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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

cheap people

A

AlexJones

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Hey everyone so I've had the Scarlet for about a year and I have only had 3 clients. I'm posting on craigslist, reduser, mandy, la411, i've cold called and cold emailed too many people. My prices are ridiculously low and even then, I need to take it lower for those few clients I'm getting. My usual price is $500/day for the full red camera package, Zeiss CP.2 lenses and me as the operator. My client for tomorrow wants to take that to $400 because he can't afford an extra 1. Some emails and calls are free gigs! it's ridiculous! What's going on? I feel like i'm the only red owner who has had this much bad luck. I feel like i've exhausted my options. any suggestions would be amazing thanks!
 
Really good article. Thanks Matt.
 
Any suggestions on how to get gigs other than posting? I need something very soon
 
You need a showreel, and a website, good enough to get you work for your skills, not your camera. Only after getting the job, hopefully you hire out your gear on the job instead of from a rental house.

If your local market does not support decent rates you may also have to move where the work is.
 
Yes, word of mouth is huge as well. Network with local businesses and professionals in your area. You can also considering sponsoring a local organization/chairty with some free video content which can give a lot of free advertising and connections in return, just choose wisely when doing this and don't over commit to too much free work or free work that doesn't give you anything back in return. Some chairites have a lot great contacts on their board of directors.

Aside from that, a website is hugely important, it can be simple, but keep it clean and professional with actual samples of your work. Design your website with your potential customers and demographic in mind and match your SEO and Internet marketing strategies to that. And be sure to integrate the social networks into this strategy as well.

You can also contact production companies in your area and let them know you are there and what you have to offer.

Where are you located Alex?
 
The Reels are good - what's your website like?
 
I just took the website down yesterday. It was called reddogcamera.com red had a problem with the name so I am redoing the site but it looked like a pro rental site. I'm redoing it to make it about me a an operator and less of a red renter/owner.
 
AlexJones said:
I just took the website down yesterday. It was called reddogcamera.com red had a problem with the name so I am redoing the site but it looked like a pro rental site. I'm redoing it to make it about me a an operator and less of a red renter/owner.
Click to expand...

This new approach might help - as it sounds a better fit for the work you're looking for.
 
Instagram/Twitter/Website/Facebook/Vimeo/Youtube.

Be everywhere! Make good videos and let people know what your working on. Your reputation and reel gets you work not your equipment.
 
Equipment rental as an owner/operator with a package like you have is never going to get you serious clients. Serious clients want a full lens set, oconnor tripods, epics, monitors, ff5 follow focuses, cookes, ultra primes etc.

i think the best thing you can do is accept your not going to make money just from rental. Try to promote yourself with as a nice bonus, that you can provide cheap kit. Focus on yourself and not on the equipment. Saying your really cheap doesn't sound trustworthy, and your package is nice but far away from a normal rental package.

Just use the stuff yourself and slowly find people you trust and meet who maybe can rent from you. I never rent to people i don't know and don't focus on rentals. I only rent to trusted friends who i have met or shot with.
 
set your prices higher and go lower for deserving projects. you're opening up the floodgates of bs. my philosophy, stop worrying about the money. it's not that difficult to survive, and for that matter everyone that lives once dies once.
 
I rarely even tell what camera I will be using. Only if I get the question. Once on the job I get the question. What is that thing?;)
Its better to get the rate you want so you can deliver little over there expectation.
 
Collaborate with others.

I've had the most unexpected commerical projects emerge from stuff I did for fun and creativity with other like minded people. It's a small industry and you are the brand not your gear.
 
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