I have been approached by 2 friends to solicit their Dance studio to produce their Recital DVD. It turns out the 2 Studios are scheduled the same day/time (and no I cannot do both).

How would you approach this?
Solicit Both, make mention of possible conflict and ask for a commitment
Solicit Both, make no mention of conflict
Solicit One, if that fails, solicit the other

If they are both interested, how do you pick?
First come, first serve: Immediately inform the other of your unavailability
Weigh both offers, then send regrets to one of them?

I don't want to burn-bridges because next year they may be on different dates

Can you solicit both, and outsource one if you get them both? Do you have a reputable 2nd shooter? That is what I would do. Make sure that 2nd shooter is available and ask for a soft-hold on the date. If you're not charging enough to outsource, then consider raising your prices.

I have been approached by 2 friends

If they really are friends, and not just acquaintances, then whoever asked first.

If both are just acquaintances, then probably whoever asked first, unless a really substantial difference between the two jobs.

If one is a friend, the other just an acquaintance, that changes things. Real friends are worth far more than money.

Check into the amount of student/parents - makes a big difference.

Pretty good points made already. Are they 'friends' or just acquantainces/business contacts? Secondly, can you just be open to the one you can't shoot and say "I can't shoot it but I have a contact who shoots for me who can cover, and I'll handle the delivery" etc... if you do know a good 2nd shooter/backup person. Third, can you check if one studio is drastically bigger than the other? (Website, location). In otherwise, try for the larger one first.


All that aside, personally I would just be open to both, and let them both know that someone else is interested in the same date, and that it's first come first serve.