Nugent and his Speaking/Appearances

[3006]

I like Ted and think he has done some good things for our outdoor heritage. I do have one thing that upsets me though. I'll post a response I got back from his "agent" concerning my inquiry to possibly have Ted come down for out DU event. Now, I don't blame the guy for wanting to make a few bucks, he deserves it. But $10,000 for a non-profit small banquet to shell out is out of this world. I hope he or his agent considers waiving the high fees for some of these events/dinner. I think $1000 + transport,limo, and hotel are fare.

Any one else have some thoughts?


Response from Agent:

Thank you for your interest in Ted Nugent.

As you know, Mr Nugent is frequently contracted as a speaker and presenter for a wide range of corporate and educational functions. Here are a few basic guidelines which may prove helpful in the planning of YOUR event. Schedules permitting, Mr. Nugent is available for the following:

1) PERSONAL APPEARANCE. Mr. Nugent can make a brief personal appearance at your location. This is our most streamlined appearance, and includes
brief remarks, and photo op with your principals.

2) SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT. Mr. Nugent can deliver a spoken presentation at your business or special event. Engagements include seminars, banquets, and conventions. His speech can be custom tailored to reflect your organization's specific goals and agenda items.

3) PRESENTATION/DEMONSTRATION. Here, Mr. Nugent combines his skills as an orator with his expertise as a lifelong outdoorsman. The nation's most visible archer, Nugent provides an entertaining and informative shooting demonstration, including tech tips and anecdotes drawn from his huntingadventures around the world.

4) TRADE SHOW/EXPO. Our most popular choice. Here, you may combine theelements from any of the first three appearance options with a personal
autograph session at your booth or exhibit.

Fees range from $10,000-$25,000+, depending on size and type of event, presentation options requested, time requirements, ticket prices, etc. plus two round-trip, first-class airfare, ground transportation to and from the event, and room and board. To book Mr. Nugent for your event, please submityour offer, in writing, to:
McGhee Entertainment, Suite 175, 8730 Sunset
Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90069. BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING
INFORMATION: time, date, and specific address and location of proposed appearance, name of event, type of event, presentation option
requested, capacity of venue, anticipated crowd size, ticket pricing, and any other information you deem pertinent. Should you have additional
questions, please feel free to contact Doug Banker at 310-358-9200, or his assistant, Jessica Spilos, at 734-434-8200. In the meantime, best of luck
on your event.

Sincerely,

Linda Peterson
Assistant to Mr. Nugent






----- Original Message -----
From: <Michael_Walker@abercrombie.com>
To: <TNUSAOrders@cs.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 2:42 PM
Subject: Need a guest speaker for fund-raising event.


> Was wondering if Ted could be a featured guest speaker at our Ducks Unlimited fund-raising event on Wednesday September 18th in Columbus Ohio.
> If it would be a possibility, please contact me and we can discuss the
> details.
>
> Thank you,
>
>
> Michael Walker
> Chairman Reynoldsburg Ohio Ducks Unlimited

[Dangler]

I think Slick Willie gets about $100,000 for a speaking appearance. What kind of inspiration would you get from that investment?

Capitolism is right. If these guys aren't worth the money, don't hire them. Ted ain't going broke, so he won't use his valuable time for something other than his own fun or profit.

He fashions himself after Fred Bear, right? I wonder how much money Fred used to demand for an appearance.

[Steve]

He also wants $500 for to publish a previously published (on paper) article on the internet. Seems his prices have gone up considerablly since his book came out. That's why you haven't seen any new Nuge tech tips published on this site recently.

[osage2orange]

What a Joke,

I hope Ted reads this because after reading this thread about him I think he is a joke. This is the same reason football is a no longer a great game along with baseball or basketball. ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. NO it is not. This is why hunting and fishing is so great you do it because you love it. Sure you may get a few days of fame from shooting a nice buck or catching a great fish but the great prize comes from telling the story for years to come. Is there some great honor in telling your Grandkids about how people were stupid enough to pay you$10,000 to talk for 30 minutes. I beleive I would be embarassed to tell such a story. Find some old timer who can tell me about how deer camp was 60 years ago with his Uncles and his Grandpa. Find some lonely old soldier who can tell me how scared he was when he sat in a bunker with bombs expolding around in WW2 making sure myself and MR NUGENT could live in freedom. I will come to listen to such people . I have lost my respect for this man who takes yet another national heritage and continues to taint it with the all about money virus. Do you think Fred Bear charged Nugent for any knowledge he attained though his hunting experience. I bet there are people on this forum who are just as entertaining and knowledgeble as Ted and would talk for free.



This is more than my 2 Cents


Osage2 Orange

[OTIS]

I have to say this does not surprise me. Ted is an ambassador to our sport and he does a very good job of conveying the message of what Hunting and being a sportsman is about. I think he deserves all monies he can for this. Heck the president of the United way is making big money. Why not Ted.

[Kevin]

I do not mean to be disrespectful, but what country would we be living in if we allowed others to establish our value?
As in, "Of each his capability, to each his need"?

If the market bears 10 Gs for Ted Nugents presence, who should argue? Do I demand that my plumber fix my toilet for the price I think he needs?

Sure, try to negotiate a better rate! Or, if you view your event as a charity, appeal to him on that basis.
Or, select an alternative speaker that your organization can afford. As OsageO alluded to, there are sure to be alternatives. Lots of people are probably more knowledgable, it is the visibility and name recognition that your 10 k would be paying for with Ted.

Sorry if this seems like a rant, I just have sort of a hair trigger when it comes to what I view as an anti-market mentality.
I would certainly bristle if someone expected me to accept less than I could earn.
-Kevin

[Bob S]

Maybe Steve would be willing to speak to your group for $1000.

[Dangler]

I agree, Amos. Our economy is based on supply and demand. If the demand is such that people are willing to pay an expert $10,000 to speak, then the experts will supply. It bothers me some that Ted's price is high enough that so many of his grass roots fans can't hire him, but I'm sure he gets a lot of requests that he doesn't have time for. It has to be worth it for him to give up his limited free time.

I guess if you want to hear him speak, pay $20 to go to the banquet of the club that's giving him the $10,000.

[Steve]

I agree with you guys about the supply and demand. My demand wasn't that great, so I found a supply that was cheaper. Now he's not getting money from me for articles that he's already written that are just collecting dust on the shelf.

No hard feelings either way.

[Dogshooter]

I ain't famous, and I sure ain't good looking, but I'd speak at your dinner if you just pay for my meal. (Unless your having hot dogs). I can be contacted on the side of the road, I'm the one with the cardboard sign that says, " will be a guest speaker at your DU dinner for food". :D

[goose hunter]

Yes he will be there and they will pay dearly for his highness to speak. I wont go on that day but will go to hear several others. I agree that if thats the price he can command great for him. I'm not going to help fund him. I think he gets a little outragous at times and have lost a lot of respect for him and some of the organizations he represents. Thats just my thinking. He does a lot of good but sometimes he says some wild things. I dont always agree but that is the American way.

[wild bill]

i agree sometimes ted can go overboard but till someone else that is as well known as him steps up to defend all sportsman then i will have to support him regardless how much he charges to be a guest speaker.

[boehr]

Ted is out for Ted, always has been, always will be. I have never though much more of him than I do of any other hunter and I would rather hear a number of other people speak than Ted. I personally don't think Ted's any better for our sport, in some ways worse, than the average hunter out there that shows good will and honesty. As far as Ted being good for something, his Camp for Kids is the best thing he does and that's because it involves kids not using drugs. Heck, I don't even like most of his music. ;)

[StumpJumper]

I agree with boehr! Although I like his music, I'd rather listen to an old timer tell his stories! Mr Nugent does alot of his hunting in cages, and IMO there's not much sport in that and it doesn't make you a better hunter!

I think if he really cared as much for the sport as he claims, he wouldn't be charging such high fees to come and talk for a night.
How much more money does the guy need?

[Dangler]

"How much money does the guy need?"

Stumpjumper, I asked myself that same question the other day while pondering this thread. I considered the possibility that he was being greedy.

However, I remembered that Ted was bankrupt and in bad financial shape 20 years ago. That made me think that maybe he is making hay while the sun shines. Now that he has a family and has matured, I can't blame him for padding his bank to make sure that his wife and kids are taken care of in case he takes a header out of a tree stand this fall.

I don't like everything he says or does, but before you judge him, compare him to others in his profession of rock and roll. Any Beatles fans out there? Paul McCartney won't "eat anything with a face". Eagles fans? Don Henley is a PETA member, I believe. Ted has held on to his hunting roots through all the glamour, and works hard to promote our sport.

I often can't decide if I like the guy or not, but I have to step back now and then and say that he's on our side, which is one less celebrity we have to fight.

[StumpJumper]

Dangler, very true and well said. :)

Although I still say his gruffness and his merciless "whack 'em and stack em" signature gives the anti's that much more ammo.

[JD]

I looked into getting the Fitzgerald’s to give a talk for the hunters in our area after a wild game dinner. I emailed Guy and asked what would it cost and I found out that it starts at $2500.00 and goes up from there. We did not book them, just my 2 cents.

[Chuck]

Every one is entitled to there opinion but as far as speakers at banquets go he is actually on the low side for someone as known as he is. He is a celebrity and may be able to draw a large crowd raising more money.

Its like everthing else in life you get what you pay for, but if your willing to put the effort into it you may find a deal.

[Eastern Yooper]

Contributions to DU are tax-deductable.

Too bad it couldn't be worked-out that Ted "donates" his services to DU for the event, and then writes it off as a charitable contribution.

That would be a win-win situation for everyone.

[goose hunter]

I hail from Fitzgeralds neighborhood. Most dont remember when he tried to register the state record bass he caught. Then his record book deer got an x-ray done. I dont think you will find his name in any record book from Michigan. Seems to come to mind that the mounts had gotten a little wider than when they were taken. I have a club not far from his property in the north also. Seems the property owners dont like him very much that own near him. I think he has alittle outlaw in him. I wouldnt pay for any of his vidieo or to hunt with him. Ted may be outspoken but he hasnt been caught doing what Dan has.

[Dangler]

Sorry to hear that he might be less than ethical. I've watched a lot of "Mr. Pass-through's" videos and admired his skills. I remember one doe he killed under his stand where he had to tell the camera man to move his toe out of the way so he could take the nearly vertical shot.

He got badly burnt in an accident at home a few years ago, didn't he? Does he still make videos?

[Randy Kidd]

I am a long time fan of Ol Uncle Ted, Being a frustrated "string whacker" myself and I am old enough to remember some of the venues he used to play that cost fifty cents to get in. That was back in the sixties I think, Just can't remember, everything is still a little fuzzy from that era. Anyway I have to say that I am disapointed in him. This is a benefit dinner for Ducks Unlimited for cryin' out loud, Do you know how much more habitat could be saved or improved for 10k? I understand that he has to make a living. But I thought that is what his music if for. I know it is what made him famous. I thought the outdoor way of life was just that, a way of life for him. Something he loved, Something he can use his considerable fame to help protect, Obviously I have been mistaken. I wonder if the Anti's were to offer him more money would he speak out against hunting? Makes ya wonder don't it.

[OTIS]

Wow, interesting to hear some of the "ted" stories. I still think he is good for Hunting. The reason is he has the capacity and power to take our views to the Media. I have heard him on David Neuman (spelling) 760 WJR I have seen him such programs as politically incorrect and in these programs he was getting hit hard from the Antis for his views on Hunting, but TED stood tall and was very professional in conveying the message. He did not get goaded into splashing insults etc. He took many insults but stayed above it and just explained the "hunters view". I do not know Ted as a person but realize that he is an ambassador to the sport because he is in the public eye. I think when he is in the public eye he handles himself very well. Cant ask for much more than that.

Oh yeah Boehr... What about the Fred Bear song?? I am not a Ted music fan either but love "Fred Bear".. :D

[Dangler]

His appearance on "Policitally Incorrect" was a classic. Bill Maher accused hunters of having small *****es, and Ted answered his challenge saying "let's whip 'em out" (for comparison).

He also put Gloria Allred in her place, which was great to watch. "Bring it on, baby" made her blush. He also stood on the coffee table.

That example is the epitome of the Ted debate. His message is solid, but it is lost if the messenger is regarded as clownish by those who straddle the fence.

[Bob S]

If Ted wasn`t outrageous do you think he would get invited to those types of shows? If they wanted serious they would invite Charlton Heston or Wayne LaPierre.

[DryFly]

I do not know Ted and normally will not talk bad about someone.

But he has made his "rackem and stackem" motto well known.
Doesn't sound like a real sportsman to me.

I hunt and fish and will kill only what I can eat and no more.
No rackem and stacking em for me!

[pikeslime]

I've seen and heard Ted on radio and TV shows, and I've often been discouraged by the way he lets his balls-out attitiude get in the way of his message. But the fact is, he is the only celebrity out there spending his time defending what we love. He makes a lot of appearances, which leads me to believe that the form letter you received was his way of weeding-out the garbage requests he probably receives by the truckload. I respect what he does, even though i don't agree with the way he presents it. I'm also sure he would respond differently to a request like yours if he didn't have to rely on a generic response due to the volume of letters he receives.
I hope he keeps stepping forward to say he loves hunting. And i hope there will be someone to replce him when he's gone. There are plenty of well-known people out there that appear as guests on hunting and fishing shows who couldn't be bothered taking time out of their busy schedule to promote our freedoms.

[Randy Kidd]

I don't think taking ten grand a whack is "giving up valuable time" christ if he only did one appearance a week at some " Garbage" request like Ducks Unlimited that's 520 grand a year. If his time is more valuable than that well then either he is Way overpaid or the rest of us mere mortals are way underpaid.

[Pinefarm]

Nugent and Trost are one in the same. Both bad spokesmen and I cringe when I hear either of them spew.

[stevebrandle]

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Fred is poor and Ted is rich. Fred is trying to climb and Ted is taking advantage of his postion as a star. Their're two ends of a spectrum and I wish them well.

[Shoes]

Went to Outdoorama at the Novi Expo Center. One thing I wanted to do was hear Nugent speak. I took an article he wrote for a north woods (UP) paper. It was titled "I'm a Bad American." I liked the article and had been saving it since I picked it up this past deer season. I planned to ask him to autograph it.

He opened by referring to Trost as a goofy SOB. Geeze...that's not what outdoor people need or want to hear. After 5 minutes into his talk, I though, boy, talk about the kettle calling the pot black.

Nugent has long been known as an advocate of hunting, fishing and the 2nd amendment, and he's in a position to get attention. In my opinion, however, he is not one to convert fence straddlers. He was foul-mouthed, rude, brash and openly chided the audience on the point that ..."if your not armed, your no friend of mine." Further, he dared those in the audience to argue or debate the other side. Hell, he was preaching to the choir.

However, when one women did raise her hand to try and respond, before she could utter a word, he belittled her by telling her she would just have to ..."accept it lady", then accused her of having a ..."glazed look in her eyes." This was the main thrust of his entire presentation.

The bottom line is, I was disappointed that someone in his position felt he needed to resort to that kind of language and presentation to an audience with a good number of 6-10 year old kids. After almost an hour, I left.... before he finished.

If he can command that kind of money for the kind of presentation I saw, I'm surprised many outdoor functions would want him.

I long admired Fred Bear. Visited his archery factory when it was the major employer in Grayling. His sense of ethics and his demeanor made him a true ambassador to hunting. When talking about ambassadors to our sport, its difficult for me to mention Bear and Nugent in the same conversation.

Oh yeah, Ted's article had lost some of its attraction for me....I threw it away.

[Dangler]

Shoes, that's the first post of yours I've been fortunate enough to see. I think you have done an excellent job of giving a first-hand account of the part of Ted that turns people away.

I think most hunters really want to like him because of his message, but can't because of the way he delivers it.

You're exactly right. For him to publicly denounce another public outdoor spokesman and hunting advocate (Mr. Trost) is the worst form of in-fighting. His energy would be better spent in advocating ways to convert the non-hunters into pro-hunters. Building himself up by tearing others down within our own ranks is counter-productive. I can't tolerate it, and if that's all he can do, I wish he'd just be quiet.

[Randy Kidd]

Maybe the Anti's offered him the dough to speak in Novi after all.

[mich bowmaster]

Ted is a good man and has done alot of great things for our sport , but come on 10,000 to here him speak that's alittle much. I'd find someone else.:(

[Dangler]

I think you would pay his $10,000 fee if you expected his appearance to attract enough paying visitors that it would net your club a profit. No club's gonna give him 10K just because they want his message to be heard.

Having said that, I wonder how happy I would be if my club forked out the cash and then watched him insult other outdoorsmen, members of the audience, and generally act like an offensive fool, especilly if it created a negative image for my club.

[multibeard]

Is it the rich get rich or and the poor get poorer. Or the poor got poor because of his ego. Lets not forget that this poor guy lost his fortune because of the fact that he didn't know when to shut up. Lets not forget ********. He had to become a lawyer to save on legal fees.