2010 the Just say No to low/no pay work year!

Nate Haustein · December 14th, 2009, 09:55 AM

Craigslist ad actually sounds ok for someone just starting out. I've done about 8 weddings so far, and every single one of them has some relation to the first couple I did a free promo for.

Naturally the quality has increased in the three years since, but I can't tell you how valuable the word of mouth advertising has been to me.

Such a large captive market as the bride-to-be has would be valuable I think, especially to the photo/video/DJ needing to get some exposure, if perhaps not so much the caterers... If you have the time, and need the experience, a gig like that would be ideal. I would even think the client would cover expenses of tape and such.

Not that I would be interested personally in such a proposition.

Jason Selmes · December 14th, 2009, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Barnett

Funny thread, just a couple weeks ago a "bride to be" here posted on Craigslist that giving free Photo/DJ/Video AND catering work would be a great opportunity because she will place our advertising and market us to her friends... all getting married soon. So she basically wanted her entire wedding free.

To Wedding vendors

To Wedding vendors (Philadelphia, PA)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 2009-11-25, 11:23AM EST
Reply to: gigs-pdg52-1481835005@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To wedding vendors,
Are you a videographer, caterer, photographer, wedding coordinator, wedding DJ, or any other type of wedding vendor? Are you willing to provide your services in exchange for you advertisements to my guests? (e.g. your business cards given in favor bags, your wedding information on on my wedding website, slideshow at the reception, programs, facebook--(over 1500 friends with me alone) etc.). If so please respond stating what you are willing to offer and what you would like in exchange. I haven't set a specific date yet, I am still open, although I've narrowed it down to the end of next year. My wedding will not be held on a peak day (not saturday night) so it won't me much trouble for you. I am an entertainment promoter so I'm definitely a natural at promoting and sharing what I loved about a vendor to people in addition to your information on my website etc. So your name will be out there in my community (many friends/associates of mine are either engaged or in a very serious relationship).

Contact me if you are interested!
-Bride-to-Be

That Bride to be is nothing more than a parasite!!!!!!!! People like that disgust me!!!! she knows nobody, PERIOD!!!! If she did she would not be asking for FREE services, She obviously is not making any money in the entetainment industry if she has to post a thread like that to gain freebies by offering fictitional advertisement..... What a LEECH!!!!!

Don Bloom · December 14th, 2009, 07:22 PM

She must either be getting married in a lot of different locations OR she has a clone. I saw a post on CL the other day- same thing.

Yeah, I'll jump right in! Uh, I don't think so.

O|O
\--/

Denny Lajeunesse · December 14th, 2009, 07:58 PM

I think that if anyone does do shoot etc for free then a non-disclosure agreement regarding fees (or lack of), should be signed. It may or may not be viable to sue, say a wedding couple, but just the act of signing such an agreement makes the "free video" seem much more serious and drives home the point that this is not "normal".

Philip Howells · December 14th, 2009, 10:07 PM

An Australian designer (or maybe he's a perceptive writer) was recently asked, not for the first time, to do work for free on the vague promise of future payment. Although the putative client's language may make your maiden Aunt blush, the technique the designer employed might be relevant to this thread.

You can read the complete exchange at:

"It's like twitter. Except we charge people to use it."

Richard Wakefield · December 15th, 2009, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Barnett

To wedding vendors,
Are you a videographer, caterer, photographer, wedding coordinator, wedding DJ, or any other type of wedding vendor? Are you willing to provide your services in exchange for you advertisements to my guests? (e.g. your business cards given in favor bags, your wedding information on on my wedding website, slideshow at the reception, programs, facebook--(over 1500 friends with me alone) etc.). If so please respond stating what you are willing to offer and what you would like in exchange. I haven't set a specific date yet, I am still open, although I've narrowed it down to the end of next year. My wedding will not be held on a peak day (not saturday night) so it won't me much trouble for you. I am an entertainment promoter so I'm definitely a natural at promoting and sharing what I loved about a vendor to people in addition to your information on my website etc. So your name will be out there in my community (many friends/associates of mine are either engaged or in a very serious relationship).

Contact me if you are interested!
-Bride-to-Be

haha, that totally made me laugh! (whether genuine or fake)
if she knows 1500 people, then the chances are that amongst them alone, there must surely be a wedding photographer, videographer, coordinator, DJ etc etc...so why doesn't she ask them if she's THAT cheeky ;)

Warren Kawamoto · December 15th, 2009, 05:34 AM

If a bride asks for a discount, this is what I tell them:

I put 100% effort into every wedding I shoot and edit. But if you want a 50% discount, would it be ok if I put in just 50% of my effort for your wedding? Is that ok with you?

They suddenly see the light.

Dave Blackhurst · December 15th, 2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Wakefield

haha, that totally made me laugh! (whether genuine or fake)
if she knows 1500 people, then the chances are that amongst them alone, there must surely be a wedding photographer, videographer, coordinator, DJ etc etc...so why doesn't she ask them if she's THAT cheeky ;)

She did - they thought buying a toaster on $20 closeout was a better idea for her "gift"...

Adam Gold · December 15th, 2009, 05:37 PM

Heck, she's an "entertainment promoter," whatever that is. Tell her that she should promote your business for free because every client you book is good exposure for her. She should be glad to do it, right?

December 14th, 2009, 09:55 AM	#31
Nate Haustein Trustee Join Date: May 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,313	Craigslist ad actually sounds ok for someone just starting out. I've done about 8 weddings so far, and every single one of them has some relation to the first couple I did a free promo for. Naturally the quality has increased in the three years since, but I can't tell you how valuable the word of mouth advertising has been to me. Such a large captive market as the bride-to-be has would be valuable I think, especially to the photo/video/DJ needing to get some exposure, if perhaps not so much the caterers... If you have the time, and need the experience, a gig like that would be ideal. I would even think the client would cover expenses of tape and such. Not that I would be interested personally in such a proposition. __________________ Nate Haustein PXW-FX9 / FCPX www.flightcreativemedia.com

December 14th, 2009, 07:22 PM	#33
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	She must either be getting married in a lot of different locations OR she has a clone. I saw a post on CL the other day- same thing. Yeah, I'll jump right in! Uh, I don't think so. O\|O \--/ __________________ What do I know? I'm just a video-O-grafer. Don

December 15th, 2009, 05:37 PM	#39
Adam Gold Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Woodinville, WA USA Posts: 3,467	Heck, she's an "entertainment promoter," whatever that is. Tell her that she should promote your business for free because every client you book is good exposure for her. She should be glad to do it, right? __________________ "It can only be attributable to human error... This sort of thing has cropped up before, and it has always been due to human error."

December 14th, 2009, 07:58 PM	#34
Denny Lajeunesse Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kelowna, BC [Canada, Eh!] Posts: 257	I think that if anyone does do shoot etc for free then a non-disclosure agreement regarding fees (or lack of), should be signed. It may or may not be viable to sue, say a wedding couple, but just the act of signing such an agreement makes the "free video" seem much more serious and drives home the point that this is not "normal".

December 14th, 2009, 10:07 PM	#35
Philip Howells Trustee Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 1,212	An Australian designer (or maybe he's a perceptive writer) was recently asked, not for the first time, to do work for free on the vague promise of future payment. Although the putative client's language may make your maiden Aunt blush, the technique the designer employed might be relevant to this thread. You can read the complete exchange at: "It's like twitter. Except we charge people to use it."

December 15th, 2009, 05:34 AM	#37
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	If a bride asks for a discount, this is what I tell them: I put 100% effort into every wedding I shoot and edit. But if you want a 50% discount, would it be ok if I put in just 50% of my effort for your wedding? Is that ok with you? They suddenly see the light.