Planning The Future

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nextgen1

nextgen1

Mac Daddy DJ
Sep 23, 2006
3,178
784
65
Waterford, CA.
www.tngdj.com
Ok guys and gals, let me say first I love to plan and plan way ahead. Here is the deal probably June of 2013 Yes (2013). I will be adding a photobooth to our services. But here is the thing I would like to have everything in place way ahead of time even if it costs me a few dollars to be prepared in advance. I would like to set up a website and take bookings for dates after June next year. With that in mind, I will be building a website and would love a great name for our photobooth business. And of course it would be used in the URL for the website and I would be setting up a smugmug site as well. This year the finances just wont be there given I just replaced our air and heater system which is pretty much the cost of a great photobooth setup. Any ideas or advice, or names would be awesome. Thanks very much in advance.
 
Before I start suggesting names, do you have another resource in your area for Photobooths? The reason I mention this is because people generally don't book Photobooths a year in advance. If you put up a website now, you'll get inquiries about renting Photobooths for dates happening THIS June. You don't want to turn those people away.

Something else to be cautious of: By waiting until June 2013, you'll be very late to the game. The only reason I mention this is because I bought my photobooth two months ago and many of my friends (who also own photobooths) have told me that the Photobooth trend peaked last year. They're absolutely right about that. Fortunately, I'll be able to break even on my investment, but I doubt it'll pay for itself more than twice this year. By next year, it's anybody's guess as to how the business will fare.

The short story: Find a good used Photobooth setup if you can, and find a way to get it this year.

Name suggestion: TNG Photobooth. :)
 
B-Sharp said:
Before I start suggesting names, do you have another resource in your area for Photobooths? The reason I mention this is because people generally don't book Photobooths a year in advance. If you put up a website now, you'll get inquiries about renting Photobooths for dates happening THIS June. You don't want to turn those people away.

Something else to be cautious of: By waiting until June 2013, you'll be very late to the game. The only reason I mention this is because I bought my photobooth two months ago and many of my friends (who also own photobooths) have told me that the Photobooth trend peaked last year. They're absolutely right about that. Fortunately, I'll be able to break even on my investment, but I doubt it'll pay for itself more than twice this year. By next year, it's anybody's guess as to how the business will fare.

The short story: Find a good used Photobooth setup if you can, and find a way to get it this year.

Name suggestion: TNG Photobooth. :)
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Great Idea Ben, Also I had not planned on offering it up or even having it live till maybe the end of the year. Like I said I'm a planning sort I just like getting everything setup and knowing what I'm doing a head of time. If I could have it booked for maybe 5 events next year before I even purchased it. That would help alot. The reason I wanted a different name for the photobooth business was to make it more of a sister company and not tied directly to TNG. But then again its over a year away and much could change. Thus my reasons for asking for ideas and info. )
 
I was debating a photobooth as well and actually moving from the dj biz to photobooth. No one in my area offers it. the only thing I've seen at a couple of weddings is the photog offering it.

The 6+ grand investment scares the bejesus out of me. In talking to a company that offers up lights and monograms; thay can sell either; so to sell a 750-1K options.....scares me more.

I then consider Rick Ryan's recent post where more brides are opting for an open air concept; although I'd do it a bit differently; a 3 sided booth that 1) offers privacy to a degree and 2) allows for larger groups. I would hang a 32" screen outside to let others see what is going on and dress it up a bit and include props.. His option is likely 30% of the price with the biggest cost being the printer. It's a straightforward set-up that doesn't require a substantial outlay; 6 feet of pipe and drape, a $200.00 camera, tripod, printer, laptop and props and an attendant..

At 6K and with the limitations; I question the booth's viability.....

Rick - what software are you using? Does it allow you to do strips? Custom borders, etc. What printer and paper are you using?
 
thats why we pay a friend to deliver setup run and maintain his units and we make a couple hundred for presenting it basically as finders fee so to speak. Easy in and out.
 
next, we started running them last year. I'm building out PB #2 now. It was a good move so congrats on your decision. That said, bookings will not come in so far in advance like you're thinking. I'd also challenge you to re-think the notion of buying a closed-in, manufactured booth. We ran a pipe&drape, closed-in booth and are now switching to an open-air format. Clients are responding much better to open than closed. The open format is also magnitudes easier to setup and haul, not to mention it's cheaper. The biggest thing is to invest in a good dye sublimation printer. Hiti makes a great one for about $850 that does 12-15 second printing. Very important; do NOT go with a 45-70 second print cycle. It's too long. One more thing, we've used the PB as an incentive to up-size on DJ pkgs. If you'll offer a PB discount but only on your largest DJ pkg you'll be surprised how many people jump at it. End result, your revenue stream is better and you can still make money off the PB if priced right.

Hope this helps.
 
our units print out dry in 7 seconds our units cut as well. Touch screen units allow ours to be virtually unmanned. pictures can be sent via fb/twitter etc and we can make it an enclosed unit or open air in seconds same amount of setup time.
 
Steve LeBlanc said:
Jon - what printer are you using? software? will it do strips? Can you do a custom back ground on the photos?

Rick - software? capabilities?
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http://www.breezesys.com/

Very solid software. We're probably going to add the green-screen version later this year. BTW, the Hiti does split the photos as well. My current Sony, does not.
 
We use the Hiti it cuts strips, our software also does custom backdrops. We are also going to have custom backdrops as our guy is buying a huge backdrop printer.The unit can also do video as well. I cant remember the name of the software.
 
Is it the P510S? Rick - what camera are you using? Are you both printing with the software on the laptop?

When I say strips, I'm talking a 2 x 6 strip with 3 or 4 photos a la the photobooths one used to see in the malls years ago.....

I'm alos thinking about 30 second video clips; those would go onto a disc or flash drive to be given to the client

Dave (nextgen) - I apologize for seemingly derailing your thread. I hope what is being discussed here gives you some options regarding where you want to go with photobooths
 
Steve LeBlanc said:
Is it the P510S? Rick - what camera are you using? Are you both printing with the software on the laptop?

When I say strips, I'm talking a 2 x 6 strip with 3 or 4 photos a la the photobooths one used to see in the malls years ago.....

I'm alos thinking about 30 second video clips; those would go onto a disc or flash drive to be given to the client

Dave (nextgen) - I apologize for seemingly derailing your thread. I hope what is being discussed here gives you some options regarding where you want to go with photobooths
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Not sure what you mean by P510s. If you mean the printer, I have a Sony UP-CX1. It's out of production now so the Hiti is my next choice. I may sell the Sony as it was a very popular PB printer and lots of guys might want a spare. As for printing, yes the software does the printing from a laptop (netbook in my case). The printer spits out 4X6 and we cut it to 2X6. The Hiti printer auto-cuts, like Jon said. As for video clips, I'm not looking to do those unless clients start asking for it. As for camera, I'm currently using Canon Powershot S5is but am planning to upgrade to DSLR by summer. DSLR is required for green screen.

In my own case, I sell the booth with a technician. I pay them $100/night and it gives me an extra helper for load-in/out.
 
Actually the booth I have been looking at is either a Steve lynch booth or an open air model. Given most of the folks in my area run an open air booth with pipe and drape. That was my primary thought process. The more I look at it the more i look at the official open air booth. Given that its made in California and my local competition uses the exact same booth. I already was going to a discount for using our services. I would rather no use a DIY self system. I'm really shootinng for excellent quality on everything.
 
Steve LeBlanc said:
Is it the P510S? Rick - what camera are you using? Are you both printing with the software on the laptop?

When I say strips, I'm talking a 2 x 6 strip with 3 or 4 photos a la the photobooths one used to see in the malls years ago.....

I'm alos thinking about 30 second video clips; those would go onto a disc or flash drive to be given to the client

Dave (nextgen) - I apologize for seemingly derailing your thread. I hope what is being discussed here gives you some options regarding where you want to go with photobooths[/quote

Thanks
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rickryan.com said:
Not sure what you mean by P510s. If you mean the printer, I have a Sony UP-CX1. It's out of production now so the Hiti is my next choice. I may sell the Sony as it was a very popular PB printer and lots of guys might want a spare. As for printing, yes the software does the printing from a laptop (netbook in my case). The printer spits out 4X6 and we cut it to 2X6. The Hiti printer auto-cuts, like Jon said. As for video clips, I'm not looking to do those unless clients start asking for it. As for camera, I'm currently using Canon Powershot S5is but am planning to upgrade to DSLR by summer. DSLR is required for green screen.

In my own case, I sell the booth with a technician. I pay them $100/night and it gives me an extra helper for load-in/out.
Click to expand...

Yes, I was talking about the HiTi 510s; that the unit at $850.00
 
Jon Tuck said:
We use the Hiti it cuts strips, our software also does custom backdrops. We are also going to have custom backdrops as our guy is buying a huge backdrop printer.The unit can also do video as well. I cant remember the name of the software.
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Jon - if you could get a model number on the printer and camera it would be appreciated.
 
you may have to wait until I rent it again. Dave the quality of this plug and play touch screen is not your cheap system all of the components are top of the line and so easy to run kids cant mess it up or computer (Drunken) illiterate adults either.
 
Steve LeBlanc said:
Dave - what is the cost of the Open air booth.....Really, isn't it no more than a PC with a Hiti printer (or something similar) nand pipe and drape. You can put that together for about 2-2500....
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Open is air I think is like 6500 to 7000 probably with printer. I'am willing to pay this price. I have tried very hard to portray our presence in the industry as high quality. Skimping in this area will not be a question for me. The multi ops around me have been aggressive with this. So If I offer the same quality of service if not better than the big boys. It makes me a better option for our clients.
 
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