The good news is you have delirium

A while back, I blogged about the Steadicam Merlin, and how I was having some difficulty getting it to balance properly.

As advised, I bought an extra middle weight, but I didn’t find it to make any difference. I gave up on it. At least for the short term. I’m convinced it can be done, and I will try to crack the code again in the new year.

One person I know who has unlocked the mystery is Dan (aka jerkmony), a fellow shooter I’m friends with on Twitter. Check out his Flickr profile for pictures of how he balanced his Merlin. Maybe if he comes to Windsor, he could balance mine. I think I see a side business for him.

Blogging is sometimes like going to the gym. You skip it once or twice, and the next thing you know, a week (or four) goes by and it just seems harder to get started again.

But I’m back, and I’m ready to talk about what lies ahead for Delirium Media.

I am planning major changes to the web site for 2009. It will have a different look and there will definitely be some new videos posted. I have not set a target date for the new site, but for now, I will set a soft deadline of February 1st.

I am also planning to add personnel, including sales associates, camera operators, and editors, so if you or someone you know is interested, please send a resume to the e-mail address on our contact page.

Our wedding video packages will also be changing (for the better, of course). I plan to lower the cost of adding a second camera. I’m doing this for two reasons. Number one, to be sensitive to the tough economic times we’re in, particularly here in Windsor (Motor City of Canada). And number two, I just know that using two cameras gives me more creativity, resulting in a better product for me to showcase, which in turn, should lead to more bookings.

Those are the things to count on. There will probably be a few surprises as well, so stay tuned.

That’s all for now. From the Delirium Media team, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

That’s my advice to my fellow videographers.

Before you make your way out to a gig, it’s normal to assess the job and bring only the equipment you need. This can save time on loading, unloading, setting up, and tearing down. Plus sometimes you might not know where a certain accessory is at the moment and you’re in a hurry, so you just bolt.

After a couple experiences I’ve had, I now believe in bringing as much as you can, because “you just never know.”

You might find that one of your wireless mics is not working properly, but since you left your other(s) behind, you’re in a jam. Or your client suddenly requests some exterior shots on a windy day, but you left your Rycote Softie at the office.

D’oh!

Of course, your main concern has to be covering your own assets, and ensuring you deliver on your promises to your client(s). But helping others in need can be just as important.

What if you brought everything you needed, but the DJ needed an extra XLR? You might laugh as he twists in the wind, but it’s your gig too. If he can’t do his job right, the event suffers, and everyone at the event is a little less happy. You want happy clients. Give the DJ your XLR. You’ll not only be a hero for the night, that DJ will never forget that you did him a solid.

Keep your equipment organized so you can grab whatever you need, whenever you need it. And when you go to your next gig, load up as much as possible.

Windsor’s Caboto Club will soon be hosting The Fall Wedding Event.

This is an opportunity to “find everything for your wedding under one roof. From caterers to entertainment, hundreds of vendors will help keep your wedding planning stress-free.”

The Delirium Media booth number is 43s, which will be located on the outside perimeter of the back wall.

The Fall Wedding Event will take place on September 24th and 25th, between the hours of 5:30PM and 9:00PM both nights.

Hope to see you there!

As you know, I was in Orlando last week for WEVA Expo ‘08. While the seminars are certainly the focus of the Expo, and the reason we all go, there is also a terrific trade show going on at the same time.

Vendors from all the big companies are there, including Panasonic, Sony, Canon, JVC and more. There was a guy there from Steadicam (a division of Tiffen) who was demonstrating the Merlin.

I had to talk to this guy.

I told him that I tried adjusting (aka “trimming”) the instrument for quite some time, but couldn’t quite get it. He told me that the only way I could balance the HVX200 would be with one additional middle weight (there are three weight classes: starter, middle, finish).

Even though the Merlin “Cookbook” says you can balance the camera if you trim properly, he was convinced it could only be done by adding another middle weight.

Well, I spent $800 on this thing, I’m not backing out now over one weight.

I thought it would cost around $20 (everything in video production is way overpriced), but I was relieved (and shocked!!) to discover B & H sells them for only $5.95.

So I’ve already ordered it. In fact, it should arrive sometime tomorrow.

Once I’ve got it balanced, I plan to post some test footage.

Last week, I was in Orlando, Florida for the WEVA Expo. This is the second Expo I’ve attended. I learned quite a bit last year, but I think this year was even better.

Now that I’ve been back for a couple days, I’ve had time to reflect on what I thought were the most important seminars. I should preface this by saying that I found almost every seminar informative and worthwhile. But here are the ones I think will have the biggest impact on my business:

EXTREME INSTANT EDITS with Adam Mancini & Eric Model
This seminar shows you how to create same-day edits, and the amazing ripple effect they can have on your business. Imagine how impressed the bride and all her guests at the reception would be to see an edited montage of footage captured earlier that day. To take it a step further, Adam also discussed same-day DVDs. With the proper equipment, a videographer can not only show the same-day edit, but actually distribute the video on DVD to guests when they leave. It makes for a great party favour, and it’s much better than any thank you card. And the best part is it should lead to a lot of new business.

ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR: TOP 10 EDITING TIPS! with Brooke Rudnick
Brooke had some beautiful footage, fantastic really, but I think the biggest lesson she taught was the importance of voiceovers, and to a lesser extent, using fresh new music instead of the same old recycled songs. When a father sees his daughter in her dress for the first time, it’s one thing to see the reaction on his face, but if you can add some of his actual words to the mix, it just adds a lot of emotion and takes the production to another level. And as for music, artists like U2, Michael Bublé, and Celine Dion are great, but we’ve all heard them dozens of times. Finding something new will give your video some personality, and the couple can then say “that’s our song from the video.”

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS: THINK DIFFERENT! with Carlito Frias
This was the last seminar of the Expo I attended, and it was one of the best. Carlito preached the importance of having a team, as opposed to trying to take on the world by yourself. It may be possible for one person to do all the shooting, the editing, the web updates, and all the duties required in running a production company. It is possible, but not if you want to grow. For that, you need more people. And he suggests you start with sales people. If you alone make 10 sales a year, imagine what 5 additional sales associates could do for you? I don’t want to ramble on much more, but I think “Carlito’s Way” of thinking is going to make a big impact on anyone who attended his seminar.

So that’s a brief summary of what I learned at WEVA ‘08. I’m very eager to implement a lot of these new skills and business practices into future Delirium Media productions.

Using a tripod is essential for most shoots. It’s the only way to get silky smooth, shake-free footage.

But if you never take your camera off your tripod, you are missing out on some of the coolest, most memorable, jaw-dropping shots. Film/video is more interesting to watch when there is motion, and it’s even better when the camera is moving, as opposed to just the subject.

Using a dolly or a crane can get you some very cool shots with motion, but sometimes those setups are just too big or take too much time to set up for your shoot.

For tight spaces or quick run-and-gun shooting, there is nothing like the freedom of having the camera in your hands.

Ah, but what about the shakiness?

In order to capture these handheld shots in a smooth manner, you need some sort of stabilizer, and the best one that I’ve found is the Merlin from Steadicam. I just ordered mine on Sunday, so it should arrive sometime this week.

Here is a clip that shows the type of shots you can pull off with the Merlin.

Delirium Media now has a dedicated page on the popular social networking site, Facebook.

If you look at other wedding videographer’s web sites, you’ll notice they tend to generally have the same content. Usually there is a blurb about the company (perhaps mentioning how they’re unique), there will be some video clip samples, and some contact information in case you want to learn more or book an appointment.

But there is one thing not everyone lists.

Pricing.

The ratio of sites with pricing compared to those that do not list pricing is probably split around 50/50. If you have some time on your hands, try browsing the videographer links listed on WEVA’s site. They are listed by US State. Canadian listings are in the International section.

There are a couple schools of thought here, each with their own pros and cons.

Those who choose not to show their prices are hoping that the customer has enough interest in the service that they will take the initiative to call and (hopefully) book an appointment. The upside to this method is that once the videographer reveals his/her pricing, he/she gets a chance to talk to the client, and explain why they are unique and why their pricing is fair. On the down side, some customers may think that if the pricing is not listed, it must be very expensive, and therefore, they never call.

Those who choose to show their prices are generally doing so to save both the customer and themselves a lot of time by not having to take that all-too-familiar “what are your prices?” phone call. By displaying his/her prices, the videographer is saying “these are my prices, I’m worth it, and I have nothing to hide.” This can also save the videographer some cash, as there is not really any need to print expensive brochures. Instead, customers can just be directed to a web site with all the info. Another pro is that if a customer does call, chances are they are more likely to book an appointment, because obviously your pricing did not scare them away, so you are talking to more serious customers. One con is that if a customer thinks the prices are too high, they won’t call, and the videographer won’t get the chance to explain their value.

Which method is best?

There is no right or wrong answer here. I personally did not show my prices for the first couple years, but I’ve just had too many calls from “shoppers,” so now my pricing is online. I always tried to explain my value to customers, but often, they were in a rush because they wanted to call a dozen other videographers, so I didn’t get to sell myself. I also was tired of throwing out hundreds of expensive brochures every year (packages and pricing changes every year). And lastly, having already tried the “no show” method, I thought I’d mix things up and see if displaying my prices would improve sales. Having only posted the prices a couple weeks ago, it’s too soon to say that there has been a difference, but I certainly seem to be taking less calls from shoppers, so that’s a plus.

To the videographers out there, I say do whatever works for you. And experiment, try it both ways, see how your market reacts.

To the customer, give every videographer a chance to explain their style and their unique service. And remember, there is much more than price to consider. What good is saving $200 on a video if you don’t receive it for 8 months after the wedding?! Ask about turnaround times, equipment, style, and training.

No two videographers are the same, so it’s up to YOU to do the research and find the right one. To view my current packages and pricing, click here.

Last night’s filming of the Windsor Elvis-Fest went very smooth. In case you weren’t there, this video gives you a taste of what you missed. To see more, order your copy of the entire performance today by calling our office at 519-739-3700. You can also still order the 2006 Elvis-Fest DVD.