The Rookie Asks: Preventing Burn Out?

x-angel

x-angel

Well-known member
Something I would like to ask all you *lifers*: (Edited at the request of pookie)

Even though this is the field we love, how do you prevent getting "burnt out" on this type of work?

Take me for example: I will be cranking up my videography business when I get back. I just have this fear that "burn out" will eventually set in. (in like years, not months or something)

Has anyone else has this fear? Or has actually gotten "burnt out" or reach a level to where their creativity has hit a ceiling?

Just curious on how you guys would handle this.

Thanks
 
learn a new skill. there's always more to learn. if you ever feel burnt out, it's probably because you're doing the same things you've always done. if you keep it up, you'll likely find yourself unable to compete in the marketplace.

I'm learning motion graphics, for example. In the Spring I plan on buying a Steadicam.
 
x-angel said:
Something I would like to ask all you "long timers"
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We like to be called "lifers", long timers just sounds wrong.....LOL.

Keep the jobs interesting, and keep taking as varied a clientele as you can.
I see you do weddings, do as many other types of shoots as you can, but keep as "normal" a life as you can.

Variety is the key.:thumbsup:
 
Well.. videography has always been something I want to do. I have other passions as well...cars, computers, graphics, studying church history. And all of these passions lead to fueling my passion for videography more since I could do so much with ALL of those subjects.

I think I just got a semi-bad taste in my mouth when I did my last wedding. It was very very...umm...boring...to say the least. The reception was flatter than a month old open coke. But I know not all of them are like that.

The way I am looking at it is that I plan to only take 2 if not 3 weddings/events a month. I promised my wife that not all of our weekends would be taken up with work. Thats how divorces start.

I also got to keep in mind post production time. Thats why I am so looking forward to this deployment to a non-combat zone such as Kosovo..it will give me plenty of time to practice and improve/hone my skills. (I just hope I dont cause an international incident like the Norwegian boys did with their spoof video of "Kosovo"...based off of the Beach Boys song "Kokomo" :) )

I am also in the "guard", so I will have drill once a month too.

I hope to grow this business to where the only people I will have to answer to are my clients... I despise working for corporate america, and having to answer to idiots.
 
x-angel said:
I despise working for corporate america, and having to answer to idiots.
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A lot of clients can be idiots too. In fact there are no shortage of idiots in just about every field.

How to avoid burnout:

1. Don't take the work too seriously.
2. Don't take it personally when things go wrong.
3. Make sure you make time for personal projects that mean something to you.

I think you start to burnout when you find yourself doing work that pays bills but spiritually wears you out. Working on your own films and writing can help you avoid burnout.
 
Variety, variety, variety.

Learn one or two new software/hardware systems every year, and use them.

Try your hand at different positions in pre-pro-post, as you can.

I usually don't spend more than about four or five months on a feature, or more than nine or ten on a tv project, so moving from show to show, plus the above, helps keep things boredom-free, for me...

Plus Isaac Brody's advice is excellent. If you wanted work that has to be taken seriously, you could have picked accounting, or something horrible and deadening like that...
 
Oh I got a ton of story idea for movies that I would love to make...it's just getting a crew and good actors to do it with.

That and the fact I love to be in FRONT of the camera as much as I love being behind it.

The personal project aspect: My car... that is something I am also pouring my heart and soul into and I plan to document it as well.

I know a lot of clients can be idiots..but fortunately...I will have a lot of bosses, instead of just one. What I mean is if I have one client thats an idiot, that doesn't mean I will be with them forever, or have to depend up on for anymore than that one particular shoot, and then move on.

And I also undersand that I don't want to piss people off since word of mouth is the best advestising.
 
BURNED OUT!!!​

I think you start to burnout when you find yourself doing work that pays bills but spiritually wears you out. Working on your own films and writing can help you avoid burnout.
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Well, after working in IT for... oh my gosh! 17 years?... I can definitely say I am burned out. Thank goodness I've been spending so much of my spare time in photography and film/video - hopefully that means I can start making living in something new.

I am considering teaching (which IS my original profession), maybe part-time just to keep the cash flowing (and not getting burned out). Forensing computing sounds kind of interesting, but it's still quite close to IT... hmmm.

I've always loved electricity - I could go to college to get an electrician's diploma, and then work as a gaffer...

But I am pretty much done with the corporate stuff. Maybe another six months to a year, but that's it! Being mortage-free rocks!
 
When you look like this, it's time for a break.
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I am with Isaac Brody, find time to do things YOU like. I did Weddings but as I got to retirement age & thankfully, financial independance, I found I couldn't stand the demands of most of the clients. The only Weddings I do now are mainly love jobs. I spend time doing little projects that challenge me & that are new to me. A recent trip to Western Plains Open Range Zoo in Dubbo NSW, resulted in a 50min. Doco that friends & rellies are lining up for. No dollars but heaps of satisfaction. You MUST have JOB SATISFACTION.
 
I burnt out after years doing commercial work. I took two years away from film and video, I didn't even take stills. The whole time I was gone my mind kept coming up with these great ideas that I would throw away because I wasn't interested in video anymore. I came back to filmmaking with a passion and a fire in my belly that's been pushing me for the past four years.

My advice, if you're feeling burnt out take some time off and come back fresh.

Rob
 
mrblue1022 said:
My advice, if you're feeling burnt out take some time off and come back fresh.
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That's usually what I do...if I have been pouring into my car for a long time...I'll break off of that and do other things... and that applies to all facets of my life.

I was just curious how you lifers have made out.

I am sure that as I ramp this business up (when I get back)...I wont be anywhere near burn out -- would be scary if I did.

I just don't want to have to depend on an HRO office for my paycheck. I want to be able to determine my own destiny, and I think this is it because I have always be fascinated with it,and I just love the whole concept.

I love to take stories and make them come alive from basically nothing. And I also like making that peoples memories are captured in a timeless way, because a lot of my own have not been.

So my satisfaction comes from telling stories, and having people look at a special event, and be able to relive it and get the same level of emotion that they did from that event...whether it be a wedding, baptism, quinceneara, etc...

I also have a couple of documentaries I want to do over the Church (catholic) and a couple of movies that I would like to produce/direct/choreograph :)

So the ideas in my head are endless...I guess getting started is the hardest part.. rightnow I am looking at over $10000 to just get some of the basic hardware...I am pretty well set on the computer side.
 
My burnout comes from my quote below. Thank god Im making more money at the GAP than I do filmmaking.
 
hmmm I just quit theatre and swicthed to DV for that very reason, Dizkoteck.

But here's a suggestion, take a weeks vacation from your videography business, but instead of going to the beach or something, go work at McDonalds for the week :)
 
jdanstan said:
take a weeks vacation but instead of going to the beach or something, go work at McDonalds for the week :)
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PAy wise... I am close to that already...it's called the Army :)
 
x-angel said:
PAy wise... I am close to that already...it's called the Army :)
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ha!

I worked in an elementary school for a month while evacutaed from Katrina - the people were great but OMFG the 700AM to 400PM grind with an hour commute each way -- could not do it!
 
I'll just echo what a few people have already said.

The two things that have kept me from burning out (I think) are:

1. Finding something new in every project.
You have to struggle sometimes to find it, but I usually set a personal goal for every project.
For example, on the one I'm working on my goal is to try some new motion graphics techniques that I've seen in other people's work that I really admired. I finally found a project that would fit that style, so I'm taking the opportunity to learn something new.

2.
Find a hobby.
If any of you are like me, video production started as your hobby...and eventually become your full time work (like I wanted it to be). For years I never had a hobby...and now I realize the importance of them. I found that I really like cooking, and to be honest it's the most relaxing thing in the world for me to do. You know why? Because I know I'll never be a master chef, and I have no interest in being one. I just like cooking and I don't have to be the best at it. Hell, I may only be mediocre as a cook, but the thing is that doesn't matter to me. It's the cooking itself that I find fun and relaxing. When I'm working on a video, even if it's for fun, the perfectionist side of me always takes over. It's nearly impossible for me to view any video as a hobby project. So my advice would be to find something unrelated to video that can help you relax on your off time.

I know my wife is happy that I look forward to cooking dinner just about every night.

PS.
Made a turkey sausage & green apples dish tonight with a sweet onion and red wine sauce.... I have to say it was pretty damned good.
:)
 
i'll definitely echo the variety statement. Keeping your technique, clients, and projects varied will keep that aspect from becoming stagnant.

Also, keep creativity flowing. This can come in many forms, but I like nature, cars, magazines that have nothing to do with video, sketching, still photography, music, etc.
 
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