What do you do when it's slow?

[SF Camera]

I work on my house, Build stuff, work on computers, do some side jobs that let me bail out when my phone rings. I drive my wife and kids crazy, work on my 79 Ford 4X4 classic, work on my gear.

What does everbody else do?

[Sean-1966]

Spend a lot of time checking out boards like this. I love doing photography so I get some photo time in.

[Star Video]

clean out my SUV, maintain gear, clean out my home office, cold call a bunch of potential clients, pray for rain.

[INLANDNEWS]

slow? whats that?

[Birdy]

I WHIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!!!!

Actually, I just took a new full-time job, so now I can whine and get paid at the same time. :p

[Spacey]

SF you should drop a line to the legendary Terry Troller. Word is he's rolling in a 89' bronco. Check out the article in the "stories" section. An article about a ride-along with him.

...photog ride-alongs. Now we're talking something to do.

[Nino]

It’s a reoccurring annual phenomenon. We all know that it’s coming year after year and yet every year we acted surprised as if it is something unusually new.

Diversification is probably the best way to stay busy thru otherwise slow periods and also to prevents the possibility of burnt-out after doing basically the same type of assignments day after day.

After moving to Florida from the northeast about 9 years ago, I found out that on the contrary of what everybody was saying, there are seasons down here too, the slow one and the very busy one. The slow one starts at mid April and doesn’t end until the end of August. Business in the summer is okay but having too much unproductive time on my hand really bothered me. After ten years of absence from editing, about two years I bought myself a full blown MAC, a Primera DVD duplicator and got back into the post business. I worked out a good deal (good for everybody) with some of my regular commercial clients. In addition of doing the shooting for them I now also do the editing and DVD duplication. The only catch is that I will only do the post production for those video programs that do not have pressing deadlines. Broadcast clients are always my priority. I do the shooting for my commercial clients during my slow season and do the editing throughout the year in between my regular day-hire shoots as time allows it.

Few years ago I also got back into still photography and Photoshop (http://www.nino-g.com/photography/), photography is how I started my career many years ago. I take stills both as a hobby and to offer one more service to piggy back to my commercial productions as most of the commercial work is also tied to some web site that also needs still photos. Photography is also something that I do in between my day-hire jobs and it has been doing very well. My wife has also taken some of my hobby photos and started building an Ebay store, http://stores.ebay.com/Ninos-Photographic-Arts so far that too looks very promising.

In conclusion, stop whining and get moving, you have a lot of talent, skills and apparently plenty of free time, find ways to put you talent to work, there are plenty of opportunities out there and they will not come looking for you.

[Lensmith]

I've been lucky so far this year. Very regular work but...I've also been doing what Nino is talking about.

For some reason, several of the locally produced shows have been hiring me to light their sets. I tell them what lights to buy. Usually low budget Lowel stuff which fits their budgets and gives me just enough to control to pull something off. Whatever the case...this thing has kind of snowballed on me and is filling up more of my time than I'd really prefer...but it is helping me pay bills and plan for some new toy purchases.

Nino is, as usual, the voice of experience. This happens every year. Every year! No one should be surprised and because of that, we need to plan on doing something truly constructive during those predictable down times.

To sit and worry and mope about the state of the business is counter productive. I've been through that phase a couple of times. That's when it dawned on me how stupid I was for being worried and "surprised" every time there was a slow period.

Ten years. That's how long I've been doing this crazy freelance thing now. I remember when I reached the ten year mark as a staff photog. A moment which I looked forward to as if it meant something. It didn't then and it doesn't now.

It's obvious, but I'll say it anyway. What is important is to work one day and then, tomorrow or the next, work again. What's important is not only the job you are doing today but the job you are doing tomorrow.

Sure, cleaning and maintaining gear is important and a good thing to do while you're waiting for that next gig. But what is much more productive is to think about expanding your client base with people who you might not have thought were clients in the past. Using skills you've always had and used one way, turning them in a different direction and opening up another source of income.

Sometimes you have to sell people something they didn't even know they needed or wanted.;)

It's also paid off for me because, since these places didn't know what kind of lights to buy...or where to buy them at the best price...I've gotten free flights to Miami on their dime, which works well for me when I need to take my camera in for maintenance or repair. More money saved. More money made. Plus, I get to see lots of old friends!

Best to all!

[Flaca Productions]

i've been enjoying the downtime by watching the tour de france again this year. was there in person for 2 stages last year and its an amazing event - even more so this year. the technical aspects of covering this for television are stunning, too.

john - who do you use in miami for camera maintenance??

[Lensmith]

john - who do you use in miami for camera maintenance??

Hi Brian,

A rather well known B-Roll Online contributor clued me in to Wayde Klipper.

You can reach him at (305) 651 1200

He's straight up I-95, just west of the Ives Dairy Road exit.

He only works on professional gear and has a great shop. He's pro and I can't say enough good things about him. That includes both his top quality work, turn around time for repairs, as well as costs.

He understands freelancer needs.

There are several good engineers up there in the Miami area, as I'm sure you know, who work for local TV stations and do repair work on the side.

Wayde has his own first-class, one-man shop which is how he makes a living. This is not a second job for him.

I really respect the upfront way he does business. I like the way he tells me exactly what he's going to do, how much my costs will be, and he's well connected with Sony and all the other major broadcast equipment manufacturers

Very professional and a nice guy to boot! ;)

[Icarus112277]

I'll tell you when I find out.

[Flaca Productions]

john - thanks.
i know OF wayde, but haven't had the pleasure to meet him. i'll get there at some point and tell him you sent me. thanks!

[Matt Box]

Brian- good to hear there is another tour watcher here! Todays stage was one of the best Ive ever seen! Floyd was amazing. Im almost hoping no one calls for me to work this Sat so I can watch the time trial. ;)

[Flaca Productions]

i'm already 'booked'....;-)

[freedom]

I use down time to sell, sell, sell. I have contact manager software that I use to keep track of clients and potential clients. I'm on the phone every off day talking up my services. Except when I'm out on my gas guzzling power boat, zipping around aimlessly, burning up all the fossil fuel!

[Nino]

Except when I'm out on my gas guzzling power boat!
Power boat? You have a power boat? What the hell am I doing wrong?

[Hiding Under Here]

Nino you're spending too much money on the gear in your van, reinvesting in your company.

[Nino]

Nino you're spending too much money on the gear in your van, reinvesting in your company.
So Tom, what you’re trying so politely to tell me is to get a life, right?
I hear you bro and I’m really really trying but it ain’t easy.

[Flaca Productions]

no, nino - he's telling you that you're a smart businessman...but we already knew that!

[freedom]

Nino
Boat's for sale, make you a deal...I'll even deliver it!

[SF Camera]

Spacy, the 79 ford 4X4 is my hobby truck, I'm an old school four wheeler and I enjoy wrenching on trucks. My work vehicle is a 2005 3/4 ton Suburban 4X4. I love my sub but with all the new cars they are almost impossible to work on if you just want to tweak it. So I purchased the 79 ford, it has a carb, Clutch and all the stuff that can be adjusted with tools. Best of all no on board computer.

Anyway (Back on subject) I have been freelancing now for almost 10 years and I have survived theses slow times before. I just do what what a small business does, call clients, look for other sources of revenue, maintain gear etc... But my best time spent on my down time is being with my wife and kids at home while I do those things.

[Baltimore Shooter]

Car guys will understand this:
http://www.b18c5.com/Graphics/line2.JPG

:D
Warren

[BluesCam]

Recut a demo, contact clients you haven't talked with for a while, ask for referrals, send out a marketing piece, learn software, catch up on paper work, play guitar, read helpful books, try to stay positive...