Ned Miller
3
COW Coins
Forum Replies Created
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Good idea, they will know of educated prospects. I placed an ad on Chicago’s Craigslist and someone wrote to me suggesting a cafe where all the Somali cabbies hang out but I don’t think their educational level will suffice, although I have met really intelligent cabbies all over the world who were underemployed.
I do think I struck pay dirt, the largest immigrant community of them is in Minneapolis and the social worker who helps place them in jobs contacted me and has three educated prospects, including one who was a DJ at a radio station so he may have good pipes. The challenge will be for them to condense the copy to not be too much longer than the English and Somali is way longer. I may fly up to MPLS and record scene by scene in my quiet hotel room where I can control the situation.
One area that has previously bit me in the butt are accents. If you ask someone if they have an accent (including myself) they will usually say No. So how does one figure out if a Somali has a regional accent unless diagnosed by at least two other Somalis? Right now on another job I’m producing for a cruise line my client said to make sure the Indonesian narrator uses the “Jakarta Dialect”. What a strange biz we are in!
Ned Miller
Chicago Videographer
http://www.nedmiller.com
www,bizvideo.com -
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Hmmmm…that made my brain hurt. I’ve been in the biz since 1976 and what seems to work has been this mantra:
“It’s not what you make it’s what you keep.”
Worked so far.
Ned Miller
Chicago Videographer
http://www.nedmiller.com
www,bizvideo.com -
Hey David,
I get your question a lot from the 20 somethings I hire. I have been freelance for 33 years and own a micro production company (me, two dogs and a large parrot), but all-in-all it is self employment. Even if you land a client that needs repeat video, it is never forever, the relationship will have a beginning, middle and end. I have seen this by observing the inner workings of many production companies including those with network clients for season series. It always ends so there is no security. But that is what I and the older survivors love: No Net.
I see the difference between personality types who like to be on their own as different than the team player staff people. Some have no stomach for the roller coaster. I happen to need and love the tremendous variation of subject matter. This is the perfect field for ADD folks: they can hyper concentrate on a project for a short burst, get bored, move on. Vacation when you want, accept the clients you want, etc.
I feel self employment is the highest form of commerce we who love doing video can achieve because the tax codes benefit those with small businesses. However, it’s basically a project oriented business, meaning you:
• Look for the work
• Are awarded the work
• Do the work (the fun part)
• Finally get paid for the work (the hard part)
• Spend the money after hopefully socking some in savings.
• RepeatWhat I tell all the young uns is that you can NOT make it on your own: You must be in a relationship (hopefully married so it’s harder for her to escape) where your partner has a steady career that has health care coverage. And oh yes, preferably a frugal gal who is not into bling, status, loves shopping and keeping up with the Joneses. I lucked out and married a teacher, not much money but iron clad security in her district and I get cheaper health insurance. Two freelancers have a hard time surviving in my experience. Also, if you have debt such as onerous student loans then you should try to get a staff gig. As the years go by and you build up your skills, especially your networking skills, then you can leap to self employment. I think this is more important than the techie side, I hire tech gurus whereas there would be no project if I didn’t sell it first.
But if you want to stay single yet love video production, hopefully you live in a big city where there’s lots of Fortune 100s. They are the ones with the internal video departments and that is where I would suggest you look. LinkedIn and networking will be your best tools, especially the Advanced Search function on LI.
That’s my two cents. Good luck.
Ned Miller
Chicago Videographer
http://www.nedmiller.com
www,bizvideo.com -
Tom, I like that term and will appropriate it.
Best regards,
Ned
Ned Miller
Chicago Videographer
http://www.nedmiller.com
www,bizvideo.com -
No one on this thread has any right to complain unless they have a yearly subscription to their local paper for seven days a week. THAT’S why they fired the photogs. No one wants the print edition anymore and advertising revenue won’t sustain them. Simple Economics 101. Ask anyone under 40 if they have a paper subscription. This is a generational divide.
Ned Miller
Chicago Videographer
http://www.nedmiller.com
www,bizvideo.com -
Jeff, Jeff, Jeff…
This is a case of business ethics, or rather, lack thereof.
If you were not involved in this story before your “friend” contacted you, then it seems to me you stabbed a buddy in the back (a common occurrence in our industry). With “friends” like you who needs enemies? If it wasn’t for your “friend” you would never have even been in the position you are in now where you have the chance to develop (steal) the story. In my mind, based on doing this every week for thirty-three years, you “stole” the project from him. I’ve seen this dozens of times, but usually not between two “friends”.
He should have had you sign something but he made the mistake of trusting you. I made that mistake many times in my youth but now I know better. Are you located in Hollywood? If so, ignore my opinion. What you did is considered normal there.
Ned Miller
Chicago Videographer
http://www.nedmiller.com
www,bizvideo.com -
Hi Trey,
I receive a free subscription of Website, B2B, Digital Marketing and E Content magazines among others, and I have read studies that show when a young viewer is confronted with so much text they will scan to get the gyst and leave in a few seconds. The same reason videos now have to be so short: The New American ADD Attention Span so I am not sure much of your message will be absorbed. My websites are presently outdated and I am working on new ones where all content will be practically bullet points.
That said, I added up the rates of the crew you listed using a middle figure and the cost for all is $11,350. It also created the impression you need a 22 person crew which I know you don’t intend. So, it seems to create the impression your company is very expensive, high end deep pocket clients only. It may be more effective to have a simple statement such as: “Prices start around $____ for a one day, ten hour shoot on location (no studio rental), ___ amount of cameras, a ___ person crew, editing includes ___ rounds of reasonable revisions, based on a realistic script and rough storyboard provided by the client, client provides catering from a place equal to or above a Paneras, 50% deposit ___ days before filming, etc.” The figure you put in should be as low as you’re willing to go but it will get a minimally qualified prospect to call in and that’s when you can upsell and he can look for “investors” in the family. Helps if you’re in an affluent area though.
Here’s my philosophy developed because I get a lot of poor prospects coming in from search engines, although I avoid music videos. I have the same problem with small retailers feeling that a website video should be around $600. My Theory: Everyone has a rich uncle! Many hedge fund managers and heart surgeons have kids in bands, imagine this conversation: “Dad, I know we’re going to make it! The reviews are great. I just need you to front my band $15,000 so we can get Trey Gregory. Let me set up a meeting. This is my big chance!” Then he gets Mom involved. My point is that you never know until you get a conversation started. Five guys in a band may only have $500 but if you interview, drill down and sell yourself maybe the orthodontist uncle may be tapped. It has worked for me.
Lastly, what I do with poor prospects is I pass them onto my young associates who show their appreciation with a good bottle of wine, etc. but more importantly it creates good will I may need to tap into sometime.
Best,
Ned Miller
Chicago Videographer
http://www.nedmiller.com
www,bizvideo.com -
Hey Mark,
What do you mean onion on a belt? I never heard that expression.
Ned Miller
Chicago Videographer
http://www.nedmiller.com
www,bizvideo.com