Terms and Conditions
Shapiro International is not an Employment Agency, it offers
consultancy services to Speakers and companies etc who want to find
speakers. Shapiro International is not a partner with or to the
speaker. Shapiro International is not a part of the contract
between the speaker or the person/organisation hiring the speaker.
For this reason we cannot accept responsibility for non-fulfilment
or breach of any such contract, but every reasonable effort is made
to ensure smooth running. Wherever possible in such cases, we will
endeavour to replace the speaker with one of similar price and
quality. Contract is between the speaker and the hirer, and all
payments for any booking are made directly to the speaker and not to
Shapiro International. Shapiro International will act as a
consultant making sure that both speaker and hirer are in agreement
regarding the contract. No servant or employee of Shapiro
International has the power to vary these terms and conditions. The
hirer agrees not to approach the speaker directly to engage for
further bookings, but that all future bookings are made through
Shapiro International, except where future bookings are to take
place in excess of 12 months from the initial performance date. All
video/audio supplied by Artists featured on this site must not break
copyright laws.
We mainly work with the following types of speakers;
Celebrity Speakers
Keynote Speakers
After Dinner Speakers
Special Interest Speakers
Seminar and Workshop facilitators
Guest Lecturers/Speakers for cruise ships
We work with speakers to help them get booked on land, for awards
ceremonies, Dinners, Lunches, Businesses meeting etc. I also work
with speakers regarding speaking on cruise ships. We are based in
the UK but work with speakers from all over the world and help them
get booked on speaking engagements all over the world.
Some speakers fall into more than one of these categories, Our
definition of each are as follows.
Celebrity Speakers
This speaks for itself. A celebrity speaker will be someone who is a
recognised household name in the country in which they are speaking.
They may do keynote, after dinner or even seminars and workshops.
They may simply be a speaker by virtue of their celebrity status and
tell stories and anecdotes of their career and/or life. Celebrity
speakers can be booked for land or sea engagements.
Keynote Speakers
A keynote speaker usually is either a celebrity or an established
speaker in the field/area encompassed by the topic of the event.
After Dinner Speaker
On land this would often be a celebrity/politician or well known
person, but more likely to be someone who is able to give an
entertaining and topical talk after a meal at a function. On cruise
ships this would be someone who is a recognisable name, possibly not
a household name but someone who will be recognised by the
passengers on board. On ships an after dinner speaker will usually
be required to speak on and tell stories about, why they are well
known
Special Interest Speakers - Seminar/Workshop Facilitators – Guest
Lecturers
This will be a speaker with an in-depth knowledge of a particular
subject or topic. They may be an expert in their field by means of
profession or hobby. On land this type of speaker may be asked to
give one talk on their topic to anyone from small groups to large
organisations. On cruise ships this type of speaker will be asked to
give a series of talks (up to 10 different talks on a similar
topic).
How does it work?
We work with speakers and companies/people looking to book a speaker
to help get the speaker booked and the company what they want in a
speaker. We negotiate the fee for the speaker and look over
contracts etc. Firstly, the contract is always between the speaker
and the company/person booking the speaker. Secondly the speakers
fee is paid directly from the company booking the speaker to the
speaker. In other words the speaker invoices the booking company for
his/her fee and the fee is sent directly to the speaker in full
according to the terms of the contract. We then invoice the speaker
for our fee (15% of the speakers fee at the moment)
Speaking on Land
We invoice the speaker for our fee which is 15% of the money (or
monies worth) that the speaker receives. We are happy to help with
non paying speaking engagements (charity etc) for which we may not
charge a fee or charge a small fee.
Speaking on cruise ships- For Keynote, After Dinner and Celebrity
Speakers
Some cruise lines do not pay a fee but most will pay something for
this type of speaker (fee dependant on who you are). You will be
given a free cruise, accommodation, food, entertainment etc and be
able to enjoy on board facilities for yourself plus one person
sharing your cabin. You will usually get a good discount on your bar
bill, spa treatments, internet access and shop purchases as well as
the option to lead tour excursions which means you get to go on the
tour for free. Your cabin will usually be a passenger cabin. Again,
the contract would be between you and the cruise company. If you
receive a monitory fee we would charge you 15% of that fee. You will
usually be asked to give one or two talks on a one or two week
cruise. This will be agreed and contracted prior to the cruise. If
you are not receiving a monitory fee from the cruise line then we
charge a fee to the speaker as per Guest Lecturers below
Speaking on cruise ships- For Guest Speakers
For "Guest Speakers" Some cruise lines pay a small fee for your
services but the majority will pay nothing at all (unless of course
you are a recognised “name” well known to the general public). To
make up for that you will be given a free cruise, accommodation,
food, entertainment etc and be able to enjoy on board facilities for
yourself plus one person sharing your cabin. You will usually get a
good discount on your bar bill, spa treatments, internet access and
shop purchases as well as the option to lead tour excursions which
means you get to go on the tour for free. Your cabin will be a guest
entertainers cabin which can be with the other entertainers cabin
area of the ship. Again, the contract would be between you and the
cruise company. You will usually be asked to give a different 45
minute talk on each day the ship is not in port which could be 5 or
6 on a 2 week cruise. If you receive a monitory fee we would charge
you 15% of that fee. If you are not receiving a monitory fee from
the cruise line then we charge guest lecturers a nightly fee. The
fee at the moment is £10 per person per night no matter where the
ship goes to. So for example if you go on a 14 night cruise and do
not take anyone with you our fee to you would be 1 person x £10 x 14
nights = £140. If you go on a 14 night cruise and take someone with
you the fee would be 2 people x 14 nights = £280. Yes that's right
you get a 2 week cruise for 2 people for £280 and you get discount
while on board. (and remember some cruise lines will also pay you a
small daily fee). You will also be able to sell your own books/CDs
you have written/made. (Note £= British Pounds)