Bikini Car Wash!

[waple]

I had this awesome idea. My photo studio is right at a big intersection and the front of my building has a parking area that's almost never used and is very visible from the road. I was going to have models come out and wash cars. We'd charge $10 or so per car, splitting the money between me and them, and they'd keep the tips. I'd photograph them every so often so they have photos, and the whole deal would attract a lot of attention. This is something I'd love to have running all summer long as often as girls can come out. They'd also be giving everyone flyers and coupons for the studio.

However, Atlanta is still under a watering ban due to the drought and all car washing is prohibited. So that idea is out.

This would have been great publicity. So I was thinking, what about turtle wax, window cleaner and armor all? The girls wouldn't be wet but they'd still be hot babes in bikinis, and we'd charge more for it. Is that something people would pay for? Sit in (or out of) your car while these girls are bending and stretching all over your car? We can even sell photos of the car owners with the girls.

Can you think of something else similar that could work? The real idea here is to get people to look up at my building and sex does sell.

[Karl Johnston]

Go for it and tell us how it went!

Make sure you get model releases of all these girls before you shoot them, and if possible you may need to get permission from your municipality to use that parking lot for the day for your promo event.

Never know unless you try it !

[Floriantrojer.com]

I'd make the washing part totally 2nd hand and offer prints for sale!

Seriously, who wouldn't like a photo of his car with oneself in it and two hot chicks washing away around it? :)

I'm not sure how many ladies you'll get for that, but I can assure you guys will be plenty haha! Take photos, have the people in their cars sign a model release and give them a business card with a password to your proofing section or something similar.

Like that, you'd already have them on your website, they will most likely buy a print straight away, and are also able to look into your portfolio like that. Sounds like an idea, right?

BTW, I am not sure how much business you could generate a day doing that, but financially it MAY be more rewarding to just pay the models for a couple of hours and take home all the money you make.

Don't sell yourself short btw....$10 for a photo would be way too little imo.

[Eagle]

Great idea, you'd get coverage on the local news too. Only thing is you would have to have water, I think it would work with the washing but not as well with the wax only. You always wash your vehicle right before waxing.

[Karl Johnston]

I'd make the washing part totally 2nd hand and offer prints for sale!

Seriously, who wouldn't like a photo of his car with oneself in it and two hot chicks washing away around it? :)

I'm not sure how many ladies you'll get for that, but I can assure you guys will be plenty haha! Take photos, have the people in their cars sign a model release and give them a business card with a password to your proofing section or something similar.

Like that, you'd already have them on your website, they will most likely buy a print straight away, and are also able to look into your portfolio like that. Sounds like an idea, right?

BTW, I am not sure how much business you could generate a day doing that, but financially it MAY be more rewarding to just pay the models for a couple of hours and take home all the money you make.

Don't sell yourself short btw....$10 for a photo would be way too little imo.

That's an even better idea, how much are the models anyway?

[Logan2010]

what about a local college cheer team? or dance team? or something like that.

it would also be GREAT publicity for them. I know around here the Semo cheer and dance squads always try and get pictures and posters up around various malls, stores, and all over the web, newspapers, etc.

just a thought :)

[Nathan]

You may need to get proper permits for something like that.

[jen19806]

Any new revenue producing angle is great, I would just make sure it fits into your overall studio marketing plan...if your target market is families or weddings...you might want to take a moment a think about whether you might alienate any potential customers. My experience is that women tend to be the ones in a couple/family unit that have more sway over choosing a photographer...is this what you want them to think of when they think of you?...if you are a commercial photog or fine art photog...disregard my comment totally, good luck and full steam ahead.

[photoguy6405]

what about a local college cheer team? or dance team? or something like that.

it would also be GREAT publicity for them. I know around here the Semo cheer and dance squads always try and get pictures and posters up around various malls, stores, and all over the web, newspapers, etc.

just a thought :)
Most teams around here do car washes as fund raisers, not publicity stunts, so I doubt they'd be interested in that aspect.

Anyway, just gotta make sure they do a good job as well as look good for pictures. I like a babe in a bikini as much as most guys, but if I'm paying for a car wash I damn well expect a good car wash.

[S.Horton]

If you can figure out how to do a waterless car wash, you're all set.

I dunno -- Co-promotion with those big shammy people? Moisten only, wipe, wax?

EDIT: Call the owner of a local car wash -- Another co-promotion idea.

Also, get male + female models.

[dreamcatcher23]

Did someone say waterless wash? http://www.detailedimage.com/Chemical-Guys-M31/ONE-Waterless-Car-Wash-P189/16-oz-S1/

[brit84]

alternatively, you could get the female crowd involved and maybe use a guy's sportsteam washing cars. would probably work just as well.

[Robert16]

Remember to post some photos!!!

[James Robert Gratiot]

My first thought was that you need to decide what the purpose of the car wash is... publicity or a quick buck?

If you're strictly after a quick payday... you are, like others said, going to target single males. Because as a married man, I can tell you that my wife would never stop at an event like this. (And as a side note, she'd be really ticked off if our young kids caught an eyeful.)

So if you're going to do this, do it up. Make it loud, make it raunchy (enlist a local bar and/or disk jockey as a partner). Have a barbeque, beers if you're able. Make it a party.

That being said, if you stick to female models, you are going to alienate many women out there who could eventually be your clients. (But as some have mentioned, why stick to female models?)

The main thing you're going to run into is men hanging around your car wash but not actually paying for pictures. You're going to get a lot of looky-loos clicking away with their camera phones. How many men will actually buy photos with the model is hard to say.

That being said, I would probably go the other direction... which would be a promotion of your business.

One thought would be a charity car wash with with the bikini models... perhaps raise money for breast cancer research. You would be the sponsor... and because it was for a good cause, both women and men would likely participate.

You could heavily publicize this in advance... press releases, local news & radio stations, newspapers, etc. You could partner with other businesses (restaurants, etc.) and make this a real event. If you got really ambitious, you could enlist a daring local celebrity to join in the fun... in a bikini, of course.

If you go the charity direction, you are less likely to alienate a good portion of your potential clients, which might pay off more in the long run.

Anyway, sorry these thoughts are so random... but bottom line, is, if you're going to spend the time/energy on this, do it big. Make it pay off.

While you're at it, make sure that you get some people to video it so that you can put it on youtube. Having a bikini car wash go viral would be good publicity for you as well.

Anyway, if you do this... please let us know how it goes.

Good luck.

[waple]

GREAT reply there and a lot to consider. Thanks!

Like I originally said, we are under a watering ban, but I think, as I was half asleep in bed this morning, that I heard the newsperson say we may be getting an ease up on the ban soon. So I'm really hoping. We'll see what happens. Can't really plan anything till that happens.

As a matter of fact, I just went to the government web site and read, "Drought Restrictions Lifted
On June 10, 2009, Dr. Carol Couch, Director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division, lifted the restrictions on outdoor water use. All outdoor watering is now permitted as defined by the non-drought odd/even schedule. Even and Unnumbered addresses may water anytime on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Odd addresses may water anytime on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. The need for the efficient use of outdoor water is not only tied to drought. It is necessary to maintain a healthy, vital landscape while preserving a limited natural resource."

Now it doesn't say anything about washing cars so I'll have to find more about that.

[Karl Johnston]

I can't remember this part of the thread, but if you are also doing pictures of the people in the cars with the models (your models) make sure you get a model release (quick signature) of the car owners. You may also need to edit out the license plates (or at least position your camera to not include them).

Some more thoughts to bounce around. . If you intend to use the photos for commercial use then its something to be noted.

I've been throwing around the papers a lot lately since I got nailed for shooting in a park without a permit (not really, just nailed with the information that I'm not allowed to).

[S.Horton]

Did you actually do the event?

[waple]

Did you actually do the event?

Nope, the original post was asking what I could do since we were under a water ban and weren't allowed to wash cars.

However, as of yesterday, the watering ban is officially lifted!!!

I think I'm going to do the idea of making it a fund raiser. I'm going to look into female and male models. Going to see how to do a fundraiser for an organization and probably do breast cancer (which is perfect for bikini babes) and see if there's a prostate cancer society (to get the male models something). I'll ask the KFC that's next door to see if they'll donate breasts and legs, and see if the Publix grocery store to donate wieners and their brand soft drinks :D

[Karl Johnston]

:lol:!!! WOW! That should be interesting

[kjtw73]

There is actually a permanant business here in Orlando (actually Winter Garden I think) that is doing a similar thing. There is a gas station who's car wash, for what ever reason, isn't working, and now there are girls out there washing cars in bikinis. They call themselves Baywash and have the beach theme going on (lifeguard chairs etc). Every time I drive by, they have at least 1 or 2 cars there. Not sure how much they are charging, but they seem to be getting business. I have thought about stopping by and talking to them about the possibility of doing a calendar or something, but, being as I am always busy as heck, have yet to talk to them...

[Jon Foster]

My first thought was that you need to decide what the purpose of the car wash is... publicity or a quick buck?

If you're strictly after a quick payday... you are, like others said, going to target single males. Because as a married man, I can tell you that my wife would never stop at an event like this. (And as a side note, she'd be really ticked off if our young kids caught an eyeful.)

So if you're going to do this, do it up. Make it loud, make it raunchy (enlist a local bar and/or disk jockey as a partner). Have a barbeque, beers if you're able. Make it a party.

That being said, if you stick to female models, you are going to alienate many women out there who could eventually be your clients. (But as some have mentioned, why stick to female models?)

The main thing you're going to run into is men hanging around your car wash but not actually paying for pictures. You're going to get a lot of looky-loos clicking away with their camera phones. How many men will actually buy photos with the model is hard to say.

That being said, I would probably go the other direction... which would be a promotion of your business.

One thought would be a charity car wash with with the bikini models... perhaps raise money for breast cancer research. You would be the sponsor... and because it was for a good cause, both women and men would likely participate.

You could heavily publicize this in advance... press releases, local news & radio stations, newspapers, etc. You could partner with other businesses (restaurants, etc.) and make this a real event. If you got really ambitious, you could enlist a daring local celebrity to join in the fun... in a bikini, of course.

If you go the charity direction, you are less likely to alienate a good portion of your potential clients, which might pay off more in the long run.

Anyway, sorry these thoughts are so random... but bottom line, is, if you're going to spend the time/energy on this, do it big. Make it pay off.

While you're at it, make sure that you get some people to video it so that you can put it on youtube. Having a bikini car wash go viral would be good publicity for you as well.

Anyway, if you do this... please let us know how it goes.

Good luck.

This is an interesting thread. My first reaction was to laugh at the notion but if you did it right, you might be able to make it worth while (thus my quoting of James reply). I think you'll need to be ready to combat issues of female exploitation from a lot of women and maybe even womens rights groups. I think it would also be easier if you were located in southern Florida or California. Or another place more open to the idea of bikini clad babes out in public etc.

I'm pretty sure my wife would be upset if I went to a car wash because of the "bikini babes" thing as I'm sure most other wives would be. You might be better off just finding a few car wash establishments and pitching your idea to them. That way they can do the leg work and figure out how to pitch it and how to get patrons on board. I'd bet you'll get more married guys/woman as it's already an established business they deal with. You get a small fee for the day(s) and they can deal with the camera phones at the sides of their lot etc. You would have a nice large banner or two around the lot and pass out cards/order forms with pricing and instructions on how to get a print etc. You could offer downloads only for $10.00 and go up from there with prints. Heck, you could even offer a smaller image for cell phone downloads and have your business name/logo on them for a few bucks.

There's a lot to think through on this to make sure it's a success...

Jon.

Edit: I did a quick Google search and came up with several hits. It looks like you could be spending as much as $150.00 a day for each bikini clad "babe". There's also a few sites talking about the Babewash car wash in Florida... Like this one: http://www.fantasyfrenchmaidsorlando.com/bikinicarwash.htm

[breal101]

Have you thought about getting a radio station involved? Maybe one that is popular with the younger crowd would do a live broadcast from the location, especially if it's for a fund raiser. I've seen them do this from time to time, it may be worth a shot.

[Lightchaser]

The real idea here is to get people to look up at my building ...

You might have more luck branding the bikinis than hoping people will tear their eyes away to study your (albeit undoubtedly striking) building signage.

Agree with others about having the lads on the job as well as the ladies.

Good luck!