[Tim Frechette]

WOW Cynthia, that is a kick in the face. They are very blatant and probably take on the “So Sue Us” attitude. I hope you can find a good lawyer and drain these guys. It is piss poor unethical business practices like this that rob true entrepreneurs and creative talent.

[Tim Frechette]

Hi Tami,
Sorry to hear that. Your situation is the what I wanted to try and avoid and still produce a show but I can see there is no future in that. I see people on craigslist in my area looking for freelancers for work that they are doing for the Discovery channel. A local event had 2 shooters from Discovery here and they just go around shooting footage for them. Apparently Discovery is doing their own editing, etc.

One way or another someone with a creative idea will be screwed out of their creativity with this portal process. It is sad and poisons many people in the process.

[Tim Frechette]

After careful thought as well as taking into consideration all of the valuable advice here I decided to turn down the job.
After a few conversations with little information coming my way I will highlight what a crap deal this would of been.

I would have to buy all the equipment from commercial production that I would of done if the on air talent sold any spots.

I would take very very little as pay to work for 90 days and after that time I still would get very little.

I would get a small amount of money from ads sales as well as have almost NO control over the show, ie, camera angels, etc.

I could not broadcast on the web.

The tv station would need their guaranteed revenue from current programing of $250.00 per week paid directly to them from the very first ad sales from our program so they would not lose any money.

We would have to pay the fiber optic cable for $800p/m

I asked for their sales projections in writing but no one would do it.

So, they are going hire the on air talent’s kid to hand hold a single camera with a direct feed to the tv station for broadcast and hope to sell ads.

I wish them luck. What a great opportunity but it will die a slow death.

Thank you everyone for your insight and experience.

Good Day

[Tim Frechette]

Excellent points on selling ads. Thank You

This show was on air for 4 years and did very well. I was present for the last 2 years of the show and know who was doing what. I know that the tv station wanted to just take in the revenue but had little interest doing anything more for the show. They have been off air for 6 months and their audience is still asking about a return to tv.

Thank for the input and I will keep you posted.
Tim

[Tim Frechette]

I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to respond, it is greatly appreciated.

Here is an update.

I can borrow the equipment needed to get the show on air. Revenue split as proposed. Half of breaks go to the tv station for them to sell.
Our share will be split like this. Who ever sells the ad gets 50%. The other 50% goes like this.

10% for infrastructure
50% to me
40% to the on air talent.
If a client needs a commercial I make it and keep all revenue to pay for my equipment.

I am getting a rate card from the station to see what the actual numbers on for commercial rates. The tv program director keeps telling us we need to hire a cameraman to run a camera live in the studio to give it a realty effect like MTV. He did it 11 years ago 4 times a month with a local rock station and it went well he said.
I said if it went so well why did it last only 3 months and I am not going to produce this show with a huge paycut just so I can pay a “new kid” to run a camera. The tv PD also told us that setting up this tv show is as simply as plugging in the fiber optic cable into his camera and letting it run.
My response was “A monkey can do that, is that the show you want to run?” They keep saying that they want a really nice looking show, yet they don’t want to pay me for it.

Another revenue stream would be to broadcast on the net but the radio station says it will hurt their online streaming. I feel like everyone is limiting my revenue stream yet everyone else is going to be making top dollar.

Give me your opinion and tell me what the idea situation would be.
Thanks

[Tim Frechette]

Excellent post. Thank you.

[Tim Frechette]

WOW, what a wealthy of knowledge in these great posts. I will use a little bit of everyone’s recommendations and see if I can head this off at the pass. I know the client is always right and give the client what they want but I WANT a great final product. Thank you all for taking the time to respond. I will let you know in a few days what direction we went in.
Thanks
Tim

[Tim Frechette]

Thanks, I will post over there.

[Tim Frechette]

Mick,

I’m sorry but since you mentioned you have secrets you are now going to have to share with everyone in the class. 🙂

All kidding aside I have been approached by a couple of agents but they are so damn cheap and want the world. I will be putting the finishing touches on a plan so I can make money with the right client.

This is a link to someone doing real estate videos. Your opinions are welcomed.

http://www.nashuavideotours.com/

[Tim Frechette]

Thanks for all of the replies.

I do have my own business insurance which covers everything mentioned. I didn’t want to leave any stone unturned regarding stolen property.

The half day rate seems fair.

When the client pays do you fly coach or first class?

Thanks