would you pay to look epic?

Im following through with a business idea. Im hoping for a lot of options. you can simply say "yes" or "no" to my question. discussions are welcome though, Im interested in people's thoughts.

It's Saturday, blue bird day and you and your comrades are racking up/skinnig for the day's objective ( snow, rock, ice, big mountain, whatever ). Its been a long time since you and these friends have all gotten together for a great day out using your skill sets where they belong (outside!) and you have the oh so wonderful feeling that today, you will crush. Those moments of working through the crux or making the last jump turn before you bomb down that oh so sweet chute or you're running it out to the anchor makes your soul beam with joy. The heroin of being an athlete in the mountains is a feeling that is unparalleled and sometimes we all just want our goddamn parents and grandparents, our couch potato friends, our partners who wonder what the hell we're doing out there to know what it is we are in fact doing! Would you, the weekend warrior, whether you project 5.10 or warm up on 5.12, whether you prefer the trees or the steep chutes, pay someone to capture your day via drone? Full video editing with music or just raw footage? what would you think is a reasonable rate for both raw and edited footage of a full day out capturing everything from the send to the beers after the day's achievements ?

This came to me sometime a year or so ago when I finished a long time project and wished that this time, someone was at the anchor recording it. Its not everyday. for the most part, I like the peace of being out in the hills. every now and then though, the day is buzzing with epicness and I want to relive those moments, sometimes even later that night just so I can say
" Damn, that is what I live for ".

Speak your thoughts, Im very curious.
Thanks !
Jon S

No way. Memories from adventures and maybe the occasional snapshot of the day are more than enough for me. Seems like some next level vanity to be paying someone to make your day in the hills a documentary, largely what I like about climbing is getting away from the social media bullshit.

Thanks for that! Yeah, it is a vanity thing for sure. There is definitely a market out there that could be into it though I think. Really appreciate your input.

frankstoneline wrote:No way. Memories from adventures and maybe the occasional snapshot of the day are more than enough for me. Seems like some next level vanity to be paying someone to make your day in the hills a documentary, largely what I like about climbing is getting away from the social media bullshit.

Cool. That makes sense. my thought process was that there would be the drone plus one other camera that are both going all day so I have a lot of footage to work with in my editing. really appreciate the input. Thank you.

My thoughts on "Drones" begins and ends with four letter words so I'll spare everyone. When the things you do impact the experience of others, then I vote against it. Not that anyone cares what anyone else thinks, as is obvious by what people do in the world.

No! I go to the mountains for solace, not to look badass. I love photography and think drones have a place in documenting stories, but for Christ sake I don't want one of those things buzzing around my head, especially if it's filming someone else.

Cool idea. It's not any louder than snowmobiles!

Jon, I think it is a cool idea and I would guess there is a market for a service like this. I have a couple of friends who have made compilations of photos and videos of a days outing set to a bad ass song and it is enjoyable to look back at the day with a quick 4 minute video. Face it, we do some very cool adventurous outdoor activities and sometimes it might be nice to document it and share with friends and family or to just relive that epic day!

Drone=clay pigeon

This is a great idea, I've met a ton of climbers who are into the go pro and love this type of thing. You could do trip reports on super topo for people as well. I would try to get in contact with people who do blogs too, there's probably a huge market for this. Good luck

this is all awesome. very interested in both perspectives. thank you to everyone so far.

I would rather not have drones flying around all my favorite climbing areas; let's pretend there's still wilderness to quietly appreciate.

I think it is a good idea. It's something I can see many climbers going for, because let's face it - many of us are ego driven. That said, I don't want to see precious climbing areas commercialized into a studio. Certain areas are better suited for filming than others. Don't rig a line for a cameraman on the anchors of a classic to get a shot of a climber on his/her project. So long as the business is considerate of other climbers and the location, I don't see a problem with it. There's definitely a market for it.

There are days that might be worth recording, but I keep them in my memory banks, and those I climb with, and those that have similar passions and do similar things,they understand. I do not know in advance when those stellar days will be, some days just click and things go right, other days it all goes wrong, you want to follow me around until I have that good day? And even if you catch a good day those that have been there will not need a film and those that do not understand will still not understand no matter how much film you throw in front of them. To much money has been bleed out of climbing already and every dollar taken out seems to diminish it is some manner. Thanks but no thanks.

NO!!
I would start carrying a H.H.A.D.D. (Hand Held Anti-Drone Device) commonly called a wrist rocket. PLEASE!!! Let's leave a little of the city in the city, and leave the quiet in the quiet. Anyone see the media insanity on The Cap last month....something was going on, not sure what, but the Big Stone was covered in B.S.! (Not knocking TC and KJ) Some of us still go out for the pleasure of nature, i know it is hard to believe. When you are sponsored,, pushing those hard 14's, what can i say....? Until then, use your f*&ing go pro!

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

That is exactly what I go outside to get away from. I'm not going to say that my reason for going to the mountains is the exact same one that everyone else should, but I do want to say that, at least for me, the transient nature of those moments is what gives them their meaning. Personally, when I'm old and can't move, I'd rather sit back and savor the memory of the FEELING that the mountains gave me. The actual physical movement is beside the point; it is the focusing of the mind, the demand for concentration that these activities induce that gives them any meaning for me.

I guess the long and the short of it is that I don't see the point. The drone seems to be just an offshoot of our impulse to document in order to stroke our egos, and that peripheral focus (i.e. on anything other than the present moment in which you are climbing or skiing,etc.) robs those moments of their integrity.

After the first time I see a drone at the local crag, the next time I bring my wrist rocket. Fuck those things.

I don't have to pay to look epic, it just happens.

Interesting idea, but you'll make a lot of people mad.

I don't think many drones can run all day on a reasonable number of batteries.

Also, as a video producer, I think it would be hard to turn a profit. You'd probably have to charge at least $5k per job, which prices you out of most of most climbers' vanity budgets.

I wouldn't do it.

I would pass, and I would like some consideration for others in the same area. Not unlike boomboxes at the crag.
Thanks for asking.