I'm starting my own business!

[TKM]

I'm getting a business plan together, and if I can get a $5000 business loan, I'm going to be a freelance videographer. I'm so excited about this right now... this is the kind of opportunity I've been waiting for. I've had terrible luck finding and keeping regular employment, and finally I find something completely within the realm of feasibility to liberate myself from the normal slaving away for "the man." Hopefully I can keep this business afloat for a long time to come, because if this is successful, I sure as hell will never want to go back to the old job search again. At least not until this recession eases up. There's too much competition for employment right now... but I did my research, and I'm going to be nearly uncontested in the Kansas City area for freelance video shooting/production.

Another great perk of this job... I'll be able to use the video camera and editing software I'll be buying for my business to also explore independent films like I've always wanted to =p

I'm not posting this in the "milestones" forum until it's final, but I'm very optimistic right now.

[LadyShadow]

Best of luck.

[Gwen aka Punstergal]

Best of wishes for you business prospects!! It's a lot of work being your own boss, but it can be super rewarding.

Just a side note.. after you get your loan and start aquiring equipment, check out propertyroom.com  -- it's an auction site run by the feds/gov't/police and they auction of TONS of seized equipment. I've seen cameras/lighting setups/tripods/etc go for super cheap (all the while sighing wistfully because even if I bought them, I'd have no where to keep the stuff right now, hehe). I'd maybe stick with new for the cameras, for the warranties and whatnot, but sometimes "re-claimed" accessories are just the ticket for having a higher profit margin

[Merlin]

Good luck!
What camera and editing software are you looking at?

[TKM]

Adobe Premier, of course. It's one of the best and most revered out there, and it's the one I have the most training in.

As for the camera itself, I plan on doing some browsing this weekend to find out for sure, but probably the cheapest one that can meet my needs.

[Merlin]

AP is the best unless you are on a Mac...then go Final Cut Pro.

I've been using Sony Vegas lately and it's a LOT easier than AP... rendering time is a fraction of what Premiere takes.


Camera.... Panasonic DVX 100B is a good one... about $2300

[TKM]

yeah, hopefully i can budget my camera a little cheaper than that

i've heard all kinds of things about Sony Vegas, but AP is perfectly easy enough, I've taken classes on it and everything.

Me? use a Mac? Blasphemy!

[Merlin]

yeah, hopefully i can budget my camera a little cheaper than that

i've heard all kinds of things about Sony Vegas, but AP is perfectly easy enough, I've taken classes on it and everything.

Me? use a Mac? Blasphemy!

I said the same thing for YEARS... until I recently got a MacAir at one of my jobs. All the MS software I have works on it fine.

Don't go too cheap on the camera.... that's going to be the big difference in getting good jobs. You could shoot corporate videos...weddings... shorts... anything with this thing.

Here's a short that a friend of mine did on that Panasonic... it's pretty good quality.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ckKXG0tmdE

and

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l1agJ_fRWE

[TKM]

yeah, that's pretty good video, but i'm still not sure i need a $2000 piece of equipment for that. I'm going to go do more research today, try out different cameras and see what fits my needs.

Remember, I'm on a budget, and I have a lot of stuff to pay for... I really don't want to take out a loan bigger than $5000, and that's for the camera, a computer, software, two months of operating expenses (including my rent)... so I have to make every decision carefully for the sake of success.

[Merlin]

Sure...I understand ... keep in mind that a good camera will also come with a good shotgun mic... a cheap camera may limit you on your sound.

Not trying to persuade you at all... just offering some advise ....I've worked in film for 20+ years.
I wish you the best!

[TKM]

ok, thanks. When I go out this afternoon, I'll compare video and sound quality equally, and look into cheaper alternatives like external mics.

[Duckie84]

all the best of luck

[redkimba]

Good luck.  Remember to frame your first bill (dollar bill).   

[TKM]

haha.. what do you think I am, some egotistical capitalist? lol, first dollar bill? i'm thinking i'll be dealing more along the lines of 20s and 100s.... I'd be better off spending those than framing them.

[Gwen aka Punstergal]

Right! Now we frame our first INVOICE.. that way, we get to spend the $ and we can still have a memory