Kjartan Poskitt's Author Appearances

Details of Author Visits

WHAT I CAN DO:

You choose what kind of event you want. Everything has plenty of audience participation, I'm glad to answer any questions and (hopefully) we'll have some good laughs. Although aimed at intelligent kids aged 10-12, I find that at festivals I'm usually playing to as many mums, dads and grannies as children. I've also done GCSE groups and summer schools. No limit to audience size - in fact, generally the more the better. I've done audiences of well over 1000.

• MATHS SESSIONS : I perform between 40-70 mins of quirky maths stuff including flexagons, magic squares, strange number facts, knots, tricks, codes, amazing number predictions and so on- the sort of stuff that's found in my "Murderous Maths" books. I tend to adjust the complexity and content of what I do to the response of the audience I'm in front of. Suitable for schools/events that need several sessions to two or more different audiences (subject to a maximum of about 3½ hours talking in the day).
  SPECIAL NOTE FOR SCHOOLS: my sessions and shows tend to be quite noisy, so to minimise disruption you are FAR better to bring as many suitable classes together for up to 70 mins, rather than have me do lots of little sessions. It's also more fun and makes a much bigger impression on the kids! Most of the best days I've had in schools have involved me doing one big session in the morning and another in the afternoon.
  Ability guide - as a general rule, if kids know what a "squared number" means, then my sessions/shows are appropriate. I don't do the very basic numeracy stuff.
• MATHS SHOW: I can do two different 45 minute sessions which you could present as a "show" with an interval. Suitable for more receptive school audiences (e.g. Gifted and Talented kids), or bigger functions such as library openings or festivals. Obviously I'd be delighted to sign books during the interval or afterwards.
• AUTHOR TALK: 20-45 mins. I do an introduction talking generally about how I got started writing books, plays, tv scripts (and comics!) and then it works best if I continue by answering questions. Therefore the kids should have suitable questions prepared beforehand! I can talk about the unexpected bonuses and pitfalls of the job, and give advice on getting started and a few guidelines on how to write including developing titles, content and characterisation. Please note that like most authors, my academic training had little to do with writing (I was an engineer) so everything I talk about is purely from my own experience. Although I don't put a maximum audience on any of my events, author talks are better suited to more intimate groups (e.g. max 50 kids).
• SPEECHES (for Prize Givings or After Dinner Functions) : 30-60 mins similar to the maths sessions - demonstrating some of the maths tricks and routines both for entertainment and information.
• COMPERE: I've hosted hundreds of events ranging from quiz nights to variety shows, from prize givings to auctions - so don't be scared to ask!
• TEACHER SEMINARS/CONFERENCES: I'm often invited to talk to groups of teachers in which I demonstrate and explain tricks, number squares, finger tables and so on to give ideas for classroom activities and lessons.
• A MIXTURE! I'm quite happy to do a show then an extra session, or a couple of sessions and a speech... my only stipultation is that I'm not supposed to push my voice for more than about 3½ hours in the day.

SUITABLE VENUES:

• SCHOOL VENUES: Any hall, a/v room, gym etc. is suitable providing the kids can sit comfortably for the duration of the sessions. No limit to audience size providing they can all see me working on a flip chart and hear what I'm saying (see REQUIREMENTS below).
  Although sessions are best aimed at 10-12 year olds, I've had great sessions with groups as young as 8 (as long as they're attentive) and also enjoyed talking to older students right up to A level. However, please do NOT put me in front of disinterested and non-motivated teenagers in the hope that I will make them start smiling in maths lessons. It's a waste of my time and your money.
  PLEASE NOTE: a responsible member of staff MUST be present at all times. This is for insurance purposes as much as anything else.
• SMALLER SCHOOLS: to split the costs you might find it convenient to share a visit with other schools in your area. Either the kids could all be brought to one place or I could be taken around for the day.
• PUBLIC VENUES: Ideally a theatre setting or appropriate room with seating (or carpeted floor) for audience. Usually organisers arrange admission on a ticket basis, but that's up to you. I can work out of doors if there is a reasonable p.a. system and if the audience is contained - what I do NOT do is any sort of busker or street theatre set up where I have to keep calling people over to see me. No limit to audience size providing they can all see me working on a flip chart.

WHERE ARE YOU? I avoid overnight stays for single days, so engagements must be within reasonable travelling time, preferably by rail, from YORK. These would include Central London, Manchester and most of the NE.

If travelling is to take much more than 2 hours each way, then either you could organise one big early afternoon show with a massive audience or it may be possible to co-ordinate with other people in your area to make a 2-3 day visit worthwhile. This means that places such as Glasgow, Bristol, Ipswich and the south coast are possible.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Absolutely VITAL: I need a flip chart with plenty of paper! For very large venues I can work with an overhead projector but only if absolutely necessary, and you must advise me in advance if you think this is the case.
• P.A. System. Unless your venue is quiet, small and contained, then I need some sort of amplifier set up. (In recent years I've had to take medical advice on my voice.) In certain circumstances I can provide my own p.a., otherwise I can bring my own radio mic if you can supply some sort of amplifier (a small guitar amplifier is usually quite adequate, and most school music departments have something suitable to borrow). If using a portable amplifier system please ensure that there's somewhere to plug it in that works! If your venue is especially noisy or echoey- (e.g. sports hall) please ensure your system is adequate.
• Water - a bottle of still mineral water is extremely welcome especially for longer sessions.
  
• To ensure you get what you want from author talks, it's best if kids have questions prepared beforehand.
• You may wish me to be "introduced" by a chairperson which is nice but not vital.
• Lunch - a quick sandwich is all I need. However if I'm not required to sign books or talk over lunchtime and there's a suitable pub nearby, then that's always very welcome and it's on me!

BOOK SALES/POSTERS: if you've organised copies of my books to be on sale, of course I'm delighted to do signings. (I do not bring my own books for sale but if you want to organise this yourself, a local bookshop will probably be happy to arrange you some copies on a sale or return basis, and they can usually offer some sort of commission. Otherwise you could try the publicity dept. at Scholastic but they need several weeks notice. Scholastic publicity can also let you have some POSTERS to put up. The Scholastic number is 020 7756 7756.)

FEES... are based on a full day and depend on where you are and what you want. Please contact me at for details, telling me where you are and giving me an idea of what you'd like me to do.

AVAILABLILITY The list of dates on my site gives some indication of when I'm already booked, although I have numerous other commitments not listed. I try to limit appearances to around 8 days per month otherwise I'd never get anything else done!

CONFIRMATION OF BOOKING must be in writing once we've agreed details. I will need to receive a letter clearly stating 1/ the date and time I'm required 2/ confirming the fee 3/ what name the invoice should be made out to 4/ the exact location of the venue with a map/directions. 5/ A telephone contact number

AUDIO / VISUAL RECORDINGS If you want anybody to film or otherwise record what I do, please check with me beforehand. Usually it's no problem, but sometimes camera crews can be extremely thoughtless about just wandering about in front of the audience and obstructing their view. I also have to be wary of having my material casually chucked onto the telly without any proper credit or recompense.

PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS Some press photographers simply take pictures from the back while I'm performing which is fine. However most of them like to pose their own shots, and if this is allowed to happen during a session it can be both time-consuming and disruptive. It's best if posed shots can be taken at the end of a session.

 

Advance Notice! Please arrange any bookings as soon as possible as I already have dates reserved up to a year in advance.

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