” Worth It Anymore”??

[Noah Kadner]

In my experience freelancing is hustling and it’s not just in one area. When I freelance I’m able to make a living by doing shoots, consultation, writing articles/books, offering my own training courses, creating apps and videos. But yeah focusing on any one of those could easily lead to starvation when markets shift/clients depart/technology changes. I.e. don’t put your eggs in one basket.

Noah

Unlock the secrets of 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio with Call Box Training. Featuring the Panasonic GH2 and GoPro HD Hero.

[Andrew Rendell]

I take a different approach to Noah – I sell myself on a very narrow focus rather than claiming to do everything, so I mainly work for production companies that don’t have every skill at a high level in house (who therefore need to hire it in when they have a big job), rather than directly for the client.

[Actually, my single biggest source of work over the last couple of years is a major broadcaster so in that case I’m working directly for the client, as it were, but almost everything else I do is for a production company, whether it’s for broadcast or corporate, and I’m known by enough that when any particular production company is having a quiet time, I’m probably getting work from another one.]

[Martin Curtis]

[Mark Suszko] “You can’t afford to compete with that. The “answer” is to work harder to find the clients that will pay you what your work is worth. They could be in other fields, in more specialized niches.”
My next opportunity may be in Policy and Procedure shooting, particularly with a WH&S focus. It needs to be precisely done, is customised for the client (heck, it’s customised for each policy/procedure), requires expertise in analysis of the existing documents so you get exactly the right thing and can’t be done by a novice with a Flip and a netbook. This sort of stuff has legal ramifications so it must be done right.

If one video prevents one workplace death, the whole program will have been worthwhile.

Just a thought.

[Eric Addison]

Andy,

I hear you…I turn 41 next month, and I’ve been doing video production pretty much since college.

I was let go from the place I had worked at since college back in 2003. I’d always wanted to have my own production company, so I figured it was time to give it a shot. It was a rough go at first – I had some industry connections here where I live based on my previous job, but no clients. But I kept at it, and today things are pretty good. It took time and effort to get out there to make the connections I needed, which is something I struggled with.

I was very blessed to have landed a couple good clients for who I just poured every ounce of creativity I had into their projects. This lead to other clients through word of mouth, and things just grew. While I’m not the biggest player in town, and I’m still technically a “one-man-band” production house – although I have a great network of freelancers I call on when I need help, I’m doing well. I’ve been able to survive, and even in this brutal recession, things have been steady.

It is hard, and as someone who hates getting out there and networking to get more business, sometimes you have to just push yourself. I love my job – as hard and frustrating as it can be, I don’t want to do anything else.

Good luck!

—Eric
Owner | 100 ACRE FILMS
https://www.100acrefilms.com

[Scott Carnegie]

Consider diversifying and moving towards creating your own intellectual property; films, documentaries, training videos, mobile apps etc. This is exactly what I am starting to do, working on my first documentary (pickacardfilm.com) and starting to develop some iPhone Apps. If there is no corporate coming in then this is something to think about, using your skills to create some passive income.

Check out this blog for ideas on creating passive income on the net.

https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/

http://www.MediaCircus.TV
Media Production Services
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

[Noah Kadner]

Heh- same here lol.

Noah

Unlock the secrets of 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio with Call Box Training. Featuring the Panasonic GH2 and GoPro HD Hero.

[Andy Jackson]

This just proves my point about the state of the video business.

We should all be producers making videos, not diversifying into different sectors to make ends meet. If thats the case its not worth doing.

You dont see most industries having to do this.

The media and arts industry is dier.
You can`t plan from one week to the next as the work may not be there in whatever you do.

[Noah Kadner]

How about you do what works for you and I do what works for me? 🙂 I was just offering what works for me. If that works for you that’s great. But please don’t try to apply a one size fits all to making it in the media business or you’re more likely to head for disappointment or worse.

And also I forget to mention, I personally find doing one thing well- incredibly boring. I happen to love diversification. If I had to just be a shooter, or just make apps or just write magazine articles or just travel to conventions- alone- I’d be unhappy. Variety is the spice of life. And if your variety is to focus on one thing and perfect it- good for you.

Noah

Unlock the secrets of 24p, HD and Final Cut Studio with Call Box Training. Featuring the Panasonic GH2 and GoPro HD Hero.

[John Young]

[Andy jackson] “You dont see most industries having to do this.”

What? I think the correct statement is “You see ALL industries having to do this.” Every business has to change as the landscape changes i.e. “diversify” their business as you say.

Ask the land line telephone industry if they have had “diversify” their business to keep up. Ask the newspaper industry if they have had to “diversify”. Ask the TV repairman if he has had to “diversify”. Ask my grandfather who has run a farm all his life if he has had to “diversify”.

Yes, I think technology is changing faster and faster and therefore industries that rely on technology are changing fast as well. But the fact is that the way that people are consuming content is changing and the way that people are creating content is changing. (As it always has been going back to the the Lumiere Brothers).

I know it can be frustrating at times, and maybe it is because of my personal situation but most of the times it all this changing that makes this industry so exciting to me. I actually would make the argument that the creative industry has never been healthier.

John

http://www.johnathanyoung.com

[Mike Cohen]

Find a niche I always say. College kids with a camcorder and an iMac don’t have a niche.
Wedding guys have a niche that pays very well, which is why there is usually 1 or 2 wedding guys per town who do very well.
Most towns have a video company that specializes in corporate video, training, commercials, education, government – sure you need to convince local businesses to use your services (think factory vs chip shop), but as you have learned, sales is 50% of the battle.

There are numerous articles and similar thread on the Business and Marketing forum from folks in your boat.

Good luck – keep your chin up.

Mike Cohen