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Home: Video University Forums: Marketing & Business:
class reunion photo montage

X-Al_Woszczyna
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Nov 27, 2000, 7:43 AM

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class reunion photo montage	Can't Post

I was at a 20th class high school reunion this passed Saturday shooting stills of the event This is to be a photo video montage. I was charging $23.00 (shipping & handling included). I had a monitor & VCR going which was displaying another video montage of a class reunion. It seemed no one paid any attention to the display. I had flyers and order forms for ordering their video. But, no one showed any interest. They had a D. J. there. He had made several announcements during the night about the availability of the video. This didn’t show much interest either. I finally walked around to each table during dinner and explained what I was doing and tried handing out order forms. I got some response, but not very much. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to market this type of work?

X-Doug_Graham
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Nov 27, 2000, 10:26 AM

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Re: class reunion photo montage	Can't Post

: I was at a 20th class high school reunion this passed Saturday shooting stills of the event This is to be a photo video montage. I was charging $23.00 (shipping & handling included). I had a monitor & VCR going which was displaying another video montage of a class reunion. It seemed no one paid any attention to the display. I had flyers and order forms for ordering their video. But, no one showed any interest. They had a D. J. there. He had made several announcements during the night about the availability of the video. This didn’t show much interest either. I finally walked around to each table during dinner and explained what I was doing and tried handing out order forms. I got some response, but not very much. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to market this type of work?
Al,
One way to market videos to a large group of people is to do it through the event organizers. Basically, you sell the video project to them, and they sell copies to their members. I have a graduation I do this way. I get a fixed fee for shooting and editing, plus a small portion of each tape sold. The organizers break even at a sales level of X tapes, and after that we both make money.
Regards,
Doug Graham

X-Gene_Varner
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Nov 27, 2000, 8:49 PM

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Re: class reunion photo montage [In reply to]	Can't Post

Al:
You might get a class list with addresses, make up a flyer with an order blank at the bottom and send one to each class member.
I have used this procedure on graduation videos with fair results.
Hope this helps,
Gene Varner

X-anton
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Dec 8, 2000, 11:35 PM

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Re: class reunion photo montage [In reply to]	Can't Post

I used to do the same thing, hard sell my services to groups I was shooting
with the identical results. the best thing that worked for me and what
I still used today is the following;
You must remember that the people there are not in the market to
pick an event videographer, they are there for the events theme.
with this in mind ,I set up a 25 inch tv with my company name at the top,
good qaulity sign NOT stencile or hand written. Nice table & cloth
plenty of "take one" boxes. My demo loop has several still shots
of alumni mostly bust shots there is a poster with the same still
faces that have been numbered 1,2,3,4 etc. the demo tape play with
the guess who theme the still comes up and has spefx on the pic so
you really cant make out the face then in post I slowly remove the mosaic or
whichever fx is on the pic to reveal the person. it
kind of gives the game show feel. the object is to see if you can guess
who the person is by looking at the poster with the pics on it.
you will have to forgive me if I'm not explaining this well.
through out the event the dj will offer a chance to win a dance with
the bride/groom etc.This provides interaction and interest with your
market. and spotlights your creativity.
by using the interactive approach rather than the hard sell
I'mm booked huge. Another tip is to get the mc/dj to offer coupons for
your biz. or give the audience a chance to win 35% off
dont just think sell sell sell. Create interest thats the key.
Anton
MIDWEST PRODUCTIONS

X-Dennis
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Jan 25, 2001, 3:45 PM

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Re: class reunion photo montage [In reply to]	Can't Post

Boy - you just described the EXACT same experience I had doing a 25th reunion last summer. I did everything - from working with the Reunion Committee to doing a music montage on display at the event. Heck - I even did a historical video summarizing the key events and faces of 1975. Everyone loved the montage while at the reunion, but not one single person was interested in having a video highlight on the reunion itself. Some people actually seemed a little uncomforable when the camera was on them. Not much interesting footage either, with the exception of a nice speach delievered by the class president. Other than that - mostly shots of people talking and hugging. I agreed to do the job on spec (no up front fee). I was doing a favor for my friend. Out of the 200 who attended - I thought that maybe 20 or so would buy a $15 tape of this once in a lifetime, 3 day event. My guess is that people go to reunions with a bit of discomfort to begin with, and probably don't want to see how they stack up against the rest of their classmates. In my opinion, there is NO market for this type of event.