Help me brainstorm some flexible income ideas...

[Queen_Dopplepopolis]

"We don't just tote your pumpkin, we fling it!"

*laughing* Ahhhh. You just made my day, CL.

 

[Rel]

Stringer work! Why didn't I think of that? I don't know how much they use that in real life, but it might be a good idea if your camera gear is up to snuff (or if you have a talent for getting to places to shoot video of fast-breaking news).

That would be a great alter ego if I ever become a superhero.

I might look into this but the gear I use is nothing real fancy. Since most of the work I've done is from ten feet away of a single individual with the camera on a tripod, I haven't exactly needed really cutting edge equipment.

I think the idea I like the most is getting some editing software (which I've been itching to do anyway) and seeing about doing the whole "picture montage set to music" thing. I'll have to look into that some more in the coming weeks.

In the short term, I'm about to have a major project around the house putting down laminate floors. That should keep me busy for a few days at least.

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I might look into this but the gear I use is nothing real fancy. Since most of the work I've done is from ten feet away of a single individual with the camera on a tripod, I haven't exactly needed really cutting edge equipment.

I would expect a basic DV camera to be sufficient for B-roll stringer work in your area.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of gear do you use on your deposition shoots? When I was doing this, we used either a SVHS camcorder, or a DV camcorder. We recorded on the deck itself as well as running a video-out to Hi-8 for a backup copy. We then also ran an audio tape from the audio out - which we would then give as a freebie to the court reporter. They typically recorded their own tape, but since ours was being fed by a lavalier mic, our sound quality was better, and court reporting firms were where we got our referrals...

 

[Rel]

I would expect a basic DV camera to be sufficient for B-roll stringer work in your area.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of gear do you use on your deposition shoots? When I was doing this, we used either a SVHS camcorder, or a DV camcorder. We recorded on the deck itself as well as running a video-out to Hi-8 for a backup copy. We then also ran an audio tape from the audio out - which we would then give as a freebie to the court reporter. They typically recorded their own tape, but since ours was being fed by a lavalier mic, our sound quality was better, and court reporting firms were where we got our referrals...

I use a DVD camcorder (a little Samsung job). I pipe the AV to a splitter/amplifier that sends it to one or more VHS recorders. One of these is my backup but the others can be given to the attorneys at the conclusion of the deposition. This has proved very popular in situations where they need them in a hurry. Otherwise most are content to get it on DVD (which I burn at my office) within a few days.

My audio comes from three lavalier mics and an omnidirectional table mic run through a mixer and into the camera. I've found this configuration works best because if the battery starts to go in one of the lavalier mics I can boost the omni and not have to stop the whole deposition. Once in a while I've had the court reporters need a backup copy so I just give them one of the VHS tapes.

All my jobs come from the court reporting firms. Unfortunately right now I've only got one of them that consistantly refers their jobs to me but it is the biggest such firm around so that's a plus. I've had a few nibbles from other places over the past year but none of those have panned out. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get another one or two on the line in the next year and this will boost business considerably.

 

[DaveStebbins]

Or you could start filming Amateur Adult Films in your basement.

Rel pretty much dismissed this out-of-hand (no pun intended ) at GenCon, when my friend Tonya (who helps run several sites) suggested it to him. He's obviously too much of a straight arrow (alright, I intended that one).

-Dave

 

[Rel]

Rel pretty much dismissed this out-of-hand (no pun intended ) at GenCon, when my friend Tonya (who helps run several sites) suggested it to him. He's obviously too much of a straight arrow (alright, I intended that one).

-Dave

Let's just say that my wife has limits to what she'll put up with.

On the up side, I just got back in touch with a guy who I've done some property inspection work for in my previous life as an Appraiser. He seems to indicate that he might need me to do some inspections for him and that has been very profitable work for me in the past. I just need him to send it to me on a consistant basis because it is exactly the sort of flexible work that I'm looking for.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

 

[Old One]

Rel,

How about a home/business inventory video service? With all the recent disasters and recommendations by the insurance industry to have pictures or video records of items for claims purposes, you could provide said video inventory service and (for a small additional fee) store a duplicate copy of the record offsite.

Market yourself to local insurance agencies as being available to provide the service and/or contact the local insurance adjustors and market you services to them. It falls into the "I should do it, but I am too lazy or I don't have time" category.

You could probably do it with the current equipment you have. You would probably need to get a bond and small liability policy (since you would be going into people's houses), but you might be able to make some money and maintain your flexibility.

~ OO

 

[rln]

How about a home/business inventory video service? With all the recent disasters and recommendations by the insurance industry to have pictures or video records of items for claims purposes, you could provide said video inventory service and (for a small additional fee) store a duplicate copy of the record offsite.

...and then you can sell copies of the tapes to professional burglars.

For some reason, I often play CN Rogues in our D&D games. I have no idea why...

Have you considered professional DMing? I seem to remember seeing some threads on that matter just a few weeks ago...

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

Rel,

How about a home/business inventory video service?

This brings up another idea, actually. Videotaping houses for use as sales tools. There are a couple of realtors in the Chicago area that do this, some also do 360 degree I-PIX photography (and in some cases hire freelancers to shoot using their cameras). I-PIX is not difficult to do - I learned it in an hour.

 

[Rel]

Rel,

How about a home/business inventory video service? With all the recent disasters and recommendations by the insurance industry to have pictures or video records of items for claims purposes, you could provide said video inventory service and (for a small additional fee) store a duplicate copy of the record offsite.

Market yourself to local insurance agencies as being available to provide the service and/or contact the local insurance adjustors and market you services to them. It falls into the "I should do it, but I am too lazy or I don't have time" category.

You could probably do it with the current equipment you have. You would probably need to get a bond and small liability policy (since you would be going into people's houses), but you might be able to make some money and maintain your flexibility.

~ OO

That's a really neat idea. I think I like this one better than anything else I've come up with so far. I will definately be looking into doing something along these lines.

Oh and by the way, hello to everyone from here in Memphis! I'll say hi to Elvis for ya.