Huge Proposal (I need help)

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Blake S
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p.1 #1 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

I am currently in Seattle and have been approached by a private car collector to shoot his entire collection (25+ exotics) and have been looking for a location to feature his cars. Last night I was walking by a local dealership (Carter Saab in Ballard) and noticed a garage space with transparent glass paneling and 10 total lifts, which will each stack 4 cars, easily making visible his entire collection in one helluva display. This is the perfect location. What I need help/suggestions on is writing a professional proposal to the dealership/owners for permission. I am aware that normally this would be a laughing matter. I am very determined so is the car collector, and he is willing to pay whatever amount to get that location (Read: Any amount). It would require unloading the car stackers as well as most of that small lot. I would need to propose some sort of employee help/pay for the several hours I would need to be in shooting and to put all the cars back. This might be one helluva crazy idea, but your input, help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Link to my site for those who care: www.BSiebe.com I will try to swing by and snap a few shots of this described building and post them as a reply in the next day or two. Call me crazy. Nussbaum Tower shot is just to demonstrate what it is similar to.

Mar 19, 2008 at 03:59 AM

Blake S
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p.1 #2 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

Mar 19, 2008 at 04:00 AM

Micky Bill
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p.1 #3 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

Im not sure wht you mean by proposal, explain the situation to the dealer and see what he thinks about it. extreme flattery about how cool is place is wouldn't hurt. The cost of the location is pretty much up to the owner of the place, Obviously you'd have to pay for his people to move their cars out (and back in) and for the opportunity to shoot there. And the hassle of you being there most of the night. I'd expect to pay at least $5000. How's the lighting for the cars? How's your insurance?
It may be good to have a meeting with the collector and the dealer (rich guy to rich guy) maybe he'll buy one of their cars...

Looks like a great location. Good luck with it.

Mar 19, 2008 at 07:19 AM

mgutman
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p.1 #4 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

Blake,

I saw a photo where the cars were parked in an arc, noses close and tails apart. The photo's vantage point was overhead -possibly a crane shot.

I think it worked very well because the cars were very visible and "dynamic".

GARY has a point about showcasing a building versus the cars. Also, the logistics and costs of a crane shot on the tarmac are probably easier to manage.

Good luck,
Mike

Mar 19, 2008 at 11:18 AM

EOSDNG
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p.1 #5 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

We have the SAME transparent glass here in Zuerich, Switzerland. Very nice.

Mar 19, 2008 at 12:14 PM

shatterkiss
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p.1 #6 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

You're definitely going to need solid insurance...I'd guess a $1,000,000 umbrella liability policy at the minimum. I suspect you'd also need to hire a bonded security company to keep watch on both the location and the vehicles that are moved outdoors.

Not sure why you feel you need to write up some formal proposal, or even propose compensation...just go in and meet with the dealership owner/manager, explain the situation and see if he's interested and what his price would be. But given how lucrative a car dealership is, I'm not convinced a few thousand dollars would be worth it in the face of the hassle and risk involved.

Mar 19, 2008 at 02:29 PM

ericevans
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p.1 #7 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

I would estimate that it would take more than a few hours for this shoot , more likely 12 hours or more . You would disrupt at least half a day of business setting up . Getting 25 cars on location will also be expensive as transporters aren't cheap . This shoot could easily tips the scales over the 30K range and that is conservative .

I think you would be better off shooting the cars with the city as a backdrop as this building will only show a few cars at a time . You could shoot the cars in small groups and move them to different locations or do a group shot . I would also charge the client to up my insurance policy for a shoot with that many cars involved . Make sure you get a release so you can think about using the shots for stock in books and classic car calendars .

I hope you are getting well paid for this as I would not touch it for less than 20-30K with that many cars , the client can afford it if he has that many cars .

Mar 19, 2008 at 08:52 PM

Mattbtn
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p.1 #8 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

ericevans wrote:
You would disrupt at least half a day of business setting up .

Well, remember that most Mercedes dealerships (that I know of) are closed on Sundays, so that's a possibility if you could get the dealer to work with you and have everything back in place by early Monday morning.

Mar 20, 2008 at 12:29 AM

Blake S
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p.1 #9 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

Dealership still hasn't been fully approached, I went on a field trip today with the collector to discuss logistics. His insurance will cover everything, and my pay etc has already been discussed. Lighting wont be as tough as originally thought, we are planning on doing it after close on the dealership and involving the general manager and the owner to make sure everything will flow smoothly. With any luck, the shots should be done in the next two weeks or so, granted everything keeps rolling as smoothly. Turns out a meeting will be in lieu of the formal proposal, complete with bringing down several of the cars at the time of the meeting to know we mean business.

Mar 20, 2008 at 02:40 AM

Micky Bill
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p.1 #10 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

A good point that eric brought up is how you will get 25 cars back and forth from collector -> dealership and back.
I did a shot with 40+ cars and we had 6 people running back and forth but the vehicles were very close to where we were shooting (the Goodyear Blimp landing pad). A transporter will add time and money to the project and will have to take 5 or 6 trips x 2.
Another thing to decide before the shoot is which cars go where. you don't want to be figuring that out in the middle of the night.

Mar 20, 2008 at 04:13 AM

Blake S
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p.1 #11 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

I have planned so far, as to map out the cars placements, but all of them mostly being black with just a few varying from that shouldnt be too hard. Most of the cars are stored within a mile from where the dealership is. I would be driving cars as well as about 4 other friends which are close to the collector. I drive his cars very often, so this wont be any different but could be out of the equation if need be while I am setting up in the articulated boom lift I plan on using to get height for the shoot.

Mar 20, 2008 at 04:27 AM

ericevans
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p.1 #12 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

Remember those lifts sway like crazy with the least little movement . Last aerial shoot I did I rented two , one for the camera and I shot from the other tethered to the computer .

Mar 20, 2008 at 09:52 AM

Micky Bill
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p.1 #13 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

FWIW I unless you need to 'articulate' I would suggest a scissor lift. They are pretty solid, the snorkal or articulated ones can get a little boingy when extended unless you brace or tie them down (which introduces anpther layer of hassle)

Mar 20, 2008 at 05:15 PM

ericevans
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p.1 #14 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

Micky Bill wrote:
FWIW I unless you need to 'articulate' I would suggest a scissor lift. They are pretty solid, the snorkal or articulated ones can get a little boingy when extended unless you brace or tie them down (which introduces anpther layer of hassle)
The bigger ones are not too bad BUT if you get a small one the goes 20' it can sway enough to ruin the shoot .

Mar 20, 2008 at 09:32 PM

PShizzy
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p.1 #15 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

so you and 4 friends are driving exotic cars to a location? This part, to me, screams "assistant insurance".

And in this situation, I'd look at the biggest obstacles first. Rather than plan on how to do this IF the dealership says yes, talk to them first, since your planning may be all for naught if you get a no.

Get the bigger things out of the way, the little things will fall into place, especially if this client has the money and the motivation to make things happen.

BTW, given all this effort, I hope you're charging appropriately.

Max

Mar 22, 2008 at 04:09 PM

OutsideShooter
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p.1 #16 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

"His insurance will cover everything, and my pay etc has already been discussed".

I wouldn't count on this. Cover you own ARSE.

Like 'shatterkiss' said, "You're definitely going to need solid insurance...I'd guess a $1,000,000 umbrella liability policy at the minimum. I suspect you'd also need to hire a bonded security company to keep watch on both the location and the vehicles that are moved outdoors".

There's no telling what could go wrong. A stumble from one who has a famous attorney in the family, some bad guys sweeping the area, even an act of gawd. Take out a policy, they are not expensive anymore. Prevent yourself from having to look over your shoulder & you'll sleep well after the papers are signed. Then once all is done, ask him what he's got next. Hell he may want to keep you on retainer.

Mar 23, 2008 at 11:59 PM

shatterkiss
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p.1 #17 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

Blake S wrote:
His insurance will cover everything, and my pay etc has already been discussed.

His insurance will cover damage to dealership property by you or your crew, or theft or damage to dealership vehicles? It's not the collectors vehicles that my comment about insurance was directed towards. Most locations that can be hired will require a certain amount of liability insurance to cover damage to the premises, and most people who do not hire locations regularly don't carry that insurance. Even if he does carry non-vehicle liability insurance, he'll probably need to add riders to cover your activity and the dealership location, not to mention producing a certificate listing the dealership as "additionally insured".

Mar 24, 2008 at 12:54 PM

sboerup
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p.1 #18 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

I think renting a Cherry-picker for an outdoor location, with the building as the showcase would be killer. Except without that Mercedes sign.

I think everyone has given some solid advice. I'm assuming these 4 friends are friends of the car owner? I wouldn't even let my friends pay me to even be there, let alone drive some exotic cars.

Mar 30, 2008 at 03:52 AM

nathanlake
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p.1 #19 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

Blake S wrote:
I have planned so far, as to map out the cars placements, but all of them mostly being black with just a few varying from that shouldnt be too hard. Most of the cars are stored within a mile from where the dealership is. I would be driving cars as well as about 4 other friends which are close to the collector. I drive his cars very often, so this wont be any different but could be out of the equation if need be while I am setting up in the articulated boom lift I plan on using to get height for the shoot.

Don't kid yourself...this will be very different. This is now business. I strongly suggest you not use your friends to dirve the cars. Use the collector's friends. It is better that you don't incur that additional liability.

Mar 31, 2008 at 03:25 AM

Blake S
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p.1 #20 · Huge Proposal (I need help)

These are friends of the collectors, which he would arrange. He also has a closed transport system to get a handful of them delivered. Things have somewhat stopped on planning as he is going to be out of town until the end of May, just waiting for his return to finish the planning and complete the shoot.

Mar 31, 2008 at 04:32 PM


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