Main Program

 April 2001

Marie Given provided our organization with some real world tips on how to market yourself and your company. Marie, a veteran salesperson, with over 23 years in the broadcast industry, worked for AMPEX, FUJI, and BASF. She provided us with ideas that will improve our outlook for many years.

For more information contact Marie Given at http://www.decoratingden.com

A special thanks toDiamond P Productions for the use of their fantastic production facility
Ten Keys to Success in Marketing Yourself

1) Make a good first impression. Always look and dress your best. Be confident in yourself and don't be ashamed to tell everyone how good you are.
2) Always be ready to market yourself. Have a business card and a copy of your demo reel or portfolio with you at all times. You never know when opportunity will knock.
3) Make a plan and use it. Target your desired customers and make a plan about how your going to reach them. Then set aside half a day a week for doing nothing else but marketing yourself.
4) Do research on your target customers. Go by their website, stop by and pick up some brochures, find out the name of who is in charge, etc.
5) Know your competition. Who are you up against? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Without this knowledge you'll will find it very hard make the right marketing pitch to differentiate yourself.
6) Get to know your customers personally. After you've learned what your customer needs and who your competition is make an appointment and talk
to your target customers about their needs and how you can help them.
7) Go to where your customers are. Go to the types of functions and organizational meetings that your target audience attends. Networking is the key. Be enthusiastic and smile. Meeting new people is the best way to find new opportunities.
8) Ask questions and listen to the answers. Just by listening you can open yourself up to a world of opportunity. Probe for more information when appropriate. Then ask if it is okay to follow up with an appointment later and get their business card.
9) Keep in touch. Marketing yourself is about establishing a repoire and maintaining that relationship.
10) Always leave something behind. A business card often isn't enough. Be sure to leave something special, clever, and useful to remind the customer of you. A coffee mug, pen set, whatever is representative of you.

Technical Track

May 2001

Rod Harlan, Mark Stephenson and Steve Brown returned from NAB with tales of new products and items you can't live without. The word was digital and DVD with the advent of do it yourself DVD authoring systems for the common person. Apple was first to release a complete system followed by Compaq.

The non-linear market is changing and products are getting better and cheaper. We recommend you use the services of our MPFI Vendors who will help you pick the best system for you needs.

For more information contact Mark Stephenson of Better Presentations, Inc. at betterpres@aol.com or http://www.betterpresentations.com or contact Rod Harlan, President of Digital Video Professionals Association (DVPA) at rod@dvpa.com or at http://www.dvpa.com or contact Steve Brown, President 10-20 Productions st 1020pro@gte.net

Main Program

Mark Schmidt,Vice President of SideStep Productions, Inc. gave us and introduction into ways to find money available through grants. He stressed the need to match the requests as closely as possible and always make the deadlines. He then introduced Shelia Mutchler who has spent most of her life on both sides of the museum/grant table. Shelia gave us an in-depth look at what is expected by the grantors and how those looking for grants can go about finding and winning them.

A special thanks to the folks at "Central Production Facility" for the great evening and tour of their new production facility

Main Program

June 2001

Russell Tewksbury spent his summer on the road producing streaming video for the Gore/Lieberman campaign and delivering it daily using WEB connections. The program was exceptional with a behind the scenes look at what it took to be a one man cameraman, editor, compressionist and finder of wideband connection to get his daily digital feed to the national WEB site. Mr. Tewksbury showed us his portable studio that was designed to fit under his seat on an airplane. He provided tips for producing video for streaming media and a look at the minimum equipment necessary to do the job.

A special thank you to our host, Allied/Vaughn, for the gracious hospitality and sumptuous refreshments. Many of our members enjoyed the tour through your state of the art facility.

Thank you again!

A special thanks to Rebecca Johnston of Professional Communications Systems for the use of their video projector. Rebecca can be reached at rjohnston@pcomsys.com

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