Bad Economy, Bad Business?
- Thread starter BennyOne
- Start date
Dirty Uncle Bob
Active member
It seems like prime time for corporate work, especially anything of the advertising variety. Companies really have to fight for the dollar when people are spending selectively.
Dirty Uncle Bob
Active member
I work in television mostly, so I don't know exactly what the corporate world is doing first hand. I'm just speculating. My colleagues here in Seattle haven't slowed down, if that is any indication.
If I were a customer service oriented business owner, I would definitely take the risk and shell out my tight dollars for a little marketing nudge to grease the rusty wheels in my favor.
If I were a customer service oriented business owner, I would definitely take the risk and shell out my tight dollars for a little marketing nudge to grease the rusty wheels in my favor.
Kegan
Spam Assassin Mod
I'm definitely doing so. I'm meeting with an advertising consultant later this week, that I was referred to by a friend. He's interested in video production and willing to cut me a break on what he usually costs (which I would probably not be able to afford). We'll see what he has to say and I'll start shelling out some cash. Gotta money to make money, right?
-Kegan
-Kegan
JonathanLB
Carbonite Member
Yeah I'm doing corporate work now, might have a few projects lined up later this year, but definitely hoping for more corporate work in the future. That's the type of work I think I will be able to make money on most consistently, even though of course it's not exactly my dream. I have to say as far as that work goes, I'd prefer industrials, like training videos, at least I get the experience of doing "short films," even if they are a bit hokey and corny, but it somewhat replicates the experience of a normal short just without the excitement in editing and whatnot. I had fun on the last training video I shot, and we just finished a rough edit today, I think it's pretty enjoyable for what it is. I'm actually happy with myself for making it as entertaining as it is. The fact I even want to watch it a few times is amazing, most of this kind of stuff sucks, and I was ridiculously nervous about this project from the start because I had no idea how it would turn out, whether I could succeed in adding humor to the project without it being over-the-top and offending anyone at corporate (I haven't showed them anything yet but after seeing it myself I don't think there are any problems), etc.
The only issue is because of the way the project was scripted, which is to say not that well at all, I just rewrote it massively with better grammar, clarity, actual script format, and injected humor into it, but I didn't really change content much, we need to reshoot a scene. We're lucky it's not a big deal, it involves no paid actors, just a chef who was at the property and works there, and because it's just him speaking we can get away with tripod, camera, lights, etc., all of which I own myself, and I can grip this thing and hire the DP back as a camera operator (he's already agreed), plus my editor was Key Grip on the shoot and he's going to come help out because basically I've paid him to be available all of June for projects for this company (17 edited projects in all). That means the additional expense of the reshoot is nothing, it's like $200, unless I charge them for my time. It's their fault, technically, but maybe I should have insisted on a script supervisor. Part of the reason I wasn't a fan of that idea is because the script wasn't very nailed down in the first place, we have a 20 minute video from an 11+ page script, not even 11 1/4, lol. A script sup would be freaking out I think how much was done without a script, so it's a miracle it edited together as well as it did. With the reshoot it'll be golden. Fortunately I have excess funds from other projects for this company so I can pull from that to compensate for the overage here, and I've told them I'll do that if acceptable so they won't have to pay anything extra even though we're able to do this extra stuff. I think it's good for everyone all around.
The economy is really bad, though, I had to offer extra money for gas on this training video shoot because it was 25 miles from downtown L.A. and I felt I should add $25 to cover gas at least. I think that gesture was appreciated.
The gas prices are just growing absurd, though, my station is up to $4.85 today, I cannot believe it. About 6 weeks ago I made my decision to move to a home office setup, and gas was significantly cheaper then but still expensive. Now I feel even smarter because I barely have to move my car for most of my work. If I need to location scout something I can drive there, and I drive every once in a while to meet with friends, but I can keep my transportation down massively. It's just as well because I prefer to stay at my condo and do work, I feel more comfortable at home than driving all over the place. I can work effectively here and had a land line installed to deal with the phone situation.
I don't know how this economy will affect advertising spending, because I really want to get into commercial work besides just corporate stuff. That's my goal, at least money-wise, besides that creatively I want music videos and working towards features...
The only issue is because of the way the project was scripted, which is to say not that well at all, I just rewrote it massively with better grammar, clarity, actual script format, and injected humor into it, but I didn't really change content much, we need to reshoot a scene. We're lucky it's not a big deal, it involves no paid actors, just a chef who was at the property and works there, and because it's just him speaking we can get away with tripod, camera, lights, etc., all of which I own myself, and I can grip this thing and hire the DP back as a camera operator (he's already agreed), plus my editor was Key Grip on the shoot and he's going to come help out because basically I've paid him to be available all of June for projects for this company (17 edited projects in all). That means the additional expense of the reshoot is nothing, it's like $200, unless I charge them for my time. It's their fault, technically, but maybe I should have insisted on a script supervisor. Part of the reason I wasn't a fan of that idea is because the script wasn't very nailed down in the first place, we have a 20 minute video from an 11+ page script, not even 11 1/4, lol. A script sup would be freaking out I think how much was done without a script, so it's a miracle it edited together as well as it did. With the reshoot it'll be golden. Fortunately I have excess funds from other projects for this company so I can pull from that to compensate for the overage here, and I've told them I'll do that if acceptable so they won't have to pay anything extra even though we're able to do this extra stuff. I think it's good for everyone all around.
The economy is really bad, though, I had to offer extra money for gas on this training video shoot because it was 25 miles from downtown L.A. and I felt I should add $25 to cover gas at least. I think that gesture was appreciated.
The gas prices are just growing absurd, though, my station is up to $4.85 today, I cannot believe it. About 6 weeks ago I made my decision to move to a home office setup, and gas was significantly cheaper then but still expensive. Now I feel even smarter because I barely have to move my car for most of my work. If I need to location scout something I can drive there, and I drive every once in a while to meet with friends, but I can keep my transportation down massively. It's just as well because I prefer to stay at my condo and do work, I feel more comfortable at home than driving all over the place. I can work effectively here and had a land line installed to deal with the phone situation.
I don't know how this economy will affect advertising spending, because I really want to get into commercial work besides just corporate stuff. That's my goal, at least money-wise, besides that creatively I want music videos and working towards features...
ceo hank freid
New member
Bad Economy, Bad
Bad Economy, Bad
really don't care about the interest rate. It the price that counts. In my area Northeast I currently think the market could fall 15% - 25% of course this is after a Three fold increase in prices in the last decade. Look I'm not willing to catch a falling knife and I not going to over pay on an investment. 2 more years here and then..Buy, Buy , Buy! Also I love when people away form investing in certain areas.
That's why I'm sitting back and salivating over Michigan as well. That is going to be a great investment in 2 years. Pennies on the dollar in certain part there. And if you think I nuts. Great that makes it easier for me to get in when your not in my way.
Bad Economy, Bad
really don't care about the interest rate. It the price that counts. In my area Northeast I currently think the market could fall 15% - 25% of course this is after a Three fold increase in prices in the last decade. Look I'm not willing to catch a falling knife and I not going to over pay on an investment. 2 more years here and then..Buy, Buy , Buy! Also I love when people away form investing in certain areas.
That's why I'm sitting back and salivating over Michigan as well. That is going to be a great investment in 2 years. Pennies on the dollar in certain part there. And if you think I nuts. Great that makes it easier for me to get in when your not in my way.
pmark23
Veteran
I also do corporates and training to feed the family (and buy new toys), and the last couple years have been great. I've stopped marketing, and "fired" my worst clients.
I only do a few projects a year now, but they pay a lot and I can afford to spend more time on them which increases the production value, which attracts the larger clients.
I also got rid of my staff, built a studio at home, and do a majority (if not all) of the work myself. Previously we would direct and edit with a hired crew, but too much was falling between the cracks.
The tools have improved so much that you can do almost anything. I even do some quite sophisticated motion-graphics and animations by myself now, and I'm no graphics guy. This is stuff I used to farm out for $10K, and now I can spend a week on it and keep that money for myself.
I think the key is to eliminate expenses that don't give production value. A project now costs me nothing but my time, so anything I make on a project is almost pure profit.
I only do a few projects a year now, but they pay a lot and I can afford to spend more time on them which increases the production value, which attracts the larger clients.
I also got rid of my staff, built a studio at home, and do a majority (if not all) of the work myself. Previously we would direct and edit with a hired crew, but too much was falling between the cracks.
The tools have improved so much that you can do almost anything. I even do some quite sophisticated motion-graphics and animations by myself now, and I'm no graphics guy. This is stuff I used to farm out for $10K, and now I can spend a week on it and keep that money for myself.
I think the key is to eliminate expenses that don't give production value. A project now costs me nothing but my time, so anything I make on a project is almost pure profit.
