The following information concerns speaking engagements only. To inquire into a musical performance, or to discuss the possibility of Phyllis's possible participation in your public event, please contact her. Several months' lead time when booking is advised but not always required.
While Phyllis regards her public appearances primarily as service work, in most cases she requires a modest honorarium and reimbursement of any travel-related expenses.
Speaking Engagement Topics
"The Emptiness of Our Hands." Despite more than ten years having passed, most audiences still want to hear Phyllis speak about the 47 days she spent in 1999 living voluntarily with her friend James Murray on the streets of Columbus, Ohio, the nation's fifteenth-largest city and their home at the time. Phyllis and James didn't go out on the streets to satisfy idle curiosity or experience a strange new world. They didn't go out to save anyone or fix anything. They went out for one primary reason: to be as present as possible to every person they met. Doing so, they were reminded just how difficult the practice of compassion can be.
After recovering from their time on the streets, Phyllis and James co-authored The Emptiness of Our Hands, a powerful (for some readers, "life-changing") chronicle of their experiences. Over the years thousands of copies of this book have been sold and a portion of the proceeds returned to programs benefiting homeless persons in Columbus.
When speaking on this subject, Phyllis focuses on "the practice of being present," the core discipline of her life that led her to the streets in the first place. She also favors a lengthy question & answer session at the conclusion of her remarks.
Additional topic possibilities. Phyllis would also be happy to speak on a variety of other topics, either one listed below or another of your choosing (if she believes that she'd have something useful to say):
- Exercising the moral imagination
- The practice of being present
- The inseparability of personal spirituality and social conscience
- Songwriting, spirituality and social concern
Fees & Expenses for Speaking Engagements
Fees and expenses. Phyllis asks for a modest honorarium as well as transportation and (if necessary) lodging. If you don't think you can afford to cover her expenses, contact her anyway. You never know what might be possible. For example, she might be able to stay with one of her friends or relatives in your area, thereby reducing costs.
Scheduling. Because Phyllis carefully limits her public appearances, please contact her about a possible booking well in advance of your desired date. A lead time of at least several months is advisable.
Visual presentation option. Phyllis is comfortable speaking with or without an accompanying visual presentation. Just let her know your preference. Please note that if you request this option, you would be responsible for providing an LCD projector appropriate to your venue and either a large screen or bare wall, easily viewed by an audience, on which to project the program.
Piano performance option. If you'd like, Phyllis could perform some of her original piano music in connection with her speaking engagement. Please note that the piano at your venue should be in good working condition (i.e., in tune, all the keys play, all the pedals work).
Book and CD sales. Phyllis asks for the opportunity to sell her books and CDs at all events. For this purpose she will need a table, a helpful assistant and possibly a cash box. She would be only too happy to mingle with your event's participants after her speech, selling and signing her work.
Food drive. When appropriate for your event, Phyllis would suggest holding a food drive for a local community food bank in connection with her appearance.
Publicity Materials
To help promote the success of your event, Phyllis can make the following publicity materials available (PDF and JPG files): press bio, publicity photo, press interviews. Just contact her to request what you need.
