
$5M+ While Keeping His Day Job: Zach Schiffman on Corporate Activations, Apple TV, and Coding With AI
$5M+ While Keeping His Day Job: Zach Sciffman on Corporate Activations, Apple TV, and Coding With AI Photobooth Supply Co He still works early mornings as a TV stage manager for NBC. His photo booth business has passed $5 million in cumulative revenue anyway. How do you build a business like that as a one-man shop with a day job? In this Millionaires Club episode of the Photobooth Podcast, Amber talks with Zach Schiffman of Studio Z in the New York City and New Jersey area. A TV stage manager who launched his business in 2012 while working at ESPN, Zach has run it alongside his TV career for 14 years, passing $5 million in cumulative revenue over roughly the last decade, including a $1.2 million year. Zach breaks down why 'photo booth' doesn't appear in his brand, how leaning into an affluent market took him from $400 bookings to premium rates in his first year, and why his best clients say he isn't the cheapest option but is the one they don't have to worry about. He shares how one cold lead and a last-minute flight to show face turned into Severance activations for Apple TV, a $150,000 three-day event, and Comic-Con conversations, plus the full-circle moment of being hired back by ESPN as a vendor. He also gets candid on corporate vs. weddings, chasing agency payments, getting ahead of trends before they hit the Facebook groups, and why he now codes custom apps and activations with AI so he never has to say no to a client. If you want to break into brand activations, charge what you're worth, or future-proof your photo booth business, this one's for you. We Break Down: Why Zach's records only start in 2016, and seeing a decade of revenue together for the first time Dropping 'photo booth' from the name: why the biggest experiential companies don't use it Building Studio Z alongside early mornings as an NBC stage manager Why he kept the TV job: union health insurance and the security to take risks Pricing for an affluent market: from $400 bookings to premium rates within the first year 'Not the cheapest option': why clients pay more for a vendor they don't have to worry about Flying to LA the next day for a client in a bind, and how showing up wins clients for life A one-man shop with event day players: staffing and gear storage in the New York market Weddings vs. corporate: why four weddings at $2,000 can't compete with one $25,000 corporate event Chasing payments and creative approvals when working through agencies The number one relationship rule for breaking into corporate: always show face to new clients Losing his Google rankings, a spam attack, and rebuilding SEO with AI agents The Severance cold lead: one flight that led to Apple TV activations, a $150K three-day event, and Comic-Con The ESPN full-circle moment: from a $27,000 salary to nearly a quarter of that in two days as a vendor Getting ahead of trends: an imported 360 that paid for itself in two events, and an $80K audio guest book side business Why he never says no to a client anymore: coding custom activations, games, and tools with AI UGC, iPhones, and TikTok: Zach's honest read on where the photo booth industry is headed Chapters: 00:00 - Episode Begins 00:38 - Meet Zach Schiffman & the Millionaires Club 02:32 - Why 'Photo Booth' Isn't in the Name 05:46 - The TV Day Job & Why He Keeps It 09:28 - What Set Him Apart: Pricing for the Market He Wanted 15:31 - Running a One-Man Shop in New York 18:49 - Weddings vs. Corporate Brand Activations 23:06 - Building and Keeping Client Relationships 25:38 - The Severance Cold Lead 30:37 - $150K in Three Days & the ESPN Full Circle 34:01 - Where the Photo Booth Industry Is Headed 42:35 - What's Still Fun After 14 Years Resources: Studio Z: Website: https://www.studiozphotobooths.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studiozphotobooths/?hl=en-gb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StudioZPhotoBooths/?locale=en_GB Photo Booth Supply Co. Profit Calculator: https://pbsco.co/profitcalc Quickstart Program: https://pbsco.co/QSprogram Want To Buy A Booth? Book A Call: https://pbsco.co/podcall Website: https://pbsco.co/website














