Video University: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography: The wonders of moronic phone calls....

VideoUniversity.com
Home	Free Library	Store
Free Catalog Please support VU by making your B&H purchases and links through this B&H ad. Doesn't cost a penny more.

See The New VU Postcard Catalog

To post in the forums see the Forum Guidelines.

Join or Renew Today.
New Benefits for all VU Members

Forum Guidelines and FAQ
Main Index	Search Posts
Who's Online	Log In

Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
The wonders of moronic phone calls....

glimmer
Veteran

Mar 27, 2008, 10:08 AM

Post #1 of 12 (506 views)
Shortcut

The wonders of moronic phone calls....	Can't Post

So I get a phone call this morning that went something like this....

Hi, I loved your work and was wondering what you charge.
Ok, thanks, what type of event do you need coverage for and what is the date?
Oh, umm...pause....(I can start to see where this is going)...it's July 12th and for a wedding
Alright, and where is the event taking place?
In Upper Marlboro
Ok, what venue? I ask in case I've been there before....
How much do you charge?
Our rates start at.....and include...
Ok, and how much for just the ceremony?
Ceremony-only rates are....
And what about high-def? I love high-def. I want BlueRay and HD-DVD and flash formats for my phone..
The rate will vary based on the final format that is delivered and starts at....If you send me an email then I can provide a detailed list
of rates.
Ok, I will.
-end phone call-

=====
So I get an email that was just a tad stupid....this is copied/pasted from the email:

How much do you charge for 4 hours of coverage? for 5 hours? for 6 hours? for 7 hours?
How much do you charge for ceremony only? reception only?
What cameras do you use? Are they hd cameras? How many do you use?
What mics do you use? How many? Where do you place them?
I'm worried about tripods being in the way. What kind do you use?
How much more is Blue-ray and hd-dvd? How much is it to have the video converted to celphone or pda?
Is it real hd or hdv? Can I get the raw footage? What about copyright to the footage?
How do payments work? How much is due when signing? Can I get a copy of the contract? Do you accept cash or check? What about credit card?
Thanks so much for answering these questions! My fiance and I really want to work with you!
=====

So I replied and simply asked why he wants to know answers to this, if he's really a groom, and where his wedding is taking place. For some odd reason, I don't think I'll be getting a reply.

:) For those in this market....I'm sure you'll be getting this, too!

LKvideo
Veteran

Mar 27, 2008, 10:27 AM

Post #2 of 12 (499 views)
Shortcut

Re: [glimmer] The wonders of moronic phone calls.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Just a competitor trying to get info Crazy

Lou K
SI, NYC

glimmer
Veteran

Mar 27, 2008, 10:56 AM

Post #3 of 12 (489 views)
Shortcut

Re: [LKvideo] The wonders of moronic phone calls.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Yeah, as if it couldn't be more obvious!

Peggy
User

Mar 27, 2008, 2:41 PM

Post #4 of 12 (453 views)
Shortcut

Re: [glimmer] The wonders of moronic phone calls.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

I had a similar phone call a while back with the guy wanting to know answers to questions about prices and equipment but gave me a wedding date in the middle of the week.
I finally told him that he sounded like a videographer trying to check up on the competition and if he was and if he just asked me nicely then I would be happy to share my knowledge and experience.
After a bit of silence, he admitted that he was a videographer trying to get started in weddings. I then talked with him for another half hour about pricing, cameras and my personal experiences. I also suggested he come and check out our PVN.
I never heard from him again. Maybe I scared him away. Laugh

Peggy Pattison
Memory Lane Video
________________________________
I believe we are surrounded by angels disguised as ordinary people.

2ndMile
Enthusiast

Mar 27, 2008, 3:01 PM

Post #5 of 12 (446 views)
Shortcut

Re: [glimmer] The wonders of moronic phone calls.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

I wish people would just identify themselves as another videographer... I would be more than happy to share ideas, prices, contact info. If they were any good I might even send some business their way but instead you get the stupid fake date, cat and mouse game.

Brian Morris
2ndMile Blog

JC/DV
Veteran

Mar 27, 2008, 3:49 PM

Post #6 of 12 (430 views)
Shortcut

Re: [glimmer] The wonders of moronic phone calls.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Is it real hd or hdv?

I agree with Lou. A competitor fishing... why not just say so?

Jerome
JC/DV Productions - Website - Blog

Technology. It does wonders if you know how to use it.

Brackish
Veteran

Mar 27, 2008, 5:53 PM

Post #7 of 12 (411 views)
Shortcut

Re: [glimmer] The wonders of moronic phone calls.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

I've even had them set up meetings to discuss their "wedding"
in person!!!!
Kind of pissed me off about the wasted time. Drive an hour.
Sit around for a couple hours talking about which NLE I use,
how to do special effects, how to mic a loud speaker, etc.
Poor "groom" seemed to have been dragged along.

----------------------------------------------
"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

RT Steele
Veteran

Mar 27, 2008, 6:29 PM

Post #8 of 12 (401 views)
Shortcut

Re: [glimmer] The wonders of moronic phone calls.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

It all reads legit to me. It just looks like somebody's been reading that silly-assed "How to Shop for a Videographer" crap from one of the bridal rags.

But maybe that's what one thinks when he isn't even worth a check from his competitors because he's no threat. Laugh

- RT

glimmer
Veteran

Mar 27, 2008, 10:33 PM

Post #9 of 12 (366 views)
Shortcut

Re: [RT Steele] The wonders of moronic phone calls.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

I have very little patience for stuff like this that just wastes my time. I think one of my all-time favorites was where a woman calling on behalf of her boss with a blocked number of whom couldn't tell me anything that made sense, was interested in a photo montage but wanted to know what kind of cameras and mics I use and what I edit with....yeah, almost made sense!

RT Steele
Veteran

Mar 28, 2008, 12:02 AM

Post #10 of 12 (350 views)
Shortcut

Re: [glimmer] The wonders of moronic phone calls.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

wanted to know what kind of cameras and mics I use and what I edit with.

Hey, now there's a memory jogger...

A year ago a photog was pumping me for info like this too (at the vendor table Tongue

). I finally clued in as to why he was asking. Funny thing is, I didn't even have to lie about anything to discourage him from adding video to his service. Sly

- RT

Brackish
Veteran

Mar 28, 2008, 12:15 AM

Post #11 of 12 (349 views)
Shortcut

Re: [glimmer] The wonders of moronic phone calls.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

wanted to know what kind of cameras and mics I use and what I edit with

I just had the situation where I was standing at the front next
to the photog, waiting for the processional to get going, and
the photog started asking me about what camera settings
I use during the processional (if auto exposure is do-able or
how do I determine what the manual exposure should be),
how much time it takes me to edit a wedding, etc. Basically, I knew
what that was about right at the time.
And later I overheard him saying that he and his wife both have
full-time jobs and just started into wedding work on the side.

----------------------------------------------
"We'll always show up at the wedding with a gift bag for the bride. Inside we have these incredible fuzzy slippers in the teal of our branding."

Edit 1 Media
Veteran

Mar 28, 2008, 1:17 PM

Post #12 of 12 (288 views)
Shortcut

Re: [glimmer] The wonders of moronic phone calls.... [In reply to]	Can't Post

Unbelievable. I can't believe people have to be so slimey when they want to know their competitor's info.
__________

Laura Randall
Edit 1 Media Blog

4EVER GROUP AFFILIATE