Are marching band contests profitable?

[RickD]

Just want to know, are these contests profitable for the amount of time spent? If so, how many prints should I expect if printing onsite.

[hdctx]

Video might sell, not sure about stills, it's hard to isolate individuals and most are NOT smiling, but concentrating on remembering all the steps.

[texkam]

No, too many parents with cameras and access. Unlike football games, many of these contests take place in the day and with band kids generally moving slower than football players, it's easy for band parents to get decent shots.

Oh how I miss those band competitions.

[XtremePhoto]

It would depend upon the contest as well. If it is UIL or one of the Invitational private competitions, I have yet to attend one that did NOT have a big name there shooting as the official photographer. There was no access to the field, and their was restrictions on photography AND video. (There was a company doing video for sale as well.)

They had announcements throughout the competition that video, photography and audio recording was not allowed etc. etc.

I did purchase several of the photo and the DVD and I must say the quality of the images and DVD was pretty darn good.

-G-

[Orogeny]

Originally Posted by XtremePhoto

There was no access to the field, and their was restrictions on photography AND video. (There was a company doing video for sale as well.)

They had announcements throughout the competition that video, photography and audio recording was not allowed etc. etc.

It has been several years since my son's last year in highschool, but I ALWAYS had trouble with this. I had to pay for my son to be in band and that included the entry fee for the band to enter the contest. THEN I had to pay to get in to see my son's band perform. Being told that I couldn't photograph MY son didn't sit well with me.

The last year he was in band, the band performed at the Bands of America competition. They not only had the no photo/video rule, they searched you before you entered to make sure you didn't have a camera. I did and I had to take it back to the car. I wasn't going on the field, I was planning to shoot from the top of the stands to get the formations, but I wasn't allowed to. After the performance, the photo company that had a monopoly on any images made the mistake of setting up for the group shot close to a street, so I went and got my camera. Standing on the sidewalk, off of the school property, I proceeded to take a couple of photos that I later printed at Costco and sold, at cost, to the other parents. I let everyone know at the time that I was going to do that. The photo company wasn't happy but, if it weren't for their stupid no camera policy, I would have bought the group photo from them.

I printed about 50 copies of that photo and sold, at no profit, 48 of them.

[texkam]

Apparently other UIL regions and private competions vary. Most do have a big name there. I was a Plano West Band Booster and never had an issue with access. I remeber one competition we had 2 boosters shooting at field level and one in the first row. I knew of parents that filmed from the stands. Thier stuff is posted on YouTube. None of us however where shooting for profit. Sounds like it's either going to be access controlled, find out how to bid on that contract, or if not access controlled, oversaturated with non-profit shooters and therefore not profitable.

[XtremePhoto]

Originally Posted by Orogeny

After the performance, the photo company that had a monopoly on any images made the mistake of setting up for the group shot close to a street, so I went and got my camera. Standing on the sidewalk, off of the school property, I proceeded to take a couple of photos that I later printed at Costco and sold, at cost, to the other parents. I let everyone know at the time that I was going to do that. The photo company wasn't happy but, if it weren't for their stupid no camera policy, I would have bought the group photo from them.

I printed about 50 copies of that photo and sold, at no profit, 48 of them.

I would dare say this is the exact reason that they have the no camera policy in place. Not judging you but I am a Band Booster Dad and I asked why no cameras. The top reasons they do not allow camera's is because of this. You wouldn't have the opportunity to otherwise get that photo because you don't own a set of risers and equipment that would allow you to get the photo. Second, it usually isn't the company with the no camera policy, but the sponsor of the event that sets that policy. Why?

Because the company I questioned gives back a very healthy percentage to the sponsor of the competition and THAT makes the future of these competitions possible. So I merely sit back and enjoy my child's performance and purchase what I want if I like it. May not be the situation in your case, (the company I purchased from provided really nice groups and action at fair prices- can't speak about what you had available to you) but you can bet it is because someone did something they shouldn't have and now you can't bring a camera to the competition.

Enough said on this issue. I was pointing out to the OP that the sponsor and conditions of the competition would dictate the ability to shoot and sell to the parents/kids of an event like this.

-G-

P.S. This was a BOA event by the way.

[RickD]

Well it's access controlled, but there aren't any plans to limit video's and photos. I just know flash photography is not allowed.

I wanted to know because if the numbers were good, I can make the investment to do onsite printing, if not then I wont bother. It's a lot of overhead and have to decide if the investment is worth the effort.

[grinner]

short answer: no.

[blue-october-fan]

I'm in band and there's always a table/booth set up at the contests/showcases where photographers who took pictures during various shows and printed them, and they sell a bunch of them. Some are really cool, expecially ones of them not marching (body movement/lunges, etc.). I don't know how you would go about getting a pass for this, but if you could, try to get members of the drumline (a challenge) as we are always in the back and no one every takes pictures of us... :(

[RickD]

Originally Posted by blue-october-fan

I'm in band and there's always a table/booth set up at the contests/showcases where photographers who took pictures during various shows and printed them, and they sell a bunch of them. Some are really cool, expecially ones of them not marching (body movement/lunges, etc.). I don't know how you would go about getting a pass for this, but if you could, try to get members of the drumline (a challenge) as we are always in the back and no one every takes pictures of us... :(

Very good tips and I appreciate your perspective!

[shaggyrockmer]

what companies in Houston are the bigger ones for these events?