Comments on: The Shoal Point Tweetup – what happened

By: Bruce Elkin (@BelkinB)

Bruce Elkin (@BelkinB) — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:33:34 +0000

Sounds like the owner had “control” issues, and handled things badly. Good lesson for next time. Inform owner, ask if any guidelines, etc…
Live and learn.
B.

By: » The Sunday Diigo Links Post (weekly) Yule Heibel’s Post Studio © 2003-2009

Mon, 18 May 2009 03:11:40 +0000

[...] was Catherine Novak’s post about the Shoal Point Moka House tweetup two days ago. I mentioned that Starbucks, for example, has policies around filming/ photographing [...]

By: Paul Holmes

Paul Holmes — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:54:50 +0000

I had a similar experience at this coffee shop in the past. I don’t go there anymore. Same with the Serious Coffee at Fort and Foul Bay.

It’s like going to your over-bearing aunt’s house and giving her your money.

By: Katharine Holmes

Katharine Holmes — Sat, 16 May 2009 19:48:13 +0000

Maybe we could have a Tweetup at Floyd’s Diner on Quadra Street. Great food and totally cool setting. It’s big enough to accommodate a big group (and cameras).

By: Vikki Flawith

Vikki Flawith — Sat, 16 May 2009 04:38:20 +0000

Yeah, I think it’s a good point that perhaps just assuming it would be okay was a mistake… and I would have been okay if that was explained to us in a civil manner. It was the aggressive stance and rudness that turned me off. But he didn’t stop us from filming, he just asked that it be completed soon. So why all the fuss, then?

By: Yule Heibel

Yule Heibel — Sat, 16 May 2009 02:29:23 +0000

@Marri re. coffeehouses and filming/ photographing: Your comment reminded me that Starbucks won’t allow any inside-their-cafes photography, nor does the company condone *any* reproduction (in photos, etc.) of any of their copyrighted logo materials. (There was a big brouhaha around that in 2003 or so.)

…Which kind of suggests that tweetups covered by the media would be impossible in Starbucks, for what that’s worth. And I think Marri makes a good point that these “third places” (coffee houses) aren’t public places (where it is legal to photograph & film) – they are private, and she’s probably on the money in writing that they have an interest in protecting their customers’ privacy.

It does sound a bit like CHEK-TV fell down here, too. They’re the media pros who should be aware of policies and issues around filming in third places…

Anyway… Sorry I missed the tweetup. I’ve come to recognize that I’m just kidding myself if I think I can be “social” at 8am, though!

By: Vikki Flawith

Vikki Flawith — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:29:10 +0000

No one could be seen but us by the camera. We were quietly sitting in a back corner, there was hardly anyone else there. We all bought food & coffee, like any other group (there had been a group of 12 or so bicyclers there who left just as I arrived). We must have spent a good $50 between us, if not more.

Yes, it might have been protocol for someone to ask Moka Hs Shoal Pt if it was okay for a news camera to film our tweet-up BUT there is NO excuse for such overt aggressive rudeness directed at CHEK TV camera op.

I have been going to Shoal Pt Moka Hse since it opened, for lunch, cafe writing in the morning, meeting friends and clients and students on a regular basis. I was planning another event next month with 15 or 16 people going there for coffee/snacks after. Not now.

I will NEVER go back to Moka House Shoal Pt. I will take my business to The Superior Cafe or Ogden Point Cafe.

By: Dan Parks

Dan Parks — Fri, 15 May 2009 20:50:15 +0000

The man was just mean & handled it all wrong. It should have been cleared with him in advance… but jeez. How many coffee shops are there in Victoria? I had never been there until this morning. Up until I saw the owner, I was enjoying the place & would have probably found my way back there again. AFTER his bitter and rude interaction with us, not only will I never go back… but I will make it a point to discuss his attitude and lack of business sense with everyone I interact with all weekend. I am sure his competitors will thank him. This is a very good example of how the Social Networks / Twitter world works for business guys. The Ultimate word of mouth system. It can work for you, or (if you are a meanie in a coffee shop) work against you. It works faster & stronger than ever before. It may change delivery systems, but it’s only going to grow IMO.

By: Marri

Marri — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:26:26 +0000

Ouch…
Alarm clock difficulties meant I didn’t make it, which is a pity, but I’m glad I missed the dark cloud over the table.

You’d be surprised how strict coffeehouses are with cameras/recording devices. I once tried to take a picture of the interior chandelier in the Douglas St. Dolce Vita, and I was told I couldn’t do that. Politely, but quickly and firmly.

I think they adopt this ‘policy’ to protect patrons and cover their own backsides by avoiding the possibility of a patron complaining to them about being on camera or video without their consent, since the inside of a privately owned shop is no longer public property. It’s a pity, and a little puzzling to me even still, but I suppose in Victoria – a city of international spies – one must stop at nothing to protect one’s identities.

By: Tim Ayres

Tim Ayres — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:11:54 +0000

I think the major problem was that he didn’t bother to introduce himself to either our group or the cameraman. He asked a few questions as if he was just curious as to why they were shooting video of a group of chatty caffeine-lovers (I thought he was just an interested customer). Then, immediately on the defensive, was “No one told me! The camera has to go.”

Sure, maybe CHEK should have called, but really – why not just say “by the way, I own this place, and can you tell me a little more about what’s going on?” In this way he would have seemed interested in our Tweetup and the chance at positive media coverage. Instead, he came off as irritated by our presence and made the eight or so business professionals (with links to hundreds if not thousands of other like-minded people through Twitter) feel awkward, uncomfortable, and unwelcome. In short, he was rude, and I’ve no appetite to return to that location.