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The offer WAS made to EVERY team, not just Kawasaki. Kawasaki was the only major team that didn't already have their plans finalized. And the request for photo credit in other magazines is completely false, Frank. There was a misunderstanding about that.
Our job is to gather the best content possible, and to gain the best access possible, for our readers. Here is how our offer went: TransWorld Motocross would like the opportunity to shoot photos and video with your race team before the start of your season. You may use the photos however you wish, free of charge, as long as we are allowed to use them in our magazine and on our web site.
Don't see what this has to do with testing bikes...
Just trying to do my job well, guys.
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I doubt it... lol. I have been to the track many times over the years and looked over at the guys next to me only to notice its Swap and friends. Just like any of us (except with new bikes!), enjoying a day out riding the local track. Met him a couple times, he's just a motohead.
Don't really read the mags much anymore so, can't really compare, but, I do know from experience that if I wanted to see a bike test, I'd probably look at MXA or Dirt Rider first...
JMO.
Good Business
Pretty tough for any photographer to hope to make a living in this sport if one of the major publications in the industry is offering to work for every team out there for free.
For me, I know, like, & have worked
with both people.
Firstly, they're both good people, regardless.
Being on the side of speaking ones mind from
time to time, I think that whatever happened
is between them if even at all.
Many times the behind the scenes stuff comes
forwards, but many times it shouldn't.
I think this is 1 of those times.........
Again, both are good people, & Frank's reputation
proceeds him, likewise goes for Donn as well.
I've learned that the foxhole we're in here is actually
pretty damn small, so it's best to look to your right
or left & work it out. Most times the good & bad is
right next to ya, so communication is key.
Again, regardless of how she went, ya gotta talk it thru.
This however isn't the place I feel.
Just my 2 cents.........
Dave O.
NFL and such has extensive pre-season coverage. The average non-industry motohead wants to be in on what happens during these periods.
Thanks Donn.
Maybe Frank should have seen this coming. Media companies are imagery. TWMX is like Penthouse, the articles are good, but that isn't why you buy the magazine. The only way to survive is to keep offering quality products at an exceptional value and Hoppen got beat to the punch on this deal.
On the other side I know how it feels to be underbid. I know how it feels to work for less then I want. The customers that are busting my balls right now are going to be the first one's I don't call back when the economy turns around. And they are the one's who won't get a break, AT ALL. The clients who can give or take will still get a fair price when times are better. Yeah, it's personal.
And I do think the product evaluations are still valid even though the Editor is "working" for the OEM. They're all "working" for the OEM (or aftermarket comp.) at an "Enthusiast" publication. People are looking at product and product evaluations at an enthusiast publication, they're not looking for "News" per se.
When your budget gets cut, expenses with hard-to-measure returns get cut first... photography and ads are usually pretty high up on the list. I hate to assume too much, but for all we know this shoot could have been super important for TWMX to get... TWQUAD already got clipped... we just don't know.
Can't blame you for asking for opinions, it stings when a client is willing to go with a lesser product (Sorry Swap!) in order to save a couple bucks. But If people are willing to do your job for free, there's probably a reason for it. Sometimes when the economy changes, even temporarily, your business model should be adjusted too.
Pit Row
I honestly don't know what's right here? I envy the guy who has the "answer".
for that matter let's hope he isn't wheeling and dealing with the chinese mx corp....future winner of the 350 shootout in may.
too bad you guys couldn't work together, maybe you could have still placed the photo shoot for a reduced fee and donn could still have had the logo placement.
times are tough and you have to get creative...and when times are tough the tough get creative? something like that....
please try to understand this simple fact / scenario. i have been on here many times bitching left and right about online internet sales driving local dealerships out of business. this is essentially the same idea. it costs frank (playing joe blow honda dealer) "x" amount of dollars to produce "x" pics for kawasaki. it costs kawasaki "x" amount of dollars for those pictures. twmx (playing "moto insert clever name here internet dealer" offers the same service at a substantially less cost while gaining benefit in a different direction. it is a dark economic world we are in right now and only the strong will survive. frank has extensive history in our sport and he should be fine, but this is a direct hit where it hurts.
in a more generic scenario, how many of you shop for groceries at walmart instead of piggly wiggly / wegmans / p&c / food lion / etc... i bet you have no problem handing over your money to national corporation rather your hometown produce supplier.
im just inserting my thoughts, it still sucks, it could be me. but oviously twmx puts out a quality product, theres a lot of people buying it. in one way or another i bet more than half of us have a subscription. getting a free one by buying one of their dvd's or something at the track of theirs counts. i didnt see anyone bashing donn when he was trying to gain support from his brother on here. you shouldnt bash him now.
Times are tough and that's not going to change anytime soon.
I don't know much about any of the players, so my comment is general only.
Character shows when times get tough like this. Karma may be bullshit, but how you treat people and the choices people make when things are tough will not be forgotten.
Post a reply to: Bike test real, if editor works for OEM?