would it be wrong??

[abril1127]

So there is a bridal show this weekend and I just found out about today....would it be wrong if I printed up a bunch of fliers and put them on peoples cars while they are parked at the Bridal show? There are only 4 photographers that will be in the show....and they are all high end photographers.....would that be tacky???

[CaptainTom]

I've seen this done. First, check to see if this is legal in your area.
I wouldn't think it would be a problem for the vendors.
Whether it's tacky or not ??? Personally I don't have a problem as long as you are only advertising your own business and not referring to anyone else's business.

[J Eddington]

From a pissy consumer, if you put crap on my car, I will not do business with you. But that is me.
To me it says you are cheap. And are trying to maybe steal business from those who paid to be there. I know that you did not know about it so you couldn't have got a booth.
But Tom is right, it may not be legal and think of the property owner. You may be trespassing, I am sure that the parking is on private property. I don't know.

[Cope]

Personally, I throw away any papers stuck under my wipers, the same thing with circulars thrown on my front porch.

[Sonny]

Even if you did manage to find some clients, are they the type of clients you really want?

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Even if you did manage to find some clients, are they the type of clients you really want?

Wouldn't they be the same clients who came to a photographers booth inside the bridal show...?

I think in today's economy I'd try things that I might not normally try.
The question was if it was wrong or tacky to do this, not if it was going to work.

[OTRphoto]

Originally Posted by Cope

Personally, I throw away any papers stuck under my wipers, the same thing with circulars thrown on my front porch.

Ditto

But there is another way to make this work for you. I went to a local wedding fair last June armed with a pocketfull of business cards. I didn't target the brides, because they can ask you to leave if you do that - but I did go up to all vendors (the caters, wedding planners, bakeries, etc) and asked if they offered photography referrals and told them a little about me and gave them a card. I also picked up their brocures/cards and emailed them a couple of weeks later with my information and thanking them for talking to me at the show.

I've had a couple of the wedding coordinators call me from that show to book for their clients.

This Feb - I have a booth there

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by OTRphoto

Ditto

But there is another way to make this work for you. I went to a local wedding fair last June armed with a pocketfull of business cards. I didn't target the brides, because they can ask you to leave if you do that - but I did go up to all vendors (the caters, wedding planners, bakeries, etc) and asked if they offered photography referrals and told them a little about me and gave them a card. I also picked up their brocures/cards and emailed them a couple of weeks later with my information and thanking them for talking to me at the show.

I've had a couple of the wedding coordinators call me from that show to book for their clients.

This Feb - I have a booth there

This is a reasonable approach. Some of the vendors may need a photographer for advertising, etc. or for other things that might be part of their business. Talk to the florists, cake people, resort areas, etc. and let them know that you can be available for things other than weddings.

p.s. I don't throw away everything that is put on my car, or on my porch.
I get a lot of dry cleaning and pizza discount coupons. I don't think they are sleazy because they advertise this way.

[Truckman]

Originally Posted by Cope

Personally, I throw away any papers stuck under my wipers, the same thing with circulars thrown on my front porch.

I'm the same way...They go in the nearest trash can without being looked at...And Lord help anyone I catch putting one on my truck......Ben

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Wouldn't they be the same clients who came to a photographers booth inside the bridal show...?

Pardon me, for not being more clear!

And no Tommy, they wouldn't be the same. All types of people will be at the show. I would guess the flyers would attract a client not looking to spend the money on a quality photographer.

[abril1127]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Pardon me, for not being more clear!

And no Tommy, they wouldn't be the same. All types of people will be at the show. I would guess the flyers would attract a client not looking to spend the money on a quality photographer.

hehehe ya that would be the kind of client I am looking for. I have only 3 weddings under my belt so I'm not looking to book the $10k wedding.... right now anyway

[Digigeek]

If I see someone putting something on my windshield, I trigger the alarm while they are leaning over it.

[tc95]

April,

The only thing I see wrong with this is that on Saturday and Sunday it will be raining. You could be held liable if someone gets into a car wreck due to your flyer on the windshield...LOL (OK worst case senario)....just becareful doing this....and check with the place doing the bridal show to make sure they are ok with it....

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by Sonny

Pardon me, for not being more clear!

And no Tommy, they wouldn't be the same. All types of people will be at the show. I would guess the flyers would attract a client not looking to spend the money on a quality photographer.

Who's Tommy ??

[bondarnes]

Yes, I think it is more than tacky. My wife produces a bridal show and we have a high school kid patrol the parking lot to put a halt to this sort of thing. We reported one violator several years ago to the police and since his phone number was on the flier they told him to come back and clean up the parking lot or be cited for littering. I don't think the parking lot looked so lucrative the second time around.