Has work completely dried up?

M

mcbob

Veteran
Granted, working in Metro DC, a number of my bigger clients were/are probably affected by the sequestration... but compared even to last year, or three years ago at this time... there's been nothing.

Curious if this is nation-wide, or if my name is just falling through the cracks of the popular "pudgy bearded camera guy" finding websites.
 
My 2012 finished more than 30% over 2011- I even had a great December (taking off 2 weeks) and January, when things typically slow down then start back slowly.

Have you made your first of the year calls to clients?

Sometimes it's hard to tell if it's the economy, your region or something specific to one's business, but I hope things pick up for you- we all have dry spells, so hang in there- the beard will rock again!!! :thumbsup:
 
I had a brush with death, (literally, I almost dies of Bacterial Meningitis, twice) on New Years Eve.

Since I've been back from the hospital, work has pretty much been gangbusters.
 
Welcome back from the brink, Matt... that's too d@mn close!!!!

Of course, work is irrelevant compared to something like that, but glad work is uh... healthy, too!!! :beer:
 
Ack... glad to hear you've recovered, Matt.


And heck, while I'm being shameless, I work as local in metro DC frequently (well, less frequently than last year so far) in the event you ever need a second camera. Eager to learn from you if the opportunity arises.

Good to hear everything's going swimmingly for others... I think... unless of course that then means clients suddenly found my beard unbecoming or thought I smelt too strongly of Doritos (because from feedback, none of my clients were displeased with my work....)
 
Hard to tell since I've only been in Houston since October 2011 but work has been coming along at a decent clip. I would say it's slow compared to when I was working in NYC, but I think it just may be the market here.
 
McBob......I have always found that work is like gold. It is EVERYWHERE. Just in some places it takes longer to find it, and harder to get at. How are you advertising and marketing your services?

That "first of the year calls" to previous clients is always a good way to prime the pump. There is also trying to think out of the box to get work. I have a friend who is a decent videographer and things got dry for him. He looked at a different market for his skills and now films real estate online home tours making good money at it.

The work is where you find it.
 
I reckon this is an area where my introversion kills me.

I have paid listings on a few sites (Mandy, Media Match, ProductionHUB), a simple web page, and ongoing working relationships with organizations like JoVE.com, StudioNow, Man With A Cam, Bleacher Report, Axon, Bell + Howell (who still won't let me shoot their jobs on 16mm), and a few very small local or near local outfits. What "marketing" of myself I do is as a lighting cameraman, although I do editing, PA, whatever as it's available. I do plenty of Craigslist crawling. Last year was constantly busy. This year... phhhttt.

As with many, I'm a terrible salesman, and tend not to bang my head against shut doors... for instance, I attempted the real estate thing a couple of years ago, and absolutely nothing came of it.

So the gold may be everywhere, but I only look like a crazy prospector... my pickaxe is apparently quite dull, if I remembered to bring one at all....
 
Mcbob, when I read your post I feel like I'm reading my OWN post. Same deal. . . not a self-promoter (in person that is.. .I have about 20 web ads on different sites), not a networker, not a BSer ("'I"m the best choice for all your blah blah blah needs. I know how to tell your story.") Luckily I've somehow become one of the preeminent teleprompters in Houston so that keeps me somewhat busy, though I do shoot/edit/grip as well. Work right now is.. .decent. One of the biggest problems is the constant damn conflicts. Nothing for two weeks and then 5 different clients want you for Tuesday.
Happens all the time.

I thought about doing the paid listing on Production Hub, but they want $500 for the year!!!! Why don't they just have it where you can try it month for $50/mo or so? I would only commit to a $500 listing (plus I think they charge to follow up on leads in addition to the $500, right?) if I was damn sure it was going to get me work (yes I realize generally one gig would make it pay for itself). eMy only experience with a paid listing so far (6 months on a site called videographies.com) yielded not a single gig. All the clients had budget expectations that were way too low unless you're a beginner, or they wanted services I didn't provide (x to x transfer, duplication, etc.). Might look into paid Mandy listing.

PS Rob Neilson, I'm in Houston too. There, I networked.
 
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hah totally Josh, I HATE being a self promoter as well, it's the WORST. Need to get an agent to do it all for me while I sit at home in my dark editing dungeon.
 
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