How to Book a job or gig as an indie filmmaker

DISCLAIMER:  There are many ways of doing many things.  Below you will read about one way of making money as an independent filmmaker.  There may be more effective ways that you like better.  Please take the time to research what works best for you.  READING is a MUST.  If you need help with anything below, you can contact me at georgeohan@gmail.com
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Independent filmmakers usually have a hard time making money....  Why?  Well,  I think it is because most of them are actually artists, rather than business people.  So, artist....If you no longer want to be known as a "starving artist" please begin to develop habits that will result in booking more work.

The fact of the matter is that the film industry is just like any other business when it comes to producing content.  We NEED customers.  We must SEEK our target audience.  People must KNOW what we do.  This is a numbers game.  The more people that you DIRECTLY ask for business, the more gigs you will book.

This model is based on shooting HD video content and photography for: small businesses, music artists, bands, events, short films, YouTube content, documentaries, and feature length films.

As a filmmaker, when people ask me ,"What do you do?"  My response is,"I'm a producer."  That's when I notice a blank stare.  After seeing this same result several times I knew that I had to communicate more effectively.   The general public does not know that a producer is responsible for: actors, locations, contracts, craft services, equipment, crew, post production, and everything else it takes to PRODUCE one project.  When I explained this information to my potential clients, they took my offer a lot more seriously.

A few of the steps that have increased my chances of booking more work have been:

1.  Set solid goals that I want to hit. Sales, income, follow-ups, social media posts, training.
2.  Gather a minimum of 3 business cards daily (Follow up with email less than 72 hours)
3.  Teach business model to all potential partners/crew so they can book work for us too
4.  Write treatments and pitch to businesses about creating a commercial for them
5.  Advertise on my personal social media TELLING people what I do
6.  Talk to 10 people that I do NOT know daily (Build Relationships)
7.  Research, Research, Research. (Potential clients have a NEED; find it)
8.  Follow-up with past customers and gage satisfaction
9.  Set a minimum of 5 appointments per week to discuss HD content creation
10.  Designate a time for follow-ups, marketing emails, and face to face appointments
11.  Search the websites on flyers and promotional items from various places in town
12.  Update all of contact information on various websites and social media
13.  Have a price list, scope of work, and completion times readily available for clients
14.  I volunteer on many sets just to meet more people and book future gigs
15.  Offer much more than just HD content creation; help with social media too
16.  Ask effective, fact finding, open-ended questions to figure out if a person needs my service

In my opinion it is every crew member's responsibility to help book work.  A producer and a director will have an extremely hard time trying to do this on their own.  It is much more effective when an entire group of people are working closely to book gigs.

Producer, Director, 1st AD, UPM, Gaffer, Grip, Editor, Art Director, VFX artist, Production Designer, can all help with the mission of booking gigs.   If your team knows that the producer can make it happen once the job is booked, you will be much more successful.

You MUST talk to a lot of people.  They MUST know what you do.  You MUST effectively communicate your objective.  Follow-ups are a MUST.  Professionalism and proper presentation is a MUST.

Our work can be seen at www.signaturexavier.com 


DISCLAIMER:  There are many ways of doing many things.  Below you will read about one way of making money as an independent filmmaker.  There may be more effective ways that you like better.  Please take the time to research what works best for you.  READING is a MUST.  If you need help with anything below, you can contact me at georgeohan@gmail.com

@georgeohan on Instagram

signature xavier, george ohan, ohan, gigs, book, indie , film, HD, content, social media, work, make money, independent, movies, hollywood, ca, Armenian

How to make it in the music industry

DISCLAIMER:  I have NOT made it in the music industry, but I've never tried either.  I am giving general business advice that I hope can help you succeed in your journey to stardom.  If you don't like to read, good luck on being successful.

I usually blog when I am inspired by an event in my life.  Today I came across a "rapper" in Los Angeles and I really hope he finds this blog.  The moment he found out that I'm a film producer he said, "Yo dawg, wassup wit a free video tho?"  (SILENCE FOLLOWS)

I smiled and told him that he should consider learning the business of music first.  His response, "See!  Ya'll Mafuggas all the same!"  (SILENCE FOLLOWS)

This time I smiled, thanked him for his time, and then I walked away.

Most of the people that I personally know that are into music have not even done a few critical steps to ensure their success.  Knowing how to make music is something that an eight year old can do these days.  There is much more to the business of music than just making the music.  If I were a band member, a rapper, a musician, etc., and I came across this little list that you see below I would use it as a check-list to see if I was on the right track.  We all have room for improvement; some of us have much more room than others.

1.  Do you have a music teacher, coach, or mentor?  Or, are you just that good that you don't need one? (Beyonce takes voice lessons...FYI)
     a.  Take the critiques of people that know what they're talking about very seriously and try to make the adjustments that they suggest.  Who cares how you FEEL, just do it.  You might actually learn a lot about yourself and your technique.

2.  Do people in your local area LOVE your music?  Are you selling out local venues? Are people buying your merchandise?  How many shows per month do you book?
     a.  A record label will not take a chance to DEVELOP, PROMOTE, and MARKET someone if they don't see that music lovers are not already supporting them.  You wanna be indie? Ok, cool.  See step #3.

3.  Do you know what these terms actually mean when it comes to the music industry: Marketing, Development, Promotions, Distribution, Publishing, Licensing, and Copyright Protection? (Look them up and do some research on how the big companies or successful indie artists do it.)
     a.  Do you own BOOKS that cover those subjects?  Do you read about those subjects daily?  Are you obsessed with learning about the music business?

4.  Have you ever talked to an entertainment law attorney?  Do have an entertainment law attorney?  Do you know any music managers that are currently working in the industry?  If so, what degree of success have they achieved?
     a.  You are not a lawyer (most likely).  You do not think the way an entertainment law attorney would think (most likely).  You are not a music manger (most likely).  You do not think like a music manger (most likely).  Get help from those people.

5.  Do you have phenomenal talent? Are your fans left in awe every time you perform?  If the CEO of Capital Records heard you right now, would that person be impressed?
    a.  You can't be good.  You can't be great.  You MUST be PHENOMENAL! Your music must be remarkable; REMARK-ABLE.  Do people remark about your music positively?  Don't give people a reason to deny you. There are a lot of people on "American Idol" that have been lied to by their family and friends.

6.  Do you have an EPK?  Does your EPK sound and look like the professionals?  Do you know what a good EPK looks like? (Look it up) Does your social media look like some of your favorite artist's sites?  Are your social media marketing sites updated regularly, and with the correct information?  Is the content interesting and professional?
     a.  Don't use your professional artist site as a personal space.  Run your social media like a business would run their sites.  You are here to make money; are your posts generating income?  If not; why not?  Do you have a marketing and branding campaign that you stick with?

7.  Are you highly motivated, dedicated, and willing to work harder than the next person?
   a.  There is no cavalry coming to save you!  Do you wake up before your competition?  Do you sleep after your competition?  Do you work harder than your competition?  I'm not trying to say burn yourself out.  I'm only making the point that you really have to WANT this.  Are you using your time effectively?  Be the honest broker and ask yourself at the end of each day, "If I was the CEO of my company, based on my performance today, would I hire myself again tomorrow?"

8.  Do you follow-up after meeting new people?  Are you networking with the proper people?  Are you networking correctly?

DISCLAIMER:  I have NOT made it in the music industry, but I've never tried either.  I am giving general business advice that I hope can help you succeed in your journey to stardom.

Very Respectfully,

George Ohan
@georgeohan on Instagram

Please don't mistake my kindness for weakness

I have many more years of experience as a business man than I do as a filmmaker.  I suppose that's the main reason why I'm so surprised when some slick talking Hollywood type acts as if they're doing me a favor when I'm helping them with a free project.  I know the name of the game, "free gig, free gig, free gig, PAID GIG."  Maybe some other filmmakers in Los Angeles have the luxury of not working that way, but at this point I do not.  When I do a free gig I try to make sure its for someone that can use the help.  More times than not I will help a person with headshots or video work if I appreciate their hustle.  The problem with "free" work is that every once in a while you come across a person that doesn't appreciate it or tries to take advantage of my offer.   When this is the case I allow for that particular person to dig themselves in as deep of a hole as they wish.  I am an independent film producer with financial responsibilities just like the next man.  I cannot afford to lose money to help you, I hope that you can understand my position.  I pay my bills by being a top Hollywood headshot photographer and film producer.  It is NEVER personal for me; we can drink a glass of cognac later, but for now,"Pay me... Please." :-)

Very Respectfully,

George Ohan

Creative Producer

www.SignatureXavier.com

iO Motion Pictures

ian Ohanian