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Plan well ahead. This means you will get the author/illustrator
you want and can make the most out of time to shop around for accomodation and travel if required.
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With events such as Book Week, get planning and book as
early in the year as you can. Book Week is very busy & popular and you might miss out if you try a few weeks
before it happens!
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Always speak to the agent/artist before doing
your budget.
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If the school cannot afford the speaker cut costs by having a half day
or assembly visit instead.
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Work out how much you can afford and then divide the excess by
how many children you will have and see if parents will pay (i.e. 200 students @ $2/head = $400.00!).
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Share the expense with another school and have them visit on the
day to share the experience or share the cost of travel/accomodation.
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With enough time you could apply for a grant or sponsorship for
the visit.
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Be prepared to pay for travel, travel time (& accomodation
if necessary) if the visiting artist is not local. (don't expect your guest to stay at a teacher or child's home, they
need time out to do work etc).
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Most presenters are flexible and negotiable but do not expect
to have them visit for nothing as it will cost the artist to come to you and this is how they make a living.
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Have all the equipment ready on the day as requested by your visitor
so more time can be spent enjoying rather than organising on the day!
