What do you do at Festivals???

[HotShots]

My wife is volunteering at a local "Festival of the Child" today. I took lunch up to her and hung around a little while and it kind of got me thinking. They have everything under sun that a child would like to do, but no photography.

Ultimately, my questions are going to be: How do you work festivals? Is it worth your time (in either sales or exposure)? How do people find their pictures?

So, on to a few details:

This particular festival is focused on young children. There are different booths set up throughout the park with things like face painting, finger painting, sand art, and other simple kid friendly crafts, a few animals (Clydesdale horses), kayaking in the swimming pool and the big blow up inflatable rides. And, there are several different interactive booths where the kids can dress up, watch a puppet show, watch a trick roper, etc.

They have to have a $7 wristband to participate. But the wristband lets you do all the stuff free. If I remember correctly, last years festival estimated approximately 4000 kids ranging birth to 8 years old. That seems like a huge opportunity waiting for someone to jump on it. I just don't want to jump in without a plan. And, right now, there is no plan.

So, back to my questions:
If you do festivals, are they worth your time?? Something like I have described may not be big money makers by themselves. But, they may be an awesome way to get a ton of exposure and future business.

How do you work festivals?? do you set up a booth and let people come to you? Do you take pictures or just display previous work? Do you wander around taking pictures of the entire park area?

How do people find their pictures?? Do you print onsite? As I've been typing this, I thought about having cards to hand out as you take pictures. for example:

Me: "May I take a picture of your child?" (or you and your child, etc.)
Parent: "Sure"
Me: "Thank you. Here is a card that give you information on viewing the pictures"
the card: Website information and some type of information to assist in quickly finding their pictures.

Maybe I'm way off base and just rambling. So, what are your thoughts?

Thanks

[HotShots]

Yikes, the silence speaks volumes:(

[Hikin Mike]

This may not be the info you wanted, but since nobody else has responded, I'll tell you what I do. I've posted this before, so I'll just copy/paste this...

I only take landscape/nature stuff, no weddings/portraits etc. I sell to local Art's and Craft shows, although I haven't been able to go for almost a year because of my surgery problems. I also have some framed works at a local book store.

Here's my list of my vendors:

Prints - Mpix (http://www.mpix.com/)
Greeting Cards - Photograper's Edge (http://www.photographersedge.com/)
Card Display - Card Display (http://stores.ebay.com/Robin-Lee-McCarthy-Art-Photography_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsQ3amesstQQtZ km)
Mats, Frames, Clear Bags - Documounts (http://www.documounts.com/)
Print Racks - Jerry's Artarama (https://www.jerrysartarama.com/default.asp)
Canopy (10 x 10) - Caravan (http://www.caravancanopies.com/shelters/canopies/aluma.asp?sm=Aluma)
Mesh Walls (pricey, but worth it) - Flourish (http://www.flourish.com/mesh_panels.html)

Here's my booth:

http://www.thebackcountry.org/images/web_temp/Booth1.jpg

[HotShots]

Thanks, Mike. You're right, that's not exactly what I'm looking for. We have another festival in the fall where I am planning on setting up something like you are showing.

I'm really looking for more street photography, I guess.

TDF

[RandyMN]

I think your idea is could work if you think about the marketing stategy.

1. People want a photo but they want it now. Bring a printer.
2. people want a photo but want it cheap. Charge less than ten dollars.
3. People want fun photo's so make it fun. Props, costumes, etc.

I do not think the web viewing will work unless you take the picture free of charge and give a card. Then make sure the charge is reasonable for such volume.

[Hikin Mike]

Thanks, Mike. You're right, that's not exactly what I'm looking for. We have another festival in the fall where I am planning on setting up something like you are showing.

I'm really looking for more street photography, I guess.

TDF

I kind of figured that, but I thought someone might be able to use the info and you get a "free" 'bump'! :lol:

[HotShots]

Thanks, Mike. I appreciate that.

I do not think the web viewing will work unless you take the picture free of charge and give a card. Then make sure the charge is reasonable for such volume.

Taking the pictures free and giving out a card is what I had in mind. Based on the lack of responses, I'm assuming that is a practice that has not seemed to work out for anyone.

I'm still curious about residual business. If you could make something like this break even (or gain a modest profit), does it generate enough exposure to book anything later?

It's kind of one of those things -- you'll never get an answer unless you ask.

TDF

[johnnybfan]

Taking the pictures free & passing out your business card with directions on how to get free photos of their kids could be a great advertisement for your business. Put a list of your services and estimate of what those services would cost. At the very least it would be an inexpensive way to get your name known around the area.

[slimninj4]

Since this is a prepaid thing where you get a wristband..isn't everything free there?

We have a festival like this too and even the food is prepaid.

You could hand out photos 3x5 or what ever and have your business info on the back. Have a link where parents could possibly purchase photos from the event with their kids.

Hikin Mike has a great booth that will take only about $4000 to start up (my guess).

[HotShots]

Since this is a prepaid thing where you get a wristband..isn't everything free there?

We have a festival like this too and even the food is prepaid.

You could hand out photos 3x5 or what ever and have your business info on the back. Have a link where parents could possibly purchase photos from the event with their kids.

Hikin Mike has a great booth that will take only about $4000 to start up (my guess).


At this festival, everything is prepaid EXCEPT the food and one other booth that is sponsored by the primary organizer.

One of my original thoughts was to take the pictures and pass out cards pointing them to my website as has been mentioned. Based on my sports sales, I guessing the best I would do is a minimal profit is any. It could be viewed positively as community service. And, hopefully it would generated enough exposure/interest to pick up some good paying jobs afterwards.

There's only one other theory I can think of on this idea: Give it up and go play golf:)

[keosho]

Since this is a prepaid thing where you get a wristband..isn't everything free there?

You could hand out photos 3x5 or what ever and have your business info on the back. Have a link where parents could possibly purchase photos from the event with their kids.

This is very similar to my first thought. Since everything else at the event is "free", how about contacting the organizers and have them add 25-50 cents to the price of the wristband. Set up a booth with props (feather boas, gangster hats, baseball bats and gloves, etc) that the kids can pose with. You take the picture, print it with your website across the bottom, and give it to the kids/parents.

The 25-50 cents will just barely pay for consumable costs, but everytime the parents see that picture hanging on their fridge they are looking at your name. Would the advertising be worth it? Probably, but who knows. If not you can still feel good by spending time volunteering alongside your wife for the benefit of the kids.

[slimninj4]

If you do photography as a business you can write all this off (time, travel, equipment) at tax time if for non profit.

[Walczak Photo]

I have to agree with the general consensus here...since this is a "one admission covers everything", unless you're doing this as a business where you can write it off as a charity thing, it's not really worth it from a financial point of view...you -won't- make any money at it. Now from an advertising point of view, setting up a "picture booth" with examples of your child photography work and handing out business cards...that would be worth something. But I wouldn't do any photography at this event at all (unless again you can use it as a write off)...just advertise.

Just my $.02 worth,
Jim

[HotShots]

Thanks everyone. Plenty of food for thought, and that's what I was looking for.

TDF