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Home: Video University Forums: Marketing & Business:
How to get new business from schools etc...

 
 


dansen
User


Sep 14, 2005, 9:09 AM

Post #1 of 14 (3488 views)
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How to get new business from schools etc... Can't Post
Hi there! I'm looking to see if anyone here does school plays and other special events, other than corporate and weddings etc. If you do, would you mind telling me how you get your business?

I would imagine it's pretty much the same way as getting corporate clients? Perhaps do a new booklet that you can send to schools, telling them about the benefits of having school plays filmed etc? Are there any tips for creating more business when it comes to graduations, car shows, fashion shows etc etc.. thanks.

By the way, I've never heard car shows mentioned here before, maybe that's a good suggestion for some of you!


scott strimple
Novice

Sep 16, 2005, 8:02 PM

Post #2 of 14 (3458 views)
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Re: [dansen] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
We do a fair amount fo HS events from theater to sports to graduations.
I can tell you that the secret for us has been to get the attention of the parent groups...the PTA or the Athletic Boosters. These folks are the parents of the kids you will film. Show them some of your work...if you don't have any yet...then give some thought to simply showing up and taping then put togeather a demo piece. We have found that once you are in with a group at the school...it simply domino's.

One word of caution...the school district administration will "shoot you down" quicker than you can say "smile". Try to avoid contact with any administrator as they will always defer to the legal dept. of the school system who generally has no clue what you are trying to do and as such the generally say NO, where as the parent groups operate a little differently.


dansen
User


Sep 16, 2005, 8:23 PM

Post #3 of 14 (3457 views)
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Re: [scott strimple] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
How do you get their attention? Advertise through school teachers? Get them to give kids a flyer to take home? Or somehow manage to get a list of parents of kids at the schools?


scott strimple
Novice

Sep 16, 2005, 8:41 PM

Post #4 of 14 (3455 views)
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Re: [dansen] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
Well, the way we got started is somewhat unorthodox ...but, hey what ever works.

We purchased a hi-pod www.hi-pod.com and just showed up on the sidelines of local HS football teams. Once you see this contraption...you realize that it garners quite abit of attention. The first game we did...we booked a whole season from a private school parent who was impressed with the shot we could get. From here word spread quickly about the big pole at the games and the phone started to ring. we parlayed this exposure into other school events and as such found that when we approached the PTA for graduation, the theatrical faculty advisor and parents about theater etc. that they were already familiar with us. So I guess you would say that we sort of did our first gigs for nothing on the hope that we would be noticed. Find out who the PTA coordinator is and pitch your ideas to her/him with regard to a graduation video/ senior video etc.

Find out when there is a play or musical and show up ...make a big deal out of letting the PTA or the kids/teachers involved know that you will be there filming if anyone is interested. One thing we have found is that the private schools have much deeper pockets and are far more graceous for your time and efforts. We do not do much at all with the public schools anymore for this reason. Also the private schools administration is far more low key.

I hope this helps.
Smile

scott


dansen
User


Sep 20, 2005, 11:40 AM

Post #5 of 14 (3349 views)
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Re: [scott strimple] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
That's certainly interesting! Had a look at hi-pod.com too. Seems like a good contraption. Do you always need to have this at the events you shoot. Can you not just film an event from the sidelines with an ordinary tripod? Or maybe two cameras? Also, is there a direct mail approach you ever take to getting business?


scott strimple
Novice

Sep 20, 2005, 10:44 PM

Post #6 of 14 (3333 views)
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Re: [dansen] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
Our clients have come to really expect the Hi Pod view...there is NO way to get a camera up 15ft in the air on the sidelines or from the endzone on a regular basis. Soccer fans/coachs often do not have any bleachers from which to film from and again rely heavily on the Hi Pod shot. We typically will cover a football game with the HP at the line of scrimage while we have another camera with the wide shot atop the scorebox. We actually have had as many as 4 cameras shooting and while the footage is wonderful ...the editing is very task intensive while the financial gain is minimal. Another plus for the parents is that they are not able to hear the side line chatter from the players and coachs ...but since we are on the field with the HP ....we get all of it(some of it we don't really want)...we use a sennheiser ME60 with a K6 body atop a Canon GL2 with a wide angle lens. The closest thing we have done to direct mail is thru the videoscout franchise we own ( www.videoscout.com ). They have some brochures and a media kit that we actually havn't used to its fullest extent, however I do believe you can probably garner some business with direct mailers...focus on the High dollar private schools.


dansen
User


Sep 21, 2005, 2:58 AM

Post #7 of 14 (3320 views)
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Re: [scott strimple] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
thanks for all the advice by the way. Are there any ballpark figures you can give me as to how much you'd charge? Are there packages? etc.... thanks again, scott.


Linda
Veteran


Sep 21, 2005, 5:53 AM

Post #8 of 14 (3317 views)
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Re: [scott strimple] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
In Reply To
We do a fair amount fo HS events from theater to sports to graduations.
I can tell you that the secret for us has been to get the attention of the parent groups...the PTA or the Athletic Boosters. These folks are the parents of the kids you will film. Show them some of your work...if you don't have any yet...then give some thought to simply showing up and taping then put togeather a demo piece. We have found that once you are in with a group at the school...it simply domino's.

One word of caution...the school district administration will "shoot you down" quicker than you can say "smile". Try to avoid contact with any administrator as they will always defer to the legal dept. of the school system who generally has no clue what you are trying to do and as such the generally say NO, where as the parent groups operate a little differently.

I like your idea of approaching the PTA or other parent groups rather than administration. I'm contemplating on getting into school videography.

Thanks for your insight.


Linda


dansen
User


Sep 21, 2005, 6:13 AM

Post #9 of 14 (3315 views)
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Re: [Linda] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
Does PTA mean Parent Teacher something or other? I don't live in the states.


scott strimple
Novice

Sep 21, 2005, 1:42 PM

Post #10 of 14 (3295 views)
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Re: [dansen] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
I am sorry Linda...Yes PTA stands for

Parent Teacher Association

Many times the parents have a great deal of pull and operate separate from the school administration but yet in concert with them.


dansen
User


Sep 22, 2005, 9:14 AM

Post #11 of 14 (3266 views)
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Re: [scott strimple] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
That's great Scott. Linda, maybe you know something about this too: what kind of packages would you offer to schools and graduation events? Is there any kind of a 'hook' that i could use when writing a direct sales letter? I have no idea what prices to charge...


Linda
Veteran


Sep 29, 2005, 5:49 AM

Post #12 of 14 (3153 views)
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Re: [dansen] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
Bonnie Durkin has a DVD instructional package that will give you ideas on how to pursue the school market. I recently purchased this product and found it to be very helpful.

It was well worth the money spent!


Linda


hlanden
The Dean / Moderator


Sep 29, 2005, 8:14 AM

Post #13 of 14 (3137 views)
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Re: [Linda] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
Bonnie's DVD is available right here at VU and it is in stock

http://videouniversity.com/schoolvid.htm

I can send it to you today. Call me if you're interested or just want to know more.

Hal
401 253 2800


Professional Video Producer course


dansen
User


Oct 5, 2005, 1:47 PM

Post #14 of 14 (2976 views)
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Re: [hlanden] How to get new business from schools etc... [In reply to] Can't Post
SOLD