Mick Haensler
Forum Replies Created
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[grinner hester] “A grand a piece is pretty standard here, assuming I’ll be done in the time frame you discribed. “
Yep, that’s about right for me as well.
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
[Mark Alexander] “in your opinion, what do you think might be a reasonable price point from the business owners perspective for a short and simple video that they could place on their sites?
“IMO this is an irrelevant question if you haven’t first committed to paper what YOU need to charge to make a profit. Figure out what you need to make first, THEN find out what the market will bare for a specific profit. If the market won’t bare what you need to make than you don’t do it, it’s that simple.
But to answer your question specifically, everyone is different and will have a different perspective on what is reasonable. I would say most “mom and pop” shops would think no more than $200 would be reasonable and that includes getting it on their web site for them too. So let’s run this out shall we:
1. Sales call average time .5 hours with a return rate of 10%(that’s being generous) so that’s 5 hours of time invested already.
2. Write up the contract and get the deposit – .25 hours
3. Write the script and get it approved and signed off on – 2 hours
4. Do the shoot – 2 hours
5. PP – 2 hours
6. Get client approval and get it coded AND online on their web site – 3 hoursNow let’s say I’m off a bit and the thing only took you ten hours once you got your rhythm down and the client pays you $250, you’re now making a whopping $25 an hour. If you were working for somebody else this might be OK, but to me this is not a sustainable or desirable business model.
Also, these are not much fun to do. I might as well go sell tires at Sears….
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
While it is possible to get business marketing to law firms, 90% of my legal work comes from court reporting firms. Right now, law suits are way down because a lot of folks are settling out of court to get quick cash in this economic downturn. I used to be able to depend on anywhere from 4-10 depos a month. Last year I did 8 total and I’ve been doing this for 5 years for some very high end reporting firms. Another factor is some of the larger nationwide reporting firms are lowballing to push the smaller local companies out. The larger firms don’t pay squat. If you don’t mind working for peanuts, try marketing to some of the nationwide firms.
These firms also require you to be certified which is bogus since there is no government mandated certification by any state except NY and possibly CA. The certifying entities are private companies with no legal stature to issue any certification. The only thing they can certify is their desire to part you with your hard earned dollars.
Personally, I would look elsewhere for that bread and butter income. That being said, with an aggressive, well though out marketing campaign, I can see the possibility of getting some quantity albeit low paying work if you live in a major metropolitan area.
Here is an equipment list you will need if you want to do this
2 cameras that imprint timecode
6 lavs
2 6 channel mixers
1 cheap tripod
1 3 point light kit
1 professional neutral backdrop
2 sets of headphones
1 cheap computer with iMovie or Windows MoviemakerYou will also have to become an expert in both local and federal rules of civil procedure and it’s helpful to become a Notary as well. Be prepared for last minute cancellations where you don’t get paid a dime even if you show up and set up. Firms that pay net 90. Firms that don’t pay. It CAN work, but like anything, you will get out of it what you put into it. For me, it’s just not worth it to pursue any more. If I get calls I’ll do them if I get my rate, but I’m really not going after new business.
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
[George Griswold] “Sony stopped thinking, consulting with end users, and being at all reasonable way back when SX seemed like a good idea to them (only).”
I disagree. Granted, some of the things they implement on their products simply don’t make sense. But a few bad design decisions doesn’t really feel unreasonable to me. I like most Sony products. Like everything else they have their weak and strong points. A good example of how they DO listen to the end user is the new EX3r (I think that’s the model). The pre release reviews have all stated how MUCH Sony listened to the end user in this upgrade. Of course there are still a few things that make you go WTF were they thinking.
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
[Mark Suszko] “Rumpole called her: “She Who Must Be Obeyed”.”
Inspired words, from a man who knows…how to ski
And quite possibly Mark’s shortest post ever. I don’t know, I’ll have to do some research ’cause this could be big….reeeeal big!!
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
Most People will watch TV whether there is good programming or bad programming. Most People don’t watch TV because it’s good,Most People watch TV to escape their mundane workaday pitiful excuse for a life. I have a buddy of mine, my best friend mind you. He’s filing for chapter 13, single dad, he’s on food stamps and every kind of government assistance he can get his hands on. But hell and begone, DON’T TURN OFF MY CABLE!!!
I’m not judging mind you, he’s been through an extremely rough patch and is still standing. Most men would be blithering idiots with what he’s been through, but the point still stands. He escapes into that box and it really doesn’t matter what’s on. I have another friend of mine, successful banker, two great kids, kickin’ wife, the whole enchilada. His TV never gets turned off…NEVER!!! I have been coming home from a gig at 4 AM and look across the street and the only light I see is that familiar blue glow and a silhouette of his head in the window.
There are those that do things, there are those that make TV shows about people who do things(which is actually doing things), and then there are those that watch the TV shows about other people do things. We have become a nation of freakin voyeurs. Excuse me, I gotta go do sumpin, Anybody wanna watch??
…..that didn’t come out right…..
Oh and one more I forgot. There are those that do things and then make a TV show about it. Sorry
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
I sold some footage to TWC last Spring during a Noreaster. I think they paid me $175 for the footage. I really didn’t care about the money, I was more interested in the cred. Bottom line is, you’ve got your footage on Youtube for free right now….catch my drift…snowplow??
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
[grinner hester] “the moral… If you’re gonna take the time to go to college, freakin’ party balls, man.
“
Interviewer: “If you had gone through our corporate training program 2 years ago, you would be qualified for this position.”
Interviewee: ” Why did I go to college then?”
Interviewer: ” Ya had fun didn’t ya!!!”
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
Hey Bob and Frank
Excellent thoughts. Thank you very much for the input. Fortunately for me my partner is a marketing maniac, he actually enjoys it. I never thought of NPR or doing the harvesting thing, interesting. Thanks so much for the input.
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media -
[Arnie Schlissel] “congrats on Deadliest Catch”
Grinner didn’t say “Deadliest Catch”, he said “Dealiest Catch”, a new reality show on A&E that pairs up eligible Vegas pit dealers with Donald Trump’s ex wives. I’d still where a sweater though…or maybe a sweater vest.
Ummm…yeah…..
Anyway, big time congratulations on verifying that the meaning of life, the universe and everything is most certainly not….42. And double congrats on a successful pitch and possibly nailing a place on one of the most successful reality shows ever. And I thought I was sumpin working on “Psychic Investigators”…WooHoo!!!
Mick Haensler
Higher Ground Media