I would rather go to New York... or at lest that was something that I used to see everywhere many years ago.
I suppose it was a trend to make public the willingness that someone had to do whatever else that what was asked for
However for this specific question depends on the rewards, what will I win giving the speech? what will I win staying with the tarantula?
I don't mind having to do one or another thing as long as they provide me with any benefit.