EDUCATING CLIENTS
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- This topic has 9 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 2 years ago by
paulears.
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March 2, 2019 at 6:45 AM #72009077
geoffnc
ParticipantHi new member here – I shoot & edit with a client who I really like but they don’t quite ‘get’ what video is and is not. Without going into details they tend to want videos which are basically glorified powerpoint presentations. I don’t like the finished product so wouldn’t show them as part of my folio but the potential is there. Does anybody know of a ‘paper’ (academic or otherwise as this is the language they might understand) or book or anything which could help me, to help them understand how to get the best out of video. I’ve been slowly trying to educate them but they still fall into the “lets shoot everything and see what we can do with it” school of video. I want to persuade them to decide what they need first then shoot with that in mind. Thanks
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March 2, 2019 at 10:32 AM #72009078
JackWolcott
ParticipantAfter more than 50 years working in the TV and video industries I still don’t “‘get’ what video is and is not” as you put it. It’s a visual medium with both artistic and commercial potential; it’s a medium for communicating ideas and ideologies. At its best it’s a medium that permits us to share beauty and adventure, horrors and sadness visually. But it has never been a medium of “right” and “wrong.”
No, I don’t know of a “paper” or book that conveys all of this to a client who wants to use the video as a PowerPoint-like infomercial. You can make suggestions, you can show your client alternatives to their ideas, but ultimately you’ll have to live with their choices, or turn don the jobs.
As for the “lets shoot everything” problem, you might try insisting on a story-board before you begin shooting. Point out that this will reduce costs by improving the efficiency of both the shoot and the edit. If the job is big enough — i.e., going to pay quite well — I’ve gone out with a still camera and shot locations so I can show these to the client to help in developing the storyboard.
From a purely business point of view, however, our job as commercial videographers is to advise and consent, to try to give the client what he or she wants while making it look as good as possible. Whether we want our name on the work will remain to be seen.
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March 3, 2019 at 12:56 PM #72009095
paulears
ParticipantSometimes, clients just cannot be counselled or trained. I’ve even had to abort one job mid way through, because the instructions I kept receiving were impossible to make work. In the end, reputation is more important to me and I do not wish to have my name on an inferior product.
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March 6, 2019 at 8:00 AM #72009278
Utah Video Production
ParticipantI think a lot of creatives forget that they are getting paid to make someone else’s video. It isn’t our video but theirs. At the end of the day, it is our job to make their vision come to life.
Not every job you work on will go on the reel. In the industry, people call it: “One for the reel, one for the meal” or “trash for cash”. Get the picture?
Please don’t interpret my thoughts as meaning you should never educate your clients. If you have a better way of doing something you should always bring that up as an option. But if they don’t like it don’t get frustrated is what I’m saying.
As for ““lets shoot everything and see what we can do with it” school of video”. I would tell the client this is the most expensive way of creating a video. It coasts more because we spend a lot of time filming things we don’t need and then when we edit we have to comb through all of that footage. Time = money. If we did (your solution here) we could get a higher quality video for the same price.
Hope this helps and best of luck.
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March 6, 2019 at 8:30 AM #72009280
geoffnc
ParticipantI agree (Utah) I feel here there’s lots of room for education and as I said, I like working with this client so I’m happy and willing to put some time in.
My question I suppose, is hoping that somewhere out there is some literature about what video does best and what it’s not best suited to. This client is focussed on process and not outcomes. This doesn’t lend itself to attractive looking films – lots of shots in conference and meeting rooms and very little in the field where their work is implemented (and looks much better)
thanks
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March 6, 2019 at 8:54 AM #72009281
Utah Video Production
ParticipantRoger that. These video links aren’t exactly what you are looking for but close. At the end of the day. If you are dealing with business people they understand money and all problems and solutions have to show them how it will affect the bottom line. Take a look:
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March 6, 2019 at 3:55 PM #72009362
JackWolcott
ParticipantYouTube query “how to get the best out of video” produces quite a few interesting articles and discussions.
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March 6, 2019 at 11:54 PM #72009375
paulears
ParticipantA military friend always says it’s the six P’s
Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance
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