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During the more than thirty years that I have been in the production business involving radio, television and business communications working for other companies for 18 years and 15 years as an independent freelancer, many questions have been posed concerning our business. With that in mind, here are a few answers and recommendations | |
| Jim Powell | ||
| I'm quitting my job as an employee and am going to become a freelancer. What is it like? | ||
| If you have anyone in your family that has been in business for themselves, ask. They can give you the 'hard and cold' facts of life. You not only need to know your skills, you need to know how to market yourself; do bookkeeping including tax preparations and staying in touch with new tax laws; obey the business laws of your community; live with mistakes that you are bound to make and recover as fast as you can; be prepared for 3 to 5 years of financial hardship; be prepared to pay the debt of those 3 to 5 years over the next 3 to 10 years; and most important, say to yourself, "This is the only thing I can do to make a living. It has to work!" Determination, determination and more determination. It doesn't stop. | ||
| I'm going to take broadcasting/video production/journalism in college. What do you think? | ||
| These areas of curriculum are very fulfilling and fun in which to work. For the most of us though, the pay is not that good. Only a few people make the 'big bucks.' You'd be better taking a business degree or other skill. And with that, if you are still wanting a degree in any of the above, I suggest that you take electives in business operation. Eventually, you will want to open your own company. And as I have stated in the previous question, you need to know a great deal about operating a business. I fortunately came from a family of people involved in operating their own businesses. It has helped, but it does not take the place of experiencing the true grit of business. The education will help your decision making. | ||
| I'll be finishing college soon and need a job. Where do I start? | ||
| The first place is your
counselor in your college. He or she can give you professional organizations that
will guide you. If you want to be in production, I suggest that you become a student member of ITVA (International Television Association). This group of which I have been a member for 15 years and leader for 11 years consists of producers, videographers, editors, writers, corporate in-house video production groups and outside production companies and is important in your skills refining and job placement. In our business, networking is a key word. If you want to be in advertising, I suggest the AAF (American Advertising Federation). This group of professional people highly support newcomers with college degrees. |
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| I'll be finishing college soon. Do I need to learn any thing else? | ||
| You are just beginning. You may learn a skill or vocation in college, but the most important item that you learn is, "How to learn." You never stop learning. I continually take workshops and seminars from Atlanta to Los Angeles to learn new state-of-the-art skills and refine my basics. I receive over 10 magazines and periodicals a month to keep up to date. You are just beginning. | ||
| I've been in the business along time and am thinking about retiring. When are you going to retire? | ||
| There's a rock-n-roll oldie that pretty much states it for me. The lyrics sing, "They tanned his hide when he died Clyde and there it is hangin' on the shed." (Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport). I'll probably fall over in front of a microphone doing what I love to do most. | ||