on-site business arrangements

[Curtis Cunningham]

The more I thought about this today, the more I'm thinking that the potential challenges I mentioned in the previous post are not worth tackling on my own. There's no one I know who really is in a position to help me either.

But I still am interested in your opinions. If any have experience with this type of arrangement, I'd like to hear what you have to say.

Thanks.

[ChrisPurves]

Originally Posted by ChrisPerry

a few days later dropped off paper proofs (color laser contact sheets)and sales were maybe $25/person. Part way thru the second year I switched to having an assistant that would show the images right away on a computer- sales jumped to $65/person.

Hi Curtis:- As Chris Perry suggested, you need to have another person there. Your assistant can do the presentation and sales while you shoot.
People will buy a lot more at the event than they ever will off the net.
Use a multi copy invoice book. You keep the first copy, they get the second copy at the event. If you use a third copy you can send that with the print when it is mailed or picked up. If the owner of the store is receptive have him receive all the prints so all the customers have to come to the store to get their prints. That gets them in the store a second time.

Do you have a guess as to how many people will want photos? If you are going to do it yourself, you should be able to shoot and show them their photos in a 15 minute time frame. I don't know long people will wait for their shoot but it might work out that you have time between shoots to show the photos and sell them.

Good luck
Chris

[Curtis Cunningham]

Originally Posted by ChrisPurves

If you are going to do it yourself, you should be able to shoot and show them their photos in a 15 minute time frame. I don't know long people will wait for their shoot but it might work out that you have time between shoots to show the photos and sell them.

Perhaps if I'm clear in any advertising that people have to come on the day of the event and sign up for their shots (i.e. in 15 minute increments) that would help. Yesterday I wasn't thinking this way, but I think I could do it with that 15 minute increment. It helps to take the pressure off, both on the day for me as I would be shooting, and also so I wouldn't have to worry about impatient people lining up. If I know that they know it's every 15 minutes bla bla bla...

I'll go down to the store today and ask a few more questions (how long does he envision the event taking place, where he wants to have the opening outdoors, will there be power available).

Thanks for your input.

[Curtis Cunningham]

The owner of the store I've been dealing with finally has a date in mind for his grand opening. Looks like it will be next weekend (long weekend here in Canada). So I need to finalize my pricing strategy.

He's made it clear to me that he expects some sort of fee/payment for me being able to shoot at his Grand Opening. And the only thing that makes sense to me right now is to agree on a certain percentage of profit (after my costs are covered).

So my question is how to go about picking what percentage is an acceptable payment? Is it just as simple (or difficult) as choosing a number I'm comfortable with or is there another way to go about deciding?

[ChrisPurves]

Curtis:- 10% of the profit or no more than 20%.
What is he giving you for being there making his grand opening better. Is he going to promote you being there in his advertising? If he wants you to do your own advertising then there should be no payment from you as you are already advertising for him by telling people you are at his store and are bringing in more customers for him. In fact maybe he should pay you for drawing in customers.

Good luck

Cheers
Chris