Being asked to work for exposure

[xp_trance]

When you are wandering around on the Internet, you almost cannot help not stumbling across them... posts about 'influencers' asking artists, wedding planners and almost everyone else you can think of to do something for them in exchange for exposure on their channels... I heard the stories from fellow events planners etc...

Well, today I got my first one and it was quite quite insane...


They wanted a Christmas Wonderland, complete with:
- Party/gala for 150 people, completely catered and with fitting entertainment
- Some kind of fair/playground for the children
- Styling for five female family members (including connections to borrow the requisite designer dresses of course)
- And so on...

And that all for exposure and a budget I would not even touch with a ten foot pole.

Comments

[xp_invisible]

That's crazy, I mean I'd seen stories about it but I always thought those were things that were made up. That people think they're entitled to this just because is crazy to me. No amount of exposure is worth that much stress to trouble cause you know they're gonna be one of those people changing their mind every 5 minutes.

Say...you wouldn't mind letting me know who they were would you?...So I can avoid their products in the future.

#servesthemright

[xp_trance]

It's really insane when you hear the name. I will show you when I see you tonight?

[xp_darcy]

I cannot imagine you actually laughing in their faces for the audacity, but I definitely did some laugh-groaning for you when I read this.

[xp_trance]

Believe me, I did afterwards. I toasted them for the sheer ridiculousness of it with a good glass of wine as well.

[xp_darcy]

As you should!

[xp_banshee]

That's absurd. Absolutely out of the question - you said no, didn't you? Just wait until the holiday season picks up. The fiscal year ended with June, so companies are all readying for holidays and fundraising. Most likely, the earliest I could hire your company on would be end of October, but those are usually the best parties to oversee, anyway. Until then, I'll send the jobs I can't manage your way with an excellent recommendation. Just let me know when you've hit project capacity and then when you're ready to take on more.

That said, I have three organisations in my planner for 'end of summer' parties, since evaluations were finished end of July and now everyone's starting in new positions and companies want to show how kind they are to their employees. Could you handle two of those? It's a bit tight, but they all have bare bones plans and contacts listed, I could email them to you?

[xp_trance]

I did. I also sent out a warning to a few other event planners that I know.

Can you send them to me? I should be able to fit in at least one of them, but both should probably work depending on the timing. Next week I have four etiquette seminars to give, but after that I have a lot more space.