Number One Money Maker?

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Permalink Reply by Shaw Productions Inc. on June 6, 2011 at 1:53pm

The percentages would be based on the target market you go after the most. Ours would be 40% Corporate video (seminars, trade shows, commercials etc.) and 50% weddings and 10% other types. We tried funerals, memorials, school events etc but have learned that they didn't produce enough income. Would rather work smarter than harder as they say. For instance, when we would get a call to film at funeral it seemed the most the family was able to spend was around $200 whereas we would get 5 times that doing corporate shoots. Made more sense to market the corporate videography and wedding industry.

Joan - Shaw Productions Inc

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Permalink Reply by Earl Chessher on June 6, 2011 at 4:05pm

Really? Percentages are based on the target market? ;-) Question was basically focused on how IVSPs rated their production income generators, Joan.

That working "smarter than harder" part was why I moved from weddings to other video production ... higher rates per hour, less hours from production to delivery.

And I rarely accept corporate shoots in the $1K range, usually starts at double that or more, depending on the complexity of the project. It is interesting that many in our industry lump all commercial production work under the name "corporate" when in actuality it might range from small business projects to roasts held by a legal firm. Semantics, I know, but still ... corporate always seems to imply a higher dollar range and value client than small businesses, independents, etc. Thus true corporate work should START at $5K or better, actually.

Funerals run two hours or less, on average, and we start at $600, averaging much more than that due to other services that are added, bringing the total for less than a day's work, including editing and delivery, to between $1K $1,500.

What I really like is not having to run-and-gun for 6, 8, 10, 12 hours at a wedding, spending 20 or more hours editing, and making less per hour than I do when producing a dance recital that sells 50 to 100 copies at $25 a pop.

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Permalink Reply by grinner on August 28, 2011 at 10:49am

I like runnin' and gunnin'. I don't do weddings and I don't do funerals but I do like offering flat bids for turn key productions. While I use to be a post house, I had to evolve with the times so my one man band productions have become my saving grace. It's real easy on my side. I like to bill a grand a day so if it's a one day shoot and I know it'll be a one day edit, I just tell em two grand and watch their face when they smile and reply "really!?" Yes really. My overhead is dang near nada today. A grand a day is more than I was putting in my pocket when I was billing 195 an hour ten hours a day in the plushest boutique in the midwest.

 

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