Re: PROMAX out of business?

With all due respect to Ron and COW, yes it is David. Everyday you see a kid on here asking how to do something cus he just got a big gig and doesn't know where to start. And all the pros on here jump in quickly to tell him how to do it thinking they will be appreciated for all their knowledge and generosity. Meanwhile, a real pro just lost a job to this kid. The client is going cheap and gets pissed off in the end for how long it takes and the low quality of work from the noob kid. Then they come to you, upset, and want it done at a low cost to make up for what they just spent on the noob.

Today, these kids ( I mean anyone new to the biz) won't pay his dues and be an assistant and learn from a pro. He comes here and gets instant answers. I read it everyday. Then they are back next week with more questions on how to finish the job. How many of you old pros out there learned "everything" in a month, or a week? I bet no one.

We all would like to have a community to share info, but you all are giving away the business for free and our market is "very much diluted" with too many people stealing work for very low rates, or for free to get their foot in the door and not taking the time to learn first.

It all started when the manufacturers lowered the costs of high end gear to let all the amateurs enter the pro biz. Their sales went up for quantity and not for quality. They also ruined our business by doing this. Everyone today has to work for very low rates cus the kid will do it for free. You see it happening now in all businesses. The car comapnies are laying off everyone for cheap third world labor. But who will buy the cars in the future when everyone is out of work? The third world people? And for how much per car? Quality seems to not be important anymore.

A kid can go to Best Buy with mommy's CC and be in the HD biz tomorrow for 5 to 10k. They can also get all the software for free on the web with a little knowledge and searching (illegally, but true). FCS, Maya, AE, almost everything. I had to pay my dues fore five years at a network station and then spend half a million in gear to compete at a pro level. That is what drew the line between pro and amateur. Also the length of work experience. Not anymore.

My message to all of you is "don't be surprised when you have to lower your rates or even close your business, like Promax. You gave it away for free over the last 8 years by babysitting the noobs on their first jobs.

I am sure there are exceptions to all of this, but you should be able to see the point in all of this.

Best regards,
Gary