What is involved with doing fish taxidermy (reproductions) for charter boat captains/owners? I understand that they want a commision or cut of the money that their clients pay for their fish mount. How does this work and can you really make a profit doing taxidermy work this way? A charter boat captain that I met recently ask me what kind of a commision I charge and if I thought we could work something out. He said he has lots of people asking about getting their marlin or tuna mounted but doesn't have a taxidermist yet. I don't have a clue as to how to go about this. I have a small shop, but do lots of fish for customers that call or drop in. I've never worked with boats before and thought I'd see if anyone had any experience with this. Thanks
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I live in Michigan and have had customers sent to me by captains who charter on the great lakes. The customer pays me the full amount for his fish and the charter captain gets nothing. Apparently things are done differently where you are from. If I paid a captain a cut of my price to refer customers to me, I'd jack up my prices to allow for that. If you cut a deal with the captain you met recently, be sure to work out how much YOUR cut of his charter fee YOU get for sending customers.)LOL)
I have a few charter captains I work with in Mi. And the deal is, I refer clients to them and in return they refer clients back to me. No one takes a cut of the money either way. One guy that I know real good will take me out fishing once in awhile, and I have returned the favor by mounting a few fish for him and his son. But this guy is more like family, and I've known him for 40 some years.
Coyote
Such as you are talking about with a boat captain in Florida. It was for reproduction fish. He would take pictures, and get measurements of the fish before they were released. And recommend my services to the client. for which I gave him 10% of the total pre taxed bill. I however charged those customers 12% more. It was okay and helped out a bit when we were getting started. But one must bear in mind. those kind of people are only loyal friends until someone offers them 10.25% So never depend on their business.
Now the charter captain I work with is by the same arrangement Coyote, and Doug have. I display fish caught on his charter. along with some nice pictures of his clients, and their catches in my shop. I recommend him, and tell all the clients what a great guy he is, and how hard he will work for them. In turn he sends me clients. And when we have a company picnic. I invite him, and his Family. and enjoy their company.
That type of "arrangement" led to the demise of Grays in Florida. Boat captains don't pay me a portion of their charter fees for making my services available and I sure as hell ain't paying them for "sending" me a client. I'm a crook are heart just like the rest of you and I get very fidgety when I'm dealing with another crook who calls himself "captain".
I said, I had and arrangement. That was many years ago, and I well discovered that Charter captains who wish to profit from sending clients to taxidermist. only have loyalty to the almighty dollar. A charter Captain must consider you a friend. As well as skilled professional for a referral system to work. I have also had many agreements with charter captains in which I would recommend, of refer customers to them. In turn they would do the same for me. However, on more than one occasion I would send friends of mine. or long time customers. Only to have them come back and tell me that when they started talking about having a fish mounted. the captain would recommend another Taxidermist. It occurred to me quite some time ago. That I do not need them at all. I never go to trade shows to promote my work, and try to drum up new clientele because I am far too busy anyway. It seems every charter Boat Captain is at every one going. With that in mind. It seems they would be the ones in greater need of recommendations. Now I have a buddy who sends me 15 to 20 customers a season simply because he is my friend. I refer customers to him for precisely the same reason. But ya know there are times when I really do not want to take in any more fish. But still do from him, because it seems to be the thing to do.