a speaker?!?!?!?!


> "Stan Sieler" <[log in to unmask]> wrote in message
> news:399b1964$1_2@skycache-news.fidnet.com...
> > Hi all,
> >
> > The opening keynote speaker at HP World 2000 is Al Franken.
> >
> > Hmmm... http://www.speaking.com/speakers/alfranken.html
> > indicates that the cost of getting Al Franken as a speaker is in
> > the $20 K to $25 K range.
> >
> > That's 20 *THOUSAND* to 25 *THOUSAND* dollars.
> >
> > Why in the hell is Interex spending our money this way?
>
> Stan, you obviously haven't tried to book a large conference keynote
> speaker lately. It is the GOING RATE.
>
> > Who's having a power-trip ("I/we must be important, we've got
> > a big name speaker)?
>
> HP World is an industry-leading conference. This is par for the
> course. No power trip involved, just competitive reality. Perhaps
> you remember Scott Adams, one of our previous keynotes. Why don't
> you go check HIS rates and then get back to us.
>
> > Does Interex *really* think that hundreds of extra *paying* attendees
> > will show up because of him?
>
> No, no one is going to make a decision to attend based on the keynote
> alone. Nor are they going to make that decision based on the party,
> or the lunches, or the material of the t-shirts. But if you miss the
> mark on any one of those things (and thousands of others), the overall
> conference experience is less than it might have been, which translates
> directly to repeat business.
>
> > I'm not renewing my membership.
>
> Promise?
>
> - Greg
> --
> Greg Cagle
> Tigard, OR
> gregc at gregcagle dot com