would you pay to look epic?
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Drone issues aside, it would be very difficult to make this a profitable business, unless you're satisfied earning minimum wage (or less) for the time you'd have to put in. Pro wedding photographers charge a couple grand (or much more) for a half day of field work and all the editing involved, and that is less time consuming than what you're talking about. Travel expenses, damaged gear, support staff... You'd have to charge an arm and a leg and the climbing community isn't exactly known for dropping mega bucks on stuff like this. Look at how many people complain about the price of hiring a guide for a day, and that is peanuts compared to a hiring a pro photographer/videographer to follow you around on your adventures. |
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No. |
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I already look epic. But thanks anyway... |
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You should try this at the Gunks. The wealthy gumbies will be so psyched |
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No, although it is a interesting idea. |
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bking 7, Radical. Loved your breakdown. Your ending statement regarding Go Pros had me laughing. It's true, go pro climb footage from pov can never and will never be able to be, good. Thanks for that. As far as the just because you can doesn't mean you should remark, capitalism. I am appreciating the responses from everyone regarding general LNT. I completely understand how this could be pretty shitty to deal with when you're trying to escape everyone's nonsense in the first place. |
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I have to vote yes, just to see so many whiny old crotchety trads losing their shit over filming at the crag would be worth every penny. Last year I counted 80 days climbing outside and two months sleeping on the ground. I saw four professional film crews using three drones in two different countries, and, ya know what, it wasn't the end of the world. Surprising huh? |
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Jon - I think this idea will make you rich, because there are so many vain, shallow douchebags out there that shell out big bucks for something like this. Good luck. |
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Regarding capitalism, I think you'll do best by marketing to small groups--especially ones that include novice and 1-time climbers. Families with kids could be a staple. Also kid groups: scouts, churches. |
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I personally wouldn't hire anyone else to film me any time soon. If I were doing the first 5.13 in the Boulder area or a .14 project I MIGHT consider it. I also think that mountain project may not be the best place to ask, since a majority of the members aren't your demographic. Ask on 8a.nu. |
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Shit I just bolted some new routes and would love to have some footage off me and friends climbing on them with a drone. I'll pay you to come out with me one day and get a short film going. |
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I respect the capitalism, and I'm less against this on the LNT front than others. Granted I'm not into a drone or fixed ropes hanging off my favorite crag so some narcissist can pump the ego, but all the power to you for bleeding that b@stard. |
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Two things: |
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limpingcrab wrote:Two things: 1. It will make people feel cool to say they're too cool to try to look cool so they'll happily say "no." 2. So what your saying is climbers try hard to look cool, but at the same time try to act like there not trying at all.? |
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Eliot Augusto wrote:I once looked into getting a drone for outdoors things and found that it usually isn't a good idea from a business perspective. The batteries lasted an hour at most. That was a small, efficient drone that couldn't carry a go-pro. So you'd have to have maybe 20 batteries to last an entire day. Plus the drone, the remote, and anything else you'd need to join in the activity of the day. All the drones I've seen in person have been fairly frail things. It would be like bringing a porcelain doll on a hike.A LOT has changed in the past year, year and a half. How long ago were you looking at drones? I've seen drones bounce off trees and branches and still be operational ..hardly as frail as you say. The high end models will last easily over an hour with a go pro. You mustn't been looking at them when they first came out a number of years ago. |
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Grover wrote: So what your saying is climbers try hard to look cool, but at the same time try to act like there not trying at all.?You got it. Not me though, I try hard to look cool and leave it at that. PS, I still need a bolt count/topo for Modern Guilt for SEKIclimbing.com since you moved the first two pitches. Also, I think I found a way around the 5.12 pitch for us softies. Also #2, I miss you. Tehipite. |
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I recently met a climber from Spain that is using his drone for filming climbers (some professional) and skiers (professionals) for promotional/commercial purposes either as part of sponsor videos or for different organizations (ski mountaineering teams, tourism offices, etc.). There are many hours of editing work to get to the final product so keep that in mind if you venture into this business. |
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Thanks everyone. I will most likely be going through with the idea only because its just too easy. not to mention Id rather be having from a fixed rope or staring at a screen (for the drone) outside than sitting at a desk any day. Rest assured to you some that my first and most important goal is to not disrupt others. I would hate it also. Ive been on both ends. Guiding groups when other climbers don't seem to want you there and climbing on my own next to some top roper bitching about how hard it is to finish the route. As for getting rich, yeah I just might. This roles into many other markets like off roading, canyoneering, mountain biking, atv shenanigans etc. |
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Thats the spirit! Its just too easy to make money filming pathetic people doing nothing impressive so they can continue to miss out on their life by focusing on anything but the present moment. What a special purpose you are serving here on planet Earth. Nothing epic about any of it, just a lame way to make money. |
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RockinOut wrote: A LOT has changed in the past year, year and a half. How long ago were you looking at drones? I've seen drones bounce off trees and branches and still be operational ..hardly as frail as you say. The high end models will last easily over an hour with a go pro. You mustn't been looking at them when they first came out a number of years ago.About 2 years ago. I was in Austin at a tech convention and several companies had their quad copters. One of them broke during the demo on a "normal" landing. The strut broke. Another looked bomb proof, but could run for like 20 minutes. The really cool one I saw ran about 45 minutes, and had this 3d waypoint system. It would follow a custom curve unless certain conditions were met, like loss of radio contact or low battery. It would attempt to navigate to the take-off location. I designed an infrared LED system that could be attached to an object so that the drone would follow it and keep the same orientation to the object. Naturally technology gets better quickly, but there have been few advancements in energy storage over the past few years. So the drones might be operating at 200% of their original ability, reducing support costs by the same. 10 batteries for 10 hours of drone footage doesn't sound to appealing. Those things are heavy. |