Commentary By Ron Beasley
It's easy being a conservative author - a Bill O'Riley, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity etc. You can write a lousy book and still sell a lot of them because the people who buy them don't read books. They will buy it and it will be proudly displayed in virginal condition - a literary Hummel Figure. Sarah Palin and her ghost writers are no exception. She received a seven million dollar advance for her book which was created in near record time. But it doesn't matter - lots of people will buy it but few will read it.
But if Ms Palin thought she was going to make big bucks on the speaking tour she may be disappointed.
Sarah's lectures a tough sell
After quitting as governor of Alaska in July, Palin signed with the top-notch Washington Speakers Bureau, which also reps George W. Bush, Laura Bush, Condoleezza Rice, hero pilot Chesley Sullenberger, LA Dodgers manager Joe Torre and magician David Blaine.
Palin's bookers are said to be asking for $100,000 per speech, but an industry expert tells Page Six: "The big lecture buyers in the US are paralyzed with fear about booking her, basically because they think she is a blithering idiot."
Many big lecture venues are subscription series, "and they don't want to tick people off," said our source. "Palin is polarizing, and some subscribers might cancel if she's on the lineup." Other lecture buyers are universities, which have a leftist slant, and corporations, which dislike controversy.
"Palin is so uninteresting to so many groups -- unless they are interested in moose hunting," said our insider. "What does she have to say? She can't even describe what she reads."
Perhaps Sarah needs to concentrate on having books written for her.
Update: Lots of Hummels, fewer trees.
'Blithering Idiot's' Book Already No. 1 at Barnes and Noble and No. 2 at Amazon
Daily Intel: Why We Doubt Page Six�s Sarah Palin Story
ReplyDeletehttp://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/09/why_we_doubt_page_sixs_sarah_p.html
We're not experts on the machinations of the paid-speaking industry, but this story is suspicious for a few reasons:
1. The source is openly hostile to Palin, belittling her in almost every quote, so his/her intentions seem fairly suspect. Calling Palin a "blithering idiot" and saying the only people who'd want to hear her speak are "interested in moose hunting" doesn't really add credibility to your claims.
2. Politico reported about a month ago that Palin had received over 1,070 speaking invitations, which is a lot. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/26604.html
3. As strange, frustrating, and bewildering as it may seem, it's an indisputable fact that many people adore Sarah Palin.
LOL
Keep dreaming
o
ReplyDeleteI have little doubt that Sarah can draw a crowd but her fans are not among the high paying crowd of the speakers circuit.