requesting invites to shows...

[softgrey]

how far in advance do you do this?..
if you have an email and a fax number...do you do both?...
do you call to follow up to check if they have received the initial request?
how long do you wait before calling to check?...


if you still haven't gotten a seat assignment...how long before the show do you start to get concerned?...



how many shows a day is it reasonable to be expected to attend...?
thoughts from anyone who has been though this already....?

 

[zamb]

all this depends on who you are whether you are a stylist, store buyer, magazine editor etc. it is also different for the level of design company.
im at my consultancy job so i will try to explain all i know later this evening

 

[softgrey]

that would be interesting zamb...
i guess i am mostly wondering about editors/magazines...
i just wonder how other people do it....

 

[zamb]

im home , i will post the info now

 

[zamb]

well from my experience as both a designer and a show attendee, there are a few things i know, at least for new york anyways. I have a friend who attends all the shows without an invite, he just dresses as a photographer and creates a bogus press pass based on a fictitious magazine, will hi power camera in hand i might add.
i am not recommending this as it may not work for everyone, he is an older guy so i guess they assume he is legit.
IMG has a database with all the major magazines newpapers, large store buyers, top stylists etc. this list is made available to the designers who are showing on seventh on sixth at bryant park.
from this list the designers can mail invites to all the relevant ppl they want to attent the shows. RSVP is neccessary as it helps with the seating arrangement, and prevent the tragedy of seating mortal enemies together.
you can if you are a stylist, buyer or editor, call a designers press rep and request an invite to the shows.

 

[zamb]

part two is coming

 

[zamb]

if they think you are worthy enough (the best way is to tell them you are a buyer (preferably for a new store, or a store to be opened soon that is interested in the designers collection) they are usually interested as stores mean potential sales, which means money to go around for everyone who the designer owes.
you can also tell them you are an editor for a magazine (preferably a correspondent for an international publication they are not quite familiar with
(you will get in but no front row for you, only major publications, stylists and celebrities get front row.)

for smaller designers who are showing independently, it is relatively easy to get into the shows you can request an invite about two to three weeks before the shows as that is usually about the time they are mailed out
seating arrangement is usually given a few days before the shows or even on the day when you show up.
for companies like MAO and Peoples Revolution, you can go to the smaller designers show without an invite, they will let you in but you may have to stand (they will allow you to sit if there are empty seats when the show is about to begin. No designer wants empty seats in the pictures of there shows)
i never give PPl a hassle at my shows. if they are polite and mannerly, we let them in. they just either have to stand or have front Row Seats
a cople of seasons ago, i attended about three shows produced by Mao Pr
i know the owners of the company and was considering working with them so i was invited to a couple of thier events to see the quality of the productions.

hope i could be of help................

 

[softgrey]

well---
thanks zamb...
but i wasn't asking how to LIE your way in......
we HAVE a thread on how to sneak into shows...

i am talking about people who have legitimate jobs in the fashion industry and who attend shows regularly....

i think KCD shows are probably the biggest pains...
KCD is just not very friendly as a rule...
they are big snobs..but they do big shows...
so you have to deal with them...

i'm also wondering about foreign publications...
like- how many tickets do they give per publication?...
is it just the fashion director and the market director?...
or all fashion editors?...
what about contributing editors?...


**is there anyone here who works for a PR firm or is producing any shows...
it would be interesting to hear the 'insider' take on how invitations are issued and how seating is decided...etc...
especially at the bigger shows...

 

[JJohnson]

well---
thanks zamb...
but i wasn't asking how to LIE your way in......
we HAVE a thread on how to sneak into shows...

i am talking about people who have legitimate jobs in the fashion industry and who attend shows regularly....

i think KCD shows are probably the biggest pains...
KCD is just not very friendly as a rule...
they are big snobs..but they do big shows...
so you have to deal with them...

i'm also wondering about foreign publications...
like- how many tickets do they give per publication?...
is it just the fashion director and the market director?...
or all fashion editors?...
what about contributing editors?...


**is there anyone here who works for a PR firm or is producing any shows...
it would be interesting to hear the 'insider' take on how invitations are issued and how seating is decided...etc...
especially at the bigger shows...

I got my john varvatos invites today but there is no seating or anything on it! I think they will tell me when I RSVP, but im not sure! UGH! I hope im not standing! *gag*

 

[LostInNJ]

well---
thanks zamb...
but i wasn't asking how to LIE your way in......
we HAVE a thread on how to sneak into shows...

i am talking about people who have legitimate jobs in the fashion industry and who attend shows regularly....

i think KCD shows are probably the biggest pains...
KCD is just not very friendly as a rule...
they are big snobs..but they do big shows...
so you have to deal with them...

i'm also wondering about foreign publications...
like- how many tickets do they give per publication?...
is it just the fashion director and the market director?...
or all fashion editors?...
what about contributing editors?...


**is there anyone here who works for a PR firm or is producing any shows...
it would be interesting to hear the 'insider' take on how invitations are issued and how seating is decided...etc...
especially at the bigger shows...

I may be able to help you with your initial quesiton...Modem Online should become your best friend if it isn't already! It contains all of the shows, locations, contacts (e-mail, phone number, etc.). I think the requests should be sent out about 2 1/2 to 3 weeks ahead of time (although Carolina Herrera is already closed ) As far as seating assignments, don't be alarmed if you don't receive one...it doesnt always mean your standing, but you will have to wait and check in with PR and they will give it to you there. In past seasons, I've done a max of 4 shows in a single day...it gets to be a bit much with all the waiting, but just take it as it comes. I hope this helps

 

[softgrey]

well- i HAVE the fashion calendar and i am registered as press with the CFDA...

so i HAVE all the contact info...

so- is it better to fax or email or just cover your bases and do both?...
or is it annoying for the press people to receive multiple requests?...

like what if your fax gets lost and you never receive an invite...
when should you be concerned and call to check?...

**man...
i hate all the clerical work...
calling faxing emailing...blech...

i need an assistant to be doing all of this......
wah!!..i miss my interns!!!....
...

 

[LostInNJ]

well- i HAVE the fashion calendar and i am registered as press with the CFDA...

so i HAVE all the contact info...

so- is it better to fax or email or just cover your bases and do both?...
or is it annoying for the press people to receive multiple requests?...

like what if your fax gets lost and you never receive an invite...
when should you be concerned and call to check?...

**man...
i hate all the clerical work...
calling faxing emailing...blech...

i need an assistant to be doing all of this......
wah!!..i miss my interns!!!....
...

I feel your pain...however, I am the assistant, so that is my job

Sometimes after submitting a request, they will call or e-mail you if they do not have the space to accomodate you...I prefer e-mail, because I know that it went through for sure, but some designers force you to fax in which case I fax it then call to ensure they received the fax. I'm not to sure about doing both fax and e-mail, as you said, it may annoy them....Any contact without an e-mail or fax number, I'd suggest calling to get the info, as sometimes the info has changed...This season I ran into several designers handling requests in house, so I didn't have to bother sending it out elsewhere...Many times if it gets sent to the wrong person, they will jsut forward it to the correct person...Hope this helps...!

 

[softgrey]

yes yes...that helps loads...thanks dear......

are you only requesting specific shows?
or did you just request for everything?...
just to cover your bases?...

 

[JJohnson]

OMG! Carolina Herrera is closed?! NOOOOO! Oh lost in NJ I was wondering, what if I emailed a PR and they didnt respond? Or they said they forwareded to the other PR. How do i confirm?! I see no invites or anything! well i have varvatos so far! but do I get the invites first then RSVP? Please some1 tell me!

 

[LostInNJ]

yes yes...that helps loads...thanks dear......

are you only requesting specific shows?
or did you just request for everything?...
just to cover your bases?...

I sent for basically everything...I'll pick and choose what I go to

 

[LostInNJ]

OMG! Carolina Herrera is closed?! NOOOOO! Oh lost in NJ I was wondering, what if I emailed a PR and they didnt respond? Or they said they forwareded to the other PR. How do i confirm?! I see no invites or anything! well i have varvatos so far! but do I get the invites first then RSVP? Please some1 tell me!

Sometimes you will get a response, other times you will not. If they say that your request has been forwarded, you can always find out where and call to confirm. Invites are slowly trickling in, and yes, you get the invite first, then RSVP...Also, having some clout also gets you a ticket...when you are just starting out, it is hard to get in at bigger shows.

 

[elschic111]

softgrey, you are the best. these threads are exactly what i have been looking for bc, though i feel silly admitting it, i'm kind of nervous!

i am not in new york right now and the publication i'm working with has a publicist in charge of getting us into shows. i can only email the eic and let her know what my top choices for shows are--i can't contact any of the designers' pr people directly. i guess this is sort of a mixed blessing because it adds to the suspense...i have to wait a while for answers and can't be active in the process of securing invites. but on the upside i'm sure the publicist will be better at procuring tickets than i would, and having a publicist should indicate to the PR people that we are legit from the get go, whereas a mere editor from an unfamiliar publication might have more trouble (maybe? i dont know). i just am pulling my hair out waiting though!

i'm almost positive i'll be able to get tickets to a good number of the small shows i'm interested in. i've already had a bunch confirmed by the eic.

as for the bigger shows, i have a feeling i am going to have access backstage at some big shows (maybe marc jacobs for example) and be waiting in the standing line for others.

any tips for getting into shows from backstage or from the standing line?

is the standing line readily visible? where does it tend to be located relative to the main entrance to a show?

how far in advance should you try to be in the line before the show's official (scheduled) starting time? have you seen this vary significantly between big shows?

do people tend to form an actual single file line (or something close to it), or is it basically a crowd where people push, shove, and don't respect the positions of those who have been waiting?

do people with extra tickets hand them to people in the standing line, or do they tend to hand them off elsewhere? i have read about instances in which someone connected can put someone at the front of the standing line. have you seen this happen? who does this?

haha i'm clearly asking way too many questions, but i'm a consultant-in-training (hey zamb!) and i like to have all my bases covered .


oh and lostinNJ, thanks for the info re: Herrera. good to know!

finally...for calvin klein -- there are 2 shows. does anyone know if one is for a certain group (celebrities?) and another for buyers, editors?

 

[elschic111]

oh and if you try to go as someone's assistant, are you pretty much guaranteed standing?

 

[softgrey]

elschic...if youhave questions...
you can start a thread of your own too!!...


it's not that easy to get seats at bigger shows...so even if you are a freelance stylist you could get standing...
i know an editor in chief who didn't get a seat at marc jacobs because her request was never received and no one checked up on it until the day of the show...

hence my serious concern!!!...and all my questions about this...
i want to make sure i have all the invites and all the seating fully organized....

regarding the lines and where to stand...
that's another topic...
that is different at each show...
you just sort of figure it out as you get there...there will be loads of pr people directing everyone...it will be easy to figure out- don't worry...
that is the very LEAST of your worries...

*shows usually start late...so don't worry about getting there too much before it starts...
15 minutes or less is fine...even if you are running late- just go....
chances are you will still get there before they start the show..


it's not a concert- the tickets are not transferable...
they are INVITATIONS...with peoples' names on them...
so no- you cannot just give one to someone else in line...
if there is extra room or people don't show up- the pr people will escort the people waiting in line into the show...

 

[Acid]

Softgrey, i am friends with KCD so i may be able to help from what i know...

press... left side of runway

magazines....
editor in chief, fashion director, and fashion editor(s) front row but maximum of 4 per publication. contributing editors second row.

foreign magazines... editori in chief and fashion director only for invitations. front row only if publication is 'top' publication otherwise second row

stylists... stylists who are also fashion editors of 'top' magazines... front row, otherwise second row and so on.. celebrity stylists front row and generally accompanied by one of their celeb clients/friend as rule

photographers... 'top' photographers always front row, photographers who are friends with the PR company not front row, sometimes even standing

celebrities... always front row except at couture where they can be as far back as 3rd row!

buyers... right hand side of runway

major department store buyers: front row, assistants/anything else from same store, second and so on...

general store stockists national... front row
regional...second

small time buyers... second/third
at prada standing only