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Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
Demo tapes

X-Mark_Newman
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Nov 14, 2002, 1:26 AM

Post #1 of 5 (984 views)
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Demo tapes	Can't Post

Ok, tell me what ya think. Please :)
I'm not too big on sending out a copy of a wedding or of a highlight video for quite a few reasons. So what I was thinking of doing, is instead of just making a video montage of weddings set to music, is make a 5-10 minute infomercial.
What I mean by that, is pretty much educate the client in the importance of a video for a wedding, the equipment used, the style, etc... all the time showing great clips from weddings done. This way I figure your 1)educating them, 2) showing your work and 3)keeping it interesting.
What do you think?
Mark

X-Ty_Reynolds
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Nov 14, 2002, 1:47 AM

Post #2 of 5 (984 views)
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Re: Demo tapes	Can't Post

How would this infomercial video be distributed, and to whom?
If the couple has asked for a demo, presumably they're already sold on the idea of video, so why preach to the converted?
Your work should be interesting enough to stand on its own.
I guess I'm unclear as to why an infomercial rather than a demo, either hilites or full wedding.
Ty Reynolds

X-Crystal
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Nov 14, 2002, 2:34 PM

Post #3 of 5 (983 views)
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Re: Demo tapes [In reply to]	Can't Post

Here is what I think, it does not matter what I am "big" on. It matters what clients are "big" on. I book most of my weddings from referrals and from those who view a full wedding I have sent them at their request. You can try it, but I would not mass produce it until you get feed back from a b&g or 2. Personaly if I am going to hire you to shoot my wedding, I want to see a wedding, not an infomercial.
: Ok, tell me what ya think. Please :)
: I'm not too big on sending out a copy of a wedding or of a highlight video for quite a few reasons. So what I was thinking of doing, is instead of just making a video montage of weddings set to music, is make a 5-10 minute infomercial.
: What I mean by that, is pretty much educate the client in the importance of a video for a wedding, the equipment used, the style, etc... all the time showing great clips from weddings done. This way I figure your 1)educating them, 2) showing your work and 3)keeping it interesting.
: What do you think?
: Mark

X-Ian
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Nov 15, 2002, 12:21 AM

Post #4 of 5 (983 views)
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Re: Demo tapes [In reply to]	Can't Post

My demo is similar to the kind of infomercial you`ve described and it`s not been at all successful so far. I`m on the brink of changing it anyway but I made it that way taking the advice of Hal`s book "Wedding video for profit" which says a demo should be:"from 3 to 6 minutes in length." Mine is 6 minutes long and attempts to show the benefits (as the book advises) of what we do by using various appropriate clips with accompanying titles.
As I mentioned, I don`t think it works...

: Ok, tell me what ya think. Please :)
: I'm not too big on sending out a copy of a wedding or of a highlight video for quite a few reasons. So what I was thinking of doing, is instead of just making a video montage of weddings set to music, is make a 5-10 minute infomercial.
: What I mean by that, is pretty much educate the client in the importance of a video for a wedding, the equipment used, the style, etc... all the time showing great clips from weddings done. This way I figure your 1)educating them, 2) showing your work and 3)keeping it interesting.
: What do you think?
: Mark

X-Scott_Brooks
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Nov 15, 2002, 2:21 AM

Post #5 of 5 (983 views)
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Re: Demo tapes [In reply to]	Can't Post

In the past I've either sent out a video or DVD with examples of the pre-ceremony, ceremony highlights (so they could hear the vows), post cermony, toast, first dance and music highlight. On DVD they've all had their individual chapters.
I can honestly say that I've never had a bride and groom ask to see a complete wedding video.
My suggestion is to just do whatever seems to work for you. If you've had success in the past then continue what you're doing. Don't fix it if it ain't broke.