Do you allow film and photo shoots in your listing?

[Huma0]

I have a bit of experience with this but was just wondering what other hosts' perspectives were on the subject.

I've always had photo shoots at my home because I'm a magazine editor so have lots of industry contacts, plus the house has been listed with a location agency.

However, since I started hosting, I've also received quite a lot of requests for this via Airbnb. Most of these are not from professional photographers, but students, amateur photographers, people launching a new brand/product etc. who can't afford agency rates and are therefore trying Airbnb instead. I say no to the majority as they seem to expect to hire the place for the room rate (and some even expect to stay in the room to boot), not realising that I am in the industry and know full well what a shoot involves and what the going rates are! 

Still, if they are willing to pay a reasonable rate (much lower than agency fees, but higher than Airbnb rates) and willing to stick to any conditions I specify, then it is a good way to make some extra cash. I've only had one bad experience with this, which was with some film students (NEVER AGAIN), but otherwise it has worked out well. You get more than the room rate and they don't get to stay the night. There is cleaning involved but usually no laundry.

Often, they are just using Airbnb as a way to make contact and want to book direct, which I am not keen on. I don't want to be delisted for breaking Airbnb policy just to save someone a few pounds.

Another idea is to barter with a photographer who also has experience of shooting locations. I'd be willing to let them shoot here for a greatly reduced rate in exchange for a few interior shots of the house. I haven't tried this yet as it's difficult to exchange websites etc. on the message system prior to booking, and I'd need to be sure they know what they are doing as shooting locations is not the same as shooting fashion, product etc.

Has anyone else tried this and what has been your experience? I wonder what Airbnb would think about adding a category for photo shoot locations?

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Huma0 No need to clarify, I fully understood that they were rates you had been provided and like everything else, those are negotiable and still only a 'ballpark'. If you wanted to charge more you could. After all, it's your ball.

[Huma0]

@Ian-And-Anne-Marie0 

I try to judge it by ear, but more or less charge about half the agency rate (not taking into account the agency fee which is normally around 20%). Some people balk at this, but I learnt that it is best not to go lower.

Quite frankly, they are getting a bargain at less than half the price and anything lower would not be worth it for me. I have gone lower in the past, but always ended up regretting it. I have found that the people who expect to pay less are also the people most likely to take advantage/damage stuff/be a total nightmare.

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Huma0 @Alon1 

"...they are getting a bargain at less than half the price and anything lower would not be worth it for me."

You must be happy with that so thats the main thing. I have a few contacts I'll make an effort to suggest your location to.

(and in the vein of my first post...) If anybody can provide similar facilities at about a 23% reduction I'd definitely be interested to hear 🙂

[Huma0]

Thanks @Ian-And-Anne-Marie0 

My house is probably most suited to photo shoots rather than film crews as I don't have parking and film shoots are usually too disruptive, but I guess it depends on how many people there would be and how much equipment they would bring.

The problem I found with the location agency was that they didn't like the idea of Airbnb guests. Even though I explained to them that I could make sure the guests were out during the shoot, it made them nervous. They kept saying, "Next time then..." but there is never a next time when I don't have any guests staying. The shoots tend to be very last minute and by then I already have Airbnb bookings and it's too late to block the calendar.

[Declan10]

My 6-acre “Old Florida” waterfront vacation compound listing has hosted several successful photo shoots and video productions. Right now, I simply impose a $1,000 “Commercial Use” up-charge per booking. I believe that even with that fee it is still positioned inexpensively but I wonder if the fee should be higher. 

Also, I would be grateful to learn what the conditions are that you require. Thank you!

[Alon1]

@Ian-And-Anne-Marie0 @Huma0 

Thanks for your  informed and detailed feedback. I'd have appreciated it initially especially given your professional history. 

You clearly don't consider Airbnb could market this venture in a different way to Agents specializing in this field. Perhaps you are right, but I can't be the judge of it because I'm no expert.

However, the Hostess who initially advised me based on decades of experience as Location Library Manageress, likewise in Huma's private messages, it was explained some of the limitations and restrictions  imposed by the 'agents understanding the market', which suggests they are not compatible for Airbnb Hosts who regularly receive Guests.

Consequently, it rather accentuates my belief that Airbnb might be able to adapt the venture to fit its remit!  Thus my question, if it's plausible for Airbnb to introduce a new way of marketing this field? At least, we may be entitled to consider it plausible given the manner Airbnb transformed the STR market.

Unless Airbnb actually consider the enterprise we will never know.

In view of the current situation, I prefer to remain doing both regular rentals and accepting shoots on negotiated terms. Of course I only take the ones that are suitable for my place and which are sufficiently well paid. Those that are certainly make it worth my while.

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Alon1 Any enterprising photographer or film maker would find you to negotiate useage of your facility if they really wanted to. Either by website, personal or FB search - or just by knocking on your door.

However, due to the varied knowledge of Hosts and the expectations of Guests, some clarification of use of accomodation for commercial and non-commercial media use would be useful.

Some Hosts restrict non-guests visiting the rented accomodation, so that would immediately create a conflict. Some Guests think its fine to invite non-guests to make use of the facilities... Here on this forum one such case: https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Just-missed-that-one/m-p/974459#M244283

I would point out that the post referred to had Guest Verification issues. These I would see as a higher priority than creating a location database resource.

With what seems to be the consensus of opinion amongst these forums that AirBnb find with guests in the cases of dispute, I wonder how they would find if a film crew turned up to film the/a guest?

[Alon1]

@Ian-And-Anne-Marie0 

Ian,

To date I've not sought any alternative form of marketing.

It was something that originally sprung as a surprise on Airbnb, and when it did I contemplated it, and sought the advice of the previously mentioned LL Manageress.

  I then experimented a few times and found that it works perfectly fine as I strictly kept to the lady's advice to only take projects within my parameters, carry out due diligence (i.e. vetting to my satisfaction, including Insurance & Public Liability), with me on site throughout the shoot, and for a fee acceptable to me.

  In 5-6 years I've had about 20 shoots out of about 80 inquiries. In other words, the vast majority don't end up in a booking. And I've not regreted a single shoot that took place.

I have also read the concerns and monitions of others in different threads. Request for pornography (explicit or veiled) seems to be a common feature. -- I've never been confronted by such a proposition. The closest was from a documentary on Tinder for Channel 4 or 5 (can't recall exactly). But the Tinder producer assured me while explicit scenes were to be shot in certain homes of Tinder subscribers, my place would be exclusively used for Interviews between Interviewer and subscribers as to how they make their hook-ups. One person an hour would be interviewed for the duration of the day, 8 hours. And it's precisely how it turned out. Moreover, my place was glazed so it wasn't even possible to identify the location. In short it was professional and discreet.

I can't really comment beyond my own experiences. Only that it works, so I can at least contemplate that Airbnb might be able to evolve the idea.--If not, I'm content to carry on as I've done.

[Alon1]

@Huma0 

Huma,

I have quite a lot of experience with photo & film shoots over the past 5 years.

It was one of the surprises when I began hosting to be contacted by a significant number of people in the photo & film industry. I was fortunate at the time to meet a hostess in London at one of the Airbnb gatherings; she used to be Location Library manageress. She explained the reason (plenty of variety, but nominally much cheaper on Airbnb). She didn't encourage me, but was happy to advise in detail how to deal & negotiate with this industry.

The basic advice was to ensure that I would only accept projects within my parameters (i.e. not to over stretch the capacity of my place), and  insist on the production having Insurance. There should also be photo shots of all parts of the house to be used, so everything could be returned as it was. Moreover, I should be present in the house during the shoot. Last but not least, to be firm but flexible in negotiating price for each individual project.

I've had around 15 - 20 shoots. The photo shoots have been exclusively either fashion or music.The film shoots mostly small independents or students, though I've had a couple of TV documentary, one being for Tinder shown on C4 or 5 (can't recall).

To the best of my recollection the photo shoots all went smoothly. It's the film people who cause quite a bit of stress. 

Otherwise, my main concern and disappointment that all  promised to send me copies of their work (in the case of photo shoots) and / or invite to openings of their films. To date, save for one music video (anyway by a musician who lodged a couple of month), no one contacted me again after departure. It hasn't bothered me save for request for Credits related to my mother's art or the architectural work of my friend Farouk.

I'm sending you other details via Private Message as well as kindly inquiring if you can recommend any Location Agencies?

[Huma0]

Hi @Alon1 

Thank you. That's really useful info.

I agree with you totally on not overstretching the parameters of the property and also that film shoots are more likely to be problematic than photo shoots (never had any problems with photo shoots yet). The one bad experience was with the film students who really weren't paying much (I wanted to be supportive, but that was a mistake). They took advantage in many ways, i.e. not sticking to the number of people, hours agreed etc., not going into rooms where guests were staying, damaging stuff and not paying for it as promised (and they did have insurance from their university, but I didn't pursue this as I was just glad to get them out of my house!). I have realised that I don't want full on film shoots here again.

I am always here for the whole shoot and I do negotiate price for each booking depending on how many people, how many hours, which areas they want to use and what the shoot is for, e.g. it's cheaper for editorial than for commercial use. I also try to use my gut instinct to decide whether the person contacting me is likely to stick to what we have agreed or to be trouble. I should have put my foot down in the first instance when the film students started asking for more, more, more. I have learnt my lesson!

The students who came to shoot the other day agreed to only shoot in one bedroom (and possibly the garden, although the weather didn't permit this) and not any other areas of the house, but as soon as they arrived, they started asking where the kitchen was so they could shoot in there too. They were told a firm no, that's not what we agreed and the kitchen is being used by me and my guests.

Most people make a conscientous attempt to put everything back where it was, but I like the suggestion of photographing everything before though just to avoid any future disputes about damages.

It's a shame that you weren't sent images etc. after. I have usually found people to be responsive about this sort of stuff, but only when chased!

I will reply to your PM too.

[Emilia42]

I had someone contact me last fall to film an interview in my space. Airbnb's Turst and Safety department immediately shut down the account 30 minutes after the initial message. The next day someone from the same production group tried to get in touch with me on their own account. Again, 30 minutes later, their profile was also deactivated. I am not sure what the underlying issues were but Airbnb was not having it. 

[Huma0]

@Emilia42 

That's really strange. I have never had that problem. I wonder what it was in the messages that alerted them to it. Or, maybe it's a different team dealing with it in your part of the world.

I don't really know what the exact policy is on this sort of thing but, apart from insurance issues/public liability, I don't see why it should be a problem. That's why I think it wouldn't be a bad idea for Airbnb to launch a category for this. They are always launching new categories and this could be a good money maker for them, help to stop people making these kinds of bookings off the system etc.

Of course, insurance is an issue, but this is something I am sure Airbnb could work out if they wanted to. For example, location agencies require that their clients have their own insurance to cover shoots and professional photographers usually have public liability insurance anyway. The amateurs are more problematic, but they could have a disclaimer that the Host Guarantee is not applicable and have a different deposit system, i.e. a real deposit!

[Huma0]

Having said that, a friend of mine is one of the directors/founders of onefinestay. Years ago, when the company was very new, I asked him if it was possible to hire any of their homes for shoots and he said they don't do that because it's way too much hassle. Of course, onefinestay charges a lot for its properties, so they woudn't be making a huge profit with photoshoots and any damages could be very costly in their high end homes, whereas I believe that's not always the case with Airbnb properties.

[Lawrene0]

I get requests for film and photo shoots, and I always say no to doing it through Airbnb. Like you, @Huma0 , I know something of what a film shoot can do to a property. It is not the end of the world (usually), but it is certainly something for which a host needs to be paid. 

Since the requests have nothing to do with accommodation for the night, I do not feel badly directing them to the set location site on which I have the listing. 

Unsurprisingly, these never lead to a set location booking. When first contact is through Airbnb, they are looking for a bargain. 

Here is one I got in February: The producer informed me that, really, they wouldn't have to pay me anything at all, if I was good with that, because it would be daytime, only six to eight hours, so "between bookings", and I wouldn't have "to host". [Just provide bathroom, kitchen for meal prep, electrical outlets for charging batteries, dry storage for equipment, and a bed for the client/interviewee to lie down because his undisclosed condition requires frequent rest.]

Unfortunately I had to turn down this amazing opportunity, but if anyone else would like it, I will pass on your number. 🙂

[Huma0]

@Lawrene0 

That's the best one I've heard yet. If someone had sent me this 'offer', I would have been crying with laughter. 

I think some hosts are opening up their places for shoots for the price of a one night booking (I'd like to believe none would be silly in enough to do it for free 'inbetween bookings'). I can see how, for someone who doesn't know better, the idea of getting the room rate for a few hours of shooting rather than a whole stay sounds attractive, but it's not to me! Each to their own, I guess.

The first thing I respond when someone contacts me is that, "Yes, I do hire the place for shoots, but not at Airbnb rates. Please send me your requirements (here I list all the specifics re number of people, timings etc. etc.) and I will let you know the cost." Some are amenable to this, but many will disappear once they know it's going to cost more. I did get one girl though who kept insisting that I should only charge her the room rate. Eventually she messaged me in quite a stroppy tone saying she had found another host who was willing to do this, so there! Well, good luck to them, I said.