Speakers Beware: Avoid the Scammers, Jerks, and Those Who Would Rip You Off

There are plenty of thieves and liars out there. PT Barnum said the following two things that I believe are relevant to understanding the mind of a sum sucking scammer, “There's a sucker born every minute!” and “Every crowd has a silver lining.” These creatures of ilk are focused on the idea that they can find the sucker in every crowd and swindle them of their silver. Felicia Slattery posted a rather well written warning to anyone in the public speaking industry as I am. But the lessons are valuable to us all as a reminder that these slimmy scammers are everywhere and trying to steal our silver!

Speakers Beware: Avoid the Scammers, Jerks, and Those Who Would Rip You Off

Honestly, as dismayed as I am by the events mentioned in this blog, the were frankly bound to happen to our industry, sooner or later. I am personally surprised it has taken these sum suckers so long. In some ways our industry and customers represent an ideal mark in many to them. Here are five that come to mind at the moment, though there are several others mentioned by Felicia that I are equally important to consider.

1. Our business models are largely internet based which means our customers are accustomed to purchasing items online.

2. Our intentions as a group are largely kind hearted; which I have noticed leaves me looking for the positive in every situation, rather than keeping my SCAM-O-Meter running all the time.

3. Our customers are similar to us in this short coming and can often be manipulated by a perceived good word from us, because they know us and trust our advice.

4. We are not a close knit community as of yet. We all have various bureaus and associations we belong to but beyond our circles we are often too busy trying to run our business to notice eddies in the scum that grows on the bottom of the ever growing lake we are all swimming in.

5. We are also creatures, no matter how we may try to reform our nature, subject to flattery. It is one of the greatest tools these sum sucker scammers are able to employ against us. Which is why an amount of personal wariness is needed, so that we may have sufficient room to allow our wisdom and experience to kick in and play the critical role of detecting the BS these scammers try to feed us.

Felicia is right in advocating for the little guy, but I am certain there are lessons for every speaker, trainer and writer. I think the most practical advice out there is if it sounds too good to be true, IT IS! You need to have clear contracts in place and know who, what and why before you sign on to any speaking gig. If they call you out of the blue it is time to put up our shields and cautiously evaluate the person and proposal being offered.