Side Businesses

[Birdy]

A friend of mine sold his gear and dropped out of the industry about a year ago. He was doing well enough to pay the bills, but wasn't able to really get ahead. He took what money he had and opened up a franchise in another field. He still missed shooting, but put his efforts into the new venture. Well, the business took off and is doing very well. He was able to put a manager in charge and only comes in a few hours a week to check up on everything. He's bought some new gear and is very happily back to shooting. I'm very happy for him.

Has anyone else started a side business or done something similar to my friend?

[Icarus112277]

Does gambling count?

[Birdy]

Don't know. Can you make money gambling? :p

But, I have an opportunity to make some extra money with a small weekend business. Just not sure if I wanna make the commitment. Thought maybe I'd find a helpful voice of experience here.

[freedom]

Take a good look at how much real time you will invest (plus any actual expenses) and try to break that down into an hourly pay rate based on what you will earn. Then ask yourself 'is it worth it'?
Only you can decide that

[2000lux]

I met an A2 who is running a holiday store on the side. He's got a six month lease on a space in a mall. Right now it's a Halloween store. In November it will become a Christmas store. He hires some people at minimum wage, teaches them how to sell, and keeps a wary eye on the register. He doesn't need to be working his regular gig, but he does any way for the fun of it.

Hey Douglas, how's Vortex Media (http://www.vortexmedia.com/) doing?

[dhart]

Out here in the boonies a side business is a must. I'm in Chicago right now exhibiting two new safety videos I've produced for corporate safety market. I like producing intellectual property because I own it and can sell it over and over again.

It beats the heck out of the pure service business where you have to hustle for every job. It's also is a nice compliment to shooting. I heartily recommend it to any "shooter".

[Douglas]

Hey Douglas, how's Vortex Media (http://www.vortexmedia.com/) doing?

I can't complain. I just wish there were more days in the week so I could pursue all the things I want to do. I cannot believe how fast time flys by. As I tell my wife, it's not work if you enjoy it this much.

Doug

[Baltimore Shooter]

There's an animator around here that recently opened a painting franchise called CertaPro Painting. He doesn't do the painting himself, just hires the employees and has a territory. I'll have to ask him how he's doing next time I see him.

Warren

[Baltimore Shooter]

Out here in the boonies a side business is a must. I'm in Chicago right now exhibiting two new safety videos I've produced for corporate safety market. I like producing intellectual property because I own it and can sell it over and over again.

It beats the heck out of the pure service business where you have to hustle for every job. It's also is a nice compliment to shooting. I heartily recommend it to any "shooter".
Interesting idea Dennis. Where do you get the money to pay the on-camera and voice talent, grips, PAs, script writers, scrip supervisors, sound guys, editors, animators and the like? Also what about duplication and the graphic design for the DVD box cover lables?

Warren

[dhart]

Interesting idea Dennis. Where do you get the money to pay the on-camera and voice talent, grips, PAs, script writers, scrip supervisors, sound guys, editors, animators and the like? Also what about duplication and the graphic design for the DVD box cover lables?

Warren

I do these videos on the cheap. I write the script, direct, shoot (now HDV) and edit (FCP). I use my normal producer and sound tech and collect on the many favors I've done for them. Safety market is used to a less quality of production so I don't need to have a huge crew.

I pay for the on camera talent but I find non-union talent that are excellent. I create my own DVD design/layout and artwork (DVD Pro and Disclabel). Not as fancy as some but the market doesn't require it.

If you can keep your upfront costs low it doesn't hurt so much if you produce a show that doesn't sell. I've been lucky, all my videos have made money.

I have a website on Yahoo roomtolive.com and my duplicator ships all the orders for my so all I have to do is process the credit card orders thru Yahoo (they take a few percent for doing that) and the money shows up in my bank account.

I concentrate on just the driving safety market. I've been doing this since 1979. Not a huge money maker but it's worth doing.

[The Green]

You made "Sgt. Jack's Room to Live?" I remember watching that film in Driver's Ed. It's right up there with "Red Asphalt."

Thank you for a very impressionable piece of work. :)

The Green

[BlueWing]

I'm sorry, but "Red Asphalt" was in a league of its own. Still have nightmares.

[dhart]

You made "Sgt. Jack's Room to Live?" I remember watching that film in Driver's Ed. It's right up there with "Red Asphalt."

Thank you for a very impressionable piece of work. :)

The Green

You are most kind...

[freedom]

How can you make "impressionable" films on "toy" cameras like HDV?

[BluesCam]

I guess it's about content. The Rodney King beating was on VHS and everybody aired it. A station I worked for in the early 90's decided to air VHS submitted by viewers if it was interesting. I remember one producer saying "who says we won't air VHS?" :>}

[dhart]

How can you make "impressionable" films on "toy" cameras like HDV?

It's all about content. My first safety video was shot on 3/4" tape then transfered 3rd generation to 16 mm film (the standard delivery system back then). It looked like it was shot thru a coke bottle. But the market loved it. I'm not making these projects for broadcast. I'll be down-converting to SD for delivery and in my tests it's good enough.

IMO as long as you don't get into alot of compositing (which I don't), HDV is a fine format for documentary style projects. The pictures on my Apple HD cinema monitor are awesome.