Steve Wargo
20
COW Coins
4
Premiere Pro Coins
Forum Replies Created
-
Almost all of my posts are some sort of blog or clog or something. Just give me a soap box and I’ll tell you all about, from my point of view.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
-
How often does someone dash in the door, at the last minute, and need their project done that they forgot all about? The fact that they know up front that they have to give up something for their tardiness, or lack of money, tells them something.
We had a client a while back that was always late and then he would suck up to my wife, who runs the front desk: “How’s your Mom doing”, “Oh, you got your hair done. Wow! It looks great!” Then, she would say “Oh, can’t we do this for Mr X? He’s such a nice guy.” Nice guy, my ass. He’s a con artist. Of course, he would drop it off at 5pm on Friday and say “How early can I get this Monday morning? I have to show it to the group at our breakfast meeting.”
Sure thing, idiot. It was the same thing when I was in the car repair business. People want to drop it off on the way to work and pick it up on the way home, 9 1/2 hours later.Oh crap! I’m blogging again. Sorry.
My next topic of complaint will be the clients who think that we should charge the same thing to work on Sunday as we do on Wednesday afternoon. Our company has a sliding scale for day of week and time of day. You don’t? Why not? Get the plumber to come over Sunday night at 9pm and see what that costs.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
-
How about “A group of film makers trying to decide on a subject for an Action Comedy”?
Ever seen the Zooma Zooma piece on “Directing”?
I just spent 20 minutes trying to hunt down this hilarious piece and it has been pulled. I’ll pursue this tomorrow. It is absolutely hilarious. It’s about a first time direstor’s first day on the set and the staff and crew talk to him truthfully, as they would behind his back. It’s a classic. It was posted on the director referral website, zoomazooma.com
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
-
That was easy. Maybe you have posted it here first.
Got any more stuff?
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
-
If you’re looking for the 24fps look in DigiBeta, you’ll have to create it in post through software. XDCAM-HD is slated to be the new DigiBeta in Sony’s eyes. This will be very interesting over the next few years.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
-
I’ll second that for a standard slogan. In the race car business, it’s Fast, Cheap, Dependable – Pick 2″
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
-
Black balance first
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
-
We have been in the business 25 years and did weddings regularly from 83 till around 89 and then got into the corporate video world. We’re still asked to shoot weddings on a regular basis. We accept the jobs and price them like any other corporate event, starting at around $2995 and up. I then hire really good wedding videographers and add 50%. Usually, the one who hires us is a corporate connection and they simply want the best. They don’t necessarily need us to shoot it but rather make sure that it gets done to our standards.
The wedding video business is big bucks but you have to stay away from the discount jobs. These are the people who want the world for nothing. And, as I said before, join WEVA. They have great books and equipment resources. They also have members who do nothing but edit. You send the tapes and get a finished product in about a week. They have all of the right jumpbacks, the music and effects that the brides go nuts over.
We did a wedding last year for a high ranking Intel executive and shot it with two Sony CineAlta HD cameras. We had a jib, a steadicam and a regular live shoot production crew. And the food was very good.
Hey, money is money.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
-
You didn’t mention what the job is that you are quitting. I would hope that it is in the field of production and that you are opening a production company because you have tons of clients waiting for you to open the doors.
Do you have the following?
Experience
A business plan
Cash to cover 8 months of overhead.
Equipment that is debt free
A family member who is an accountant
Business insurance
Mentors to save your bacon
A good lawyer
Experience
Technical skillsThe most important skill to have is SALES.
The most successful producers have minimal equipment and merely sell the job, hire someone to do it and then collect the money.This business is dog eat dog and I have seen many people get into the business who wanted to get in for the “art” side instead on the “money” side. Art is what hobbies are for.
Have a clientel ready for you when you open. Hire a highly skilled person and pay them a lot of money. Make them sign a non-compete agreement.
This is a great looking profession from the outside but remember this. To get clients, you’ll probably have to take them from someone else. Can you do that? What do you have to offer? Why should anyone hire you? How many awards do you have now? Hire slowly, fire quickly.
I could go on forever but if you are planning on doing long distance video production, you’re probably destined for failure. Don’t go into this business or any business because you’re good at the skill involved, such as, a great plumber should not open a plumbing company. Fixing drains is not where the money is. The money is built on being a business manager, the one who hires others to do the work. A great cook should not open a restaurant. A fantastic camera person should not open a production company.
Call the S.C.O.R.E. office in your town and meet with a business counselor.
I used to build off-road race trucks and got into video as a hobby. The video business looked intriguing and the first year, I made $2500. After 25 years, I’m finally getting the hang of it. (IMHO)
The downside. Any smart business person will give you this advice: Build a business with the intention of selling it. Have a generic name that can transfer to another person or corporation. Sell it before 10 years time. Do it again. If you are the business, you have nothing to sell but used equipment (Worth nothing) and a client list. If you are the owner/manager and you have a team that goes with the company, you now have something to sell, unless you’re operating out of your home.
Good luck,you’ll probably need lots of it.
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!
-
Mr AZEDIT
I looked at your profile and it seems as though we are neighbors. This is Steve from Show-N-Tell Productions in Tempe. We’re at the 101 and Broadway. You and I need to get together and compare cameras and such. I need a backup on some jobs and this might be a very good opportunity for both of us. Please give me a call and let’s do lunch. 480-345-2187
Steve Wargo
Tempe, ArizonaIt’s a dry heat!