Engagement terms

The boring part, written plainly, so we can spend our time on the interesting part. These apply to every workshop, keynote, talk and advisory engagement unless a signed agreement says otherwise.

Pricing

• Published prices are starting prices. Quotes are scoped up by audience size, customization and rights.
• Team workshop prices include a seat cap. Additional attendees are billed per seat; no-shows are not refunded. Above ~30 hands-on attendees, a teaching assistant ($2,500/day) is required, or the format switches to lecture.
• Fees are net of VAT and withholding taxes. EU clients are invoiced with VAT as applicable. Quotes can be issued in EUR on request.
• Bureau commission, if any, is added on top of the fee and never deducted from it.

Deposit & payment

• A 50% non-refundable deposit at signing holds the date.
• Keynotes and talks: balance due 30 days before the event.
• Workshops and consulting: balance invoiced on delivery, net 15.
• Retainers are paid in advance (advisor retainer billed quarterly).
• Late payments accrue 1.5% per month.

Cancellation & rescheduling

You may reschedule once, within 6 months, applying the deposit, if notified more than 30 days out. Non-refundable travel already booked is always reimbursed.

Travel

• Travel and lodging are always covered on top of the fee for every in-person engagement, including community events.
• Either actual cost, or a flat travel buyout: $2,500 continental / $5,000 intercontinental.
• Business class for flights over 4 hours. Hotel at or near the venue, plus ground transport.
• Arrival the day before; 24 hours’ recovery for intercontinental trips.
• I may accept other paid engagements on the same trip without adjusting this agreement.

Recording & licensing

• Conference talks: a free, public recording (e.g. YouTube) is welcome. I receive the file and the right to post it.
• Paywalled or commercial distribution (membership libraries, paid courses, gated lead generation): +50% of the fee, or a separate license.
• Internal corporate recordings of a workshop or keynote: +30% for a 12-month internal license; +60% perpetual.
• Workshops are not recorded by default. Workshop materials remain my intellectual property; attendees receive a personal license.

Customization

• One 30-minute prep call is included with every engagement.
• A net-new talk created for a single event: +$5,000.
• Workshops tailored to your codebase use the pre-workshop codebase review add-on ($5,000).

Conferences

• Keynote or early slot; the organizer promotes the talk and any workshop; a code of conduct is required.
• Conference workshops: the greater of a $7,500 guarantee or 40% of gross ticket revenue (or 60% of net). Cancelled if fewer than 10 tickets are sold 2 weeks before.
• Talk or keynote plus workshop on the same trip: 10% off the combined fee.

Discounts & community policy

• Registered nonprofits, universities and the public sector: 25% off listed fees. Discounts do not stack.
• No discounts for for-profit conferences, regardless of size.
• Community slots: up to 3–4 per year, at my sole discretion, for genuinely free or nonprofit meetups and community events. The fee is waived; travel is still covered (or the session is remote).
• Everyone else is welcome at a public workshop ($795/seat) or group office hours ($99).

Last updated October 2026.