thekreative
Veteran
dustinstoneband, keep an eye on BC bids for Government jobs and big Corp guys. You never know you might get one and then they keep rolling:
http://www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca
http://www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca
What would you do with $20,000 to start a video business?
- Thread starter dustinstoneband
- Start date
dustinstoneband
Member
hmm interesting.. trying to figure out that site now.. are there actually video jobs on there? have you had any success with it?
A little research and you can avoid that 3rd party comapny that charges you $150 a year.
I have have never bid on a video project wih the gov, don't know anyone who has but my aviation company does a lot of business with the department of defense. Pretty easy, I have what is called a cage code, not sure if you have to have something similar or some type of pre approval but wouldn't doubt it.
I have have never bid on a video project wih the gov, don't know anyone who has but my aviation company does a lot of business with the department of defense. Pretty easy, I have what is called a cage code, not sure if you have to have something similar or some type of pre approval but wouldn't doubt it.
thekreative
Veteran
jobs show up all the time and are looking for all types of shooters and production. It's a bit of a secret to the guys that know but BC could use some new faces.
check it everyday and just page search video
check it everyday and just page search video
dustinstoneband
Member
cool, thanks for the tip man!
JonathanLB
Carbonite Member
Yes
Yes
I think building relationships is really the key. It's such a tough process at the start. I know that for us, Ivy (my sales lady) spends a lot of time sometimes trying to get in with people who for now could at best help us get a small project, a $4,000 to $6,000 project, which is honestly barely worth expending much time on at all. We'd need 4 of those per month just to stay afloat barely in the future. But for now, it's invaluable because we need the portfolio work, for one, and two, some of these companies and individuals we form connections with will be valuable down the road. One, for instance, works for a company that has massive real estate holdings in downtown Los Angeles, and while there may only be the opportunity to do video work for one building right now, that relationship could reap rewards in the future without even working for it. In other words, she keeps in touch with this person after we get this job (if we did, and did it well), and the work will flow to us, rather than it being tons of work on her part.
But sometimes you have to be really patient and know that it won't always be so hard. In the future, we have to rely on referrals and word of mouth too, because cold calling alone is not going to sustain the business. It just won't be enough most likely. But developing a lot of relationships and connections, those will pay off in time if we stick around long enough.
Yes
I think building relationships is really the key. It's such a tough process at the start. I know that for us, Ivy (my sales lady) spends a lot of time sometimes trying to get in with people who for now could at best help us get a small project, a $4,000 to $6,000 project, which is honestly barely worth expending much time on at all. We'd need 4 of those per month just to stay afloat barely in the future. But for now, it's invaluable because we need the portfolio work, for one, and two, some of these companies and individuals we form connections with will be valuable down the road. One, for instance, works for a company that has massive real estate holdings in downtown Los Angeles, and while there may only be the opportunity to do video work for one building right now, that relationship could reap rewards in the future without even working for it. In other words, she keeps in touch with this person after we get this job (if we did, and did it well), and the work will flow to us, rather than it being tons of work on her part.
But sometimes you have to be really patient and know that it won't always be so hard. In the future, we have to rely on referrals and word of mouth too, because cold calling alone is not going to sustain the business. It just won't be enough most likely. But developing a lot of relationships and connections, those will pay off in time if we stick around long enough.
dustinstoneband
Member
yeah, looking back at previous attempts i've made at running a video business, I've realized that every client I got was referred to me by one of my previous clients. every, single, one. meaning any money I spent on Google Ad words, time I spent posting ads on Craiglist, money on I spent on flyers, etc, was all pointless. A big waste of money and time. The only good thing I would say came out of it is that people would often recognize my company name. I'd tell them I own such and such company and they'd go "OH, I've heard of you guys!". well, great. give me some business. ha ha.
So yeah, I agree about the building relationships things. This is why I'm going to go back to the clients I've already established relationships with in the past and let them know I'm working on building a new portfolio for my new company and see if they are interested in some free or discounted music videos / commercials... just a few, cuz I don't want to blow all my money of course.
I figure the best thing to do is to just work as much as possible for now. Whether its paid work or not. Every gig leads to another, so the more I do, the more it will lead to.
I guess that's just the way it is.
So yeah, I agree about the building relationships things. This is why I'm going to go back to the clients I've already established relationships with in the past and let them know I'm working on building a new portfolio for my new company and see if they are interested in some free or discounted music videos / commercials... just a few, cuz I don't want to blow all my money of course.
I figure the best thing to do is to just work as much as possible for now. Whether its paid work or not. Every gig leads to another, so the more I do, the more it will lead to.
I guess that's just the way it is.