PUT ME ON TV!!!

[whatsatripod]

How many times do you hear that in a day! What do you say to the people who so anxiously want to be apart of the story where a son shot and killed his mother than threw her into a freezer. I normally just say you don't want to be apart of this story. I heard about another photog say "sure but it's a story about transexuals with aids." I would like to know your most creative lines you use.

[<A FEW>]

1. Amateur day was yesterday.
2. Go get mommies permission first.
3. You agent said you are unavailable.
4. Maybe next time&gt;
5. SEARGENT!! This man may have some information for you!!!
6. Hey Chief!!! this guy smells like gasoline!!!!
7. (On a particularly bad day) Piss of street scum!!!
8. Just step to the other side of this yellow tape so I can frame you better.

[Eye of a Tiger]

I just politely say:

"this is a bad situation and it would not be respectful."

It usually works for me. If it doesn't I turn my head and put in my handy dandy red colored contacts and turn back to them and say with a demonic tone:

"Go away!"

[PhotogFromFL]

I tell them if they want to be on TV, "go kill someone."
Hey Bloody, drop me a line about some scandal here at the WINK news.

[Shot A Load]

Just tell them you're only putting pretty people on. If want to be nice tell them you're interviewing ugly people.

[<Shout outs>]

"this isn't MTV...we don't do 'shout outs' here"

[texshooter]

"Go stick up a mini-mart"

"Flashing gang signs and jumping up and down in front of the camera is not going to get you on TV"

"No"

When I'm not shooting, but running the truck: "I don't put people on TV, I just drive the truck"

[Terry E. Toller]

I usually tell them, "I only photograph dead people and people under arrest. Go die and I will put you on TV". Unless it's a pretty woman. I will take her picture just to share with the overnight producer...

I once had a young boy on his way to school actually cross the yellow tape and lay down in a mud puddle next to a dead body and wave.

[<fire>]

"burst into flames...anything short of spontaneous combustion just ins't gonna cut it today"

[SHOOT TO KILL]

It seems to depend on where in the country you are...in some places folks want to get on tv, and in others you show up with a camera and they run from you. I found southern california to be the worst.Typical for kids to want to jump on camera minutes after their playmate was just crushed by an 18 wheeler. Midwest folks are a little more conservative.NW folks want to know why you're there, and can you please not shoot them....

[RichVid]

"...I found southern california to be the worst.Typical for kids to want to jump on camera minutes after their playmate was just crushed by an 18 wheeler..."

Gee I thought it was like this everywhere...? :P

[flipflops]

There is always a gathering at a fire and someone wants to be on TV. I always say "Not unless your on fire". I'm sure one of these times some idiot will do it and then I will get sued.

[SoCalShooter]

Normally I ignore them unless they won't leave my alone and then I very suddenly and loudly yell HI-YA!! while simulating karate moves. I countinue to do this while following said "put me on TV" punk and won't stop until my producer or reporter or the police tell me to stop.

[ July 30, 2004, 06:45 PM: Message edited by: SoCalShooter ]

[<JeffSpicoli>]

A few years ago, three women (in their 20's) came up to me while I was shooting some generic b-roll (I forgot what the story was). I was busy shooting away when one of them sais "Put me on TV!" I jokingly said, "Well, you gotta DO something to GET on TV."

So the three women flashed their, uh, "charms" at me and started jiggling them side-to-side.

Now, I pride myself on being one alert shooter...never missing a shot while on a story. But I just sat there, dumfounded/awestruck...and just watched! I couldn't hit the record button! (We're talking D-cups here, folks.) After about 10-seconds, they put their shirts back on and said, "Was that good enough for you?"

In retrospect, I'm GLAD I didn't shoot it because there were about a dozen other bystanders who saw the whole thing--and it would've looked pretty bad if I shot it.

Man--I still fantasize about that day...

[<Cameraman>]

Hey put me on tv....Hey show me your tits and I will put you on my own tv night after night..

[cameragod]

“Hey can you put me on TV?”
Answer in monotone; “I already got you. You were great… no really thanks.”
Works really well as they are usually too stupid to get sarcasm.

[tarzan]

I sometimes try to strike up some sort of conversation with the brats, ask them questions about their scooter or bicycle, or a ballcap they're wearing, just to change the subject and hopefully take their mind off the idea. If they keep asking, just keep responding by changing the subject.

[Sound N Video]

I was shooting a football game one day and these 2 kids came up to me and asked me to put them in the commercial. After telling them "No" about 5 times, I finally told them to go ask their parents. When they run off to ask, I continued on my way to another part of the field. I wonder if they ever came back. I hope I didn't make them cry, well I don't really care if I did.

[<lasseye>]

A fellow photog back in Albany N.Y.'s response:
"Don't worry, I'll get you at your arraignment."
In many cases..it has a good chance of coming true :)

[Corporate Management]

At least for me, one way of dealing with these people is to blame it on the reporter.

"I'll get video of you, but what actually goes on TV isn't really up to me."

It may not work for everyone, but it's never failed me. People seem to already be under the impression that photographers are at the bottom of the TV foodchain, and have no problem believing that their power is limited.

[ShootThis]

How about...

...did you start the fire?
...did you shoot that guy?


I had a couple of teens come up to me once while setting up a live shot. They started to mess with my lights and I was furious! So I yelled out, "Hey I'm sure you dont want me to come to Burger King and take your spatula, so leave my lights alone!"
He didn't have anything to say and left with a loud, "WHATEVER".

[quicklad]

"I'm sure you dont want me to come to Burger King and take your spatula, so leave my lights alone!"


Ha ha ha - awesome...that should go on the camera mans' motto list.

Can I make it my sig?

he he


Eric

[g0uld]

I actually had a guy jump in front of the camera during weather at the fair, just as the weather guy went to maps. Obviously captain jackass didn't know that, but I grabbed him shoved him out of the shot and chased him down while the truck op was with my camera and the shot. I got in his face and asked what the hell he thought he was doing. "I was just screwin around man" the typical drunken response. I then reminded him that I am doing my job and he probably wouldn't like it if I came to McDonalds and F#@ked with him while he was trying to make me a hamburger. About that time Sheriffs deputies showed up and hauled him off for public intoxication.

Doing a live shot out side of a local restaurant the usual Lookie Loo's drive by after a fine meal and shout "What's going on?" Where I promptly respond "didn't you hear about the food poisoning"

What I want to know is why does every freakin idiot want to test their damn horn as they drive by a camera?

[1911A1]

Originally posted by g0uld:
What I want to know is why does every freakin idiot want to test their damn horn as they drive by a camera? My response to that is usually: "The horn blows, does the driver?"

:D

[Frank McBride]

Originally posted by g0uld:
I grabbed him shoved him out of the shot and chased him down while the truck op was with my camera and the shot. I got in his face and asked what the hell he thought he was doing. "I was just screwin around man" the typical drunken response. I then reminded him that I am doing my job and he probably wouldn't like it if I came to McDonalds and F#@ked with him while he was trying to make me a hamburger. About that time Sheriffs deputies showed up and hauled him off for public intoxication.It sounds to me like you could have been charged with assault and battery just as easily as his public intoxication. Does the fact that you are doing a live shot in a public place take away his right to act like a jackass in that same place? Nobody likes to deal with folks doing this, but not even the Patriot Act has taken away that right, and I don't think you have the right to grab and threaten them when they do.

I'm no lawyer, so if I'm wrong, someone please straighten me out.

FMc

[The Kid]

One of the best one's I've herd from photogs I've worked with,

"Run out into the street and get hit by a car. Then I'll put you on."

[g0uld]

It sounds to me like you could have been charged with assault and battery just as easily as his public intoxication. [/QB]Don't get me wrong, it's not like I was super macho muscle man and grabbed him by his budweiser frog t-shirt. I was kinda like a hey bud shoulder grab turn around and pay attention thing. But I do see you point.

[ August 09, 2004, 08:23 AM: Message edited by: g0uld ]

[<Jax>]

I don't have the patience to deal with these people. I just turn on the ignore switch in my typical aloof fashion. After not recognizing their presence for a while, they usually go away.

[TXPhotog]

I "love" trying to worm my way through crowds and then having to watch out for those damn little kids that love to run while looking behind them. Sometimes I'll try and avoid them but sometimes I'll just let them run into me to teach them to look forward. If a little kid comes up to me and asks what I'm doing and is polite and not annoying me. I'll usually let him look through the viewfinder and push the zoom button. I can't help but smile when they are so wowed by it. Who knows, they may be posting on here some day.

[Nycoil]

During a live shot on a busy street corner, a lady comes by and blows her car horn. I say rather loudly, “How would you like it if I came to your job and honked my horn and annoyed you?” Her window was down and heard my comments and was pissed! She sped away leaving some rubber from her LaSabre behind. Probably lost a viewer….

[<Feathers>]

I just let a little girl look thru the viewfinder two days ago, kids with wonder and sincere interest I don't mind, like TXPhotog said, who knows, they might be on here one day- it's the punk ones that Yell over and over "Can I get on TV"- those I can't stand- and the horn honking i've learned to deal with- it's part of the day, the worst ones I get are the cat call versions "hey baby get me on tv" or I love it when they just blow kisses and say "oye mami over here"
The only way to deal with those is to ignore and shoot them an annoyed look- any verbal responce and you're just asking for more.