a few Large gigs, or Manny little ones? at DVinfo.net

Mary Angelini · February 28th, 2008, 01:22 PM

When I first joined the forum I saw a link where you can calculate whats better for your business: a few large technically difficult weddings or many lower priced, less time consuming weddings.

I think it was a equation of come sort.
I have searched in this thread, but couldn’t find it

Anyone know what I'm talking about? Or can direct me to that discussion?

Don Bloom · February 29th, 2008, 08:48 AM

I don't remember that thread but I can tell at least IMO all weddings are the same. I say that in the sense that there are certain aspects of weddings that need to be covered and after that it's all "details".
I guess what I'm trying to say is that how would you know if a wedding is going to be "complicated" or not and what is considered complicated? I've done weddings that run so well I almost don't feel like I'm working and others that I feel like I just went 15 rounds with Muhammed Ali in his prime.
Some of the most adverse conditions I've been faced with were at weddings that were quite small and some of the easiest were at weddings with 400 or more guests and 20 plus in the wedding party. It also works the other way around ;-)
What's complicated? Doing bridal prep AND groom prep? Get a 2nd shooter. Locations an hour apart? Set a timeline with the B&G that allows for travel time. Weather concerns? Allow enough time to get where you are going. Doing a montage at the reception? Hire a high school kid to set it up and strike it (pay the kid a small but fair amount of course). As an example, in December I did a wedding where I had to go to downtown Chicago to a big hotel to do bridal prep. The ceremony was in a beautiful church on the campus of Northwestern University and the reception was downtown by the hotel. I parked at the hotel and rode in the trolley with the bridal party to and from the reception and of course they paid for my parking at the hotel. Small item? Nope, $45.00 but included in the price of the wedding. Logistics. No driving to and from for me AND we had a bad snow storm that day so by riding with them I did 2 things. 1) I knew I'd be there on time and 2) I got some nice footage on the trolley.
So I ask my original question. How do you know what the wedding is going to be and what constitutes complicated?
If it were me and I was just starting out again (I'm glad I'm not but...) I would set my prices based and what I felt I needed to net to keep my business running and then take everywedding that I could get based on that pricing structure.
I actually prefer the large technically challenging weddings simply because I love the challenge but frankly it doesn't matter. In the end they're all the same. Good solid footage, quality shots, good smooth edit and a nicely produced finished product.
Good luck
Don

Mary Angelini · March 15th, 2008, 01:19 PM

Just a heads up I found it. It's called "Fun With Math"
At this thread:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...975#post842975

Jason Robinson · March 15th, 2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mary Angelini

Just a heads up I found it. It's called "Fun With Math"
At this thread:
http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...975#post842975

Thanks for the link. Fairly large download (60MB)

February 28th, 2008, 01:22 PM	#1
Mary Angelini Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cocoa Beach, FL Posts: 141	a few Large gigs, or Manny little ones? When I first joined the forum I saw a link where you can calculate whats better for your business: a few large technically difficult weddings or many lower priced, less time consuming weddings. I think it was a equation of come sort. I have searched in this thread, but couldn’t find it Anyone know what I'm talking about? Or can direct me to that discussion? __________________ "Perhaps I cannot change the wind, but I can adjust my sails" www.keymomentsonline.com Last edited by Mary Angelini; February 28th, 2008 at 04:41 PM.

March 15th, 2008, 01:19 PM	#3
Mary Angelini Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cocoa Beach, FL Posts: 141	Just a heads up I found it. It's called "Fun With Math" At this thread: http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthrea...975#post842975 __________________ "Perhaps I cannot change the wind, but I can adjust my sails" www.keymomentsonline.com

February 29th, 2008, 08:48 AM	#2
Don Bloom Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 6,609	I don't remember that thread but I can tell at least IMO all weddings are the same. I say that in the sense that there are certain aspects of weddings that need to be covered and after that it's all "details". I guess what I'm trying to say is that how would you know if a wedding is going to be "complicated" or not and what is considered complicated? I've done weddings that run so well I almost don't feel like I'm working and others that I feel like I just went 15 rounds with Muhammed Ali in his prime. Some of the most adverse conditions I've been faced with were at weddings that were quite small and some of the easiest were at weddings with 400 or more guests and 20 plus in the wedding party. It also works the other way around ;-) What's complicated? Doing bridal prep AND groom prep? Get a 2nd shooter. Locations an hour apart? Set a timeline with the B&G that allows for travel time. Weather concerns? Allow enough time to get where you are going. Doing a montage at the reception? Hire a high school kid to set it up and strike it (pay the kid a small but fair amount of course). As an example, in December I did a wedding where I had to go to downtown Chicago to a big hotel to do bridal prep. The ceremony was in a beautiful church on the campus of Northwestern University and the reception was downtown by the hotel. I parked at the hotel and rode in the trolley with the bridal party to and from the reception and of course they paid for my parking at the hotel. Small item? Nope, $45.00 but included in the price of the wedding. Logistics. No driving to and from for me AND we had a bad snow storm that day so by riding with them I did 2 things. 1) I knew I'd be there on time and 2) I got some nice footage on the trolley. So I ask my original question. How do you know what the wedding is going to be and what constitutes complicated? If it were me and I was just starting out again (I'm glad I'm not but...) I would set my prices based and what I felt I needed to net to keep my business running and then take everywedding that I could get based on that pricing structure. I actually prefer the large technically challenging weddings simply because I love the challenge but frankly it doesn't matter. In the end they're all the same. Good solid footage, quality shots, good smooth edit and a nicely produced finished product. Good luck Don