Mike Cohen
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COW Coin
Forum Replies Created
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My classmate from college was our sports anchor. When he graduated he wanted to get that elusive on-air job at ESPN. So he hired an agent, and for 10 years he waited and paid royalties on freelance work. In the meantime he got entry level reporting jobs, eventually being a sports anchor in a small town network affiliate, got some work on his reel, and then got some freelance weekend work in Albany and Providence. Now he’s made a name for himself within New England. Then he parlayed his affinity for boxing commentary into a column in a boxing magazine and did some NESN work. Now he’s actually managing a boxer and is involved with the celebrity boxing circuit (Jose Canseco vs Sugar Ray Leonard Jr. – life doesn’t get more exciting than that kids)
In other words, he got his name out there, got his work out there, and realized an agent pretty much makes money for not getting you your dream job, assuming that elusive ESPN anchoring job remains elusive. That’s my only knowledge of agents, but an interesting story.
Mike Cohen
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good trick. I usually open the VOB file in VLC player and export out a wav file, then import that. But simpler is better.
Mike Cohen
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the Avenger Baby Roller stands are pretty sturdy and can get pretty high. But as with anything that is high or extends out from the base, counterweight and sandbags are a must.
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That’s what I hated about college radio. It was sold to us as “have your own radio show, even as a Freshman.” Then you get your weekly time slot, and you are required to play 50% or more songs from the rotation each hour, plus weather plus news, plus commercials and promos, leaving you little time to talk. And then you had to fill out your playlist so that the record companies would keep sending free records. Yes we used records as well as these newfangled compact discs and of course the ubiquitous cart.
So my roommate and I created a weekly comedy skit called the Yugoslavian Chef, I played a lot of Van Halen and Led Zeppelin and talked a lot. As the years went by I also became the news director, using this newfangled internet thing to get my daily headlines, did some live reporting on campus. I talked so much they gave me warnings, and eventually gave me a joke award for the “DJ who doesn’t shut up.” Sorry Sonic Youth, but your songs didn’t get played on my show. The last straw, when I knew I got their attention, they offered me my own weekly call-in talk show. I guess the talking wasn’t so bad after all.
But I turned down the talk show, because I had already found my new passion, the campus tv station. As general manager and news director, I made up my own rulebook and helped the new underclassmen get the most out of their experience, and eventually people started getting anchoring and news photog jobs straight out of college.
If you don’t like something, change it. It seems a lot of people don’t like what is happening to television at the moment. Eventually, someone is going to change things and the SciFi and History Channel folks can either adapt or perish.
Great thread.
Mike Cohen
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Mark – I’d pay for this channel. Let me know when it is live.
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This happened to us when we got into book publishing. Publishing must not be confused with printing. Anyone can have copies of their book printed, that is called printing. Publishing is the editorial process to get from a manuscript to a printed book. We figured out an efficient way to do this for the projects we select.
After we released our first few books which became our flagship products, word started to get around. Now with 15 books in print and another dozen in the works, we find ourselves in meetings and cocktail receptions, being handed book proposals like passing notes in study hall. We of course carefully consider new opportunities. You never know where the next blockbuster is going to come from.
So as the others have said, put yourself out there, always with your best foot forward. Solve peoples’ problems. Be creative and they will come on their own schedule.
Mike Cohen
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I hope we see more internet tv networks like https://revision3.com/
but with dramatic and comedy shows. You can find some amazing programming on current and free video podcasts on itunes with great production values. The problem is you can’t hit the Guide button on your web browser, like on your DVR, and get a list of all programming from all “channels” – not yet anyway. Some clever programmer should come up with just such a magic button, sell ads and invent the new way to watch tv.Hmm, I think I just invented a new way to watch tv. Now, where did I put that copy of PHP for Dummies…?
Mike Cohen
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I thought the whole point of 500 channels is that niche programming creates a specific audience for each genre. But apparently niche audiences don’t pay the bills. I am a bit surprised that tv ratings even exist anymore.
I loved the premise of Galactica – believable people involved in extraordinary situations with a realistic style. What sold the show for me was that the ordinance used in space were bullets and missiles, not corny lasers. The show jumped the shark after the New Caprica season, but it was still some of the best sci fi ever on television.
A show like Warehouse 13 or Fringe one would expect to see on SciFi Channel, but with lower budgets and if possible, even worse acting.
I remember fondly when you could turn on MTV and the videos ran 24/7. Mid 80’s they introduced variety programming like the MTV half hour comedy hour and Remote Control, then came Beavis and Butthead, Aeon Flux and Real World Season 1. That’s when MTV jumped the shark and the networks have been following the Fonz ever since.
Occasionally we get a surprise, like the unannounced live U2 concert on a flatbed truck in NYC, or Planet Earth or Deadliest Catch (that’s for you Grinner). But we have been watching every non-pay channel die a slow death. Makes me wonder if the network execs are aware of how bad their programming has become, or if all they care about it sellin’ ads.
I agree that in a very short time, the best shows will be available exclusively online and NBC will be begging to buy programming from web-based producers. Creative COW Television Network – we’re waiting for you.
Mike Cohen
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I usually ballpark a day rate for a shooter at $800/day, or $1200 for a two-person crew, camera op + audio op with gear. This covers most markets.
I know you said kit rental is separate, so maybe $450 is realistic, but that may vary by market.
Union or non-union, an 8 hour day may not include travel, meals, mileage, tolls, parking, media (tape stock or hard drives) and consumables – account for these extra costs which are unlikely to be part of a day rate.
If it comes in less great, but you are covered from a estimating point of view.
Sure reality shows are cheap, which is why there are so many of them, but there is a difference between “cheap” (reasonably priced) and “being cheap” (being cheap.)
Mike Cohen
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This comes down to, “know what it costs you to do what you do, and charge enough that you make a good living, can pay your bills and have some left over for profit or to reinvest in your business, and charge your client a fair rate. A fair rate takes care of you, and takes care of the client. You have to find a balance.” If ever you doubt that your rate is not taking care of either yourself or your client, or both, then you need to re-evaluate, which is what your post seems to be about.
In general, you don’t want to publish rates, unless you only charge by the hour, but even then maybe not. Or if you do work for hire 1 day video shoots. But even then, it depends upon the shoot. Would you charge the same day rate for documenting a conference vs a full day film style shoot with many setups? Maybe, maybe not. Again, it comes down to your business model.
Here’s a good exercise. Create an Excel spreadsheet and calculate your actual costs for each type of service you offer, add a markup to get the actual rate you should charge (remember your overhead and profit, not just your actual cost) and based upon the average amount of work you do, figure out where you break even and where you do pretty well.
As you get good at estimating costs for new projects, you will just know how much to charge so you cover your expenses, make some profit and are fair to the client, but ultimately you need to be fair to yourself.
Mike Cohen