Will Not Be Influenced By The Influencer, Part 11
It’s a quiet weekday lunch service when a customer walks in, phone held high as she does a panoramic video sweep of the room before even saying hello. She flags me down at the host stand.
Customer: “Hi, I’m a content creator and I wanted to talk to someone about a potential collaboration.”
Me: “Okay… are you here to dine today or just inquire?”
Customer: “I’m here to eat, obviously, but I want to offer you guys something really exciting. I’ll film my experience, tag your location, and write a detailed review to my followers… if you comp my meal.”
Me: “I see.”
She’s now live on her phone, narrating to maybe three viewers.
Customer: “This place has a great vibe, perfect lighting. If the food matches the energy, I could really help them blow up.”
She pauses the stream and looks at me expectantly.
Customer: “So? Do we have a deal?”
I glance toward the manager, who’s already rolling his eyes from across the bar. I decide to handle it.
Me: “We don’t do comped meals for exposure. But you’re absolutely welcome to review us if you’re dining as a regular guest.”
Customer: “Wow. You’d rather miss out on thousands of eyes than give away one lunch?”
Me: “No offense, but if our business model relied on strangers maybe tagging us in blurry stories, we’d have closed years ago.”
She makes a dramatic show of sighing and walking out, narrating into her phone again about “businesses that don’t understand modern marketing.”
As the door swings shut behind her, the manager strolls over and mutters just loud enough for the kitchen to hear:
Manager: “If exposure paid the rent, I’d be out there flashing people instead of running payroll.”
Related:
Will Not Be Influenced By The Influencer, Part 10
Will Not Be Influenced By The Influencer, Part 9
Will Not Be Influenced By The Influencer, Part 8
Will Not Be Influenced By The Influencer, Part 7
Will Not Be Influenced By The Influencer, Part 6
