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Home: Video University Forums: Marketing & Business:
Plans to follow to start a part-time business?

jemmanben
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Nov 20, 2005, 6:58 PM

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Plans to follow to start a part-time business?	Can't Post

I recently checked out a web site www.homevideostudio.com and it awoke in me a desire to take advantage of my film and broadcasting degree and open up a home business. The only problem, I don't want to jump in paying $99,000 right now to start off the business. I'd much rather take what resources I have and start off part time, keeping my other day-time job.

What resources can you all point me towards to start something. I have a Pentium4 computer with 200 gig hard-drive and 1000 meg of ram, so it can do some of the work. How can I start something. I don't mind spending a little money to get started. I have the past experience of marketing and advertising so I can promote myself. I'd just like to see how others have successfully done it before.

p.s. I'm not sure about going and taping events, like the weddings, but I like the idea of editing them and making them into something...

Thanks for the help!

Ken Ehrhart
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Nov 20, 2005, 7:21 PM

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Re: [jemmanben] Plans to follow to start a part-time business? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm not sure what your name is, so I'll just say HELLO...

There are probably a number of post about starting a business on VU,
you might try doing a search. In lieu of that, my experience (15 years ago)
seemed similar to yours. Broadcasting/Journalism degree... personally
I was unhappy with the direction TV NEWS was taking and got out.

I'm not a tech-type, so what NLE to get isn't my bag.
Editing only can be a real crap shoot. I do a lot of editing
for videographers around the country... but it took years of
establishing a rep to get some of the business.

If you're looking to take the dive pretty soon, your timing may be pretty good.
The 4EVERGroup is holding their CONVENTION and TRADE SHOW the first week of
January at Walt DisneyWorld. www.4evergroup.org for details.

There are sure to be some real good buys/specials at the trade show.
The absolute tops in production/post production talent will be presenting
four days of workshops/seminars... and you get to visit the mouse.
The WHOLE FIRST DAY is NLE/hardware/software specific workshops.

A fortune isn't needed anymore to set yourself up nicely. When I started...
I dropped $18,000 on a record deck and a playback deck..... for LESS than
that kind of money now, you can get two PD 170's... imo the best camera
for what we do on the market... get a couple of Lectrosonic Wireless mics...
and a good NLE. If you'd like to CHAT more about any of this...
you can private email me at ken@summitvid.com. Happy to talk.

Good luck

Ken Ehrhart, owner
(the REAL) SUMMIT Productions
www.STORYtellermovies.com

DVXGalt
Veteran

Nov 21, 2005, 7:40 AM

Post #3 of 5 (1376 views)
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Re: [jemmanben] Plans to follow to start a part-time business? [In reply to]	Can't Post

1. It is hard to "just be an editor", but not impossible. You need to shoot and edit unless you want to work for someone else. So just get over it.

2. Get a real camera. For me, thsi means one that has easy to use manual focus, IRIS, and white balance. If using any of these requires you to go use a touch-screen, it will not be adequate. Having said that, 3 chip is better than 1 chip if you can spend the extra money. STart by looking at following cameras: Sony PD-170, SOny vx2100, Panasonic DVX100a, Canon XL2. Panny also makes a few smaller and cheaper 3CCD cams, and some used cameras can also be a good place to start. Don't buy a DVD camera, get one that uses DV tapes.

3. Go shoot. Shoot anything. Shoot everything. Take a camera to family gatherings and parties, and shoot a lot. Then go home and make some highlight videos. Try to find a story within what you have shot, and practice.

4. For NLEs, most companies have 30 day trials out there. Top NLEs are Vegas, Premiere, Avid. Download their trials one at a time and see what grabs your attention.

5. Ken's point about education is very important. Budget some money for education. Go to an expo if you can. Buy some books and training DVDs. Tons of good ones, and people here and at other boards can give you suggestions on which ones to buy based on what you wnat to learn.

6. Video is NOT as simple as pointing a camera. You need to learn about shooting, lighting, audio (80% of video quality is audio), editing, audio, storytelling, and a dozen other things. It is daunting to start, so you jhust have to dive in.

Welcome and good luck.

videobear
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Nov 21, 2005, 10:58 AM

Post #4 of 5 (1362 views)
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Re: [jemmanben] Plans to follow to start a part-time business? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Certainly you don't need $100K to start a home video business.

To be an edit-only project studio, you need to a) have some contacts in the corporate and/or broadcast world, b) have a good demo reel and/or references, and c) be able to take in and put out a format compatible with your clients. This may mean investing in a Betacam SP deck and a good component analog capture system, like the Video Toaster NT or Canopus NX, unless all your clients have switched over to DV and DVCAM.

Look in back issues of Videography magazine for articles by George Avgerakis. He's run a successful project studio for several years now. Also check out Hal's "Home Video Producer" course, available on this site, and other resources such as those offered by Steve Yankee.

As others suggest, you may want to offer production services as well as post. There are many options, including event video, photo/video "scrapbooks", studio production (if you have the space) or corporate field production.

Regards,
Doug Graham
Panda Productions

jemmanben
New User

Nov 21, 2005, 1:19 PM

Post #5 of 5 (1349 views)
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Update regarding taping [In reply to]	Can't Post

In my first post I said that I wasn't sure I wanted to do the actual taping coverage of events. The reason why is because this company that I looked at said there was more money in the actual editing and production. Is this true?
I see how that can be time-consuming to personally do the live coverage, but would it be better to offer some kind of program that walks customers through how to videotape on their own? Perhaps I could rent cameras to them? When I say "rent the equipment to them" I want to cringe because I think about somebody dropping my machinery, but that's what this other company seems to do (www.homevideostudio.com).

What do you think?