From recent discussions with video professionals in Florida, it’s clear that there are some scammers at work. I’ve posted a full news story at http://www.4evergroup.org/. The current scam is a variation of what many of us have already seen, where we’re supposed to be sent money to distribute to others, while keeping a share for ourselves.
In the new wedding scam attempts, I’ve received reports from about a half-dozen wedding video professionals in both South Florida and Jacksonville. Emails sent to two different video producers were nearly identical, although the names were different. We also have a report of one person being victimized for about $2000.00.
Here’s what one of the emails looks like:
Sent: 9/11/2008 3:10:53 P.M. Eastern Daylight TimeSubj: Wedding planner needed
My Name is Dr Edmund Don, I am looking for an experienced wedding planner who will handle my wedding and arrange dinner for a group of people who will be attending the wedding ceremony.Seven will arrive few days before the wedding day. The wedding is expected to hold on the 10 November,2008 and 25 to 40 guests are expected to attend. As i do not know what the guests might choose for their meals and drinks, i will make a prepayment as initial deposit for this booking via credit card once availability is confirmed by you.All checks and balances will be made with you on 21st October which is the final day of the booking, You are to arrange for a Videography,Music Entertainment,Photography,Officiant/Priest & Church,cake,flowers and hall.If there is any these items that is beyond your capability,you let us know so that another company can handle it. Get back to me with your response as we don't have much time with us so that we can process our accommodation within the region more convenient for you and us. Best Regards, Dr Edmund Don, 109-113 Queen's Gate, South Kensington , London , UK , SW7 5LR.. +447024024468
Although the scammers are currently targeting Florida video professionals, they could easily move into other markets.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Quick Trip to Jacksonville
Last night, I rolled out a new presentation designed for local video associations, called Business 2.0. The main point of the program is providing information on how to move your business forward in this challenging economic climate.
The presentation seemed to be well-received, which is always a good thing when the program is presented for the first time. Some suggestions offered during and after the meeting have already made the program stronger for the next time out.
If the flights to and from Jacksonville were any gauge, this is clearly a difficult time. Nearly every time I fly on Southwest, the plane is pretty well packed. This time, both flights were about half full.
The presentation seemed to be well-received, which is always a good thing when the program is presented for the first time. Some suggestions offered during and after the meeting have already made the program stronger for the next time out.
If the flights to and from Jacksonville were any gauge, this is clearly a difficult time. Nearly every time I fly on Southwest, the plane is pretty well packed. This time, both flights were about half full.
Monday, November 10, 2008
ABC Conference
This year marked my fourth time participating in the annual conference of the Association of Bridal Consultants. Like any other professional conference, it’s a great time to catch up with old friends, make new friends, and learn about what’s new in the industry.
The ABC conference drew about 400 attendees, with a number of international consultants participating. Some of the people I’d worked with in the past, like Sandee Monaghan (PA State Coordinator), did not attend this year. Philadelphia was still represented well, with Sheila Corbett, Mark Kingsdorf, Melissa Paul and Haeri Lee among the crowd. Our friends at Weddingvideo.com even produced the official conference video.
We met our goals here, which were to promote professional event video generally, and The 4EVER Group membership in particular. We passed out a bunch of 4EVER Group DVD’s, and had many more conversations about professional video. We heard the concerns of some consultants about some experiences they had with videographers, including poor-quality productions and even camera operators still using tripods, bright lights and AC power during receptions.
In addition to promoting our membership, we will likely be adding a benefit for members of The 4EVER Group Videographers Network. One of the other vendors offers an on-line service that could be very beneficial to our members. We should have the discussions wrapped up shortly, after which we’ll make the announcement.
The ABC conference drew about 400 attendees, with a number of international consultants participating. Some of the people I’d worked with in the past, like Sandee Monaghan (PA State Coordinator), did not attend this year. Philadelphia was still represented well, with Sheila Corbett, Mark Kingsdorf, Melissa Paul and Haeri Lee among the crowd. Our friends at Weddingvideo.com even produced the official conference video.
We met our goals here, which were to promote professional event video generally, and The 4EVER Group membership in particular. We passed out a bunch of 4EVER Group DVD’s, and had many more conversations about professional video. We heard the concerns of some consultants about some experiences they had with videographers, including poor-quality productions and even camera operators still using tripods, bright lights and AC power during receptions.
In addition to promoting our membership, we will likely be adding a benefit for members of The 4EVER Group Videographers Network. One of the other vendors offers an on-line service that could be very beneficial to our members. We should have the discussions wrapped up shortly, after which we’ll make the announcement.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Conflict of Interest?
One of the leading video software companies requested that I help coordinate their introduction of a new product to our market. That help was to take the form of suggesting several local videographers association meetings where they would do an in-depth presentation. The association would get reimbursed (by the software company) for certain expenses, and one meeting attendee would win the new software bundle, valued at more than $1500.00. It was a classic win-win-win situation. But things are never so simple.
After discussing the meeting proposal with the president of one particular association, he readily agreed. Later on, however, he took it to the association board for their approval. That’s where it got complicated.
Sitting on the board was at least one person who receives direct compensation from an organization that considers us (The 4EVER Group) to be competition. There’s also one other person who has received compensation from that other organization. Allowed to sit in on the meeting, but not a board member, was another person who receives direct compensation from that organization.
And the association’s president expressed surprise when our proposal was voted down.
In my first job after college, we had ethics training. We were taught about both impropriety and the appearance of impropriety. It’s hard for me to see how the situation here represents anything but a conflict of interest.
After discussing the meeting proposal with the president of one particular association, he readily agreed. Later on, however, he took it to the association board for their approval. That’s where it got complicated.
Sitting on the board was at least one person who receives direct compensation from an organization that considers us (The 4EVER Group) to be competition. There’s also one other person who has received compensation from that other organization. Allowed to sit in on the meeting, but not a board member, was another person who receives direct compensation from that organization.
And the association’s president expressed surprise when our proposal was voted down.
In my first job after college, we had ethics training. We were taught about both impropriety and the appearance of impropriety. It’s hard for me to see how the situation here represents anything but a conflict of interest.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Video Biographies In The News
I've long considered the Video Biography to be truly important. Whether looking at it as a professional, offering the service, or as a DIYer, having your family story on video is just awesome. I actually recorded my first Video Biography back in 1985, before we even had a real name for it.
Earlier this week, I was interviewed for an article about Video Biographies, which appeared in today's (September 26, 2008) edition of the Indianapolis Star. You can access the article through their web site, by following this link:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/BUSINESS05/809260402/1003/BUSINESS
Earlier this week, I was interviewed for an article about Video Biographies, which appeared in today's (September 26, 2008) edition of the Indianapolis Star. You can access the article through their web site, by following this link:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/BUSINESS05/809260402/1003/BUSINESS
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Haters
In my role with The 4EVER Group, we recently announced that we would host a couple of workshops in the Los Angeles area that would be Spanish-language only. One person sent me this email:
“Asking strictly on my own behalf, why is this event Spanish-only?
Did you get a special subsidy from MALDEF or LULAC or, perhaps, Mexico?
As a native-born English-speaking American citizen of Armenian immigrant parents,
I find a professional conference presented Spanish-only in Los Angeles to be offensive,
and inconsiderate of other races and heritages.
There is a HUGE Armenian community in Glendale, a few miles from LA, why not Armenian?
Why not offer Vietnamese? Korean? Chinese? Russian??
Each of these have large communities in L.A.
Or, why not just present it in English, which ALL American citizens and immigrants SHOULD speak?
That way NOBODY would be offended, or singled out for special treatment
to the exclusion of others.
best regards –“
This was my response:
“I appreciate your email. Please allow me to address your concerns.
By offering workshops in Spanish, we are first and foremost fulfilling our mission to provide education, training, and resources to all facets of the event video community. The leadership of the Spanish-language video producers association specifically invited us to work with them in planning this event. This is simply one of the dozens of events that we have run in cooperation with local associations all across North America. When we last hosted a Video Summit in Southern California (Orange County, at Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel), we ran workshops in both English and Spanish. And the next time we run a Video Summit in Southern California, the format could again be different.
Our programming here is merely driven by the market. If the demand would exist for similar programming in English, or any other language, we would work to provide it. Please note that we are not the first, nor are we the only organization to offer programming in Spanish. For example, (name redacted), a Certified Adobe Trainer and a friend of The 4EVER Group, taught programs in Spanish at the recent NAB conference in Las Vegas. (Gender reference redacted) programs were not offered in English.
The national NACE conference just wrapped up here in Philadelphia. After I left the conference the other day, I walked three blocks from the headquarters hotel to have dinner in Chinatown. The signs on many businesses were only in Chinese. I could have gone a few blocks in a different direction and seen signs in Vietnamese, or Spanish, or Italian, or Japanese. The point is that ours is an extremely diverse society, and there is a benefit to everyone if education is provided in a language that the student understands.
We do not set the political or legal agenda. In my keynote speech at VIDEO 08, and in many other speaking engagements across the continent, I do urge video producers to get involved in the political process, because the laws and the rules have an impact on how we do business, and we have a right to voice our opinions. But I also urge everyone to belong to what I call The 4EVER Group’s Green Party, and I do not refer to the environmental movement. The people who might attend these workshops want to learn, so that they can improve the way they do business. That strikes me as a very good thing.
Regards,
Steve”
Back to the blog post:
Living in the Philadelphia area, we’re clearly not on the front lines of the immigration issue. Maybe it’s a sensitive topic for people in areas like Los Angeles. In addition to this email, I also received a phone call with a similar message. I was told that my points were “nice rhetoric” and “bull”. So for at least these two people, it’s a hot-button issue. But it would be great to see a debate that didn’t go, as the emailer and caller did, directly to insults and invective.
“Asking strictly on my own behalf, why is this event Spanish-only?
Did you get a special subsidy from MALDEF or LULAC or, perhaps, Mexico?
As a native-born English-speaking American citizen of Armenian immigrant parents,
I find a professional conference presented Spanish-only in Los Angeles to be offensive,
and inconsiderate of other races and heritages.
There is a HUGE Armenian community in Glendale, a few miles from LA, why not Armenian?
Why not offer Vietnamese? Korean? Chinese? Russian??
Each of these have large communities in L.A.
Or, why not just present it in English, which ALL American citizens and immigrants SHOULD speak?
That way NOBODY would be offended, or singled out for special treatment
to the exclusion of others.
best regards –“
This was my response:
“I appreciate your email. Please allow me to address your concerns.
By offering workshops in Spanish, we are first and foremost fulfilling our mission to provide education, training, and resources to all facets of the event video community. The leadership of the Spanish-language video producers association specifically invited us to work with them in planning this event. This is simply one of the dozens of events that we have run in cooperation with local associations all across North America. When we last hosted a Video Summit in Southern California (Orange County, at Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel), we ran workshops in both English and Spanish. And the next time we run a Video Summit in Southern California, the format could again be different.
Our programming here is merely driven by the market. If the demand would exist for similar programming in English, or any other language, we would work to provide it. Please note that we are not the first, nor are we the only organization to offer programming in Spanish. For example, (name redacted), a Certified Adobe Trainer and a friend of The 4EVER Group, taught programs in Spanish at the recent NAB conference in Las Vegas. (Gender reference redacted) programs were not offered in English.
The national NACE conference just wrapped up here in Philadelphia. After I left the conference the other day, I walked three blocks from the headquarters hotel to have dinner in Chinatown. The signs on many businesses were only in Chinese. I could have gone a few blocks in a different direction and seen signs in Vietnamese, or Spanish, or Italian, or Japanese. The point is that ours is an extremely diverse society, and there is a benefit to everyone if education is provided in a language that the student understands.
We do not set the political or legal agenda. In my keynote speech at VIDEO 08, and in many other speaking engagements across the continent, I do urge video producers to get involved in the political process, because the laws and the rules have an impact on how we do business, and we have a right to voice our opinions. But I also urge everyone to belong to what I call The 4EVER Group’s Green Party, and I do not refer to the environmental movement. The people who might attend these workshops want to learn, so that they can improve the way they do business. That strikes me as a very good thing.
Regards,
Steve”
Back to the blog post:
Living in the Philadelphia area, we’re clearly not on the front lines of the immigration issue. Maybe it’s a sensitive topic for people in areas like Los Angeles. In addition to this email, I also received a phone call with a similar message. I was told that my points were “nice rhetoric” and “bull”. So for at least these two people, it’s a hot-button issue. But it would be great to see a debate that didn’t go, as the emailer and caller did, directly to insults and invective.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Destination Weddings:What You Need to Know
Note: The following is reprinted with permission. Contact information for the author, Lynda Barness, is at the end of the article.
A destination wedding… whether it is in the mountains, on the beach, or just anywhere that is a bit far from home… can be both exciting and challenging. Here are ten tips to make a destination wedding stress-free:
1. Put everything in writing. You will want to make sure that everyone is literally on the same page, and documenting what you are expecting is one way to make sure this happens. This is particularly important if you are dealing with a venue that is in a place where English is not the only language. You want to be sure that your messages have been conveyed and understood. And, if possible, know some rudimentary words if you are in a place with a foreign language. (This really helps!)
2. Check all room reservations and their locations. Does a child have to have a room near a parent’s? Are there adjoining rooms? Will the hotel deliver welcome bags to guests, and is there a charge for this service?
3. Know your guests’ limitations. What about access for those with physical disabilities? Remember that foreign countries may not have the same requirements for ramps and other means of assistance that you may find in the US. Let the venue know of your guests’ needs, in room assignments, transportation, and any other situation.
4. Know exactly where to find a doctor, where the doctor’s office is located, what the hours are, and what the costs and means of payment may be. You do not want to wait until there is a mishap to figure this out. Investigate ahead of time!
5. Carry as much as possible with you if you are traveling by air. You will not want to pay mailing or import costs, for example, on gift bags for hotel guests. Check with the airline ahead of time if you have questions. And this includes traveling with a wedding gown.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. If you need a golf cart to help you get around at a resort or need help from the hotel staff to assist in decorating tables, just ask. You may be surprised at the willingness of others to assist.
7. Make sure you have a back-up plan for rain. And for everything else! Think about “what if.”
8. Take a moment to think about climate conditions. If you are going to a warm climate, remember that you may also be in (very cold) air conditioning, and plan accordingly. Think about sun screen, bottled water, and a sweater. And if you are going to a cold climate, think about layers. Conditions vary, and you want to be prepared without overloading suitcases.
9. Carry an emergency kit. Have your hotel/resort’s phone number on your speed dial or at least in your address book. Hire a wedding coordinator at home and, if possible, bring that coordinator to the wedding. If possible, bring your own team of wedding consultants, photographers, and videographers. All of these may be available at your hotel/resort, but you will find that the coordination will be smoother if you have your own team in place.
10. Do whatever you can to have a non-stop flight or at least one where you don’t have to change planes, gates, or terminals. It is not fun to miss a connection due to weather (think about the groom’s children ending up in Detroit instead of Cancun) or the airlines (think about sitting on the tarmac in Atlanta because there is no gate available to de-plane, and thus missing the connecting flight home).
And… enjoy!
Lynda Barness
I DO Wedding Consulting
PO Box 22450
Philadelphia, PA 19110
215-262-8188
www.idoplan.com
lynda@idoplan.com
A destination wedding… whether it is in the mountains, on the beach, or just anywhere that is a bit far from home… can be both exciting and challenging. Here are ten tips to make a destination wedding stress-free:
1. Put everything in writing. You will want to make sure that everyone is literally on the same page, and documenting what you are expecting is one way to make sure this happens. This is particularly important if you are dealing with a venue that is in a place where English is not the only language. You want to be sure that your messages have been conveyed and understood. And, if possible, know some rudimentary words if you are in a place with a foreign language. (This really helps!)
2. Check all room reservations and their locations. Does a child have to have a room near a parent’s? Are there adjoining rooms? Will the hotel deliver welcome bags to guests, and is there a charge for this service?
3. Know your guests’ limitations. What about access for those with physical disabilities? Remember that foreign countries may not have the same requirements for ramps and other means of assistance that you may find in the US. Let the venue know of your guests’ needs, in room assignments, transportation, and any other situation.
4. Know exactly where to find a doctor, where the doctor’s office is located, what the hours are, and what the costs and means of payment may be. You do not want to wait until there is a mishap to figure this out. Investigate ahead of time!
5. Carry as much as possible with you if you are traveling by air. You will not want to pay mailing or import costs, for example, on gift bags for hotel guests. Check with the airline ahead of time if you have questions. And this includes traveling with a wedding gown.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. If you need a golf cart to help you get around at a resort or need help from the hotel staff to assist in decorating tables, just ask. You may be surprised at the willingness of others to assist.
7. Make sure you have a back-up plan for rain. And for everything else! Think about “what if.”
8. Take a moment to think about climate conditions. If you are going to a warm climate, remember that you may also be in (very cold) air conditioning, and plan accordingly. Think about sun screen, bottled water, and a sweater. And if you are going to a cold climate, think about layers. Conditions vary, and you want to be prepared without overloading suitcases.
9. Carry an emergency kit. Have your hotel/resort’s phone number on your speed dial or at least in your address book. Hire a wedding coordinator at home and, if possible, bring that coordinator to the wedding. If possible, bring your own team of wedding consultants, photographers, and videographers. All of these may be available at your hotel/resort, but you will find that the coordination will be smoother if you have your own team in place.
10. Do whatever you can to have a non-stop flight or at least one where you don’t have to change planes, gates, or terminals. It is not fun to miss a connection due to weather (think about the groom’s children ending up in Detroit instead of Cancun) or the airlines (think about sitting on the tarmac in Atlanta because there is no gate available to de-plane, and thus missing the connecting flight home).
And… enjoy!
Lynda Barness
I DO Wedding Consulting
PO Box 22450
Philadelphia, PA 19110
215-262-8188
www.idoplan.com
lynda@idoplan.com
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Starving Artists?
Yesterday, I wan an invited participant in a regional video producers meeting, hosted by the North Jersey Videographers Association. The first part of the meeting was a 90-minute State of the Industry panel discussion, and that included two associates from Boston, one from Dallas, and another from Long Island. With a 3pm start, the meeting drew about 75 attendees.
One of the issues identified by the LI associate is somewhat local to his area i.e. there are a number of photo studios that, as he explained, treat event video as a commodity, not as an art form. They sell fairly basic packages at relatively low prices, and actively do not want artistic-type shots. The Long Island associate talked about his relationship with the couples he worked with, and felt terrible that he could not deliver an artistic video. While this may not be national in scope, there is a terrific business lesson to be learned. The fact is that the photo studio owner is acting like a businessperson. He is selling video for more than the video is costing him, and keeping that client in his studio. One attendee remarked that he recently started offering photography in his video studio, which is a perfectly appropriate action. The point that I made, and others on the panel made, was that we have to act like entrepreneurs, like business people, in order to achieve business success. It's a simple formulation, really.
One of the issues identified by the LI associate is somewhat local to his area i.e. there are a number of photo studios that, as he explained, treat event video as a commodity, not as an art form. They sell fairly basic packages at relatively low prices, and actively do not want artistic-type shots. The Long Island associate talked about his relationship with the couples he worked with, and felt terrible that he could not deliver an artistic video. While this may not be national in scope, there is a terrific business lesson to be learned. The fact is that the photo studio owner is acting like a businessperson. He is selling video for more than the video is costing him, and keeping that client in his studio. One attendee remarked that he recently started offering photography in his video studio, which is a perfectly appropriate action. The point that I made, and others on the panel made, was that we have to act like entrepreneurs, like business people, in order to achieve business success. It's a simple formulation, really.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
A Funny Thing Happened In Minnesota. No, Really!
Last week, I spent a couple of days in the Minneapolis area. I had a presentation to the Minnesota Professional Videographers Association, meetings with vendors, and I also had to shoot some b-roll for a corporate video project. A busy couple of days, in other words.
One of the places I needed to go and shoot video was the town of White Bear Lake. It was a nice little place, and since I was there mid-day, I stopped in a local restaurant for lunch. The place was called the Cobblestone Café, and it was a family-run business.
As I walked in to get seated, a guy came in to deliver a pizza to the owners. I can’t say that I’d seen anything quite like that before. I had to ask the owners if that were a subtle message that I should go elsewhere for lunch. They assured me that they were simply bored of eating from their own menu, after being there for 10 years.
I did stay there for lunch, and it wasn’t bad. I got to sit outside in fairly fresh air, with very little humidity. And I got a good story to tell.
One of the places I needed to go and shoot video was the town of White Bear Lake. It was a nice little place, and since I was there mid-day, I stopped in a local restaurant for lunch. The place was called the Cobblestone Café, and it was a family-run business.
As I walked in to get seated, a guy came in to deliver a pizza to the owners. I can’t say that I’d seen anything quite like that before. I had to ask the owners if that were a subtle message that I should go elsewhere for lunch. They assured me that they were simply bored of eating from their own menu, after being there for 10 years.
I did stay there for lunch, and it wasn’t bad. I got to sit outside in fairly fresh air, with very little humidity. And I got a good story to tell.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Internet Radio Interview
I’ll be the featured guest on the May 22, 2008 edition of “The Frazzled Entrepreneur” program. The interview will be heard live at 8pm EDT on Blog Talk Radio, at this web address: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/frazzledentrepreneur/2008/05/23/The-Frazzled-Entrepreneur-Program-Steve-Wernick-Real-Entrepreneurs-Live.
We’ll have the chance to talk about the video production business, as well as about The 4EVER Group. Since the program runs for an hour, there’s plenty of time for a range of topics.
If you leave a comment below, and mention any topic we discuss with specificity, you’ll be eligible for a 10% discount on any new video production. I mention specificity because I want you to listen to the interview.
In addition to the live session, the program will be archived and appear on The Frazzled Entrepreneur Program website, at http://www.frazzledentrepreneur.com/, for many weeks.
We’ll have the chance to talk about the video production business, as well as about The 4EVER Group. Since the program runs for an hour, there’s plenty of time for a range of topics.
If you leave a comment below, and mention any topic we discuss with specificity, you’ll be eligible for a 10% discount on any new video production. I mention specificity because I want you to listen to the interview.
In addition to the live session, the program will be archived and appear on The Frazzled Entrepreneur Program website, at http://www.frazzledentrepreneur.com/, for many weeks.
Friday, May 16, 2008
May 10 wedding
May 10 was clearly a big day for weddings. I was working for Jillian and Chris, whose ceremony was at Old St. Mary’s, with the reception at the Radisson Warwick. This was a fairly recent booking, as they had originally contracted with a studio in New Jersey that shut down, unannounced. They came to me on a referral from their photographer, Michael Leslie. (The images here are courtesy of Michael Leslie, from his blog at http://www.michaelleslie.com/blog/?p=264).
Jillian’s biggest trouble was being uncomfortable at being the center of attention. That’s real hard to do when you’re the woman in the big white dress.
Although the day before their wedding was cold and rainy, their day turned out just fine. We had time to stop at the Art Museum after the ceremony, and that’s when we concluded that May 10 was such a big wedding day. There were 5 or 6 other wedding parties at the Art Museum while we were there (I knew one of the photographers, and two of the video producers). There were two other wedding parties near the Water Works, two more at the fountain in front of the main library, and one out front of the Union League (I knew their video producer as well).
Jillian and Chris had a rockin’ reception, with Rio, a band from EBE Talent, and about 150 guests. The wedding ended with Jillian being held up like she was in a mosh pit That’ll be a good wrap to the video.
Jillian’s biggest trouble was being uncomfortable at being the center of attention. That’s real hard to do when you’re the woman in the big white dress.
Although the day before their wedding was cold and rainy, their day turned out just fine. We had time to stop at the Art Museum after the ceremony, and that’s when we concluded that May 10 was such a big wedding day. There were 5 or 6 other wedding parties at the Art Museum while we were there (I knew one of the photographers, and two of the video producers). There were two other wedding parties near the Water Works, two more at the fountain in front of the main library, and one out front of the Union League (I knew their video producer as well).
Jillian and Chris had a rockin’ reception, with Rio, a band from EBE Talent, and about 150 guests. The wedding ended with Jillian being held up like she was in a mosh pit That’ll be a good wrap to the video.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
NAB in Las Vegas, 2008
I recently traveled to Las Vegas, for the annual National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention. More than 100,000 people come in from all over the world. Despite the questionable economy, the convention was packed.
We ran our first NAB-week event this year, at the Monte Carlo. This was a reception co-sponsored by Adobe, B&H, Canon, Sony Recording Media, and TEAC. The event went well, but the hotel presented us with some interesting challenges, like locking the doors. We won’t be back there again.
We also presented our annual Product Innovation awards, and you can see the whole list at http://www.4evergroup.org/.
I was invited to participate in a meeting with representatives from Canon. There were five or six representatives from Japan in that meeting (see photo), and waiting for things to be translated back-and-forth was somewhat entertaining.
NAB was, as usual, a great opportunity to build and improve business relationships. One of the big players in this industry is Avid. Right after NAB last year, they had a round of layoffs. Our principal contact, Linda Croson, was one of the people laid off. I was standing in line for coffee, and there was Linda, standing in front of me. Turns out that about a month after being laid off, she was hired by Sony. So that worked out fine for her.
We ran our first NAB-week event this year, at the Monte Carlo. This was a reception co-sponsored by Adobe, B&H, Canon, Sony Recording Media, and TEAC. The event went well, but the hotel presented us with some interesting challenges, like locking the doors. We won’t be back there again.
We also presented our annual Product Innovation awards, and you can see the whole list at http://www.4evergroup.org/.
I was invited to participate in a meeting with representatives from Canon. There were five or six representatives from Japan in that meeting (see photo), and waiting for things to be translated back-and-forth was somewhat entertaining.
NAB was, as usual, a great opportunity to build and improve business relationships. One of the big players in this industry is Avid. Right after NAB last year, they had a round of layoffs. Our principal contact, Linda Croson, was one of the people laid off. I was standing in line for coffee, and there was Linda, standing in front of me. Turns out that about a month after being laid off, she was hired by Sony. So that worked out fine for her.
Another Corporate Video
I’m currently in the middle of a fairly big corporate video project. The shoot included two days on location at a conference, brief b-roll shooting at a variety of retail establishments, and a whole lot of editing. We shot testimonials at that conference in early April, and we won’t have the project wrapped until September.
The project was put out for competitive bidding, but the environment was flexible. The low bidder wasn’t automatically getting the contract, because there were going to be some creative opportunities that might mitigate an otherwise higher price.
As it turned out, we were the low bidder, with pricing in line with the company’s expectations (they’d done similar projects for several years, but wanted a new video producer). The company rep told the non-winners what the final bid price was. One of those bidders, whose original price was about double what our price was, offered to match our price. That’s from the school of “too late”. If you have that much padding in your bid, you come off as not needing, or not wanting, the work. If you do want the work, submit a competitive bid in the first place.
The entire project has some interesting dynamics. The client is based in California. The conference where we shot the testimonials was in Boston. We needed to get transcripts of all 20 interviews, so I emailed the audio file to a woman in New Jersey, who emailed the transcripts back. The editing will also be done in NJ, and the retail establishments (for the b-roll) are all over the country. The video segments from the project will be hosted on the company web site, but also will be put on a DVD for trade show use.
The project was put out for competitive bidding, but the environment was flexible. The low bidder wasn’t automatically getting the contract, because there were going to be some creative opportunities that might mitigate an otherwise higher price.
As it turned out, we were the low bidder, with pricing in line with the company’s expectations (they’d done similar projects for several years, but wanted a new video producer). The company rep told the non-winners what the final bid price was. One of those bidders, whose original price was about double what our price was, offered to match our price. That’s from the school of “too late”. If you have that much padding in your bid, you come off as not needing, or not wanting, the work. If you do want the work, submit a competitive bid in the first place.
The entire project has some interesting dynamics. The client is based in California. The conference where we shot the testimonials was in Boston. We needed to get transcripts of all 20 interviews, so I emailed the audio file to a woman in New Jersey, who emailed the transcripts back. The editing will also be done in NJ, and the retail establishments (for the b-roll) are all over the country. The video segments from the project will be hosted on the company web site, but also will be put on a DVD for trade show use.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Altoona Baseball
The Altoona Rail Kings were a minor league baseball team that lasted two seasons, starting in 1996. They moved to West Virginia before folding. As I remembered it, the Rail Kings never even played a game, so I have to attribute the facts here to Wikipedia. Although I’m a baseball fan, and I’ve spent a fair amount of time in Altoona, I never got to see a Rail Kings game. The Altoona Curve baseball team started playing in 1999, and I didn’t get to one of their games until last summer (that’s the photo here).
I have good friends, Joel and Barb, who have lived in Altoona since the mid-1970’s. Whenever I needed a break from the insanity of Penn State, I’d just take a ride down Rt. 220 to what we all agreed was the “Rest Home”.
Since I never got to a Rail Kings game, I never got any branded merchandise. Generally, I’ll only get something (shirt, glass, etc.) if it represents something I’ve seen, or somewhere I’ve been. Nevertheless, getting a Rail Kings jersey became a running joke with Joel and Barb since about 1997.
Once a year or so, I’d check EBay and Craig’s List to see if anyone was selling a jersey. No such luck. And, as it happens, the last time I checked was just a few days ago.
Yesterday, the mailman delivered a small box, and it had Joel and Barb’s return address. My first thought was that the Rail Kings jersey had finally arrived. But when I opened the box, it was actually a Rail Kings jacket! That was a really cool surprise.
Of course, I immediately called Joel and Barb, telling the story about having just checked EBay, and it was probably the day they sent it. Barb asked if there was any time limit on my request, and was 11 years too long to wait.
I have good friends, Joel and Barb, who have lived in Altoona since the mid-1970’s. Whenever I needed a break from the insanity of Penn State, I’d just take a ride down Rt. 220 to what we all agreed was the “Rest Home”.
Since I never got to a Rail Kings game, I never got any branded merchandise. Generally, I’ll only get something (shirt, glass, etc.) if it represents something I’ve seen, or somewhere I’ve been. Nevertheless, getting a Rail Kings jersey became a running joke with Joel and Barb since about 1997.
Once a year or so, I’d check EBay and Craig’s List to see if anyone was selling a jersey. No such luck. And, as it happens, the last time I checked was just a few days ago.
Yesterday, the mailman delivered a small box, and it had Joel and Barb’s return address. My first thought was that the Rail Kings jersey had finally arrived. But when I opened the box, it was actually a Rail Kings jacket! That was a really cool surprise.
Of course, I immediately called Joel and Barb, telling the story about having just checked EBay, and it was probably the day they sent it. Barb asked if there was any time limit on my request, and was 11 years too long to wait.
Friday, March 21, 2008
WPPI Conference
That’s the Wedding and Portrait Photographers Conference, held in Las Vegas, and I attended to represent The 4EVER Group and our membership. We shared booth space with the conference organizers during the trade show, and we presented a video program during the educational time. In addition, I shot some footage for the highlights video, which was being assembled by a friend.
Our original program presenter asked to be excused, and we had an even better seminar as a replacement. Unfortunately, bad weather prevented LaDonna Moore from leaving Dallas, so I had to step up and replace her. I had a two-hour time slot to fill, which I did with a combination of the Video Critique and an instantly-developed program highlighting the cross-marketing opportunities between photo and video. Our official VIDEO 08 photographer was in attendance, and Sara Frances (http://www.photomirage.com/) graciously provided the images here.
We used four DVD’s in the presentation. Two were ours, and two associates each provided one. An AV technician handled the DVD’s during the program. Immediately after my presentation, while I was talking to several attendees, the tech left the DVD’s on his table and came up to retrieve the microphone. In that 30-or so second time, someone stole those DVD’s. That was a ridiculous blemish on an otherwise excellent experience.
WPPI draws about 10,000 attendees, and more than 350 trade show vendors, so it’s pretty impressive. There are as many as 16 programs going on at once, so that’s really quite an effort to pull together.
Our original program presenter asked to be excused, and we had an even better seminar as a replacement. Unfortunately, bad weather prevented LaDonna Moore from leaving Dallas, so I had to step up and replace her. I had a two-hour time slot to fill, which I did with a combination of the Video Critique and an instantly-developed program highlighting the cross-marketing opportunities between photo and video. Our official VIDEO 08 photographer was in attendance, and Sara Frances (http://www.photomirage.com/) graciously provided the images here.
We used four DVD’s in the presentation. Two were ours, and two associates each provided one. An AV technician handled the DVD’s during the program. Immediately after my presentation, while I was talking to several attendees, the tech left the DVD’s on his table and came up to retrieve the microphone. In that 30-or so second time, someone stole those DVD’s. That was a ridiculous blemish on an otherwise excellent experience.
WPPI draws about 10,000 attendees, and more than 350 trade show vendors, so it’s pretty impressive. There are as many as 16 programs going on at once, so that’s really quite an effort to pull together.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Four City Trip Starts
These crazy few days kicked off with a trip to Boston, for an industry show on March 7 and 8. We (The 4EVER Group) were one of the exhibitors at the Camera Company Pro Video show, which was held on the campus of Stonehill College. In addition to the show, I was a panelist for the Vista Awards, presented by the local video producers group, the National Professional Videographers Association of New England (NPVA-NE).
The show itself was fairly uneventful, and it was run well. They’ve had some practice: this was the 18th year of the show, and the second time that we’ve participated. Unlike the last time we participated, the show has been geared almost totally toward industry professionals. That meant that the foot traffic was lighter than we figured.
Day two of the show, Saturday, figured to be busier. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t really cooperate, as there was quite the downpour. The show was held in the school’s gym, which was next to the main athletic field (W. B. Mason Field), and there was a lacrosse match that morning. That had to be an unpleasant experience, out in the cold rain.
At the show’s conclusion (5pm), I packed up and grabbed a quick dinner with a couple of associates. Then I hit the road, bound for State College. Seven entertaining hours later, I arrived in my old home town for the PA ABC meeting. But you should have already read that story.
The show itself was fairly uneventful, and it was run well. They’ve had some practice: this was the 18th year of the show, and the second time that we’ve participated. Unlike the last time we participated, the show has been geared almost totally toward industry professionals. That meant that the foot traffic was lighter than we figured.
Day two of the show, Saturday, figured to be busier. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t really cooperate, as there was quite the downpour. The show was held in the school’s gym, which was next to the main athletic field (W. B. Mason Field), and there was a lacrosse match that morning. That had to be an unpleasant experience, out in the cold rain.
At the show’s conclusion (5pm), I packed up and grabbed a quick dinner with a couple of associates. Then I hit the road, bound for State College. Seven entertaining hours later, I arrived in my old home town for the PA ABC meeting. But you should have already read that story.
The four cities? Boston, State College, Davenport IA, and Las Vegas.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
PA ABC Meeting
PA ABC Meeting
So there will be a couple of posts that are out of order. It happens.
This past Saturday, at the conclusion of the Camera Company event, I drove from the Boston area to State College, PA, for the meeting of the PA chapter of the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC). This would be my second presentation for the PA ABC, and the last one had been about five or six years ago.
The drive featured some lousy weather, with serious rain from Boston to Hartford, CT, and a mix of light snow and ice for the last 100 miles of the trip. It didn’t help that I left Boston about 7pm, but the program didn’t end until after 5pm, and then I stopped for dinner with a couple of associates. I made it to State College almost exactly at 2am, and that’s when Daylight Savings Time took effect. I figure that simply meant that I lost an hour of awake time, rather than sleep.
Consultants did come in from all over Pennsylvania, from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. Of course, there were a few from the State College area, as I noted in an earlier post. As a Penn State graduate, I’d be really happy to cover a wedding there, but I haven’t really pushed it before now.
My goal was to give the consultants something of a status update on the state of the video production business. Although two of the attendees had seen my presentation at the 2007 national ABC conference, this was new information to everyone else. We discussed Same Day Edits, Memorial Videos, and HD video, among other topics.
Since I had anticipated arriving so late, I was able to get scheduled to speak after lunch. The ABC did have two other speakers in the agenda, so that worked in my favor. I did get to sleep in a little, and then grab breakfast at the Waffle Shop, a favorite spot in State College. It was spring break, so town was unusually quiet.
On the ride home, I took a little detour through Altoona, to visit with friends there. So after another long drive, I finally got home about midnight.
So there will be a couple of posts that are out of order. It happens.
This past Saturday, at the conclusion of the Camera Company event, I drove from the Boston area to State College, PA, for the meeting of the PA chapter of the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC). This would be my second presentation for the PA ABC, and the last one had been about five or six years ago.
The drive featured some lousy weather, with serious rain from Boston to Hartford, CT, and a mix of light snow and ice for the last 100 miles of the trip. It didn’t help that I left Boston about 7pm, but the program didn’t end until after 5pm, and then I stopped for dinner with a couple of associates. I made it to State College almost exactly at 2am, and that’s when Daylight Savings Time took effect. I figure that simply meant that I lost an hour of awake time, rather than sleep.
Consultants did come in from all over Pennsylvania, from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. Of course, there were a few from the State College area, as I noted in an earlier post. As a Penn State graduate, I’d be really happy to cover a wedding there, but I haven’t really pushed it before now.
My goal was to give the consultants something of a status update on the state of the video production business. Although two of the attendees had seen my presentation at the 2007 national ABC conference, this was new information to everyone else. We discussed Same Day Edits, Memorial Videos, and HD video, among other topics.
Since I had anticipated arriving so late, I was able to get scheduled to speak after lunch. The ABC did have two other speakers in the agenda, so that worked in my favor. I did get to sleep in a little, and then grab breakfast at the Waffle Shop, a favorite spot in State College. It was spring break, so town was unusually quiet.
On the ride home, I took a little detour through Altoona, to visit with friends there. So after another long drive, I finally got home about midnight.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Penn State Weddings?
Yesterday, I did a presentation for the PA chapter of the Association of Bridal Consultants. I’ll blog more about that later. First, though, I wanted to mention a useful and fun site for any fellow Penn Staters getting married in the Centre region.
One of the meeting attendees was Kerri Smith, the “quarterback” (their term) for Nittany Weddings. Her business card resembled a sports card, and the photo was of a bride in her gown, with a blue sash, about to throw a football. And she has lamp black under her eyes.
That football theme was consistent in their material, and I liked the branding. I have to figure that it plays well up in Happy Valley. Check them out at www.nittanyweddings.com.
One of the meeting attendees was Kerri Smith, the “quarterback” (their term) for Nittany Weddings. Her business card resembled a sports card, and the photo was of a bride in her gown, with a blue sash, about to throw a football. And she has lamp black under her eyes.
That football theme was consistent in their material, and I liked the branding. I have to figure that it plays well up in Happy Valley. Check them out at www.nittanyweddings.com.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Changes at The 4EVER Group
4EVER Group Focused on Membership Growth as Co-Founder Departs
Contact: Levi Rabinowitz
Redzone News Management
443-280-1911
levi@redzonenews.com
Or: Scott Broom
Redzone News Management
443-562-0112
s.broom@redzonenews.com
Feb. 26 2008 (Philadelphia, PA) The 4EVER Group, the leader in education and resources for the event video industry, today congratulated co-founder and former Director of Education Tim Ryan as he took leave from the organization.
“All of us who have worked with Tim wish him the best as he refocuses his efforts on growing his already-successful video production business,” said The 4EVER Group’s Director of Development Steve Wernick.
Ryan, along with his wife Lee Ann, own Treasured Memories Video in Massapequa, New York. He announced his leave from The 4EVER Group due to personal and private reasons February 25.
Wernick and Ryan established The 4EVER Group as the premier resource for event video production firms seeking professional development opportunities and access to networks of fellow event producers and the vendors that serve them. Event DV Magazine named Wernick and Ryan of The 4EVER Group to its inaugural Top-25 list of contributors to the industry in 2005. Since it’s founding in 2005, The 4EVER Group has hosted professional events and conferences attracting an international host of video professionals and vendors.
“We appreciate all that Tim has done with The 4EVER Group,” said Wernick. “The 4EVER Group was founded for the promotion and benefit of event video production companies exactly like Tim’s.”
Under Wernick’s continuing leadership, and with the assistance of a strong team that includes Ed Wardyga, Ken Ehrhart and LaDonna Moore, The 4Ever Group remains focused on growing its substantial membership and expanding the events, services, vendors and professional networks critical to assisting members in growing their businesses.
At The 4EVER Group’s most recent annual international conference, VIDEO 08, in Orlando Florida, members indicated expanding demand for newer areas of event production services such as the creation of video biographies and memorial productions for private clients, as well as sports- and school-based productions. Traditional areas of business include wedding video productions, corporate video productions and the production of photo montages for corporate and private clients.
In addition, The 4EVER Group’s 2007 Artistic Achievement Awards attracted global interest with entries from event video producers in Austria, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Canada, and the Philippines.
The 4EVER Group is the leading resource for video producers, especially those in the social event industry. For more information about the events and activities of The 4EVER Group, please visit www.4EVERGroup.org, or call 1-888-4EVERG1.
Contact: Levi Rabinowitz
Redzone News Management
443-280-1911
levi@redzonenews.com
Or: Scott Broom
Redzone News Management
443-562-0112
s.broom@redzonenews.com
Feb. 26 2008 (Philadelphia, PA) The 4EVER Group, the leader in education and resources for the event video industry, today congratulated co-founder and former Director of Education Tim Ryan as he took leave from the organization.
“All of us who have worked with Tim wish him the best as he refocuses his efforts on growing his already-successful video production business,” said The 4EVER Group’s Director of Development Steve Wernick.
Ryan, along with his wife Lee Ann, own Treasured Memories Video in Massapequa, New York. He announced his leave from The 4EVER Group due to personal and private reasons February 25.
Wernick and Ryan established The 4EVER Group as the premier resource for event video production firms seeking professional development opportunities and access to networks of fellow event producers and the vendors that serve them. Event DV Magazine named Wernick and Ryan of The 4EVER Group to its inaugural Top-25 list of contributors to the industry in 2005. Since it’s founding in 2005, The 4EVER Group has hosted professional events and conferences attracting an international host of video professionals and vendors.
“We appreciate all that Tim has done with The 4EVER Group,” said Wernick. “The 4EVER Group was founded for the promotion and benefit of event video production companies exactly like Tim’s.”
Under Wernick’s continuing leadership, and with the assistance of a strong team that includes Ed Wardyga, Ken Ehrhart and LaDonna Moore, The 4Ever Group remains focused on growing its substantial membership and expanding the events, services, vendors and professional networks critical to assisting members in growing their businesses.
At The 4EVER Group’s most recent annual international conference, VIDEO 08, in Orlando Florida, members indicated expanding demand for newer areas of event production services such as the creation of video biographies and memorial productions for private clients, as well as sports- and school-based productions. Traditional areas of business include wedding video productions, corporate video productions and the production of photo montages for corporate and private clients.
In addition, The 4EVER Group’s 2007 Artistic Achievement Awards attracted global interest with entries from event video producers in Austria, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, Canada, and the Philippines.
The 4EVER Group is the leading resource for video producers, especially those in the social event industry. For more information about the events and activities of The 4EVER Group, please visit www.4EVERGroup.org, or call 1-888-4EVERG1.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Why Get A Wedding Video?
An associate from California posted this Youtube clip;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP0UHCVyvtU&mode=related&search
In it, a couple discusses their wedding, and their decision to not have a video recording of the day. It's worth spending the 5 or 6 minutes there is you're unsure about hiring a wedding video producer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP0UHCVyvtU&mode=related&search
In it, a couple discusses their wedding, and their decision to not have a video recording of the day. It's worth spending the 5 or 6 minutes there is you're unsure about hiring a wedding video producer.
NACE Conference
I recently celebrated my 4th anniversary as a member of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE). To celebrate, national NACE is having its annual convention in Philadelphia this summer. OK, that's not completely accurate, but the conference is coming to Philadelphia.
Since I'm part of the local chapter, and I know a thing or two about national conferences, I volunteered to serve on the committee assisting the national team. I'm serving as chair of the closing Gala. It suits me well, because the national is making most of the arrangements, and I will have little to do until the last month or two before the conference.
The local NACE chapter is an excellent place for industry professionals to meet and share. It's just another way of staying involved in the social event business.
Since I'm part of the local chapter, and I know a thing or two about national conferences, I volunteered to serve on the committee assisting the national team. I'm serving as chair of the closing Gala. It suits me well, because the national is making most of the arrangements, and I will have little to do until the last month or two before the conference.
The local NACE chapter is an excellent place for industry professionals to meet and share. It's just another way of staying involved in the social event business.
Monday, January 28, 2008
I'm Still Here
You plan and organize a conference for hundreds of video producers, and you’ll let your blog slip. We just wrapped The 4EVER Group’s 3rd annual conference and trade show, and it was great. The discussions in the industry forums has been all positive, but we’re already working on ways to make the 2009 conference even better.
An important part of the conference was the Iron Videographer competition. It was based on the Iron Chef TV show, and was a compelling, six-month long project. The winner was Terry Taravella, from Studio Vieux Carre in New Orleans. Every part of the competition used video footage from my studio, so it made for a great re-imagining of our clips. The winning entries from the Iron Videographer competition can be viewed at http://4evergroup.org/ironvid.shtml.
If you want to get an idea of what the conference was like, just visit the home page at www.4EVERGroup.org. We had a series of daily vlogs created, and they’re posted on that home page.
Back in the north, we participated in the WPST bridal show yesterday. We haven’t taken a booth at a show in a few years, and they’re just not a place where we get instant gratification. But it’s a good time to remind anyone shopping for wedding vendors that you should make your selections as soon as you can.
An important part of the conference was the Iron Videographer competition. It was based on the Iron Chef TV show, and was a compelling, six-month long project. The winner was Terry Taravella, from Studio Vieux Carre in New Orleans. Every part of the competition used video footage from my studio, so it made for a great re-imagining of our clips. The winning entries from the Iron Videographer competition can be viewed at http://4evergroup.org/ironvid.shtml.
If you want to get an idea of what the conference was like, just visit the home page at www.4EVERGroup.org. We had a series of daily vlogs created, and they’re posted on that home page.
Back in the north, we participated in the WPST bridal show yesterday. We haven’t taken a booth at a show in a few years, and they’re just not a place where we get instant gratification. But it’s a good time to remind anyone shopping for wedding vendors that you should make your selections as soon as you can.
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