Putting the "Work", in Workshop

So one of my goals for Capital Photography was to host photography related workshops and classes for people, providing our members and other people in the community a chance to learn from professionals and each other. Who knew it was going to be so much work?

My intentions for the first one kind of developed over the past week and yesterday I really got into gear and started arranging everything I possibly could ahead of time. The three biggest concerns of mine were location, models and certainly not least of all, organization.

I started with the models here. Fortunately I have some very good friends who were willing to do the job; throw in the offer of money and it was a definite. So in two test messages I took care of most of the modeling arrangement.

Next was the location. The original intention was to hold the event in Harpers Ferry. It's large, has a ton of scenery, and would probably not be crowded with it being the off season. This is where the trouble started. I called the number on their website to enquire about rates and I was informed that I may need a special use permit. That's fine, we could swing the fee for the location if we absolutely had to. Well one phone call led to another and it was finally confirmed that we needed a commercial film/still photography permit even though:

1. Our group is not a business
2. This workshop is not for profit
3. None of the work is commercial

OK, that was a little irritating, but I'd do what I have to. The latest voice mail on my phone told me that I needed to fill out the permit request form and turn it in with a check for $50 for the filing fee, which was non-refundable of course. It also said that for a group of 16, we would be required to pay a $150 location fee for the permit. That was another irritation, but Harpers Ferry seemed worth it.

So according to the directions on my voice mail, I looked up the permit form on the website. WHOA!

Please note, the more complicated your project is, the longer it will take to process your request. Some projects require months to process.

In bright red text no less. So there was a good chance that I would turn in the permit with the filing fee and never hear from them again. I figured I should call just in case...oh, and I had questions about why they needed my company name (don't have a company), tax id # (ditto), project manager's name (and again), catering company's info (and again), and a host of other non related things. So a phone call later and I learn that if I would have turned it in on 11/7, I may have heard back from them by the 15th of December. No guarantees, mind you. The woman on the other end explained that she has to receive the permit request form and them drop it off at the adminsitration office. The permit request then has to be viewed by seven people and approved by each. It really sounds like a good way to take $50 from some one if you don't feel like doing the work at the time; it also sounds like Harpers Ferry doesn't like to deal with anything out of the routine, even if it can be good for business.

After that hassle, I just said forget it, we'll find a place to host the event that wants us there. So now I'm thinking on Shepherdstown, WV. It's still close to Harpers Ferry and has some very good locations for photography. It's also close to other accomodations for those that don't want to drive too far and it's not in the middle of no where. So here's to hoping it all works out, atleast for the sake of my sanity.