planning an event

My goal is to help you get kids excited about books and reading. This is the nuts-and-bolts part about creating that excitement.

Click here to download a complete event planning guide

INITIAL INQUIRIES

After reviewing my programs and the details on this page, contact me at tomvisits@att.net. Include as much information as possible:

I will respond within 3 working days.

in advance of an appearance

Contracts
Unless you have a contract that needs to be used, I have a standardized contract that spells out all the details. Once the particulars are worked out, we'll put them in the contract and it's signed by both parties. Then we're in business!

Honorarium
Please contact me about honorarium information for full-day and half-day events.

Out-of-pocket expenses
Sponsors are generally not responsible for travel expenses when appearances are in the greater Chicago area, unless there are unusual circumstances. For further distances, I ask the sponsor to pay reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including but not limited to mileage/airfare, lodging and meals. Receipts will be presented for reimbursement. To save costs, I encourage you to partner with other schools or libraries in your area to organize multiple appearances. That way, you can collectively cover the honorarium or travel expenses. If I'll be appearing at more than one location, I might need transportation between venues.

The audience
It's hard to effectively connect with a group of disparate grades, so please try to limit the range to three grades. Please confirm the age ranges of the audience, and the size of each group in advance.

Getting the kids (and parents) excited
Please read my books to the children so they'll be prepared for the event. You can also download free activity guides from my site that include classroom/library activities to get kids in the spirit of pirates, cars, messy rooms and grumpiness. By the way, these activity guides were written by a real teacher, so although they're silly, they're educationally silly.

Spreading the word
If you'd like to include information about my appearance in newsletters, e-mail, posters, bulletin boards, etc., I can provide graphics of book covers, sketches, and my photo for that purpose.

Equipment
Depending on the kind of presentation I'm giving, you may need to supply an LCD projector and screen, an easel with an 18 x 24 pad of paper, art supplies for each child, etc. This will be worked out in advance, specified in the contract, and confirmed prior to my appearance.

Book Sales
Some sponsors like to offer book sales and signings. Please know that I do not personally sell books, but I'm always happy to sign books. To order my books for you to sell, contact your local book seller or, in Illinois, contact Barb Fessler at Anderson's Bookshops (books are discounted, and can be picked up at their warehouse or shipped to you). To schedule a book fair that will feature my books but also include many other titles, contact Tami Smith at Anderson's Book Fair Company. Outside of Illinois, contact your local book seller for referrals in your area.

the day of an appearance

Classroom etiquette
Is that an oxymoron? Surprisingly, not. I've found most classrooms have a set of rules and a way for the teacher to remind the kids when the rules need be observed. Please let me know in advance what the rules are and how I can be consistent with them.

Photos
I might bring a camera and ask a teacher or other adult to snap some pictures of me while I'm presenting. These photos would be used on my web site or promotional materials. Please let me know if you'd rather not have pictures taken in your school.

Lunch Hour
If an event goes over the noon hour, lunch would be appreciated. I never got to eat school cafeteria food when I was a kid, so it's kind of a treat for me. And I enjoy breaking bread with the kids or the staff.

Book signings
Please provide notepaper for people to write the name of the person they want their book(s) signed to. This expedites the process, ensures correct spelling, and allows me to spend a moment chatting with the book buyer instead of just making sure I get their name right.

Payment of honorarium
Payment is usually made at the end of an event. Let me know if you'd like to make other arrangements.

Feedback
Comments and criticism help me improve my presentations. I will hand out feedback forms before a presentation, which can be filled out and returned to me either before I leave or by fax.

Thank you for considering me for your event!