Escalate LIVE Gravy Train Diverted, Speakers May Seek Real Work
New development: PZN has been keeping a close eye on ticket sales, and with only 26 days left to sell tickets priced at $256.22, the organizers of Escalate Live have sold ONLY 220 tickets. This is a far reach from the 600 seats of cash flow Dane Sanders & company were looking forward to pocket. With numerous attendees jumping off after realizing this train was taking them and their wallets for a ride, they are looking to sell their prematurely purchased tickets to someone who doesn't mind lining the pockets of people that rely on taking advantage of those too naive or blinded by savvy marketing. Many more have lost interest in the event and more so, have lost respect for the speakers of this event.
PZN may have already taken out all the hot air that part time photographers Dane Sanders, Chris Becker, Jasmine Star, David Jay, and the rest of the company were planning on using to float across beautiful California blue skies with wads of cash in their pockets. Dreams of starting a seminar that would could someday become a lucrative cash flow for the speakers who could use a controlled platform to promote their own products, services, and workshops to an unsuspecting audience, assuring an annual pay day for giving inspiration speeches without much substance. A private little WPPI if you will. Only this time, a handful of part-time wedding photographers/full-time motivational speakers & bloggers would be collecting bags of booty as they made their way to the banks.
PZN asked Photogzilla for a comment on the pathetic ticket sales for an event with less then 26 days away.
"This is a clear sign that professional photographers everywhere are far more intelligent then these speakers give them credit for. Hard working people don't want to waste their money on fluff, and they're sending these 'self-proclaimed leaders' a clear message that they cannot be taken advantage of anymore. This gravy train on biscuit wheels, thinly disguised as some kind of educational seminar, is now coming to a slow grind before it has even left the station. My objective from the beginning was to educate the masses about these unethical and veiled techniques these people are using to make money. This is a big step in helping our industry realize it needs to realign back to the thinking that hard work and dedication based on a solid foundation is what is required to be successful as a photographer."
PZN will continue to keep a close eye on any new updates and whether the organizers will cancel the event. We do know for a fact that the speakers have had numerous discussions on how Photogzilla has thrown off their entire plans and have been redoing their speeches and presentations in an attempt to salvage their reputation. However, what is worse is that none of the speakers have responded to Photogzilla's numerous attempts to get even a comment. No one from Escalate Live seems to really care what people have to say and simply block anyone from following them on their Twitter page that they don't agree with. We feel that if you are a person has who has chosen to lead a public figure life, you cannot ignore the public that questions you and be selective to keep as an audience only those that you are able to fool. Photogzilla commented, "Not only did most of the speakers block me on Twitter, even @EscalateLive blocked me for asking some tough questions. David Jay even called two people 'clueless' for asking why doesn't he respond to questions. These people have some really huge egos and history teaches us this is the downfall of many."
PZN knows all of the speakers have been keeping a close eye on Photogzilla, because the organizers have even changed the iStock micro stock images they were using on a...wait for it....photographer's conference! One of them went out and took a few snaps to change around things on the Escalate Live website. PZN broke this news to our readers in an earlier report how EscalateLive had used a selective coloring image. What's really sad is that the images being used now are actually far worse in quality then the iStock photos. Photogzilla fell out of his chair when he saw the new images, "And these are professional photographers?? Can't even take high quality images themselves? What is wrong with these people?!? The humanity! If you DON'T know how to take professional quality images, what are you doing teaching a conference about photography? I guess, when your best is just not good enough as a wedding photographer, you become a motivational speaker for other wedding photographers. This is such a train wreck."
Now, the PR minds at Escalate LIVE have decided to offer a live stream for free. The speakers are trying utilize any method they can to salvage their reputation, so they'll do anything to save their public image. Here is Photogzilla again.
"This is another clear sign that Dane and company are desperate to save themselves. They are going to try to play this giveaway free seminar to gain points from sympathizers. It's just so sad. What's even more moronic is what they will have to do with the 220 people that HAVE bought a ticket already to attend what is now a FREE seminar. Who's the moron running this train wreck?? Oh yeah. The speakers. I think they need to focus on their wedding photography business. They apparently aren't making enough money on that, so their wasting everyone's time and money on this recycled and regurgitated garbage. I can tell you right now, they have changed their entire presentation to NOT plug their products and are going to try to look like angels by trying to give away a free presentation. They should just cancel the event and go home. Cut your losses. Focus on becoming better photographers or seek another line of work. Don't try to be the next Tony Robbins, who I might add is who Dane & company have been ripping off and plagiarizing. Oh, and did you know that line Jasmine always says 'I'd rather fail at something I love then succeed at something I hated' that you hear at every seminar she speaks at...She says her husband JD said it to her. Turns out, it's also ripped straight from the Cameron Diaz movie "What Happens In Vegas," where Cameron's character turns down her promotion in the board room scene. Go check it out for yourself. Unoriginal. Fluff. Empty motivations. Just full pockets with money from deceived photographers who trusted these people. Very sad."
If you would like for the speakers to respond, ask them on Twitter by pasting the following: @DaneSanders @_DavidJay @JasmineStar @JessicaClaire @theBecker Why are u ignoring legit questions from @Photogzilla - http://bit.ly/aATAN7
We also invite our PZN readers & Photogzilla followers from Twitter to take our poll to see what should happen next.
I could really learn to like you if I you would show your face. Not very cool when you are afraid. Come on, I promise to attend one of your seminars lol.
If I had shelled out my hard earned dollars for this thing and then found out I can see it for FREE on the internet, I would be PISSED! Not a good way to do business IMHO. Maybe the organizers of this event should take a workshop on how to have a workshop without pissing off your customers, haha...
i'm not attending escalate, but at least get your facts straight.
from the very beginning they made it clear that it would be broadcast for free online during the event - and then pay-per-view if you wanted to d/l the videos at a later date.
Wow... I'm fascinated by this all. A few years back, I tried to speak publicly about something similar, a photographer that wasn't spilling the full truth about her not having a successful full-time photography business while she raked in the cash on newbies (to the sound of around $400,000 per year) and used other photographers who were more known to get her name out as well as taught what other photographers did, not what she did, because she didn't really have a successful business that she could talk about - i.e., no experience to be teaching, and I was hit with cease and desists, and the others involved that were also upset about what happened, were too scared to speak.
I guess there is something to say about doing this anonymously, huh?
Jodie, I think I know who you are talking about and a couple of my brides who are now photographers took her class. At the time I said it looked like her website was all of her little kid and his friends and did they know if she made any money as a photographer. I was annoyed that they so blindly gave their money to someone who has no proof of having a successful business. She had beautiful photographs but that as you know is such a small part of the business
Christine - the one you are talking about has done the same thing as the one I am talking about I am sure, but they are two separate people... yeah, there's a lot of 'em out there.
@Kate Ford - If you can show prove your theory as fact, PZN will stand corrected. It was NEVER stated it would be streamed online for free. It was ALWAYS a cost. Until their PR-minds tried to spin what PZN has exposed this money making scheme. In fact, Mr. Dane Sanders and The Pecker both had a "surprise" to tweet about, and the 'free' streaming was the surprise addition to help gain a positive spin on the PZN reports. Go look at their Twitters yourself. When you get your facts straight, come get me. I'll be in the toilet.
I attended the Secret Workshop by one self-proclaimed "Professional Photographer", Cheryl Muhr. I feel so stupid now. I've watched and learned a lot since then -- who seems legit, who really has a lot to offer, and who is just in it for the money. After teaching a ton of "sure-fire business" advice she taught in that class back in 2008: Have not seen her deliver one herself.
Again, I feel so stupid for falling for all her brilliant marketing strategies. When she announced on Day One of her workshop that she could sell ice to Eskimos -- I should have ran.
I particularly like how Cheryl Muhr talks about her loft pretending it is her studio when in actuality it is her home, her condo. She has everyone believing hook, line, and sinker, that she is this professional commercial photographer with a studio {insert cackle here}, yet doesn't turn out the work unless it is photographs of other photographers or her friends or her free sessions with the chiropractors or preschools. She used many other more well-known photographers to promote her workshop. Notice how the majority of those photographers have nothing to do with her or have nothing nice to say about her. Wonder why? She threatens all who even try to talk about it, as she did J.O. above. She even managed to get all her reviews taken down off of a review board, yet others stand, because of her threats. She threatened the owner of ILP, Eddie, with legal action when anyone would speak about their bad experiences.
Interesting. I will not comment on the Secret Workshop as I already said my peace a few years back, told the true story of what happened to me, and received not one, but three Cease and Desist letters, and frankly, I am not in the mood to receive another one, as I'm just too busy to care.
However, a comment on ILP - I just left ILP recently because it is a breeding ground for people getting into this, charging too little, and dragging the industry down. On ILP, you can't discuss business on the free side, therefore, the thousands on the free side are blind leading the blind, and giving away everything for nothing to their "clients", causing much destruction in the industry... and no one can inform them of what they are doing, or help them discover the error in their ways because it is forbidden to discuss it.
I myself asked about the advertising potential on ILP because I feel that at least, what I teach, contains much business information, specifically, how to price for profit and keep your business afloat. I'm all business, I'm not out to make pretty pictures for pats on the back or to be held up as a god in the industry. I'm here to turn a profit, a large profit, and be able to pad my retirement, and have fun in life. I don't see the point of working for free or for little.
I was denied the ability to advertise as a vendor on ILP. I was told that if I became a vendor, it will cause drama. ???!!! So therefore, ILP isn't even out to support real business owners, real pro photographers who run successful businesses that can teach the newbies quite a bit and keep this industry up...
It's sad what is happening to this industry. I'm not a "sky is falling" type of person, and I am happy that I have very stable clientele, but I see my friends struggling to keep customers because X down the street gives away everything for free.
Oh well... I don't know any of the people you discuss for Escalate personally, so I don't have any bones to pick with them, so I wouldn't say anything negative about them at all... but I do find the outcry concerning workshops fascinating, and will continue to observe.
Kate's right about Escalate offering a live stream for free (and a paid recording after) from the beginning. I don't know if it was ever posted anywhere or if the plan was always a "reveal," but it was definitely what they had decided long before the sh*t hit the fan. Sorry I don't have any hard proof, all I can offer is circumstantial evidence from conversations with Dane and other FTP crew at WPPI before the Internet Drama Bombz were dropped.
I will be attending Escalate and plan to twitter/live-blog during. I have my bullshit blinders off, and I'll be holding the event to high standards. I feel the need to see what happens in person and how the attendees and speakers will react. I'm interested to see what the reactions and conversations are behind the scenes as well as on stage.
I'm glad that the question of value, motive, and integrity has been raised in a public forum. Lord knows people have been talking about it enough behind closed doors. I don't really love the finger pointing and name calling, and I don't really see what these people are doing as any more cut-throat or profit-seeking than other industries, but I still think it's a necessary conversation to have to keep profiteering in check.
I'm not attending Escalate - I saw who I wanted to see at WPPI. I did hear Dane speak at a booth at WPPI and he's said all along it was free to watch it online.
not that you will since your main mission here seems to be the spewing of lies and vitriol - but go watch dane's askdane episode with becker when they were at the theatre where escalate will take place. numerous people in the live chat asked if it would be online for free - and they answered that yes, it would. people could watch it live, as it was happening for no cost. if they wanted access to the videos after that, there would be a fee. it's the same way sarah petty's joy of marketing sessions were offered recently.
I could really learn to like you if I you would show your face. Not very cool when you are afraid. Come on, I promise to attend one of your seminars lol.
ReplyDeleteMaybe people do know who you are and Im just late to the party. I like honesty and unlike others even when Im the one being made fun of.
ReplyDeleteIf I had shelled out my hard earned dollars for this thing and then found out I can see it for FREE on the internet, I would be PISSED! Not a good way to do business IMHO. Maybe the organizers of this event should take a workshop on how to have a workshop without pissing off your customers, haha...
ReplyDeleteMr. Kotter
i'm not attending escalate, but at least get your facts straight.
ReplyDeletefrom the very beginning they made it clear that it would be broadcast for free online during the event - and then pay-per-view if you wanted to d/l the videos at a later date.
http://tinyurl.com/22mnnea
ReplyDeleteWow... I'm fascinated by this all. A few years back, I tried to speak publicly about something similar, a photographer that wasn't spilling the full truth about her not having a successful full-time photography business while she raked in the cash on newbies (to the sound of around $400,000 per year) and used other photographers who were more known to get her name out as well as taught what other photographers did, not what she did, because she didn't really have a successful business that she could talk about - i.e., no experience to be teaching, and I was hit with cease and desists, and the others involved that were also upset about what happened, were too scared to speak.
ReplyDeleteI guess there is something to say about doing this anonymously, huh?
Jodie,
ReplyDeleteI think I know who you are talking about and a couple of my brides who are now photographers took her class. At the time I said it looked like her website was all of her little kid and his friends and did they know if she made any money as a photographer. I was annoyed that they so blindly gave their money to someone who has no proof of having a successful business. She had beautiful photographs but that as you know is such a small part of the business
Christine - the one you are talking about has done the same thing as the one I am talking about I am sure, but they are two separate people... yeah, there's a lot of 'em out there.
ReplyDelete@Kate Ford - If you can show prove your theory as fact, PZN will stand corrected. It was NEVER stated it would be streamed online for free. It was ALWAYS a cost. Until their PR-minds tried to spin what PZN has exposed this money making scheme. In fact, Mr. Dane Sanders and The Pecker both had a "surprise" to tweet about, and the 'free' streaming was the surprise addition to help gain a positive spin on the PZN reports. Go look at their Twitters yourself. When you get your facts straight, come get me. I'll be in the toilet.
ReplyDeleteI attended the Secret Workshop by one self-proclaimed "Professional Photographer", Cheryl Muhr. I feel so stupid now. I've watched and learned a lot since then -- who seems legit, who really has a lot to offer, and who is just in it for the money. After teaching a ton of "sure-fire business" advice she taught in that class back in 2008: Have not seen her deliver one herself.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I feel so stupid for falling for all her brilliant marketing strategies. When she announced on Day One of her workshop that she could sell ice to Eskimos -- I should have ran.
@Anony RE: Secret Workshop
ReplyDeleteDon't feel stupid, we have to make our mistakes to learn. At least you learned and you're not making the same mistake over and over.
I particularly like how Cheryl Muhr talks about her loft pretending it is her studio when in actuality it is her home, her condo. She has everyone believing hook, line, and sinker, that she is this professional commercial photographer with a studio {insert cackle here}, yet doesn't turn out the work unless it is photographs of other photographers or her friends or her free sessions with the chiropractors or preschools. She used many other more well-known photographers to promote her workshop. Notice how the majority of those photographers have nothing to do with her or have nothing nice to say about her. Wonder why? She threatens all who even try to talk about it, as she did J.O. above. She even managed to get all her reviews taken down off of a review board, yet others stand, because of her threats. She threatened the owner of ILP, Eddie, with legal action when anyone would speak about their bad experiences.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I will not comment on the Secret Workshop as I already said my peace a few years back, told the true story of what happened to me, and received not one, but three Cease and Desist letters, and frankly, I am not in the mood to receive another one, as I'm just too busy to care.
ReplyDeleteHowever, a comment on ILP - I just left ILP recently because it is a breeding ground for people getting into this, charging too little, and dragging the industry down. On ILP, you can't discuss business on the free side, therefore, the thousands on the free side are blind leading the blind, and giving away everything for nothing to their "clients", causing much destruction in the industry... and no one can inform them of what they are doing, or help them discover the error in their ways because it is forbidden to discuss it.
I myself asked about the advertising potential on ILP because I feel that at least, what I teach, contains much business information, specifically, how to price for profit and keep your business afloat. I'm all business, I'm not out to make pretty pictures for pats on the back or to be held up as a god in the industry. I'm here to turn a profit, a large profit, and be able to pad my retirement, and have fun in life. I don't see the point of working for free or for little.
I was denied the ability to advertise as a vendor on ILP. I was told that if I became a vendor, it will cause drama. ???!!! So therefore, ILP isn't even out to support real business owners, real pro photographers who run successful businesses that can teach the newbies quite a bit and keep this industry up...
It's sad what is happening to this industry. I'm not a "sky is falling" type of person, and I am happy that I have very stable clientele, but I see my friends struggling to keep customers because X down the street gives away everything for free.
Oh well... I don't know any of the people you discuss for Escalate personally, so I don't have any bones to pick with them, so I wouldn't say anything negative about them at all... but I do find the outcry concerning workshops fascinating, and will continue to observe.
Kate's right about Escalate offering a live stream for free (and a paid recording after) from the beginning. I don't know if it was ever posted anywhere or if the plan was always a "reveal," but it was definitely what they had decided long before the sh*t hit the fan. Sorry I don't have any hard proof, all I can offer is circumstantial evidence from conversations with Dane and other FTP crew at WPPI before the Internet Drama Bombz were dropped.
ReplyDeleteI will be attending Escalate and plan to twitter/live-blog during. I have my bullshit blinders off, and I'll be holding the event to high standards. I feel the need to see what happens in person and how the attendees and speakers will react. I'm interested to see what the reactions and conversations are behind the scenes as well as on stage.
I'm glad that the question of value, motive, and integrity has been raised in a public forum. Lord knows people have been talking about it enough behind closed doors. I don't really love the finger pointing and name calling, and I don't really see what these people are doing as any more cut-throat or profit-seeking than other industries, but I still think it's a necessary conversation to have to keep profiteering in check.
I'm not attending Escalate - I saw who I wanted to see at WPPI. I did hear Dane speak at a booth at WPPI and he's said all along it was free to watch it online.
ReplyDeletei honestly would go just for the photoshop haha
ReplyDeletenot that you will since your main mission here seems to be the spewing of lies and vitriol - but go watch dane's askdane episode with becker when they were at the theatre where escalate will take place. numerous people in the live chat asked if it would be online for free - and they answered that yes, it would. people could watch it live, as it was happening for no cost. if they wanted access to the videos after that, there would be a fee. it's the same way sarah petty's joy of marketing sessions were offered recently.
ReplyDeleteHaha who is mr kotter? Fyi it wasn't me... I post with my google account... Nice try
ReplyDelete