posted 03-19-2004 10:43 AM
Good luck with your efforts. That must be very exciting for you.Now, it's time for another story...
As founder and program chairman of a newly formed astronomical society 20 years ago, I wrote to Michael Collins, inviting him to be the monthly guest lecturer. It was several years after Mr. Collins had resigned his Directorship of the NASM but he was still living in the Washington, DC area at the time.
Shortly thereafter a letter arrived from his talent agency. It stated that his usual speaking fee would be $5,000. I followed up with a telephone call.
I explained that there was no way our organization could come up with that kind of dough. The agent justified the fee, saying it was for travel needs, etc. Mr. Collins had recently flown up to White Plains for a speaking engagement at IBM, for instance. I explained that we were quite a bit smaller than IBM. However, we were prepared to gladly provide 2-way transportation ourselves (and we'd fight it out later who gets to drive) and a meal.
The agent asked if we had a counter offer in mind. Somehow I blurted out a figure - $500. I knew even that amount would be impossible for us. I thought that such a low ball offer would save face because Mr. Collin's agent would be forced to decline.
He mulled it over, saying, "well, you are local and Mr. Collins would not have to be gone overnight." Then he said, "O.K. we agree." I almost fainted.
Knowing that we couldn't come up with even one tenth of the customary fee, I was able to somehow talk our way out of it.
Several weeks later the agent called me this time. He had a special offer for our astronomy club. On the same night which we had requested Michael Collins to speak, he could give us a special offer on...Marlo Thomas!
On edit:
By the way, the date we were requesting Mr. Collins for was in July, 1984 - in commemoration of the 15th anniversary of Apollo 11.
[This message has been edited by Glint (edited March 19, 2004).]
posted 03-19-2004 05:43 AM
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