[Grinner Hester]

I am deaf in one ear so headphones are a great handicap, no pun intended.
When looking at space to edit in, one should first start looking at places where ya can actually edit in. Going in with limitations in mind is laying down on a burning bed then pretending to wonder why feeling burned.

[Grinner Hester]

mix it down first (avid has an interlacing bug when sending to sorenson, otherwise) then export a QT reference. Import that into sorenson squeeze and encode a wmv at 500kbs. Anything over 320X240 will be fine as youtube will then make it their native rez.
Alternatively, you can export a wmv out of Avid but it’s slower and with less handles than sorenson squeeze.

[Grinner Hester]

thos ecompanies are not created to pay freelancers. They milk students and offer experience… as advertised.
You’d be surprosed how many kids are happy to make a quick video for 1oo bucks. It’s 100 more than they would have made that day and they get to make videos instead of flip burgers.
win/win for all involved but you’d only frustrate yourself if you tried to do real work for them for regular wages.

[Grinner Hester]

800 bucks.
for 7 hours of work.
Thats fine by me today. My edit suite is in my house and, as you mentioned, all of my gear is paid for. I subtract 200 from that grand because I understand and agree with your point that it cost us a little for every production. It doesn’t cost me more than that unless I travel though and the truth is, I just don’t need more than a grand a day to make ends meet anymore. Passing these savings on to my clientele really is what keeps me busy every day.
Keep in mind the price example we are using is only an example. In many cases, I can work it to where I am making the same hourly rate I was when I had big overhead. That’s the cool part of one-man-banding for a flat fee.

[Grinner Hester]

I carry mine on 100 percent of the time. Period.
I learned the hard way not to bring my anvil case as it won’t fit ont he puddle jumpers and checking it att he gate is worse. I watched em overhand it into the hull.
Now, I just carry it in a carry on duffle bag. I bring no lights and don’t even bring my sticks. If I can’t fit it in my pockets, I don’t need it. I have dimmable LEDs, wireless lavs, extra tape and plenty of betteries. Less is more when travelling. I check nothing.
not even a change of clothes… I mean, the camera in the duffle bag needs padding, anyway 😉

[Grinner Hester]

They can sue you but it doesn’t mean they’ll win anything. As long as your are objective and factual, you’ll have no worries. Bash with an agenda and you are inviting a guy with a tie.

[Grinner Hester]

I just use word. Easy. Quick. No worries.
Ihave a paid pile and an unpaid pile. Once peid, my wife moves it to the other stack.
Very technoid here. 😉

[Grinner Hester]

My hourly rate is what it is. While the mom and pop shops you mentioned want a flat bid, that’s pretty easy multiplication. A grand a piece is pretty standard here, assuming I’ll be done in the time frame you discribed. Some balk with an “oh my!” but that doesn’t change my costs or worth. Others do the “oh my” the other way and wonder why they didn’t start capitolizing on this long ago.
Truth is, a turn-key ad campaign can now be created for that flat grand I mentioned. This is how things are changing.

[Grinner Hester]

Start calling companies you want to do work for and bid on some projects. Let em know your rates, availability, ect. Take em to lunch if you have to. As with everything, it’s all in who ya know. It’s up to you to get to know em.

[Grinner Hester]

I could not have said it better. We all get bored. That inspires some to create new opportunity. I’ve seen it feed depression for others. They begin to do nothing than will mention how bored they are. Sit stagnant and this will happen in any industry in a company of any size. There is no room for bordom in challenge. Failure doesn’t hurt. Not succeeding does.