Somethings gotta change...
Thursday, March 11, 2010 at 8:55AM Thursday morning and not a minute of the show is recorded. Slightly worrying in that it's due to be published tomorrow!
Now seeing as I'm a fairly laid back guy, I'm not panicking too much, besides which, I've been in this situation before and I always pull something out of the bag. Just means a long two days of recording and editing but I should be able to pull it off. I could really do without the added stress though.
Taking a step back, I need to see how I got into this position, as originally, I had planned on recording and editing two shows this week. I need to create some shows in advance to cover for an upcoming trip. On reflection, it's the usual story of overcommitting and underestimating the effort required.
The early part of the week was taken up with some commissioned work I'd promised many months ago and I thought I'd have completed over last weekend. Didn't happen, so that was Monday and Tuesday gone. Yesterday was catch up along with some other work connected with the membership, as well as some prep for this weeks show. Topic selection and some setting up. If I'm honest, I probably could have done some recording yesterday afternoon, but I wasn't in the zone, besides, I had a ton of other stuff to do.
Next to me on the desk is two months worth of paperwork to go through and I still haven't got around to updating the web site and forums.
So I can't work any harder, or any longer hours, so something has to change.
I think I'm going to have to start outsourcing some of my work.
I've already got help with membership and emails, it's the production side of stuff I probably need more help with, although it's something I've always wanted to retain and have complete control of.
As far as I'm concerned, the planning, preparation and recording is a minor part of the overall production process (with respect to time) but the bit with the most value. This is the bit that would be impossible to outsource.
The processes after that are more easy to outsource but not without challenges.
ScreenFlow Exporting: I take the raw ScreenFlow files and export them to lossless format. I then convert the lossless format files into AIC format for editing in Final Cut Pro. I have my reasons!
Assembly Edit: This is the process where I take the recorded segments and assemble them into the basic framework of the show. 99% of the time, these segments are recorded sequentially so there's no problem there. The assembly edit is really just cutting out the fluffs, removing any bad takes, and basically laying out the show in it's final form. This can be time consuming.
Final Edit: This is where the creative part of the editing process occurs in that I make a second pass of the entire show and add in pans, zooms, redub vocals (if required), add lower thirds and graphics, etc. Basically, turn the rough show edit into the polished article.
Exporting: This is where I take the master edit and create a master file. This then gets encoded into 5 different versions and uploaded to the Libsyn servers. There's an element of automation but I'm sure this could be automated significantly. Not difficult but time consuming.
Publication: Shownotes to write and publish, members website to update and publish, newsletter to write and publish. Again, all taking some content and applying it to various systems. RSS feeds to update and test. All repetitive and easily turned into a simple work flow.
On reflection, I could fairly easily outsource:
ScreenFlow Exporting - Deliver the raw set of Screenflow files to someone (around 800MB - 1GB) usually and they can export and convert. If working with someone remotely, I could also export and convert locally so we would have two identical sets of intermediate files to work from
Assembly Edit: Pretty straight forward. Basic Final Cut Pro skills required. I could probably teach someone in a day or two to do the basic editing. With having two sets of intermediate files, we could just swap the FCP project file between us.
Final Edit: Initially, I would probably still need to do the bulk of this but over time some elements could be migrated into the basic edit.
Exporting: Easily replicated by someone else. This section is deceptively time-consuming and does require a lot of testing and checking. Easy to create the workflow steps though.
Publication: Again, once the content is written, the mechanics of publishing is fairly straightforward albeit convoluted. Just needs some one with methodical approach and attention to detail.
Finger in the air, I reckon that I could eventually save myself 60% - 70% of the effort I currently expend putting a show together, leaving myself some spare capacity to get on with either creating more content or spending some time tending to some of the other parts of the business.
Of course, initially it would have a negative effect due to the time I'd need to spend training someone or creating documentation/processes that are in my head. But, the benefits are plain to see.
So how to move forward?
Do I take on an intern?
Do I take on someone full time?
Do I find someone who can take on some of this work remotely on a contract basis?
Do I hire by the hour?
Do I split the editing tasks and the publishing tasks between two people. There's no real need for the same person to do both.
Eeek!
I appreciate that this blog may cause a mini avalanche of emails or responses from people offering their services. Some have even expressed an interest via a tweet I sent out earlier in the week.
Just to set expectations...
I may or may not move forward with this.
I may do something in the next few days or it may take me a month.
I don't expect anyone to do this for free or for experience, in fact I'd rather pay someone a fair price for a job well done.
I would expect someone to have some experience in video editing.
On the video side, I'd probably need someone with a Mac Pro
Any arrangement would be on a trial basis.
I may not get back to you straight away.
No promises.
What do you think?
PS If you'd rather contact me directly, email me at screencastsonline@gmail.com but as I say, I may not get back to you straight away.
Don McAllister
Thanks for all the comments and the emails offering assistance. I've not responded to anyone as yet, so don't feel offended if you've not had a response. I need to spend some further thinking time before deciding how to progress, if I decide to go down that particular path.
Don
Reader Comments (11)
If you can do remote outsourcing, I'm going to recommend Dave who helps Scotty with the MDN audio and video work. I'm sure that the MDN empire would be glad of a bit of extra income and you'd be dealing with someone who is used to this sort of workflow.
Sounds like 'the next step' Don. The trick will be maintaining the quality.
TWiT network seems to have made the leap successfully bringing in staff to do the production work.
Who knows - you could be the next Leo ;)
M.
As someone unemployed and middle aged and having trouble finding a suitable job, if you decide to go ahead and 'employ' someone can I suggest you try placing an ad' with your local Job Centre? Think of the karma of giving someone a job who didn't have one before :)
It's wrong to choose someone based on their age (even in a positive way) but you might be inclined to weigh up the advantages of an older applicant rather than automatically assuming the younger ones are preferable. Also, maybe not be too quick to dismiss applicants who don't necessarily have the exact experience you're after - as you mention, it's not very difficult to pick up most of the skills you listed.
Hi Don,
I think I would be asking the question "Why do I need to increase my output?" - in other words, what pressure is making you think you need to produce more?
If its financial, charge more/increase membership
If its because you can't say no, learn.
If it's to hang on to market share, target your competitors.
If you like doing what you're doing why do less of it?
Just some thinking points before you commit to anything.
Always enjoy the shows, even the ones that I am not specifically interested in, as the production values are superb, the content is always "deep" enough (without geting "too" technical!) and they are a resource to keep for mac switchers.
Regards,
Shane.
Hi Don,
I was in a similar position a few months back, the problem is that the bit I do best and enjoy most, application development, would be the hardest for me to pass onto someone else. I suspect you'd be the same as they'd never do it 'quite right', and as you care about what you're putting out there'd be time lost tweaking and redoing.
To cut to the chase, I have been working with a Virtual Assistant for the last few weeks and it's really starting to make a difference. They handle all the invoicing/paperwork stuff that I used to let mount up, chase payments, and deal with enquiries, emails, letting writing, leaving me to get on with work (or get some time off!) I pay them for a set number of hours but they're always in their office I can just use them for half an hour here or there as I need.
I did try getting someone in a day a week to do this, but found that it's hard to setup all the things they need to do for that one day a week.
Good luck!
Sounds like things are going well Don.
I was wondering how you would handle the large video files that you would nee to transfer to someone helping you with editing. I'm sure you have had many thoughts, such as DVDs or even hard drives through the post, or if they are local to you they can collect or you deliver.
This also limits who can help based on what hardware/software they have or not.
Have you thought about setting up a solution to allow remote access?
My idea would be a Mac Pro (or could be iMac of course) with FCP running that you could let your outsourcer remotely access, either via Back to My Mac or LogMeIn. They can then work using that machine.
The benefits are that:
. You maintain control of the environment and the data.
. No data to transfer outside of you network.
. You can monitor what work is being done as it's being done.
. You can help if they get stuck or need to ask you a question.
The only proviso would be whether it is workable or not. Should be easy to test.
Paul
How about outsourcing the paperwork, accounting and boring stuff so you can focus on the bits that you like the most.
I am surely on the hundreds of people that would like to be part of this production even though I do not qualify.
My thought is that I just admire you Don for the reason that you have done all this work and you have almost reached your time limits, and you are a so good time manager.
I ve always wondered how the heck you can be so good organized and do all this stuff and produce this show with increasing quality. I am very stiff on deciding to spend money for software or an online service but becoming a member on your show was a matter of a few episodes seen.
Kudos to you!
I hope you find the best way to outsource your work!
Hi Don
My only advice would be reflect back to when you left your day job to do Screencasts for a living. What were the reasons you made that change, which bits did you enjoy the most in those early day. Try and hold on to those and outsource the other bits.
In a way I suppose I and others should congratulate you on getting to this stage of growth, but don't lose sight of your original goals.
John
Thanks so much for all the responses. Some food for thought and many pearls of wisdom.
I just need to get this show finished so I can digest it all and make some decisions ;-)
Don,
Now that BusyCal is done, perhaps the zen process is beginning...
You have an extremely impressive product and folks are more than willing to pay for the varied content and outstanding production qualities you deliver. Thus, it appears to me like the screencasts are the foundational element of your business and should be given top priority. The other products we enjoy (YT, Blog, etc.) are tangential to the screencasts; IMHO, they should not interfere with your ability to excel in delivering your foundational product.
By all means, outsource what you are able to do as long and the content, quality, and your unique style are unaffected. But remember that with outsourcing comes the additional time required of you in managing the "outsourcers" and performing quality control. It's not for everyone, but it can be made to work.
I dropped out of the executive level of a multi-national corporation because I got too wrapped-up in my work. It affected my health and my family. I also am well beyond "mid-life" and want to actually enjoy each hour in every day I have left. So, I took a 2/3 cut in pay and am now teaching. I haven't been happier and more fulfilled! The point is: there's more to life than money and work; we spend a short time on this planet and we shouldn't put-off living life to its fullest!
Oh yeah, but just don't forget to pay the mortgage!
Theo