Rebecca Watson is the founder of the
Skepchick blog and magazine (and proof that nerds are hawt). She is a major player in the United States atheistic movement. I sent an e-mail via the Skepchick site asking what hoops we'd have to jump through to get her. Ordinarily I keep such e-mails private, but this is just too amusing.
Hi. I'm the Captain of the MSU Chapter of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Last Fall here at Missouri State, we held a freethought event that included PZ Myers and Richard Carrier. This Fall, we are looking to expand that event, and are in the process of acquiring speakers.
We would like to have Rebecca Watson attend this year, if it is
within our means to acquire her. Let me know what hoops we must jump
through. :D
Thanks!
JT
Hi JT, thanks for writing!
I'd be happy to come speak, depending on the timing of it (I suspect I'll be in London for TAM in early October). Ordinarily, I ask for the roundtrip flight from Boston, a night in a non-roachy hotel if a stay is required, and a $1,000 fee. Depending on the budget, though, the fee is negotiable.
Thanks so much for thinking of me!
Ramen,
Rebecca
Rebecca,
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly!
The flight and the hotel are totally within our power. Here's the deal on the fee...
I can probably get around five thousand dollars out of the university for this event (certainly no more), and I'm already in for flights and lodging for PZ Myers and Richard Carrier. We're also still trying to get more speakers, as I'd like to turn this into a weekend-long event. I'm all about honorariums (if we can raise enough money, I'd even be up for dropping four thousand dollars for Phil Plait). It would really help us to accomplish that if your fee were (very) negotiable. Of course, if I can swing a thousand dollars, I'd be more than happy to...sadly, neither heresy nor studentship pay what they should.
So...how negotiable are we talking? :D
JT
Highly negotiable – how much beer do you have available?
We can not only procure you all the beer you can drink, but I know from personal experience that Dr. Myers and Dr. Carrier are drinkers themselves, so you can count on having spectacular company while you drink it. :D We also have the Springfield Brewing Company right here in town and they are phenomenal.
Last year people were tripping over themselves to purchase drinks for our presenters. Since I anticipate the event will be bigger this year, I can only imagine it would be the same (especially for a lady :D).
So, can we live with airfare, a schnazzy hotel, up to a thousand dollars worth of beer, and whatever honorarium I can afford to throw your way?
JT
And that is where we currently stand. I'll keep you updated as things develop. She sounds like she would be a lot of fun to have down.
::EDIT:: I just got a response from Ms. Watson:
Dear JT,
WE HAVE A DEAL.
Rebecca
That's three speakers now (assuming Richard Carrier is still in). We still need to add more! Who do you want to see?
You know how I get so many famous people to come stomp on bad logic in the Midwest? Because...
::/EDIT::
Comments (4)
haha, that's awesome!
I might have to come down for this one. I'll buy her a couple beers.
*singing*...This could be the start of something big!
Dood,
You definitely need to keep us updated on when and where as this gets closer. I am so making a roadtrip if I can. I really wish I had done this while I was in college...