Etiquette and Recommendations for Commercial Shoots

I am participating in a commercial shoot for Hersheypark on Wednesday, and I am super excited! I have never done one of these before though, and I'm wondering if you guys have any dos/don'ts that you recommend for people participating. Any help is much appreciated.

All I can tell you is wear bright, non logo clothes. Don't expect the film crew to engage in conversation to you. Don't make fun of the "talent".

Smile. Looking pretty and seeming enthusiastic can make the difference in whether you will be up front or somewhere in the back.

Be prepared for a long day. Commercials can be hours and hours of hurry up and wait for something that will result in 30 seconds of air time.

Don't be disappointed if you devote a day to this and then don't see yourself on tv...

RCMAC, I ALWAYS look pretty. ;) just joking around, but I definitely planned on full makeup, a touch up kit, and chugging an energy drink so I'm even more hyperactive and bouncy than usual. Hee hee...

My time slots are really far apart, so I'm planning on visiting Chocolate World in between as well if allowed, but I'm wondering if maybe I shouldn't just stick around in case. Any thoughts on that?

Trust me, there will be PLENTY of time standing around...have some fun between the scheduled time slots, the production crew is doing lunch, re-sets, what-have-you.

Typically the park will email you a list of dos and don'ts...the only ride/park shirts they want to see (*if any*) is the one they're promoting.

Two words: bench burn.

I apparently need a terminology refresher, Jeff. Bench burn? Sounds...unpleasant.

Gator, thank you for the info. I was concerned that I'd have to sit there for six hours with absolutely nothing to do since the park's not open. I'm sure it would be interested to see extra filming processes, but other than that...blech! *laugh* of course, could probably get some great pics!

The wife and I have done a number of Discovery Channel shoots, along with local news broadcast shoots. You will spend an inordinate amount of time doing absolutely nothing. But be ready to "turn it on" on a moments notice.

Remember that it's not ERT.

Tek, I haven't really done much ERT ever, so I'm not too spoiled with that.

My original reply to Dutchman was, "I'm always turned on at amusement parks", and then I had a facepalm moment and did not type it. Instead, I'll say I'm always turned up to 11 at amusement parks. I have no off button. Being enthusiastic and happy is my normal state at a park unless something really REALLY irritating happens, and even then, you might not ever know I'm peeved because I let it go pretty quickly.

I'm still so excited!!! Not just for riding or the commercial, but just to finally visit (closed) Hershey this year. I love that park, and I think it will be kind of cool in a creepy way to see it mostly emptied out and shuttered. Maybe I'm weird.

Doesn't hurt to get to ride Lightning Racer a few times also. Even one ride will be much appreciated.

"*MAYBE*" I'm weird????

;)

Well, you would know, Mike. We can smell our own. ;)

Thanks for all the great tips everyone. Hopefully it stays sunny and cool, and maybe you will one day see my ugly mug on billboards (apparently this is actually a photo shoot). I have a feeling they aim for family shots and younger people, but one can never tell!

I remember shooting a Boulderdash commercial and having to wait like 4hrs for the sun to be in the right position. When i did the bert the conqerer show at sfne we filmed for 2days for a total of 7mins of the show.

I never thought about all that went into this stuff. Pretty interesting to me because it never seemed that complicated before. You learn something new every day.

I think some valuable lessons were learned in this thread.

(Don't feel the urge to sue if you're cropped out of the footage nor be surprised if they only show your hands when asked to hold a laminated pizza.)

Expect nothing, and most importantly, just have fun.

Oh boy! I completely forgot that thread was posted, and by my favorite whiner, no less!

I'm sitting here waiting right now, and there are kids being made up by obvious "stage moms", and there are models. However, so far there are also only about 10 people. I might, just might get some heavy duty riding time in! I don't expect it, but I'm optimistic, which is the best way to be! Do I want to be in the ads and maybe on billboards and stuff? Sure! However, I'm just thrilled to be here. No expectations here beyond a new and unique experience.

I think you should sue if you're not on TV.

Sorry, but you're not allowed to sue unless YOU TYPE IN ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. Them's the rules.

What a great experience this was! The staff was so nice, the "talent" was actually really sweet, and I got to ride a VERY smooth Lightning Racer 5 times and Great Bear 9 times. And all the food and drinks were free for lunch. Meals, tastykakes, bottled beverages, candy....

This was just fantastic. I wanna do it again for the commercial on Monday, but there's no way I can finish work in time. *laugh*