What Can I Do For You? Click here for PRINT FRIENDLY version of What Can I Do For You? Click HERE to see the full TIMES EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT review 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 my books are generally 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, primary schools and teaching conferences. There's no limit to audience size - in fact, generally the more the better. I've done audiences of well over 1000. Schools: you'll find suggestions for what I can best do for you when you go to booking enquiries. MURDEROUS MATHS SESSIONS (40-75 minutes as required) I perform a variety of features from my Murderous Maths books including flexagons, magic squares, strange number facts, knots, tricks, codes, amazing number predictions and so on. I tend to adjust the complexity and content of what I do to suit the ability of the audience I'm in front of. Suitable for schools/events that need two sessions to different audiences. These are the sessions I've been doing constantly since 1999, which involve lots of general participation and bringing volunteers on stage. FLIP CHART: If a projector is not available, I can do Murderous Maths sessions as decribed above just working on a flip chart using pens on paper. POWERPOINT AND FLIP CHART: If a projector and screen are available for my laptop, I use powerpoint to include some of the big colourful features from the Murderous Maths of Everything as listed here: Appearing live on CBBC's "XChange" 12/1/05 * a pile of pennies that goes past the sun, * the chances of guessing the murderer, weapon and room in Cluedo, * a maths problem that made the Gods kill off the ancient Greeks with plague. * the strange numbers that control snails and sunflowers, * how to cut something in half and keep it one piece, * monster stars and the size of space, * how to make your birthday last twice as long * how you can draw a little diagram to make you famous for ever. Topics covered by these features include the Fibonacci Series, powers, massive numbers, triangle numbers, the size of the galaxy, the four colour map theorem, probability and more. MATHS SHOW (45 minutes + 45 minutes) I can do two different sessions which you could present as a "show" with an interval. Longer shows with an interval are only suitable for selected school audiences (e.g. mathematically Gifted and Talented kids), or family functions such as library openings or festivals. Obviously I'd be delighted to sign books during the interval or afterwards. 250 kids warming up with a few MM tricks on powerpoint at the Hay-On-Wye book festival May 2010 TEACHERS MATHS SESSION (Anything up to 100 minutes as required. Suitable for seminars, conferences, after-school meetings or evening entertainment!) I do a full selection of everything I know including tricks (and how I do them!), trivia and powerpoint features including Fibonacci to give ideas for classroom activities and lessons. You can find accompanying notes, resources and follow-up ideas here: Murderous Maths Teacher Resources . * A fully captioned version of my powerpoint presentation for the Fibonacci Series plus a few other tricks is available as a teacher resource. If you bring a memory stick to the session, I'll be glad to put it on for you. THE SPACE TALK (30 - 60 minutes depending on time available) * What's the difference between moons, planets, stars, comets and meteors? * How far away are the other planets and the stars? * Why does the moon seem to change shape, and when does it turn orange? * What are lunar and solar eclipses? * What would it be like to visit all the different planets? * How can we stop an asteroid wiping us all out? * How big are supergiant and red giant stars? Lots of questions for the audience to think about, suitable for ages 8-12. (The same audience could see this talk and a maths session in a day.) POWERPOINT: space talks require a projector and screen for my laptop. Making too much noise in the library at Walthamstow School for Girls! AUTHOR TALK (20-45 mins depending on how well-prepared the kids are) I do an introduction talking generally about how I got started writing books (both fiction and non-fiction), 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. 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 other Functions): I'm happy to bring out a few visual tricks including flexagons or predictor cards and do a speech to open your library or start your festival! QUIZMASTER/COMPARE 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! A MIXTURE! I'm quite happy to do a couple of maths sessions and maybe an informal author library session over lunch, or perhaps a school session then an after-school teacher session, or any other selection that suits you. My only stipultation is that I'm not supposed to push my voice for more than about 3 hours in the day. BOOKING ENQUIRIES

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Details Click here for PRINT FRIENDLY version of "Details" Suitable venues       Where are you?       Requirements       Book sales/Posters       Fees/Availability           Filming for BBC Schools TV on a bus in Scarborough     First shown on BBC2 March 2002     "The Maths Channel" .... winner of the 2002 R.T.S. Award     for best science/maths/ICT programme. SUITABLE VENUES: THEATRES: are best! It means that I can entertain more people more effectively, plus it's easy to see what I'm doing and the acoustics are better. The event also makes a much bigger impression on the audience. SCHOOL VENUES: Any assembly hall, a/v room, drama studio 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). Generally sports halls are unsuitable because of the acoustics. 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 Edinburgh, central London, Manchester, Birmingham and most of the NE. (Please be realistic and allow for delayed trains!) 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. Such trips need to be booked well in advance, and I always look on them more favourably if you can find me an interesting place to stay! The yellow building is the Pier House Hotel, Charlestown, St Austell where Liz Hurley, (a very enterprising librarian in Newquay) put me up. Highly recommended - and not far from the Eden Project! This is what 500 kids looked like at Exmouth REQUIREMENTS: Flexagons on the big screen at Reading Absolutely VITAL: I need something to write on! The best thing is a FLIP CHART with plenty of paper , which will usually be adequate for audiences up to 300 providing you have a well-lit stage area. (A flip chart is usually fine for any size of theatre with tiered seating.) Otherwise for larger venues, you can point a camera at the flip chart and project onto a big screen or monitors. If a flip chart is not practical, a large white board (not electronic) or a wall covered in paper is ok. Otherwise for large venues I can work with a visualiser coupled to a projection system (i.e. I write on a desk unit that has an overhead camera). I will need to be advised in advance what you are supplying for me to work on. For most of my sessions I also need to use POWERPOINT, so please supply a projector and screen to plug my laptop into. I do NOT use electronic white boards. 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. Lighting: As well as working on a flip chart, I use a number of props. Therefore the stage or performance area should be adequately lit, and I should also be able to see the audience. This is very rarely a problem, but it should be considered if I'm working with any form of big screen projection. Staff: an adequate number of responsible staff MUST be present at all times. This especially applies to schools for insurance purposes and in the very unlikely event of needing to deal with any excessive disruption. Water - a bottle of still mineral water is extremely welcome especially for longer sessions. To ensure you get what you want from author talks, kids should have questions prepared beforehand. It is usually helpful if I can be introduced to the audience by a member of staff or a chairperson. 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! It took me 10 hours to get to Tretherras School, Newquay, Cornwall BOOK SALES: 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 discounted books are available on a sale or return basis by contacting the publicity dept. at Scholastic on 020 7756 7756.) PUBLICITY/POSTERS: There are various images which you're welcome to use with your own literature here: Publicity and Poster Photos, otherwise we can supply .pdf files of Murderous Maths posters. You can also use any details you like from my C.V.. FEES... will depend on where you are and what you want. In addition, rail fares can vary enormously depending on what time of day you need me! Please click BOOKING ENQUIRIES. AVAILABLILITY The list of dates below 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! Advance Notice! Please arrange any bookings as soon as possible as I already have dates reserved up to a year in advance. Utterly failing to impress anyone with my fluent Welsh Maesteg, Wales CONFIRMATION OF BOOKING Once we've agreed plans for an event, we'll send you details of what we need from you in terms of written confirmation. It's usually just a letter on headed paper plus any forms you might need us to fill in. 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, internet or DVDs 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.   BOOKING ENQUIRIES

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