Thursday, May 07, 2015

Don't Pitch a Buyer, Pitch the Audience Video

In March of 2014, I had the pleasure of giving a talk at Animatic T.O, an informal lecture series founded by Barry Sanders and continued by Andrew Murray when Barry took a job in Halifax.  Grayden Laing of the Canadian Animation Blog videotaped the presentation and now it's available online, courtesy of Grayden and John Righton.

I developed the talk into a series on this blog.  The first part of that series has been read almost 10,000 times to date.  Since giving the talk, my opinions haven't changed.  I've seen nothing in the intervening time to suggest that creators are getting a better deal anywhere.  I would love it if someday, a stranger walked up to me and told me that as a result of my talk, he or she kept ownership of their property and are making a living from it.  Hope springs eternal.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Excellent advice Mark. Thanks for always sharing your experience and expertise. I have no doubt the info you share will help many to find success.

John Celestri said...

That is a great presentation, Mark. I'm certain that planting your seeds of wisdom will eventually bear fruit...the Internet has established the potential for commercially successful creator-controlled properties.

Virgil said...

I don't know where I managed to post my other comment but anyway, once again.. thanks for the great talk, eye opening and wonderful!

One thing I'm unsure of.. is about 'the tools to reach an audience' which you said 'are already out there'. Youtube and such. This is basically my greatest existential question, and I don't think that's an exaggeration.. : > There is so much entertainment on the market, so many billions of videos on Youtube.. as you say, we're a drop in an ocean of media. So chances that my stuff will ever be noticed by more than a few people are microscopic.

So basically.. how do you reach an audience? It's like a catch 22. I don't have money to market, and even if, let's say, I do, I shouldn't invest a TON in marketing something that might be a failure, I should try it on audiences. But without investing there is zero audience. : /

Anonymous said...

Virgil, don't just post it on youtube and expect viewers. Post links on forums, facebook groups, ask friends to share it if they think it's good, ask online animation communities like Canadian Animation Resources to share it if they think it's good. Gradually build an audience.

Virgil said...

Yes, I guess 'gradual' is the answer.. but I wonder if it can take 1000+ years, because I will probably not live more than 100 in total.. : > OK, let's suppose I can live longer, if I manage to reach an audience when I'm around 999..ish, do I still have the energy to create new things at that age?