Should I give up Video Production or keep going at it?

J

Jonathan L Roberts

Active member
I live in South Carolina and it seems noone is offering any jobs. I did video stuff for almost two years editing my friend's stuff and doing some of my own while working an overnight stocking job which pays pretty good. Around where I live, the people try to haggle your price down even if the equipment is great. I like doing video production, but I don't know if people will pay anymore like they use to. What's your thoughts? Think I should duke it out somemore or just leave it as a hobby on the side.
 
My advice: find another friend. And another. And another. Though, if you're asking this question, you've probably already given up.
 
Every idiot with a camera is competing for the smaller local commercials and any other jobs, makes it really hard to get decent money for decent work when most of the clients are happy with dross.
 
Greg_E said:
Every idiot with a camera is competing for the smaller local commercials and any other jobs, makes it really hard to get decent money for decent work when most of the clients are happy with dross.
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That's the problem. Not doing any doom or gloom posts, because I wanna' keep it positive. One thing I did was post up an ad looking for videographers and a bunch of entries came from people low-balling just to get their foot in the door. I've not given up at all. I study this stuff for hours just getting the basics down. Learning by going out on my own and producing my own video just to keep my techniques polished. Just some people are messing up the market for others to atleast IN THE FUTURE to create a career out of it.


Sorry for double post.
 
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Learn marketing. Not so you can sell your services, but so you know how to do market analysis.

Things change. Video changed. Barriers to entry have fallen down to nothing, and returns for videos are going down slightly as the content gets saturated. When I met with my current partners at the studio I work at now, I showed them my research. I told them that my advice as a business professional was to sell all of their video equipment and invest in a growth market. They didn't want to do that; they said they wanted to do something they love and change the world while they're at it. That's why I signed a partnership agreement. You need to research the market to understand realistic opportunities; realistically, they're limited, and you may be better off with a production hobby than a business. But if you don't research properly, you'll never know.

I've been rebranding us as a marketing company, since videos on their own don't do anything. They have to get where they're going. But it depends on your interests, your market and your capabilities.

As far as low balling, it's only the case as long as video is a commodity. You need to brand it to not be a commodity, and to make the investment worthwhile. How you do that is personal.
 
Agafilm said:
Learn marketing. Not so you can sell your services, but so you know how to do market analysis.

Things change. Video changed. Barriers to entry have fallen down to nothing, and returns for videos are going down slightly as the content gets saturated. When I met with my current partners at the studio I work at now, I showed them my research. I told them that my advice as a business professional was to sell all of their video equipment and invest in a growth market. They didn't want to do that; they said they wanted to do something they love and change the world while they're at it. That's why I signed a partnership agreement. You need to research the market to understand realistic opportunities; realistically, they're limited, and you may be better off with a production hobby than a business. But if you don't research properly, you'll never know.

I've been rebranding us as a marketing company, since videos on their own don't do anything. They have to get where they're going. But it depends on your interests, your market and your capabilities.

As far as low balling, it's only the case as long as video is a commodity. You need to brand it to not be a commodity, and to make the investment worthwhile. How you do that is personal.
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You're right bro, absolutely right! I'm going to keep it positive and going if I can. When the market changes, you either adapt or get out of it.
 
The past few weeks we were flying all over the country filming a number of spots. Simple stuff. We just needed a soundman, an AC, a gaffer and a grip/PA. Let me tell you something, maybe lots of people are in the video market but very few people KNOW what they are doing. It was SO HARD to find half decent crews. So if it's so hard to find someone who understands the rudimentary filming: how to set up a c-stand or to turn off the fridge in the room we are shooting in... then what's the level of their productions? As every single one of those crew members had a production company of some sort with their reel somewhere online we got to see the spots they normally make. Let me tell you, middle American is NOT drowning in talent! So rather then complain, how everyone is doing it for so cheap - how about try to up the game?

PS. there is a few "middle America" people on this board who are very talented - you are exception from the rule - so don't come screaming that i'm wrong with my assertion.
 
As well as every idiot that owns a camera, they all always claim they can do everything. You run into this in just about all aspects of video production.
 
My advice is to be specialised in something. It doesn´t matter which market you operate, you have to be a specialist in something in order to be hired.
90% of all the idiots who bought a 5D and an Macbook who call them selves ´xxxx Productions´ just take on every job there is to grow. Then, after 2 years you find yourself being an allrounder. Like everyone else. Competing for the same lower and lower rates that businesses offer these days. Why? Because everyone can make a video these days and most people do. And there is always someone willing to do it cheaper just to get the job and experience.

Leave this sinking ship now. Really. Become a specialist. Specialist in CGI (set for life). Specialist in light (you will be offered many freelance jobs). Specialist in audio production. Maybe, specialist in camera. But then make sure you ****ing own it because most clients don't see the difference between you and someone who is 75% as good.
Or choose a different market. Become the best storytelling business in your region. The best wedding filmer. The best automobile film producer. The best drone operator.

You get my drift. Never I have seen an ad which reads 'We search someone who can do a bit of everything. Daily salary = 800$.'
 
I live in South Carolina and it seems no one is offering any jobs.

Not sure if it is just my area, but I'm busier by far than I have been in the last 5 years. I'm finally getting referrals from existing customers. Instead of the typical 1 job a week, this month is averaging around 3.
 
mainstreetprod said:
I live in South Carolina and it seems no one is offering any jobs.

Not sure if it is just my area, but I'm busier by far than I have been in the last 5 years. I'm finally getting referrals from existing customers. Instead of the typical 1 job a week, this month is averaging around 3.
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That's great news. Good for you! :)
 
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