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Home: Video University Forums: Marketing & Business:
They're stealing my work

rushDVD
Novice

Feb 11, 2006, 10:08 PM

Post #1 of 9 (4484 views)
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They're stealing my work	Can't Post

Just got back from a syncro skating event, 45 teams or about 700 skaters
I run a one man band operation camera to standalones then duplicate with a self serve twist. It was quite apparent that for the most part it seemed that each team was buying only one dvd of their performance and planning to make copies for the rest of the team themselves.
I had very attractive team-buy pricing but I'm now thinking that they 'want to copy' the discs probably just because 'they can'. There is always someone theses days who sez 'just get one and I'll make copies for the rest of the team. Seems so prevalant now. Probably makes them feel like they're making a contribution to their team by stealing my work.. I don't think it would have mattered if I'd set a price of $1 on the dupes. They were going to pirate no matter what.
So how to deal with this??
Maybe a high selling price on each DVD with a 'copy license?
Seems the all for one and one for all team spirit doesn't take into account all the effort and investment of the individual providing that all important 'master' for them to grind out their own copies.
I did Ok anyway but the even photog 'cleaned up' cuz they can't really copy his stuff. Any moron can copy a dvd and they do!
Bruce

smitty
User

Feb 12, 2006, 2:59 AM

Post #2 of 9 (4472 views)
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Re: [rushDVD] They're stealing my work [In reply to]	Can't Post

How about unloading the sales to the team and offer 1 DVD for say $120 or
15 for $150 or
Make up a nice insert in a case and feature each skater with a photo and a little blurp about them.Make them feel like the DVD was made for them(each skater)
Then really think about what you would WANT to pay for a DVD like this of your child/relative and price accordingly.Not what you would pay but what you would want to pay.

AndrewMSV
Veteran

Feb 12, 2006, 7:34 AM

Post #3 of 9 (4458 views)
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Re: [rushDVD] They're stealing my work [In reply to]	Can't Post

This is the reason why I don't get into dupe jobs. Recitals and stuff are just difficult to deal with because of this exact problem.
With wedding videography it's hard enough as it is but I usually make it very easy for my clients to get a few extras for uncles and grandparents and stuff.

See if the organizers of the event will help you market your DVDs.

What I have done in the past if offer a contract that says something like this (of course, the exact numbers will vary):
- $400 for a 3-hour shoot
- plus guaranteed 8 DVD sales per team at $10 each.
- the organizer of the event will get 10% of each DVD sold under the guarantee
- the organizer of the event will get 50% of any DVD sold beyond the 8 per team.

This will help the organizers to enforce the minumum-sold rule because they'll get a cut of the profits. They'll also encourage teams to buy their own copies beyond the required 8 because their margin goes up after that.

you can also consider pre-sales as another option... each team pays $100 for 8 discs or else the prices go up to $20 per disc... or something.

Just some ideas.
Good luck!

Andrew
m o r n i n g__s t a r__v i d e o g r a p h y
sf chapter, vu california crew
I think we should turn that whole region into one shiny piece of radioactive glass. - CartoonChris

DVXGalt
Veteran

Feb 12, 2006, 11:03 PM

Post #4 of 9 (4418 views)
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Re: [rushDVD] They're stealing my work [In reply to]	Can't Post

Andrew has the right iodea, but there are lots of approaches. You have to get a guarantee for your time to show up, edit, and make DVD's. The sponsor can throw this back on the teams, make them pre-order at $50 (?) a team, edit out any teams that do not buy, etc. Just assume they will make copies, and make sure you have enough money up front to make it profitable. Then any extra copies are a bonus and you can price them very cheap.

bbalser
User

Feb 13, 2006, 1:29 AM

Post #5 of 9 (4415 views)
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Re: [DVXGalt] They're stealing my work [In reply to]	Can't Post

I NEVER, EVER, NEVER do an event without a firm commitment, and signed contract for, a minmum of 35 copies. Any less is not worth the effort.

rushDVD
Novice

Mar 26, 2006, 7:38 PM

Post #6 of 9 (4094 views)
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Re: [rushDVD] They're stealing my work [In reply to]	Can't Post

A Month later and thinking on the sage advice you've given, I think I may have a handle on it now, (with respect to teams anyway)
I lowered the price per dvd then eliminated individual sales and would only deal with the team as a whole, and then only agreeing to sell if a majority of the team bought. So this weekend I had a successfull tournament, moving about 400 on the spot dvds. Thanks for the food for thought

bbalser
User

Apr 2, 2006, 6:42 PM

Post #7 of 9 (3975 views)
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Re: [rushDVD] They're stealing my work [In reply to]	Can't Post

More food for thought; if you do dance recitals, school graduations, etc, set up with the person in charge to include the price of that annual video in the tuition. Everyone gets a copy, you get paid, the school or whatever gets a cut, win/win.

Case
User

Apr 30, 2006, 11:29 PM

Post #8 of 9 (3722 views)
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Re: [bbalser] They're stealing my work [In reply to]	Can't Post

We almost always require somebody buy a certan number of copies at a given price, paid in advance. It separates the men from the boys real fast. It separates the ones that truly value your services from the ones that don't.

The exception to this minimum quantity and price rule is for organizations that we have a long and fruitful history with. Those you don't have to worry about.

Case Marsh
Marsh Video Productions
Easton, Maryland
"The Land of Pleasant Living"
www.marshvideo.com

contractor
User

Sep 11, 2006, 9:13 PM

Post #9 of 9 (2932 views)
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Re: [rushDVD] They're stealing my work [In reply to]	Can't Post

Put it all on the sponsors of the event. Get your price for your time for being there & editing and let the sponsors make money on the copies, because like you said, there won't be many requests.