As someone with a professional looking video camera (that has filmed elite sockahh kids for a number of years), a lot of people approach me. Usually it’s about whether they can obtain the video footage for their own purposes, and whether or not I can do them a special favor?
Am I offered special favors in return? Not yet!
To be fair... There are times when I do get offered money. $5 or as much as $20 is common. It's understandable why the offer will go as high as $20... after all, they can pay about $40 for the latest Hollywood blockbuster DVD and they reason that my video won’t be a blockbuster, (and they are right it won’t include a ‘making of’)… so they seem to think that offering half of the latest Hollywood blockbuster DVD is really a pretty amazing offer on their part!
To clarify... I did donate my services for a number of years, and I did actually do quite a few of these special favors, producing Sockahh DVD’s, (with menus, but not including a ‘Making Of’)... and apart from a couple of glaring exceptions, all at no cost (not even asking $5).
I don’t do that anymore.
Well I still do occasionally... but I set a limit. To qualify, they have to be courteous.
Instead of courteous, maybe I mean respectful? (In Jamaica we’d bang fists together and say “Respect!” – Hey, been there, done that)...
I can recall many occasions when I have been approached for that special favor, and immediately got a demand. It was like hearing, “My son will be the next Harry Kewell, and you should feel honored doing this special favor for him!”
But wait! I didn’t make that up! That was actually said to me! (as near to word-for-word as I can remember)
Yes a lot of things are said to the guy with the professional looking video camera. But not everyone wants a special favor video. Some think I can DO SOMETHING about their grievance. I get to hear all the gritty details. “The coach/club/football federation did this, did that, did something else, promised me, reneged on the promise, lied, paid off, selected the wrong talent, wouldn’t know talent if, the system is all wrong, there is no system...”
Given that I have been at some of those games I am trying to remember if any of those comments relate to me. Although I dont think so. I dont count myself as one of "those" parents.
ReplyDeleteThen look at it from another side.
I have been in football admin for a long time, including many stints as a team manager and group coordinator.
When I sometimes put out a call to parents to send me their photos so that I can add them to the team website I often get positive replies.
So I get a few dozen pics emailed to me directly or through Picasa (or similar) on a Sunday night or Monday morning.
Great, I think, I will add them to the team photos for the week.
That is until I look through the photos and find that of the 127 pics taken 113 of them are of little Johnny running, blocking, shooting, falling, picking his nose etc. The other 14 are of the parents around the game.
Not much use really.
But I have to say that the last couple of years I have had a good bunch of parents send me a good array of photos. I think it just depends on the degree of professionalism in the team.
Eg. an U11C team as opposed to a U15 VCL team.
But yes I do sympathise with your plight.
Another perspective is always welcome Kevin, and no, there is nothing in that blog relating to you. I haven't much experience filming U11C teams, as most has been VCL, Super League (or A Teams as I think they are now called)
ReplyDeleteAnd to give you an example... I was asked if I could DO SOMETHING about DISC (Darebin Sports Centre) not providing any shade for players on the bench. Thats for Admin, not a video guy.
Speaking of video. I often need to explain to people that I am not taking still-photographs, and that video is moving pictures and works best if you FOLLOW THE BALL. If little Johnny doesn't touch the ball, no amount of creative-editing is going to help.
Lol! True about Johnny.
ReplyDeleteYou've given me an idea for some further blog items Kevin. Little Johnny Superstar.
ReplyDelete