Suspicious email...

I recieved this email last night at 10:30 p.m. local time.  I typed the web address that was given at the end of the message into my browser today and there is a website about this event.  That is the extent of the research I have done so far, however.  It strikes me as odd that the message was sent so late, and that it starts out sounding like they want me to represent them with a photograph contest; but then tells me it will cost me $3,500 dollars and I am responsible for everything involved in the contest.  Does this sound fishy to anyone else?  The name used as a contact is not one of the names on the contact page of the website, either.

It was sent to my email account that my Contact page on my website is directed to.

Here is the bulk of the message, less the person's contact information and the web link that was inside it:


I have not yet responded to this person as I am still investigating its authenticity.  Am I overreacting to this?

Travis

The beautiful baby contest is the oldest come-on in the low end photography business- it is so old that it is collecting a pension!  It is not necessarily a scam but it involves ruining the contest- choosing a winner and speculating on sales from all the contestants.  In this case is is the management of a consumer show effort- it this case a children's related show for parents.  The are untested in renting booth space and if you want to undertake the beautiful baby contest it is your game to make all the appointments, do the shooting and proof presentation.  Nowadays will all the department store and supermarket "studios" in the market place, it is anyone's guess as to how well this kind of promo will work. In theses kinds of promos you will need a high volume of sitting and your results are based on sales averages- a tough nut to crack!

This contest thing goes back to the day of the door-to-door coupon salesmen who would use the baby contest to get appointments of the in-home baby photographer- in those day they were nicknamed kidnappers.

I don't think there is any monkey business or illegalities involved but I do think it is kind of  of a lame idea in this day and age.

I think that trade and consumer shows and bridal fairs can yield good business if you can run you own promotions and perhaps offer show specials.  The problem is that most of theses promotions require telephone soliciting or follow-up and nowadays, with all the scams going on, telephone sales are becoming, sadly enough, a vestige of the past.

$1000. or so is kind of the going rate for a 10X10 booth with lots of traffic- over a couple of days or a weekend- you need to check out the results as to traffic from previous exhibitors.  If the expect you to pay additionally for the "privilege" of undertaking that entire contest and speculation totally at your expense- that does not make good financial sense to me. The contest is an extra perk for show attendees and you should not have to pay for that.  As I said- it is better if you choose how you are going to promote your business.  That, by the way is the first rule of speculation- you have to decide how, when and where to speculate based on your own experiences and research!

Ed