Dear Escalate Live Speakers: PZN has received numerous requests from concerned photographers who have either bought a ticket to Escalate LIVE or were thinking about going but have now changed their mind. Some are even trying to get a refund or sell their ticket to some other poor chap. They are really worried and would like to know exactly what are they getting for letting each one of you make over $10,000+ to just talk about yourself for 2 to 4 hours.
Chris Becker - Besides the blow me pose and how to throw network parties, what else will you talk about?
David Jay - Can't remember the last time you shot a wedding. But you're great at quoting others. Do you plan to just plug Showit Sites?
Jasmine Star - You sound pretty busy most of the time. With the blog, JD, and the dog. Besides ghetto fabulous marketing, what else do you have planned to discuss?
Jessica Claire - We have a pool going to guess how many times you will say Shootsac during your speech, mention your own wedding, and talk about Jose Villa.
Dane Sanders - Will you plug your book, your ownership of OSP forum, investment in Showitfast, or even when is the last time you shot an actual wedding. Now you're just an 'author' of 'Fast Track Photograher?'
Jerry Ghionis - Really? What are you doing at this thing with some of these people? We're slightly confused. What do you plan on talking about?
Jeremy Cowart - You spent a lot of time with Britney Spears. That must have been fun. Everyone else is a wedding photographer. You're like the third wheel. It almost feels like you're supposed be the different dish on the table for the sake of being different.
One other simple simple question for the speakers of Escalate LIVE:
In 2009, how much did you gross for shooting weddings and how many did you shoot?
We know all of the speakers are very nice people. We just don't know how honest some of them are, exactly how justified this money making seminar really is, and most importantly, how much value is it for a paying attendee? As seasoned photographers are professing, they would NEVER recommend this seminar to any photographer, newbie or not. Why do you think professionals who have been in this business for years not supporting this cash cow seminar?
After all, many people used to think Tiger Woods was as good as they come. Boy, were they wrong. Image & branding can really fool many people. Unfortunately, the photography industry has more flocking sheep then actual professional photographers. And sadly, there are some 'self-proclaimed leaders' that are clearly taking advantage of many of these people.
We would also like to know why with over 10 hours and 43 minutes still left in Tier 1 ticket discount pricing did you have a 'Sold Out' status marked on the following purchase page? The reason we ask is because we know, and you well know, that you still have not sold 300 seats at the stated time or even now, as 300 is the exact number of seats that were made available at Tier 1 pricing. Was this done to create a sense of urgency? Is this part of some strategy to sell more tickets by creating false demand?
This above example just shows us ticket buyers have a justifiable reason to question the organizers about this event.
So, if you're one of the speakers, go ahead comment to this post.
If you have a detailed syllabus for topics to be discussed, please share. We know you wouldn't take people's money without giving them something to value. So share the details.
Photographers, newbie or not, don't need to pay for inspiration. That's like cans of hope; all you get is hot air.
For all you photographers out there: know someone who's thinking about going to this event? Spread the word by Tweeting the following:
RT @photogzilla Why z @escalatelive refusing 2answer HARD questions: Creating FALSE DEMAND? Ask WHY, leave comment: http://bit.ly/b1DdOO
In 2009, how much did you gross for shooting weddings and how many did you shoot?
We know all of the speakers are very nice people. We just don't know how honest some of them are, exactly how justified this money making seminar really is, and most importantly, how much value is it for a paying attendee? As seasoned photographers are professing, they would NEVER recommend this seminar to any photographer, newbie or not. Why do you think professionals who have been in this business for years not supporting this cash cow seminar?
After all, many people used to think Tiger Woods was as good as they come. Boy, were they wrong. Image & branding can really fool many people. Unfortunately, the photography industry has more flocking sheep then actual professional photographers. And sadly, there are some 'self-proclaimed leaders' that are clearly taking advantage of many of these people.
We would also like to know why with over 10 hours and 43 minutes still left in Tier 1 ticket discount pricing did you have a 'Sold Out' status marked on the following purchase page? The reason we ask is because we know, and you well know, that you still have not sold 300 seats at the stated time or even now, as 300 is the exact number of seats that were made available at Tier 1 pricing. Was this done to create a sense of urgency? Is this part of some strategy to sell more tickets by creating false demand?
This above example just shows us ticket buyers have a justifiable reason to question the organizers about this event.
So, if you're one of the speakers, go ahead comment to this post.
If you have a detailed syllabus for topics to be discussed, please share. We know you wouldn't take people's money without giving them something to value. So share the details.
Photographers, newbie or not, don't need to pay for inspiration. That's like cans of hope; all you get is hot air.
For all you photographers out there: know someone who's thinking about going to this event? Spread the word by Tweeting the following:
RT @photogzilla Why z @escalatelive refusing 2answer HARD questions: Creating FALSE DEMAND? Ask WHY, leave comment: http://bit.ly/b1DdOO
The marketing law of perceived scarcity.
ReplyDeleteI too am also curious. What would anyone really get out of this that they can't just research on their own?
ReplyDeleteWill they be giving refunds if this does not sell out? Why is the escalate team so quiet?
If I were Jerry Ghionis I would cut my ties to this group. He comes off as a bit of a sellout associating with this event. I might cut him some slack though because his divorce must be costing him a fortune. Just like it's been said before, what are these speakers going to bring to the table that they haven't already said (or blogged about) before? Besides Jerry and Julieanne Kost the rest of these people are relative newcomers to the biz. What great body of work or experiences to draw from do they have to speak about. Let me see if I can sum up the whole escalate live in one sentence. Get a website, get a blog, network with other photogs, get a MAC, shoot canon 1.2 or 1.4 lenses. Did I miss anything?
ReplyDeleteA few good years in business does not make one an expert. It will interesting to so who from this group will still be relative to the industry in 5 years. The only thing that is going to ESCALATE is their bank accounts!
The site information and workshop description is nebulous at best.
ReplyDeleteI've heard Jerry speak - he's a good speaker - I know he's experienced but I've heard him speak twice and other than motivation, which is all well and good, there's nothing there that actually helps ME in MY market. I doubt that the others would be able to tell me anything about MY market since they are not in it.
Perhaps if I was in their market I may want to go to scope out what is expected but really, there's nothing on that site that makes me feel like I could learn something going to that workshop.
I dunno..... Cowart is pretty legit. He's much more than a britbrit tour photog.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, This is very good reading and I'd also like to know the answers to these questions.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I've been in the profession since 04, not much as a photographer but more as a business supporter of photographers.
I've seen many big named photographers, such as these, take advantage of the new/beginners that come in. I think once they discovered that many of these beginners, not knowing any better, would do ANYTHING to be just like them, the jumped on the seminar/workshop band wagon. I do believe they take advantage of the beginners, many of the know photographers I know do, just as they took advantage of my business. When they're done using you for that next step and/or steps, they push you aside.
I wish beginners would do a lot of research before they bite off these people bs.
don't get me started on [b] school....
ReplyDeleteWant to see a good speaker, see DOUG BOX!
ReplyDeleteEvery one of these speakers is a good speaker, and they are each very good photographers. There are motivational speakers in every industry and certainly a place for them.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to figure out who the author of this blog is and what "authority" you have to be slamming these people.
Seems to me like someone with a giant chip on their shoulder, completely close-minded to growth and change.
B school Blows.. I am going to see if I can figure out how to sell my useless lifetime membership.. The site is slow, the videos are not useful, the topics are mundane and even the coupon codes for deals haven't been updated in a year.
ReplyDelete