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Heidi McLean

What we’re thankful for (with GIFs)!

What we’re thankful for (with GIFs)! 150 150 Heidi McLean
  1. YOU, of course!

 

2. Stretchy pants!

 

3. Friendship

 

4. Family

 

5. Pie!

About Crew Connection

Crew Connection logo

Crew Connection puts a suite of marketing tools at your fingertips. Get your demo reels, stills, gear, awards, and more in front of the biggest clients all over the world—for free. At Crew Connection we pay video and post-production providers within 30 days of receiving your invoice so your work and your life are never interrupted. Need live assistance or want to add quality jobs to your pipeline? Our crew coordinators are on call around the clock. Sign in to Crew Connection, call 303-526-4900, or email info@crewconnection.com.

This post originally appeared on ProductionHub. You can find it here.

crewing service you can trust - Crew Connection

Crewing services from a trusted source? Yes, please!

Crewing services from a trusted source? Yes, please! 4000 3750 Heidi McLean

From dating websites to Yelp reviews, online profiles aren’t exactly known for being trustworthy. Anonymity makes it easy to game the system, and some businesses even pay for glowing reviews of their products or services. What if there were a third party service to confirm that a potential date’s hair is real or a company’s reviews are from actual customers?

Whether booking crewing services or finding a date, it’s just nice to have some reassurance you’ve found a good match. That’s why we are so proud to be among ProductionHub’s Top 100 most popular and trusted profiles. Our film and video crewing services stand out because we are true to our values of optimism, integrity, entrepreneurship, and customer service. And besides a shoulder to cry on after a bad date, our commitment to our values means that you benefit from our expertise, quick payment, and always-on service.

 

Expertise:

We’ve been in the freelance video production business for nearly 30 years and know the best video production crews in every corner of the globe. Our crew coordinators are video veterans who always match you with the best crew for your unique project.  

 

Quick Payment:

We pay crews within 30 days because we know happy crews are productive crews. Can your overworked media department, harried HR professionals, or current crewing service say the same?

 

Always-On Film and Video Crewing Services:

Transparency is a major part of our integrity as a company. That’s why you can view our database of vetted international film crews anytime at Crew Connection‘s online database. And if you need to talk to a dedicated crew coordinator immediately, you can always get ahold of us on our emergency lines  24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

 

About Crew Connection

Crew Connection puts a world of video and post-production service providers at your fingertips. In just a few clicks you can search, chat with, and book vetted crews local to your shoot—all on your own schedule. Rely on Crew Connection’s team of media experts to organize the crews and gear you need for multi-day and multi-location video projects anywhere in the world. Our professional crew coordinators are on call around the clock if you ever need live assistance. Sign up on CrewConnection.com, call us at 303-526-4900, or shoot us an email at info@crewconnection.com.

freelancer - Crew Connection

So you want to make it as a freelancer? Here are 4 tried-and-true tips

So you want to make it as a freelancer? Here are 4 tried-and-true tips 5760 3840 Heidi McLean

Whether you start your freelancing career as a calculated choice or land there by accident—you’re in good company. The American economy is increasingly built on independent contractors. Together, these workers have earned a respectable $1 trillion in the past year alone.

It’s clear there’s business to be won for talented, hard-working independent contractors, but that doesn’t mean it’s just going to happen without you making an effort. It’s important to have a plan if you really want to make a viable career path of freelancing.

4 ways to make independence work for you

1. Nurture and develop your network

Many freelancers strike out on their own because they’ve had just about enough of the corporate grind. But, even if you’re unhappy as you pack up your cubicle, avoid having a “take this job and shove it” attitude.

From my experience, business connections happen in funny ways. Someone from your old full-time gig could end up referring you to your biggest new client. Don’t lower your chances of capitalizing on your network by being a sourpuss on the way out.

Get the word out by updating your social network profiles to reflect your new pursuit. Reach out to any contacts who might have work that fits what you do now. Let everyone in your existing network know what you’ll be focusing on and be ready to discuss your work with new connections, too.

Whatever you’re doing, you need people. They’ll be the ones to hire you, rehire you, recommend you, and refer you. With a large portion of the economy built on people like you, you can bet there will be a lot of talented people to compete with. Even with highly technical skills, it always comes back to relationships.

2. Do great work

Networking is a good start, but no matter how much people like you, they also have to be happy with your work.

Like so much of freelancing, how you go about establishing yourself in your field is a bit of a balancing act. I believe in finding your niche, getting really good at your craft, and sticking to it. After all, being able to take the work that interests you and decline the work that doesn’t is a huge perk for the established freelancer.

However, I also believe there’s something to be said for branching out. Projects that aren’t as comfortable or easy push your creativity and force you to learn new things. Even when you’ve found a niche that feels right to you, make yourself available for new opportunities. You never know where they may lead.

If you find yourself doing something that isn’t a good fit long term, just turn the next similar opportunity down. That’s one of the benefits of being in the driver’s seat! A bonus is that it actually builds trust with potential clients when you acknowledge you’re not the right fit for what they’re looking for. If you can, refer them to someone in your network who will nail the project. That builds rapport on both ends of the deal.

If you do great work, people will find you. Let your product speak for itself. When it does, your contacts will talk, too.

3. Master time management

Many freelancers say time management is one of the biggest challenges of launching out on their own. Having full freedom over your schedule requires infinitely more self-discipline than showing up at a designated time every day. You may find that being able to decide whether you approach each day like a weekend, a workday, or a little bit of both ends up being more taxing than having it decided for you.

It’s true that having a work/life balance of your choosing is one of the major perks of independent contracting. Just don’t forget that it should be just that—a balance. One day, you may decide to take advantage of your flexibility for the life part of your work/life balance. Another day, you may use that time to work on business development so you have the long-term work to sustain your business. The idea of “having more time” as a freelancer is misguided. It’s more of a constant exercise in weighing priorities.

While you strive for balance, set aside some time to be available for last-minute opportunities. Being fully booked is a blessing, but if you turn down enough gigs from a potential or returning client, they’ll stop calling. While you’re on call for bigger opportunities, take advantage of the downtime to do the back office work of running a company. If you’re worried about being bored; don’t. You’ll always have plenty of the unbillable, not-so-glamorous variety of work. A well-organized calendar is a freelancer’s best friend. I find the most successful (and sane) self-employed folks schedule their time with military-like discipline. They block time on their calendars for existing projects and even schedule a time for generic tasks like emailing, invoicing, prospecting, etc. Such an approach keeps you from overbooking yourself or disappointing clients with late or substandard work.

4. Get your books and business details organized

The rewards of freelancing are immense. The risks and uncertainties are, too. Just like managing time is a totally different challenge when nobody is telling you when to clock in and out, managing finances is a whole different beast for the self-employed individual.

Whether you choose to hire an accountant or DIY, you need some sort of system to manage the famously feast-or-famine nature of your new business pursuit. Freelancing is inherently a gamble. You may find yourself stacking your chips when business is good, and then making tough choices just to stay in the game when business slows down.

Get all your paperwork, processes, and procedures in order. Get your website, financial operations, and company name established. Design and order your business cards. Learn your way around Quickbooks, Toggl, or other project management tools you plan to use for day-to-day business. Your process will evolve, but feeling comfortable upfront sets you up for sustained success.

The bottom line

Successful freelance careers are built on talent, hard work, and a positive attitude. The rest is up to you. It’s difficult work, but the payoff is huge. If you produce good work, enjoy what you do, operate ethically, and treat clients right, the money will follow.

Here are some additional tips from HBR’s  “How to become a successful freelancer.

About Crew Connection

Crew Connection logo

Crew Connection puts a suite of marketing tools at your fingertips. Get your demo reels, stills, gear, awards, and more in front of the biggest clients all over the world—for free. At Crew Connection we pay video and post-production providers within 30 days of receiving your invoice so your work and your life are never interrupted. Need live assistance or want to add quality jobs to your pipeline? Our crew coordinators are on call around the clock. Sign in to Crew Connection, call 303-526-4900, or email info@crewconnection.com.

This post originally appeared on ProductionHub. You can find it here.

International crewing made easy

International crewing made easy

International crewing made easy 760 350 Heidi McLean

Seasoned producers get into a rhythm. Before they even set up a project, they have a decent idea of how long the project will take, how much money they’ll spend, and the team they want on the job. Make that shoot international though, and you’re sure to throw even the most experienced professional off balance. That said, it doesn’t have to be a painful experience.

For the scoop on both what makes international crewing painful and what makes it easier, we picked Crew Connection’s Project Owners’ brains. Our Project Owners have daily contact with both crews and clients looking for crewing services. Together, they’ve had their hands in shoots from Texas to Taiwan. Here are five considerations that can make hiring an international crew a pain along with three tips to make the whole thing that much easier.

 

Five factors that can make hiring an international crew painful:

  1. Time zone differences: Anytime you work with someone at a different timezone, communication takes a little extra effort. Internationally, that effort can become Herculean. You may be on the exact opposite end of the clock as those you’re working with and still need to be available for meetings or damage control. Odd hours and late-night or early-morning emails are a given. Time differences can even affect post-production. Shipping files on drives are still the most reliable form of transferring footage but leaves plenty of room for error in other ways.
  2. Local laws and regulations: Different countries have different rules so what is a no-brainer in one place may be a no-go in another. Crews don’t want to adopt the responsibility of making sure what you’re asking them to do is in line with local rules. It’s still your job to talk to make sure you’re covered.
  3. Vetting: Anyone can pick up a camera and point it at a scene, but we all know it takes a different level of skill to make sure it’s something you are comfortable representing you and your brand. Demo reels and work examples, which are crucial to your ability to judge the quality, may not be as easy to find on some international crews.
  4. Extra expenses: In addition to travel costs, working internationally means extra expenses in exchange rates, wiring fees, shipping costs, and more. It all adds up. A lot of international crews also require a deposit (or even the full payment) before the shoot begins. Additionally, you may need to hire a bigger crew than you’re used to. What is a one-person job in your experience could be a three-person job abroad.
  5. Extra risk: As a rule, you take on more responsibility and therefore more risk in international shoots. It doesn’t need to be a deterrent in itself, but it’s good to be aware.

 

Tips to make international crewing easier:

Yes, it really can be a pain, but there are some ways to set yourself up for success.  

  1. Over-communicate: Ask a ton of questions. Talk with crews about rates, equipment, the timeline, which crew members are required to be on set, etc. Talk to the local film commission or equivalent (if applicable) and get all permits and releases before you send money or start filming.
  2. Learn international business etiquette: It takes some effort to learn a few business etiquette basics, but it will save you some trouble later to have an awareness of local business practices and labor laws upfront.
  3. Hire the right partners: A crewing service (like Crew Connection) can make sure you have a qualified crew while also handling all the fees, addressing the time zone differences, and easing the language barriers.

 

The bottom line

Doing it all on your own can be challenging, but with a little extra work upfront and the right partners in the effort, even international shoots can be as smooth as French silk.

About Crew Connection

Crew Connection puts a world of video and post-production service providers at your fingertips. In just a few clicks you can search, chat with, and book vetted crews local to your shoot—all on your own schedule. Rely on Crew Connection’s team of media experts to organize the crews and gear you need for multi-day and multi-location video projects anywhere in the world. Our professional crew coordinators are on call around the clock if you ever need live assistance. Sign up on CrewConnection.com, call us at 303-526-4900, or shoot us an email at info@crewconnection.com.

This article was originally posted to productionhub.com. Read the original article here.

video production 3  - Crew Connectionways to perfect your demo reel

3 ways to perfect your demo reel and knock out your competition

3 ways to perfect your demo reel and knock out your competition 800 779 Heidi McLean

The video production market is tough. If you want to become a client’s go-to crew, you have to convince them to book you in the first place. And you have 30 seconds or less to do it.

 

Here are three simple tips to make sure your demo reel knocks out your competition

Put in the Time

There’s not really a way around it: If you want to have a great demo reel, you have to produce great work. And to produce great work, you have to work hard. No matter how gifted, nobody picks up a camera or sits down at Premiere and produces great work in the first hour—or even the 100th hour. Practice truly does make perfect. If you want a demo reel that looks perfect against tough competition, you better be ready to put time into your practice.

Keep It Simple

Your demo reel is like your resume. Use it to show off your highest quality work in the shortest amount of time possible. Thirty seconds seems to be the sweet spot to highlight your skills without boring clients. Make it visually diverse. Demonstrate your macro lens with up-close nature shots and your drone skills with sweeping landscapes. Consider including a shot from an interview as well as a fast-paced action scene. There’s no formula, just be sure to showcase a wide range of your best work.

Make It Easy

No matter how badass your work or your reel maybe, it won’t do you any good if potential clients can’t easily access it. Make sure your demo reel is optimized for mobile viewing, desktop viewing, and anything in between. Post it on Vimeo and YouTube so it’s easy to watch and to share. Meet your clients where they’re already searching for your skillset by setting up a profile on a variety of online media matchmaking platforms. On our comprehensive online database, you can create a robust profile to market your demo reel, stills, gear list, awards, and more to some of the largest clients around the world, including Disney, Oracle, and Verizon.

The Bottom Line

The challenges of freelancing in the video production field are many, but the beauty of it is you’re in the driver’s seat. When you do great work, showcase it on your demo reel and make it easy for clients to view it—well-paying projects are sure to follow.

About Crew Connection

Crew Connection logo

Crew Connection puts a suite of marketing tools at your fingertips. Get your demo reels, stills, gear, awards, and more in front of the biggest clients all over the world—for free. At Crew Connection we pay video and post-production providers within 30 days of receiving your invoice so your work and your life are never interrupted. Need live assistance or want to add quality jobs to your pipeline? Our crew coordinators are on call around the clock. Sign in to Crew Connection, call 303-526-4900, or email info@crewconnection.com.

Read the original article on ProductionHub here.

Working team | Crew Connection

Featured Crew: Video Dimensions Inc.

Featured Crew: Video Dimensions Inc. 4608 3072 Heidi McLean

Our crews are in a class of their own. To become our crews at all, they go through a strict vetting process. Once they’re a part of our online database of international crews and post-production teams, clients can be assured they’re dealing with true professionals. And according to our clients, they’re also just plain delightful to work with. We interviewed Kelly O’Neill, production manager for one of our true standoutsVideo Dimensionsto learn more about this month’s featured crew.  

Just like our clients, we love working with Video Dimensions. Having a dedicated staff member available for clients means Video Dimensions is able to provide a high level of service from the initial contact through the shoot itself. O’Neill is always on the ball and able to respond to client needs almost immediately—a huge plus in the fast-paced video world.

 

Crew Connection: What’s your company’s story?

Kelly O’Neill: After being a stringer for news and working in a few other avenues, Steve Liebowitz started Video Dimensions in 2005.  When I started in 2008, we shared an office and had all the equipment in one room. We’ve grown steadily since then and now have two studios, plus a room for gear, a makeup room, and more. And everyone has their own offices!

E! News has been our biggest client since the company’s early days—we cover their movie premieres and celebrity interviews. They’re still our bread and butter, but now we also shoot a lot of corporate interviews, multi-camera shoots, live events, and more.

 

CC: What sets you apart among the competitive New York set?

KO: We have the biggest staff. In addition to having a dedicated staff member for client needs, we also have two people dedicated to taking care of gear, a full-time editor, and three vehicles available to send out crews. This sets us apart from owner-operated situations. Our infrastructure and staff allow us to get things done quickly and smoothly.

 

CC: What are some interesting shoots you’ve done recently?

KO: We recently did a very complicated Facebook Live shoot with Pampers. It was a live, 4-hour webcast moving between both studios with the singer Ne-Yo and other prominent bloggers. It required a massive coordinated effort and just speaks to our level of organization.

We also got to visit the granddaughter of the artist who created Wonder Woman. We got to tour her house, which is now a Wonder Woman museum. It was just so unique and exciting.

CC: What gear do you use most often?

KO: It’s really important for us to upgrade our lighting, audio mixers, and other gear often. We just added a third Sony FS7 because that camera is going out so much. We also have some new Prime Lenses, a C300 Mark 2s, and a Panasonic VariCam 35 (which is the kind of camera Orange Is the New Black is shot on). Basically, we’re always upgrading to new equipment.

We use our one-by-one bi-color LED lights a lot because they make setting up for interviews simpler, especially when we’re on a short timeline or don’t have a lot of space.  

 

The bottom line

O’Neill says Video Dimensions is a “soup-to-nuts company.” They have producers, editors, writers, videographers…everything…and can put a whole production together within reasonable budgets.

 

About Video Dimensions, Midtown West:

Video Dimensions Inc. is a full-service production and post-production company. Boasting the ability to shoot on location or in our studios, VDI can equip your single or multi-camera productions with either union or non-union crews. We can see your project through from start to finish with producers, makeup artists, grips, gaffers, teleprompting, and editing in addition to our first-rate video and audio crews.

About Crew Connection

Crew Connection puts a world of video and post-production service providers at your fingertips. In just a few clicks you can search, chat with, and book vetted crews local to your shoot—all on your own schedule. Rely on Crew Connection’s team of media experts to organize the crews and gear you need for multi-day and multi-location video projects anywhere in the world. Our professional crew coordinators are on call around the clock if you ever need live assistance. Sign up on CrewConnection.com, call us at 303-526-4900, or shoot us an email at info@crewconnection.com.

 

hurricane harvey | Crew Connection

Hurricane Harvey: Unique ways to give or get support

Hurricane Harvey: Unique ways to give or get support 500 375 Heidi McLean

Hurricane Harvey has left much of America’s fourth largest city underwater. We’ve seen photos of harrowing rescues, and of submerged homes, buildings, and highways. We’ve heard reports of the months of cleanup and billions of dollars in recovery efforts ahead for Houston. Like so many, we at Crew Connection have been wondering what we can do.

Below are some resources and unique ideas for those personally affected and those who want to support:

 

I’ve been affected. Now what?

The Texas Tribune offers information on shelters, flooded streets, and more here. Once you’re out of immediate danger, a simple way to set your friends’ and families’ minds at ease efficiently is by marking “I’m safe” through Facebook’s Safety Check.  You may also be wondering what’s next or trying to sort through a deluge of information and possible rumors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides a reliable Hurricane Harvey resource page for everything from safety tips and emergency phone numbers to rumor control.

Know your rights: Hurricane Harvey evacuees and/or first responders may be eligible for worker’s compensation or payroll relief.

As always, stay informed and ask questions.

 

I want to support relief efforts

It’s unfortunate, but true: disaster scammers are out there. Still, you can defend yourself against those ready to take advantage of compassionate hearts and make a few bucks for themselves. Beyond sticking with well-known charities like the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and United Way, you can also find vetted charity efforts through the IRS’s search feature. There are certainly unlisted yet still legitimate options, including Undies for Everyone, which is taking new underwear as well as monetary donations to buy underwear wholesale.

Wherever you choose to support, take the usual precautions. Avoid giving personal information to anyone soliciting donations. Use a check or credit card rather than handing over untraceable cash. You can also report suspected phishing attempts to the IRS here

Ask your human resources department if your company is matching employee donations. You may even be able to donate the monetary value of sick leave.

In addition to donating food, money, and other items through such charities, you may wish to roll up your sleeves and volunteer your time.

 

The bottom line

Hurricane Harvey is going down as one of the worst natural disasters in America’s history. In these situations, words always fall short, and yet we do want to say that our hearts are with victims and evacuees as well as their friends and families. We also send endless gratitude to the rescue workers and volunteers stepping up to provide lifesaving efforts and comfort.

 

About Crew Connection

Crew Connection puts a world of video and post production service providers at your fingertips. In just a few clicks you can search, chat with, and book vetted crews local to your shoot—all on your own schedule. Rely on Crew Connection’s team of media experts to organize the crews and gear you need for multi-day and multi-location video projects anywhere in the world. Our professional crew coordinators are on call around the clock if you ever need live assistance. Sign up on CrewConnection.com, call us at 303-526-4900, or shoot us an email at info@crewconnection.com.

 

worldwide video crews - Crew Connection

Featured Crew: Urban Samurai Creative

Featured Crew: Urban Samurai Creative 3764 2663 Heidi McLean

Our worldwide video crews are topnotch. We know because we personally vet each one before adding them to our online database of international crews. Not only are they the cream of the crop in their trades, but according to our clients, they are also just plain delightful to work with. This month’s featured crew is Urban Samurai Creative and we interviewed Yuki Uemura, the company’s founder and principal. One of Uemura’s standout traits is that his business and marketing backgrounds complement his mad skills behind the camera.

We love working with Yuki Uemura for the same reasons our clients do. He is incredibly talented, genuinely gregarious, and a superbly hard worker who is always willing to go that extra mile. He also has tons of resources to make the best possible projects. Most importantly: Clients really love working with him.

 

Crew Connection: What’s your story?

Yuki Uemura: I wanted to do film in school but my parents wouldn’t pay for my education that way so I ended up with a business marketing degree. Interestingly enough, it’s served me well in my film pursuits as well (thanks, Mom and Dad!).

When I was about to graduate, I applied for a marketing internship but something got mixed up and I ended up in the creative department. I told my boss that even though I didn’t know anything about camera or audio, I could connect the creative side to the business side so they could get more sales. It was around 2007just as the market was going downhillso they were interested. My boss told me to learn the camera by the end of the day and the editing software they used (AVID) by the end of the week. So I reviewed the manual for the camera and shadowed the editor for the rest of the week. By the end of that time, my boss said I was basically in the same place as the other graduates. And with that, my career in the industry began.

I joined Hammertime (an MC Hammer reality show) as a PA but when the DP saw me doing camera stuff, he switched me to AC the very next day. From there, I went to grip, then to audio, and then to the camera. I spent four years traveling across the country (all 50 states!) and working in various jobs (like DP and audio supervisor) with NatGeo, Travel Channel, CBS, Oxygen, Anthony Bourdain, Katie Couric, and so many more.

My heart is in the San Francisco Bay area though, so in 2013, I started marketing, meeting people, and getting local jobs. Now I work with some of the major companies in the areaFacebook, Google, Apple, Intuit, etc.    

 

CC: What sets you apart?

YU: So this is where that business marketing degree comes in handy. I learned to talk to people on the business side as well as the broadcasting side of things and I learned to bring a story to life. My marketing experience gave me an understanding for branding that I take into all my jobs. Some DPs only care about how good the footage looks, but if your audience can’t connect with what they’re seeing, what does it matter how beautiful it is? I ask clients what they want to translate to the audience and then do my best to capture that in the filming, too.

In addition to branding, I focus on customer service. For example, I once showed up on a set in the San Francisco Bay area to work and within the first two hours, they said, “What are you doing tomorrow? Could you go to Utah for three days?”

I said yes. We wrapped at 10:00 that night and I went home, packed up, and left for the airport at 5:00 the next morning. I’ll do my best to do whatever a client needs.

As part of both branding and customer service, I focus on communicating with all my clients in advance to get as much info as possible. I believe that pre-production is a very important part of doing a job well. It helps us to understand the vision our client is going for so we can all be on the same page and achieve great video.

 

CC: What are you most proud of?

YU: Working as an audio supervisor on Anthony Bourdain’s show was a highlight because I watch the show all the time.

I’m also proud of the work we do with Intuit on short, cinematic documentaries on small business stories. They brought me in as DP, audio mixer, gaffer, and grip. We followed a music composer and a painter as a part of their #MorePower2You campaign. It’s been fun.

 

CC: What gear do you use most often?

YU: I shoot with the Sony FS7, Canon C300, Sony F5, F55, Black Magic as well as the old broadcast cameras like the Sony F900 and the 5D MK II. That last one is a dinosaur that some people still want to use because they like the style (and budget!).

 

CC: What are some of your favorite tools and why?

YU: I like to use a dana dolly because it creates a slow movement combined with a slow motion that is so popular right now. I think slow movements help bring the story to life rather than distracting like quick movements sometimes can. This slider allows very slow push-ins and sliding motions to get people into the scene. It creates a unique mood, which is especially nice for documentaries.

I feel audio is very important. If you can’t hear it, you can’t tell the story. I use a Sound Device 788t, Lectrosonic SMQV and 411s, Sanken COS 11 Lav, and Sanken CS3E boom. It may seem weird coming from a DP, but we make sure on every shoot that audio is pristine. Early in my career an Executive Producer told me, “When your camera work is screwed up, people say it’s artistic. When you can’t hear the audio, you don’t have a show.”

 

The bottom line

Yuki Uemura is a class act and has the experience, customer loyalty, and awards to show for it. Click here to book Yuki Uemura for your next video production project.

 

Yuki Uemura, DP (and more):

Click to learn more about Yuki Uemura and Urban Samurai Creative.

 

About Crew Connection

Crew Connection puts a world of video service providers at your fingertips. In just a few clicks you can search, chat with, and book vetted crews local to your shoot—all on your own schedule. Rely on Crew Connection’s team of media experts to organize the crews and gear you need for multi-day and multi-location video projects anywhere in the world. Our crew coordinators are on call around the clock if you ever need live assistance. Visit CrewConnection.com, call us at 303-526-4900, or shoot us an email at info@crewconnection.com.

contract work | Crew Connection crews

Contract work: Make sure you get paid

Contract work: Make sure you get paid 5616 3744 Heidi McLean

The struggle is real. Contract work often means gambling with each new client and gig. While you might get paid half upfront, you usually work without any guarantee—billing upon completion. That means a lot of uncertainty—especially for small video crews and owners/operators who rely on each project and its corresponding cash flow to pay bills, buy equipment, and stay in operation.

For their part, clients may have a net 90 invoicing policy, a small accounting department, or an unstable financial situation. Often, you’re the one at risk if any of those operations hit a snag. So you get a signed contract, do your best work, and hope your client follows through on their end of the deal.  

The good news is that there is an alternative: You don’t have to rely on a handshake and a roll of the dice.

 

Three ways Crew Connection brings payment security to contract work

Problem one: Many companies, especially the big ones, have 90-day payment terms, meaning you could wait an extra 60 days to have that cash in hand.

Solution one: Crew Connection guarantees payment for crews in 30 days regardless of the client’s terms.

Problem two: Onboarding paperwork slows down the process of working with new clients. Setting up contracts and payment terms takes valuable time and often, different companies have different expectations for how and when they want to receive invoices.

Solution two: Crews invoice the same way every time (which happens to be very easy, by the way) regardless of who the shoot is for. Crew Connection takes care of the paperwork.

Problem three: Unfortunately, small companies without internal legal teams often get paid last or not at all when there’s a dispute or a client hits financial troubles. Some clients never pay. Who wants to waste time and money pursuing payment for previous work when you have new work to get to?

Solution three: Crews receive money for the project regardless of whether or not Crew Connection ever does.

 

The bottom line

Crews often bring new clients to us to make sure they get paid quickly even on their first project together. It benefits clients, too. We built our online database to make finding a crew fast and easy for clients and to make getting paid for contract work fast and easy for crews. Beyond that, it makes communication and record-keeping a breeze. It’s a win-win for both parties. We take the gambling out of contractor pay so crews can do great work, get paid quickly, and move on. Save the gambling for Vegas, baby!

 

About Crew Connection

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Crew Connection puts a suite of marketing tools at your fingertips. Get your demo reels, stills, gear, awards, and more in front of the biggest clients all over the world—for free. At Crew Connection we pay video and post-production providers within 30 days of receiving your invoice so your work and your life are never interrupted. Need live assistance or want to add quality jobs to your pipeline? Our crew coordinators are on call around the clock. Sign in to Crew Connection, call 303-526-4900, or email info@crewconnection.com.

building your brand | Crew Connection

Building your brand with video

Building your brand with video 4256 2832 Heidi McLean

Think video might help accomplish your goal of building your brand? You’re right.

Video content is surpassing text online at a rapid pace. We don’t even have time to read a whole phrase like “be right back,” favoring “brb” instead. The marketing world is responding in kind. L’Oréal, for example, is working on 6-second commercials to replace those cumbersome 30-second ads of the past. It’s unwise and unprofitable to ignore your audience’s increasingly teeny tiny attention span. Srsly.

If video isn’t a central part of your brand already, it’s time to make it so. Here’s how to make a video that speaks to your audience.

Three tips for building your brand with video

  1. Know your audience. This is the first rule of all communication, and therefore, of marketing efforts. It’s essential to effectively build your brand. If you’ve spent any time in meetings with marketing teams and ad agencies, you may be surprised by how much time they spend on this point before talking about the message or the product. That’s because if you don’t know to whom you’re speaking or what literal and figurative language speak to them, you’re already missing the boat.
  2. Focus first on the why, not the what. Simon Sinek makes a strong case for focusing on your cause and beliefs in the way you “think, act, and communicate” before you talk about facts and figures. Apple is one of the ultimate examples of this. They sell their products, which, at the core, function remarkably similar to their competitors’ offerings, using language that focuses more on their core beliefs and on “thinking differently” than on the nuts and bolts of their product.  
  3. Keep it simple, but sharp. You don’t have to have stunning effects and the latest technology to capture your audience’s attention. Simple videos that speak to the target audience and focus first on the why are most effective.

The bottom line

Okay, so you’re convinced you have to have a video in order to reach your audience and you know that in the digital age, the shelf life of those videos is ridiculously short. So why not just shoot and edit on your phone and move on? Simple: Because the only thing worse than no video is a bad video. Shaky footage will make your audience sick and bad audio and poor quality will cheapen your brand. It’s best to get the pros on the job. And using our global crewing database makes it easier than ever to hire a video crew that will represent your brand well.

About Crew Connection

Crew Connection puts a world of video service providers at your fingertips. In just a few clicks you can search, chat with, and book vetted crews local to your shoot—all on your own schedule. Rely on Crew Connection’s team of media experts to organize the crews and gear you need for multi-day and multi-location video projects anywhere in the world. Our crew coordinators are on call around the clock if you ever need live assistance. Visit CrewConnection.com, call us at 303-526-4900, or shoot us an email at info@crewconnection.com.