For graduate students & junior scholars: My speaking fees in 2019 and 2020 have ranged anywhere between $500 and $7500. That is post-tenure, post-book.

The only time I asked for $8000 (billion dollar org), I was ghosted.

I limit free labor to internal/Penn & close colleagues.

Other tips so you don't get caught up:

1. Even within the "speaking for free" category, *limit that number each semester.* I have given 3 lectures on campus this term. That is enough.

2. I have no qualms reheating old material for $500 to $1000, Alex. And I'm not kidding.

3. Save your best stuff for those paying you accordingly. An organization paying in the $5000 to $10,000 range values you and your time and is investing in it.

4. If someone's teaching your book, yes, you can drop into their class free (they bought copies), but LIMIT this # too.

5. (can't emphasize this enough) Marginalized and minoritized faculty, and first gens from all demographics, you CANNOT do what majority faculty do.

You do not have the generational wealth to speak for free. You literally do not have the time to volunteer your expertise.

I spoke for free, a LOT, from 2009 to 2016, when my dean & faculty mentor (both women) insisted that I STOP.

Want to end up with $25,000 of credit card debt from speaking for free all over the country & for peanuts, like I did? I insist that you stop volunteering your expertise.

Even worse, you're not just volunteering your expertise...

You are paying to work, when most academics from the margins have too much to do on and off campus.

You are, in effect, making a MAJOR DONATION to another higher education institution.

Think about it.

I am adamant about this.

First gens? BIPOC? *Do not take financial advice from people who have generational wealth &/or partners with good jobs &/or money.*

You CANNOT go to all the conferences they attend.

Some will be offended when you say no. That's OK. Hold the line!

Colleagues will insist you come, they'll host you, "if only you buy the plane ticket," etc. Standard academic practice in the era before student loans, stagnant wages, and rising costs of living.

That's nice. That was then. This is now.

You literally cannot afford it. Period.

Now, if you're friendly with the colleagues in question, and you're going on vacation anyway, do what you must.

Just be clear on what you're doing.

And, let's not expect others - many of whom are underwater with hundreds of thousands' worth of debt - to do the same.

I said what I said. You cannot afford this.

1. Decide the conferences you will attend annually. Budget for them so they can be paid off between your pocket and your institution. DO NOT GO INTO DEBT.

2. Set a minimum for all other invitations. *Do not leave your home for less.*

You can wince at my thread and go into the hole tens of thousands of dollars.

Or you can follow my advice. What will happen is as compound interest takes hold, your cards will be charged up, so you have to start saying "no" anyway.

Don't be like me.

Do NOT speak for free.

Thanks for the response. I hope someone out there avoids the academic conference and speaking debt trap. It is real and many people are suffering in silence.

(BTW, I am being advised to raise the floor and increase my minimum. Lovely. Maybe I won't feel so tired all the time.)