Write a letter to a well known person in your town, asking him/her to deliver a lecture at
school.
Answers
Answer:
I would begin with making sure I was aware of what this individual was currently pursuing.
An acceptance or denial is probably most influenced by whether the appearance is compatible with the person of interests’ schedule. Simply being flexible or trying to book the lecture at the speaker’s convenience could be enough to get them to agree.
The second thing to consider before even beginning the letter is the venue. Does this engagement pose any controversy or risk to the speaker? Many University speakers automatically attract controversy if they speak on a campus. You may want to consider renting a venue privately so the school is not hosting the event. This will provide freedom from the internal governance of the campus and allow protection from protestors, etc, in the form of security guards and/or police at the speaker’s request.
In addition to eliminating any relevant concern of threats or controversy, I would try to present the potential benefits to the person if they decided to speak at this event. What is unique about this opportunity? Will it bring the speaker to an audience that normally does not have access to his or her work but in whom the speaker has a vested interest? Maybe the tone could be different from a normal engagement, more casual or more creative to suit the speaker’s needs. Try to come up with a way to compensate the speaker through the experience of speaking. It is likely this person, if successful, is tiring of monetary rewards. Offer something specifically personal as the reward. Look into the past events this person has been part of and propose something different. Perhaps something very casual if the audience is adult, or fun and hands on for a young crowd.
I think that if the letter gives the speaker the impression that this will be a fun, relaxing engagement where they can direct the session peacefully, you maximize the chance of a ‘yes’ reply. The more it seems like work, or runs counter to the natural tendencies of the speaker, the more they will feel disinclined to accept. If you present a safe, pleasant evening to this person where they can share ideas with receptive people, along with a reception with food and beverages, this is a low-key and appealing option for most bright academics and professionals with ideas to share.
One thing I would advise against is trying to be someone you are not. Do not try to write a sleek, PR produced letter as an individual. Play up that you ARE an individual. Some retired professors even prefer hand written letters! I do think snail mail is a necessity, because an email does not show enough effort. A typed, single paged letter sent by postal mail with your contact information is the best way to make a good first impression. Try to send it as far in advance as possible. The more mature the speaker, the longer in advance they are willing to keep commitments; do not hesitate to ask an author in her 50s six to eight months in advance as you have no relationship it will not be forgotten.
Finally, make sure you make a brief mention of why you specifically are seeking to unite this person with this audience. Has this person inspired you? Do you think this person could offer something to a specific set of students, or is there a community following that has gone unacknowledged? Any person, no matter how successful, is never more humbled than by recognition by their own community, friends and neighbors. We all care what those around us think, and recognizing the faces in an audience is a delight too few accomplished individuals get to experience. You could create an experience that secretly means a lot to someone who is very accomplished that money cannot buy.
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