Events... As a small startup in Australia... a US event is $5k for flights, $2k for hotels, $2k for expenses as a starting point.
I reached out to an event & asked - "hey i'm a small start up with limited budget, can you do a small 1/2 table for a new comer or something like that?"
To which I heard back "the fees are stated in our material, $5k minimum & its probably not worth having a call with you"
Influencers just dont deliver - you send out stuff & they never do anything.
or they refuse to - as "they sell brandX chronographs on their site & this would be a competitor - so i wont produce content for your product".
I dont bother with anyone over 20k subs, & check their videos - if you see the same brand over & over, or written on their clothing... its a shill channel & they wont openly review other brands