Simple requests.
Better sessions.

Travel and lodging

For events outside reasonable travel distance, organizers should cover reasonable travel and lodging costs unless another arrangement is confirmed in writing. Dean is a cheap date: standard economy travel and a clean, safe hotel are entirely sufficient. Marriott or Hilton properties are preferred when practical.

When Dean’s day job or a vendor association is expected to cover travel or lodging, a usable attendee list is generally required as part of that arrangement. Please flag that expectation before confirming the engagement so the exact list, timing, and applicable privacy commitments can be agreed. If an attendee list cannot be provided, reasonable travel and lodging costs may need to be covered by the event instead.

AV and room setup

Dean is an active speaker. A lavalier or headset microphone is strongly preferred and should be available for every onstage session. A handheld microphone is not the best fit and should be avoided except as a genuine backup.

Please confirm the presentation connection and confidence monitor in advance. I am flexible on the format: I can bring my laptop, use yours, or send the deck a week ahead. I just need to know which setup we are using before I arrive. A brief sound check before the session is appreciated.

If the room has unusual stage access, audience Q&A mechanics, or recording requirements, please flag them in advance. If you are using walk-on music, I am happy to pick it: “Material Girl” by Madonna. Otherwise, surprise me. I really do mean surprise me.

Recording, IP, and copyright

Dean retains all intellectual-property and copyright interests in his presentations, session concepts, frameworks, slides, handouts, and related materials unless an agreement expressly says otherwise.

Organizers may photograph and record a session for normal event promotion and archival use only when that is agreed in advance. Recording, livestreaming, posting the full session, distributing slides or handouts, editing clips, or repackaging any portion for paid or commercial use requires written permission from Dean beforehand.

Event organizers are welcome to request approved promotional copy, headshots, video links, and session abstracts from dean@crabconsulting.co.

One last practical thing

Communicate early. A good session is a collaboration between the speaker, the AV team, and the people running the room. The more context Dean has about the audience and the problems they are actually dealing with, the more useful the session will be.