My first photo gig? or a scam for ID theft??? $100 to shoot stadium seating.

[Protege Menace]

edited

[JCR]

Possibilities of a scam aside.
All this hassle for $100? I wouldn't even get out of bed.

[liza]

Possibilities of a scam aside.
All this hassle for $100? I wouldn't even get out of bed.

Me neither. And you might be mistaken for a terrorist in these paranoid times we live in. :)

[Steve Parr]

There's nothing about this that seems reasonable.

They'll pay you after they review the photos and, presumably, after you've destroyed your copies (which I wouldn't do).

Essentially, they have all of your shots, and they haven't given you a dime. They then tell you that the shots you submitted aren't acceptable (regardless of their quality). They will then have your photos and $100.00 of what is, rightfully, your money to spend at happy hour.

Sorry, but they'd have to pay me a lot more than $100.00, on the day of the shoot, in order to get me to sign that thing...

[Protege Menace]

I've never been paid for my stuff, so i figured free tickets and 100 bucks wasn't too bad for a day off.

I would def not delete the pics (and if I did do this would take extra pics to keep for myself)

I will email and see if I am required to give out all my info, because i sure don't want to give my SS and such out to people who can't even be traced online.

[liza]

I wouldn't give them my SS #. No way, no how. Sounds way too shady to me.

[Protege Menace]

She kept wanting my home phone number. when I called using a calling card she said she would have to call me back in 5 minutes, and called in like 2. I'll email and say this is way too fishy for me, and see what she says.

[Protege Menace]

Thanks!

I had another forum only get as far as doing a whois on them.

I emailed and said I am not comfortable giving my info with all the ID theft going on. Lets see if I even get a response.

[Dellboy]

Should you take this job, and I am not surgesting you should, I wouldn't be happy about giving away your images before getting paid. If you can work a sensible deal with her then I'd be inclined to put v small pictures on a web site and put YOUR v large watermark on all of them. If she likes them then she can pay for them first.
Make sure she pays extra for them if she requires the sole rights too.
Good Luck, Dellboy.

[WxGuesser]

No game i've ever gone to opened the gates 2 hrs early....

[sando]

Hang on...

You get 2 tickets to the game.
You go 2 hours early and take a few pictures.
You then get to watch the game.
You then send them a CD of the photo's.
They mail you a cheque for $100.

Why not do this on your own terms if they want you, ask why they want ID and explain why you're unwilling to hand it out. say that you'll happily show them (if they're in town) when you drop the CD-ROM off?
I cant really see on this contract where it gives them a clause to reject them for quality issues, it seems that they trust that they will use the images.

What's wrong with everyone? "I wouldnt get out of bed for that..." Well, you know buddy? Some of us arent as fortunate as you, we all have to start somewhere. I'd do it. :) And US$100 for 2 hours work, and a free game... That's about 25 quid an hour, plus the ticket cost, minus the over-heads.... yep, i'd do it.

[kram]

That's one really funny deal. If you already have the tickets, enjoy the game and forget about this ;)

But seriously, solve this puzzle for us - what is in it for them??? What's the intended purpose of the snaps?

[WxGuesser]

to me it seems they are going to use the pics as some sort of seating chart. they'll probably post the pics on their website so people will know where their seats will be when they purchase their tickets... that's probably why they're called seatsmart.....



edit... oh and this kim person at seatsmart is doing this throughout the usa... from craigslist in S.F. she has the exact same listing... smart girl if you ask me...

[sando]

/\ That's what i assumed.

[Skrim17]

for those who don't know, a W-2 form has your social security numer on it, with that number, your full name address and phone # your identity is as good as gone.

[liza]

That's why we're telling him not to do it.

[Protege Menace]

.....

[Steve Parr]

So if this is legit after all, I think it would be a fun thing to do since I'm not pro and havent been paid yet to shoot :X

I thought about this last night.

The first question I have is whether or not they're going to secure the access you're going to need.

But, my biggest problem with the whole thing is their request for your SSN. I'll have a baby before I give someone my SSN.

As for signing over the rights for the pictures, given what they want to do, I don't see it as a big deal in this instance. First, what would you do with pictures of a football field and, second, are they going to make money with those pictures?

It sounds like they're either going to be selling tickets to games, or they're going to link to someone who does.

The bottom line, as I see it is (and providing they don't need your SSN), is that you're going to get tickets to a game and a hundred bucks for pictures that, realistically, you wouldn't have done anything with anyway...

[98photo]

I did something like this for CBRE and it seemed a little fishy at first then I realized that they are a mulit million dollar business, they paid me $300 to shoot a few images of a building they had for sale. They didn't pay me till the end of the month (when they usually did billing) but they did pay me.
I say go for it, use a ss# that has one or two off didgits, if they ask about it say you made a mistake. But they probably won't even know.
Also, tell her that you need half of the money up front if you are still wierded out by it.

[Digitalwave]

It sounded pretty fishy at first but I think its legit now, and as long as you can get away with not giving them your SSN, I would do it.

[peacock]

Speaking hypothetically , if you signed that agreement would you not already be in breach of contract ,as you have disclosed the contents of the agreement when part of that agreement forbids you from doing so ?

[Steve Parr]

Speaking hypothetically , if you signed that agreement would you not already be in breach of contract ,as you have disclosed the contents of the agreement when part of that agreement forbids you from doing so ?

Roght now, though, he's not bound by the agreement. After he signs it, though, mum's the word...

[peacock]

Roght now, though, he's not bound by the agreement. After he signs it, though, mum's the word...

Thats why I wrote "if you signed it"

[Protege Menace]

Yup havent signed ANYTHING yet, so I will delete the pictures when and ifI do sign it. I am under no obligation to them right now.

[runninmann]

I say go for it, use a ss# that has one or two off didgits, if they ask about it say you made a mistake. But they probably won't even know.
The IRS could (though not likely) levy a fine for providing a false SSN or TIN if this happens to be legitimate and the company submits info regarding the payment made to you as part of their federal tax filing.

[98photo]

That is why you say it was an oversight and you made a mistake.

[Steve Parr]

Thats why I wrote "if you signed it"

But he wouldn't be in breach of anything unless he disclosed the contents after he signed it. The fact that he's disclosed the contents now, and signs it later, would mean nothing. Upon signing it, he wouldn't already be in breach of the contract...

[cjm]

Hundred bucks? For all that hassel? Not worth it at all. You could be a poor mans wedding photographer and make more then that in probably less time AND the photos are yours. I agree I wouldnt even get out of bed. Especially since it would probably be my day off. :lol:

[Honeybee]

Ticketmaster shows seats and numbers to most any auditorium, stadium, theater that one can imagine; let them get their seating chart there. Of course, it's up to you, but I'd tell them no and to stop contacting me. I believe a lot of the hype we're being fed about terrorism is just that, but this is really weird. i could use $100 myself but certainly wouldn't do this. Just my $.02.

HB

[Jon Foster]

I don't give my SSN to anyone. When I call the phone company or gas company they want my SSN but I don't give it to them. And for a hundred bucks, it's not worth it to me either. I'm not rich by any means but $100 for all the trouble isn't worth it.

Jon.

[JohnEBongo]

Couple of more things to consider......Is 2 hours even enough time to get a shot from every section in a stadium?? The closer it gets to gametime, the more crowded and difficult it will be to get around. Will you even be able to get to all of the sections??. Lower sections are usually pretty well guarded, even well before kick-off and club levels have their own entrances that require their own tickets to enter. This is probably not a scam, but definitely merits alot more than a mere $100 payment..

[Citizensmith]

Firstly, a lot of these places don't allow anything approaching 'pro' photography gear (for instance a DSLR) to be taken inside. Secondly, there will be staff on each bay from the moment doors open to show people to their seats and ensure the wrong person doesn't end up in the wrong seat. It's likely you may be repeatedly running into access problems in the sections. Lastly, these photos are being taken on a for profit basis. It is very likely the stadium will take issue with that.

You may want to ask the contact if the have experience and suggestions on getting around those problems.

[Protege Menace]

....

[Dellboy]

Nice one, Glad it seems to be working out ok, enjoy the shoot and the game.
Good Luck, Dellboy.

[kram]

Looks legit to me though their techniques are a little intriguing. Great if it works fine without giving SSN.

And if you sign up to give them the snaps - as per the agreement, you should not have any copies I think.

Take printouts of the mails - just in case you are questioned by someone as to why are running around the stadium taking snaps of an empty field ;)

[Steve Parr]

I jsut hope they let me in with my big camera and lenses (the ticket says no large camera bags so i will have to take my mini bag).

I asked her about getting in early and makign sure they don't stop me, we'll see if she can pull strings there for me.

No cameras?

Pull some strings?

I think what you're going to get out of this whole thing is good seats at a football game. If they're truly legit, access would've been arranged for you by them.

If she can't "pull some strings", it sounds like you're going to have to fend for yourself as far as getting in early with your camera...

[deadpass]

I think the only type of string pulling that would actually help would be a press pass, and that's about it. If she calls and talks to one person, there is no way everyone else is gonna be privy to this info.

[mpilar]

With all the terror paranoia around right now, does anybody else think it's a little odd that somebody would be allowed into a stadium a couple of hours before the doors open to wander around? :shock: