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Work during this crisis
Hi Folks,
I was thinking about this the last couple of weeks and was wondering how you guys think about it.
Personally I don’t really mind the crisis. It’s good to shake things up once in a while. I also think the bigger companies will suffer more than smaller ones, or freelancers. I think it is the perfect time to pitch for projects or even sending out your work to bigger potential clients.
I mean, the big production companies or motion graphics companies have so much overhead and charge a lot to keep afloat. What do we creative people really need? We usually have a small studio, or work from home. We have a passion for what we do (which means that we usually put in a lot more hours into the project than agreed upon). We don’t need an account manager or secretary. Do we?
So how are you guys preparing for this crisis?
Any thoughts?K
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26 Replies
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Crisis, what crisis? We’re expanding because we’re over booked. Is there something going on that I should know about? 🙂
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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In any economy, good or bad, you need to hit the pavement and get work. As long as you don’t do video work for investment firms on Wall Street that is, although I bet they need videos of their executive retreats!
It is a buyer’s market for production services, so be competitive but don’t sell yourself short either.
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We work almost exclusively in the technical/industrial segment and that is being affected by the slowing of business activity. The big companies still have some things going on, just fewer than we’d like. Some of the smaller companies we work with are going ahead with business as usual while a couple of others have put a virtual hold on any form of external spending.
With most companies we are seeing increasing evidence of a “delay” mentality. It goes something like,“We’re still going to do Project XYZ, but we have to put it off for a little while.” (And a while, and a while, etc.) In some ways that can be worse than getting a flat out no.
One variant of the delay which we experienced with one of our larger clients last fall was mid-level engineers and product managers rushing to get a project shot quickly before it could be put on hold by the higher ups. Unfortunately that only lasted a short while.
I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about competition and what overhead they may have. My focus is almost always on the clients’ businesses and my personal belief is that in this economy many people will still buy from the larger, solid companies because they know they’ll be around to support them. The little guys and the obviously sick ones are who industrial customers fear doing business with. Many of them clearly won’t make it and nobody wants to be left hanging on post-sale service or support issues.
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Specialists have always gotten the big bucks. Big bucks are what are not affordable today.
By that, I have expanded my services so that I can be a turn key facility within myself. For me, this employs me as a shooter, a director, editor, ect. For them, man they get a flat bid up front so there are no budget surprises for them.
If you are not wearing multiple hats today, I think you are in for quite the struggle to compete.
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I’m continuing to focus on business development services rather than simply “video production”. Video is simply one of many tools that I offer a client in their marketing toolbox.
I’ve found that it’s even more important to be able to show your potential clients “success stories” – tangible examples of how someone used your capabilities to bring in more business for themselves.
Know your value proposition. For those who don’t live in the day-to-day world of corporate buzz-speak, you certainly don’t have to use the words “value proposition” to your clients. But you do need to be able to quickly let them know what you bring to the table that helps them succeed in these so-called tough economic times.
Another piece of advice? If you are good at what you do, and you don’t mind the bureaucracy, look into targeting clients in the government and education sectors (at all levels). Their budgets may have shifted, but they aren’t decreasing.
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I agree that smaller is more nimble and can be an advantage to some clients. Then again this might not be the right time to jump ship and try a new, smaller production company/freelancer. But it is a great time to brush up on skills, get some marketing materials out there and get the word out.
We are busy with most of our most solid clients, who have their own solid clients and we are all in this together. So far so good, but we are definitely nurturing our closest clients and giving it our all.
I grow weary of Walter’s constant posts about how busy he is. It’s not constructive to the poster in any way. Hey Walter, how about a few thoughts on WHY you are so busy, instead of the smug same’ ol?
Rich Rubasch
Tilt Media -
Rich,
you write –
“I grow weary of Walter’s constant posts about how busy he is. It’s not constructive to the poster in any way. Hey Walter, how about a few thoughts on WHY you are so busy, instead of the smug same’ ol? ”REPLY –
do you know why Walter is busy. Because he is GOOD. Because he and his little shop can outproduce and outedit dramatically larger facilities. He works his ass off, and learns everything. He has no excuses, and expects no excuses from anyone that he deals with.
People who are “editors” and “dont’ go graphics, don’t do DVD authoring, don’t do audio”, etc, because they are “editors” -well they are the ones in trouble.I’m 53 years old, and I study all this new crap that keeps coming out like I’m 21. I know that I am begin chased by younger, smarter guys that charge less than I do. And I will be DAMNED if they are going to get the work. I am going to compete, I am going to know every damn thing that these “kids” know, and I am going to be aggressive in getting new clients, and keeping old clients. And you know what, I am probably even busier than Walter. And in my spare time, I am on forums like these, instead of watching TV, or bowling.
Do you know what is constructive to the poster? GET OFF YOUR ASS – LEARN EVERYTHING, SOLICT MORE CLIENTS – are you tired? I DONT CARE -GET OUT THERE and KILL (or be killed).
Bob Zelin
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While I would’ve written a little more softly…I’ll second Bob’s post. We’re also busier than we’ve ever been…and that’s after losing a half a million dollar account last fall. We had a record January, and February looks to be nearly as good, with lots of work also already booked for March and April.
Our clients are varied, from car dealer groups to kitchen cabinet manufacturers to health care companies, with some religious and educational institutions thrown in for good measure. None (even the car dealers) seem to be greatly reducing their advertising or production.
But we pride ourselves on giving great service, solving clients problems (i.e. doing the things they don’t know how and usually don’t have time to do on their own) and on knowing more than our competitors. So much like Bob, I just turned 48 and I spend hours each week researching and learning new techniques, new technology and evaluating new processes. I think all those things pay off in times like this.
And while our work isn’t wildly creative or groundbreaking, it’s consistently well-done and most of all it communicates and gets done on-time and on-budget every time.
Chris Blair
Magnetic Image, Inc.
Evansville, IN
http://www.videomi.com -
Multiplying one’s chances of billing when not booked is not a bad thing. Walter is not having to do this today because he’s so busy as a result of years of doing just this. Days off are opportunities to learn a new billing edge and if not utilized as such… all pripes are forfitted when failure happens.
I’ve been at this for a couple of decades and so far this week I have learned two new NLE apps, a handful of authoring tricks and a boatload of new media practices. First, this is fun for me because I love it. Second, man I can’t afford to get left behind as others grow.
My pitching revolves around my capabilities. May as well have a big arson to select from. -
[Rich Rubasch] “I grow weary of Walter’s constant posts about how busy he is. It’s not constructive to the poster in any way. Hey Walter, how about a few thoughts on WHY you are so busy, instead of the smug same’ ol?
“Did you read my 3 part series on building a new business? Most of my thoughts are in there.
Other than that, I think Bob summed it up pretty well. I don’t have any magic answers. We work hard AND we keep re-investing in better and more equipment. I am competing against companies that have $85 million facilities right here in Atlanta and I get work that was bid against them.
The caliber of your work, the abilities of your facility and the diversity of your client base will be your make or break.
I started $80,000 in the hole when I opened my doors in 2001. My company is essentially debt free at this point and has been for the past three years. I don’t apologize for being successful because I have earned it through my work. If that comes across as smug, sorry.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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