Mike Cohen
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COW Coin
Forum Replies Created
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Most of our shoots involve a tripod case checked and carry-on with HDV camera, some tapes and DV clamshell deck. No problems with this system aside from airlines taking every opportunity to lose the tripod case. Taking an earlier outgoing flight is usually sufficient to avoid completely lost luggage, but not always.
A few times a year we travel with lights, multiple cameras/tripods and other bags of gear. We pay extra for excess baggage on all but Southwest airlines.
As for camera and laptop on the same flight, I would leave the laptop at home unless you absolutely need it. If you are shooting stills, sounds like you absolutely need it.
Just carry the minimum amount of carry-on baggage. Presumably you could still carry the camera and laptop on (stick the lens in a small padded duffel under your seat, the camera up in the overhead) even if you have to check your bag.
Mike
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I would especially like to thank Nick Griffin for getting me involved in this forum in the first place. In fact, I am thankful for the ability to participate here and elsewhere. It is fun, after all.
Mike Cohen
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Grinner, that’s an awesome treasure you are building, for you and your kids.
From 95 to 05 I captured lots of tape, bookended by my grandparents’ 50th and 60th anniversaries, with cool videos for both events. Lots of fun and now great treasures.A fun activity was digitzing the 50th anniversary video, cut on 3/4″, and remastering it in Premiere before exporting for DVD. Not sure Grandma ever learned how to navigate the DVD menu, but she enjoyed watching that video over and over during her last few years.
Since they passed on, I have been harvesting brief snippets, to share with my extended family on Facebook or wherever. A little part of them lives on forever.
Mike Cohen
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Seriously, didn’t there used to be COW merchandise – coffee mugs, t-shirts, mousepads, etc? CafePress for example. I’d buy some of that.
Mike Cohen
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As Walter said, you only need to pretty-up the proposal if the client needs it. Here are two examples:
Client A: Big Bob’s House of Highlighters
You have a meeting with them about a project they have in mind. it is a DVD about their manufacturing process, which they will give to potential investors and current customers. They know what they want, and just need a price. In that case, give them a standard 1 page proposal, listing what you will give them and what it will cost.
Client B: Diamond Dave’s Drawbridge Repair Inc.
The Owner’s son, Dave Jr, wants to create a video to promote the company’s services. He feels that there is potentially a lot of money to be made from the USA Recovery bill, as the country’s drawbridges are generally old and falling apart, thus they are shovel-ready projects. Dave Jr. learned about your services after seeing a video you made elsewhere in town, and he really thinks this is a winner. But Dave Sr. is a tough sell, so you’re going to have to work for this.
In this case, make a proposal that includes a storyboard, or at least a written treatment. Really sell the idea with descriptive language not only about what the video will look like, but also what it will accomplish. Dave Jr. wants to use you, but Dave Sr. needs convincing that the project is worth doing, no matter who does the actual work.
There is of course a middle-ground where you need to sell the idea and yourself. In that case, split the difference.
Over time, you will get comfortable with how and when to use both types of pitches/proposals, and when to combine them. In fact you may come up with a template.
And while you are at it, make sure you calculate your actual costs and overhead, to make sure the price you come up with is actually going to make you some money.
Good luck.
Mike Cohen
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We use Constant Contact too and have been very happy with it. There are of course other providers – we started using CC because some of our vendors do too. Then there are full service firms such as e-dialog that do everything for you. The best part is you can track the opens and click-throughs to know if your messages are working.
On a few campaigns we have seen a definite return on investment. We
You should never send mass emails from a regular e-mail account. If you get enough spam reports your e-mail domain can get flagged by AOL, Yahoo and other recipient providers. Not good. Also, you must offer an opt-out to your customer, so they can easily unsubscribe. That is actually the law in the USA. When a recipient clicks “unsubscribe” their email is automatically removed from your list – not having to manually manage a list is a big deal if you have 3000+ names.
Finally, using an email marketing provider such as Constant Contact or someone else, you can have a signup box on your website, and people can automatically be added to the mailing list.
Mike Cohen
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Things to watch out for in any business:
Not delegating enough. It’s your business, you do it better than anyone. But you need to grow the business, and teach others in your shop to do as good a job as you do, of good enough to get the job done to the client’s satisfaction.
Becoming stagnant. I’m not talking about seeing a drop off in new work. I mean you need to keep expanding your business. What new services can you offer your clients?
Thinking you know everything. You may know everything about your business, or at least about the way you do business. But sometimes you need to hire someone who knows more than you, or at least ask questions of someone in the know to make sure you are on the right track. Sometimes as a business owner, you can’t see the forest for the trees – you need an outsider’s perspective.
Resting on your laurels – google it.
As Mr Zelin said – you need to get out there and get business. Selling is an everyday activity. You need a lot of prospects. Do some market research and get on with it. Being busy should keep you motivated, unless the business you are bringing in is $250 local car dealership spots! Bring in the business you want. In the interim, learn new skills or techniques. Develop a process for getting stuff done, so when you get a lot of new stuff that needs to get done you will be ready.
Happy New Year.
Mike Cohen
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Interestingly, most of the articles and tv coverage of Avatar that I have seen have ignored the 3D aspect. Most focus on the motion capture and face capture technology, the political overtones, the environmental overtones and the visuals.
It is actually amazing the number of Avatar related posts around the COW this past week. I could not search the archives as far back as 1977, but presumably Star Wars had a lot of chatter on the COW back in the day too 😉
Mike Cohen
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I was going to suggest Lost in 3D – I think what producers of new 3D need to understand is the selective 3D as Cameron has nicely demonstrated. Only put things in 3D if they add to the story or make the scene better. Like those computer displays in the Avatar command center and the helicopter cockpits.
But sitcoms, Law and Order style shows and heaven forbid Reality Shows are just fine in 2D.
As for medical, 3D has been used for 10 years in the DaVinci robotic surgical devices. It is pretty stunning, and helps surgeons operate on beating hearts. There have been a few 3D presentations on large screens at medical conferences over the years. We actually did a 3D medical video in 1995 – everyone in the audience needed a pair of Crystal Eyes.
Cooking shows might be cool in 3D. “Everyday Italian” and “Good Eats” come to mind. Walter, better get your 3D rig up and running.
Mike Cohen
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it seems to be the varying data rates people are using.