Thanks for publishing this, Cyd! One note about the honorarium: I know I often feel crass, as if I was saying with a wink, “If you make it worth my while.” So I often include the payment question along with a set of other questions, in which I am genuinely interested, but which are also there to let them know I’m not just a merc. I’ll introduce these in an email with something like, “Here are my usual questions for speaking engagements. Let me know if I need to clarify any of these questions.”

• Can you tell me about the audience? What is the expected attendance? What can you tell me about the demographics?
• Is there a Code of Conduct for the event that protects speakers and attendees?
• How long is the talk? Is there a Q&A from the audience planned? If so, how much time is planned for that (and is that part of my time or extra)?
• Is there particular topic or theme you’re hoping I’ll speak on, or is that up to me?
• Is this an opening keynote, where you would like me to get people excited for the event? Or is it a closing keynote, where you hope I’ll include reflections on the other speakers?
• Are you covering travel and accommodation? Will that be handled through an agent, or will I be reimbursed for my own arrangements? Will carbon offsets be purchased against this travel?
• Is there an honorarium?
• Will you be recording the talk? What are the IP agreements you’re asking for?
• (If I’m traveling a great distance) If other groups there in [cityname] are interested in my visiting them and speaking while I am there, would you want to work with them to split travel costs, or are you asking that I only speak at your event for my trip?

Of course these are customized for each request, but that’s the whole set. Hopefully others new to speaking will find this a useful set to draft out their own.