Friday, September 16, 2005
Waking Up To High Tech
In the past few years I have worked in two major political campaigns. In one of them I contributed photography and computer expertise including many days of data base instruction and set up. In the other, my photography was used and I offered computer, web site and data base assistance, but my offer of free work was ignored. The first candidate won and the second lost by a wide margin. No inferences, but it is what happened.
I have worked in campaigns for people in the Tampa Bay area going back to the 70's when I came out of the military. I communicate extremely well using high tech tools, and in simple low tech ways like writing and speaking, and rarely fail at any endeavor. I've recommended good web sites, web casts, blogs, podcasts, DVD's and other ways of communicating with many folks for many causes, but it has mostly been to no avail. I am constantly amazed at how reluctant most politicians (Democrats only as I am a Yellow Dog Dem) seem to be to using modern, high tech resources in their campaigns. Here's a recent experience:
A few days ago I was introduced to some folks who are conducting a campaign for a state wide office. I know the candidate because I worked in her husband's campaign. I spoke to her briefly, and she referred me to her aide. I went to the aide and told her I could make a DVD about the candidate which could be used to communicate and promote her candidacy throughout the state. Another person in the office excitedly asked if I could also build a web site and I said I could but was primarily there to talk about making a DVD. The aide asked me for a quote for my services, and I told her that without knowing anything at all about what they wanted or needed it was difficult to give an accurate one. I was also asked about the cost of DVD reproduction.
I returned to my office, researched DVD repro costs of various companies and found some very economical and satisfactory prices. Then I emailed the aide and told her I could make a DVD on-site in one week for $2,000, and build a web site on-site for $2,000. Their response was that they were not ready to start anything now, and would get back to me in a month or two. It seems to me that for this campaign, as for others, time is of supreme essence, and there should be a greater sense of urgency. It was my impression from our initial and very brief meeting that they were eager to at least have a web site as soon as possible, but I guess they aren't or else think my proposed fees are too high. I will not find out because I later told them I am committed to other projects, and can't predict if I'll be available to do theirs if and when they decide they want it.
The bottom line is that if I had offered to work for free as I have in the past I might already be working with - not for - them, but when I gave them a proposal with a price as they requested, they chose to delay or disregard my offer which is their prerogative. If they had accepted my proposal I would have contributed some valuable photography to them from the projects, and I hope they win the election. ¶ 3:17 PM
I have worked in campaigns for people in the Tampa Bay area going back to the 70's when I came out of the military. I communicate extremely well using high tech tools, and in simple low tech ways like writing and speaking, and rarely fail at any endeavor. I've recommended good web sites, web casts, blogs, podcasts, DVD's and other ways of communicating with many folks for many causes, but it has mostly been to no avail. I am constantly amazed at how reluctant most politicians (Democrats only as I am a Yellow Dog Dem) seem to be to using modern, high tech resources in their campaigns. Here's a recent experience:
A few days ago I was introduced to some folks who are conducting a campaign for a state wide office. I know the candidate because I worked in her husband's campaign. I spoke to her briefly, and she referred me to her aide. I went to the aide and told her I could make a DVD about the candidate which could be used to communicate and promote her candidacy throughout the state. Another person in the office excitedly asked if I could also build a web site and I said I could but was primarily there to talk about making a DVD. The aide asked me for a quote for my services, and I told her that without knowing anything at all about what they wanted or needed it was difficult to give an accurate one. I was also asked about the cost of DVD reproduction.
I returned to my office, researched DVD repro costs of various companies and found some very economical and satisfactory prices. Then I emailed the aide and told her I could make a DVD on-site in one week for $2,000, and build a web site on-site for $2,000. Their response was that they were not ready to start anything now, and would get back to me in a month or two. It seems to me that for this campaign, as for others, time is of supreme essence, and there should be a greater sense of urgency. It was my impression from our initial and very brief meeting that they were eager to at least have a web site as soon as possible, but I guess they aren't or else think my proposed fees are too high. I will not find out because I later told them I am committed to other projects, and can't predict if I'll be available to do theirs if and when they decide they want it.
The bottom line is that if I had offered to work for free as I have in the past I might already be working with - not for - them, but when I gave them a proposal with a price as they requested, they chose to delay or disregard my offer which is their prerogative. If they had accepted my proposal I would have contributed some valuable photography to them from the projects, and I hope they win the election. ¶ 3:17 PM
