A moderation contract needs five things: the exact scope of services, the fee as a fixed price including travel costs, a clause for illness or no-show, the rights to recordings, and the cancellation terms. Once these points are in writing, there are no discussions after the event.
The scope of services is the most important paragraph
Most misunderstandings arise not over the price but over the question of what is included. The contract should therefore be specific: How many preliminary calls take place? Is a dress rehearsal or a technical check the evening before included? From when to when is the moderator on site on the event day? Are advice on the running order and work on the script part of the package? At the Digital Transformation Conference, a corporate reference with more than 600 participants and 20 programme items, exactly this clarity was half the preparation: whoever moderates 20 transitions needs to know in advance which coordination calls with which stakeholders are agreed. The more precise the scope, the more honest the comparison between two offers.
A fixed price beats a day rate with an asterisk
A serious offer names one sum that covers everything: preparation, the event itself, travel, and accommodation for early starts. Phrases like "plus expenses as incurred" deserve a second look, because with them nobody knows the final figure. Jasmin Wölke therefore works with a written offer at a fixed price, which follows the briefing and does not change afterwards. How fees are structured is explained in what does an event moderator cost and travel costs of a moderator.
Illness, recording, cancellation: the three emergency paragraphs
An illness clause answers what happens if the moderator falls ill: how early you are informed and whether she supports the search for a replacement. The recording clause settles whether taping, streaming and photos of the moderation are permitted and what they may be used for; that is an agreement, not an automatic right. The cancellation terms define what applies if your event is postponed or called off, usually staggered by how close the date is. You read these three paragraphs exactly once, namely before signing; in an emergency they are worth gold.
What you can do now
When enquiring, ask directly for an offer that states scope and fixed price, and read the three emergency paragraphs before you confirm. What information the moderator needs from you is shown in the briefing checklist. With Jasmin, the offer follows a short briefing call, in writing and with no open items.