A Lively Report

If you watched Grease: Live last night, you loved it, hated it or came somewhere in between. I've read reviews from theatre nerds, film buffs and video geeks. And I agree with most of them.

From a theatre standpoint (I have been involved in theatre since I was 9 years old), they did a very nice job. There were some stand-out performances (Julianne Hough and Vanessa Hudgens to name two) and some not so great performances (I won't go into details there). There were iconic moments (when Frenchy meets Frenchy, and Boys II Men) and some let downs (why did they change Sandy's last name...Sandra Dee just doesn't have the same double meaning when her name is Sandy Young). **edit - the original movie had her as Sandy Olson...it was the stage show where her last name did in fact start with a D...Dombrowski**

But this post is more about the production from a live television point-of-view. It was AMAZING. The steady-cam work was top notch. There wasn't a moment of shaky camera work (ok, there was one shot that was obviously not ready yet).

The size of the set was incredible. 100 cast members and 200 crew members pulled together for an almost flawless event. Ok, there was some audio trouble. But isn't that why we watch live events? To see what might go wrong? Did you catch a wrong name in the sleepover-party scene? My son was very excited to see a "professional" goof. In a 3-hour live event that has so many moving parts, 1 minute of lost audio and some crackles are (almost) overlooked. I'm sure the production team doesn't think so, though. I'd sure hate to be in that production booth at the time!

It's not like goofs don't happen in live theatre...just in front of a much smaller audience. My husband and I saw a production of Cabaret on Broadway in the historic Studio 54 where they actually had to stop the show because the Emcee had to leave the show and the understudy had to come in! It happens - we are all human after all. (Side note, he was fine, just had an injury that had to be seen by a doctor.)

Grease: Live comes just days after the EVP crew orchestrated coverage of a 7-camera event. While it wasn't being broadcast live, we were recording it happened live. I just love the feel of working a live event - I guess that's why I do what I do, both in video production and in community theatre. Here are 5 things that I feel make a live event go off with minimal goofs.

1.  Communication. There is nothing more important than communication. Not only do the crew members need to communicate with each other, but the cast members need to communicate with the crew members and vice-versa. It is extremely important that every single member of the production be on the same page and have the same goal in mind. Everyone should know what is happening, when there is a delay, when there is a last minute change, who is doing what and when and how the producer and director envision the full event coming together.

2. Team Work. If all 100 cast members and over 200 crew members were each in it for themselves, the production would be a hot mess. You could see the comradery between the cast members in the final scene when it was all over and they were just relieved that they made it! You saw the real people having real emotions, not the characters "acting". This comradery has to extend beyond the leads. Each person involved in the production has to be part of the team. Everyone has their role and it contributes to the whole. No matter what the role - producer or stage sweeper, everyone has an important job. And if each team member treats all other team members with respect, then the production will show it.

3. Preparation. Of course, the old saying fits here - how do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, Practice, Practice. No production can go off without a hitch without endless hours of practice! I heard somewhere that 1 minute of production of a stage show requires an hour of rehearsal. You can do the math...and not every production requires the same amount of preparation, but you can be certain that ANY live performance requires SOME preparation.

4. Patience. Thing will go wrong. Let me say that again. Things will go wrong. Nothing is ever 100% perfect. You must have patience when doing a live production and stay cool when things do go wrong so that you can fix them immediately. If the audio crew gave up and got frustrated when the audio went out on Grease: Live, the we would have missed the last hour of the production! Patience and a cool head are important.

5. Have Fun! Anyone in production - whether on stage, television, movies, or somewhere else - does it because they love it! It's easy to get caught up in the frustration of the small things going wrong or the personality clashes that inevitably come with creative types, but the important thing is to take a step back and remember why you are doing this. Have fun! When the EVP crew did the live event last week, I had a blast! Yes, things went wrong. Yes, it was stressful at times, but all-in-all, the rush of having to get it right the first time made my adrenaline pump and I had an amazing night.


Darcie King
Executive Producer
E Video Productions, LLC
darcie@evideoproductions.net
732-349-4762

And in case you are a theatre nerd or video geek like me - here are some interesting stats from Variety.com

Run time of the show: 3-hour broadcast

Days of rehearsal: 52

Number of song/dance numbers in the musical: 23

Number of stages: 2 sound stages, plus the entire Warner Bros. backlot and built-out exterior locations throughout the lot

Number of sets: 21 

Number of cameras: 20

Number of cast members: 24 principal cast members, 20 ensemble and dancers

Number of extras: 60

Number of live audience members: 650

Number of costumes: More than 600 — 407 for principal cast, Boyz II Men, DNCE and Jessie J; 226 for background ensemble and dancers

Breakdown of costumes: 60% vintage; 40% custom made

Number of quick changes during live show: 392 quick changes — just for principal cast alone!

Record quick changes during one single number: Danny and Doody each have 5 costume changes during the song “Magic Changes”

Quickest quick change: 11 seconds for Rizzo, Frenchy and Jan

Number of people in the control room during the live show: at least 40

Number of staff members working the set the night of the show: More than 200

• 13 camera operators
• 15 stage managers
• 11 audio mixers
• 25 audio assistants
• 7 communications directors
• 15 camera utilities
• 30 costumers
• 36 riggers and electricians

Attract. Convert. Retain. 3 Videos You Need In Your Portfolio

Attract. Convert. Retain.

3 Videos You Need In Your Portfolio

1. High-Impact Attention Grabber – 30-60 seconds

2. Company Overview – 3-5 minutes

3. Customer Welcome Video – 1-3 minutes

Many of our clients come to us with a specific need in mind, but there are still plenty of customers that know they need video, but aren’t sure of exactly what their need is.  We have consulted numerous clients through the years on the best videos for their business, and while each company’s specific needs may vary, we have found three videos that are successful across the board. The individual content varies by industry & specific client needs, but this list can give you an idea of where you as a company should begin your Video Marketing journey.

The first video we recommend is a 30 to 60 second Attention Grabber. There are many terms for this “High-Impact” “Sizzle Reel” “Promo” “Demo” – whichever term you choose, this is a short, fast-paced overview video consisting primarily of high-energy music and dynamic graphics. Take your elevator pitch, add some rockin’ music and voila – your first marketing video. Of course, there are many keys to making a successful attention grabbing video that will depend on the intended usage, expected viewer response and target audience, but those can all be determined in your pre-production meeting. For now, just deciding to do one of these videos is your first step. Jot down some bullet points that you feel are necessary to get across in this quick introductory video.

The second video we recommend is a 3-5 minute CompanyOverview. This video is one of our favorites – it’s where we get to meet you & your team & watch you in action! Typically, we love to interview the owner or key personnel on your staff and shoot b-roll around your facility. If you don’t have an exciting facility or office, that’s OK! We can always use stock footage or graphics to fill the screen. There is also an awesome opportunity here for customer testimonials. The first thing you need to ask yourself when selecting this type of video is “what sets us apart from the competition?”

The final video that is important in an emerging video marketing portfolio is a Customer Welcome Video. Now that you’ve attracted attention, converted that lead into a sale, how do you ensure they have the best experience with your company possible? A Welcome Video can let them know what to expect in the early stages of working with you and can introduce them to the key people or processes that they need to know. While this video is not aimed at attracting new business, RETAINING customers is key to marketing success! When approaching a Customer Welcome Video, consider the main questions a new customer may have and aim at answering them quickly and concisely.

You don’t have to stick to these three videos when you begin building your portfolio. What other ideas do you think are important to have to Attract, Convert & Retain customers?

Darcie King

Executive Producer

E Video Productions, LLC

The Reality of Realism

Over the past few weeks, our team has been working on an anti-heroin series of videos for the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office aimed at students and parents. The reality of the topic is tough. I know I personally had to stop when writing the scripts to compose myself. Everyone on our team wrote at least one script. A few of them are based on reality. One of mine, is based on someone that I was close to. The reality is that heroin kills, and the job of educating teenagers about this is not an easy one.

When you have to spend weeks reviewing scripts, gathering props, scouting locations, auditioning talent and eventually shooting and editing the videos, words like "where did the syringe go?" and "did you bring the drugs with you?" start to seem like every day conversations. But the fact is, these are NOT every day conversations in the lives of most people, yet they ARE every day conversations in the lives of some. When I stop to think about that, I get sad. I think about how we can laugh about the fact that I have learned how to use face-paint to draw track marks on someone's arm. But when I think about the many young people that are living with REAL track marks, I want to throw up.

Every time we take on a new project, we learn something about a topic we never really thought we'd ever explore - installing a boiler in a Manhattan high-rise for one. But this topic...it really scares me. This is our third project with an anti-heroin focus. I really hope we are doing something to help this epidemic. I hope that someone sees one of our videos and thinks "I don't want to be that person" and stays away from this garbage. Or someone who is using, watches a video and gets help. If that's what we can do through video, then we've done something good. And that's what matters. That's reality.

The reality is it can affect any one of us. As our videos will show you (still in production - so nothing to see yet), heroin addiction doesn't discriminate by race, income, location or gender. One title - "No One Is Immune To Drug Addiction" rings true through all of our videos. The lesson to be learned is: pay attention. It took submerging myself in this topic for the past few weeks to really open my eyes to what is happening. Of course, I always knew there was a problem. I've never been one to try drugs or "experiment." But it has affected me in my life. And it took getting this close to it to truly understand its effect.

So, this blog post may not be production related. It is different from most of my other "self promotion" or "DIY Video" type posts, but it is important for me to get these words out there. Students in Monmouth County and elsewhere will have an opportunity to make a choice...they can watch these videos and realize the reality of heroin, or they can chose to ignore it. Hopefully, we're creating something that cannot be ignored.

Darcie King
Executive Producer
E Video Productions, LLC

Why You Should Use Video

There’s no doubt -- we live in a digital age. We live in a world dominated by the social spheres of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and more. Businesses all over the world now use these social media programs to advertise themselves and reach a wider audience.

For instance, YouTube reports that it receives over 1 billion unique visitors every month, and 4 billion views every day. Furthermore, Google, the most popular search engine globally, owns YouTube, which is the most popular video streaming site in the world and the second most popular search engine.

Check out the video below, which was put together by the EVP team. Pay attention to the way images are used throughout the video to better portray what the narrator is speaking about. It'll help illustrate the points I make further along.

Why the popularity of video media? It’s simple, really. Video can work for you in ways that other media cannot. Video can grab attention quickly, and it’s engaging if done right. It's not difficult to see how even simple animations that pop can connect to your audience much easier than a wall of text. It's not intimidating, it's not as time-consuming, and it's exciting.

A well done video also increases your perceived credibility to your consumers. It can make you appear to have more authority in your particular market: video on your site says “I mean business.” More than that though, it creates a particular bond with your audience. By seeing your facial expressions or hearing the nuances in your speech, viewers are able to recognize emotion easier, which gets your message across faster and cultivates a very human connection. This builds trust. By integrating your video into social media (Facebook, YouTube, et cetera), you also allow for feedback on how you can improve. 

A web page is a lot more likely to show up on the first page of a Google search if it has a video on it. Emails that contain the word “video” are more likely to be opened. It's also very cost-effective since, it is compartmentalized -- it stays online indeterminately and can be embedded across websites easily.

Still not convinced? It’s no accident that social media giant Twitter created their own video app, Vine. The same can be said for photo-sharing app Instagram deciding to incorporate video as well. Video makes your website or profile “sticky,” meaning that it grabs people and retains their attention longer than a picture or text. Studies have shown that people really only register about 20% of text on a webpage, while merely skimming the rest.

Data shows that readers fail to stay focused -- they have limited attention spans. Many of them don’t even scroll through content. In fact, if you've made it this far, you should be proud. The goal is to prevent that “back” button from being used within the first few seconds. On the flip side, most viewers find it easier to concentrate on visual content such as video or pictures. People who are purchasing a product are much more likely to buy in after they view a video.

According to Forbes, just over 90% of marketing respondents use video content. If you’re not already, then you’re behind the competition. When coupled well with social media, you can direct massive amounts of traffic to your website, which bodes well for you and your business.

To summarize, this is why you should use video: it’s accessible and eye-catching; search engines give it priority; it’s human, professional, and cost-effective. 

Evan J. Backer
Social Media Intern
http://www.evideoproductions.net
You can find EVP on Twitter here or here!
Also check out our Facebook and YouTube.

Best of both worlds!

So you want to DIY video. You've watched the HGTV shows where contractors have to come in and fix what DIY'ers have done to their homes, but you say "not me!" You're a techie at heart, and can set up & produce your own in-house videos! Well, as a professional videographer, I'm here to tell you that...well...it can be done! What, you're surprised I said that? Well, it's true, it can be done. In certain circumstances, we believe that it's better for you to do it yourself rather than have a professional on your regular payroll. When you're looking for something regularly scheduled, reoccurring and immediate, it may be more cost effective to purchase the right equipment, train your staff and do it yourself! But that doesn't mean doing it alone the entire way. Sometimes you really do need the beat of both worlds. What does that mean? Well, perhaps you are capable of hitting "record" or even clipping on a lapel mic yourself, but do you really know the best settings for your camera or the best way to capture the available lighting? Hiring a production crew to walk you through purchasing and setup will save you on many hassles down the road! You can even hire a professional to train your employees on how to trouble shoot, change shots and even do basic editing. This might just be the most cost effective way for you to have video available at your fingertips on a regular basis. Places like churches, temples, non-profits, education facilities, etc. may have a regular need for video, but not a budget to accommodate a weekly crew. So consider what your needs are and if a consultation with a professional videographer might just help you get your DIY project off to a better start! Darcie King E Video Productions http://www.evideoproductions.net darcie@evideoproductions.net (609) 242-3760 Facebook: EVideoProductions Twitter: @evpDarcie

What makes you FASCINATING?

If you're a business owner or marketer, by now you probably know you need a USP - unique selling point. This USP helps differentiate you from your competitors. That's almost as boring as the 4 P's of Marketing. That and a bag of chips will get you a bag of chips.

In today's marketplace, you need something more. Traditional marketing terms won't help you grab hold of a target audience that is also the target of about 1000 other marketing messages in a single minute. You need to focus on what makes you FASCINATING! Fascinating is a neat word, isn't it? It brings to mind images that just amaze you. Isn't that how you want people to think of your company? You want them to be totally blown over & amazed by what you are offering them. How can you figure out what makes you fascinating? Well, what are you most passionate about? When you start small talk with someone, and your company or organization enters into the conversation, what do you typically end up talking about? THAT'S IT! That's what makes you fascinating!

A video is key in showing just how fascinating you are. Through video, you can tell & show the true fascination, as well as engage your potential clients through emotion. Video reaches more senses than most other forms of marketing! They can hear how fascinating you are, see how fascinating you are and feel how fascinating you are. They can even hear from others just how fascinating you really are (through testimonials). Don't just consider your USP. Consider what makes you fascinating.

What makes Grace Initiatives fascinating? Watch the video below:


Darcie King
darcie@evideoproductions.net
EVideoProductions.net
12MonthsofVideo.com
@evpDarcie

Manna man oh man!

Kris' trip to Haiti will produce around five or so videos. Here is the first one. 

2012 Haiti trip with Calvary Baptist Church - Pemberton, NJ - We delivered over 100 boxes of manna packs to the people of Dame-Marie, Haiti. Manna Packs provide all the nutrients in one meal pack for a family of six for a price of roughly 7 cents a pack.

 

A View from Up Above

Kris sent this video to me from the air on the way to Haiti! I forgot to post it yesterday in my rush to get his other blog post up.

He texted me last night that he sent his Day 2 update, but I haven't received it yet. He said he would have connection and power issues after he left Les Cayes, and I guess that is proving true! The one update I did get briefly was that the truck carrying their luggage on their 6 hour ride to Dame Marie had 2 flat tires on the side of the mountain! They were stuck there for over an hour in the 90+ degree heat. When I talked to him, he was at a stop along the way, about an hour from Dame Marie.

I can't wait to see his footage! The stuff he's sending is just what he shot on his iPhone. The good stuff is on a hard drive. :) We'll all have to wait to see that!

Darcie King
www.evideoproductions.net
darcie@evideoproductions.net
www.facebook.com/evideoproductions
www.facebook.com/12monthsofvideo
www.twitter.com/evpDarcie

A Different View

Haiti Trip Day 1.

We left Newark Airport at 6 am today.  After two very uneventful flights - Newark to Miami then Miami to Haiti we landed in the 93 degree 90 percent humidity.  We left the jet way to go collect our bags.  We were greeted with a Haitian band singing songs to us as we walked in the customs area. Customs was normal and baggage claim was routine.  Then we left the airport and that's where my view on my life changed forever.

There were people everywhere going in every direction.  It was like rush hour in NYC except the chaos was magnified 100 times.  One of the people in our group was almost run over by, or he backed into a car.  I am not sure which.  The fact is, the airport parking lot was only the beginning. We all piled onto our, thankfully, air conditioned bus for the 6 hour ride to Les Cayes where were going to spend our first night.  I knew that Haiti had massive devastation from the earthquake and the hurricane that followed.  But I was not as prepared as I thought I would be, to see it up close.  Thousands of people are still living in tent cities throughout Port au Prince.  And most of the island still has intermittent power. I am just glad that I wasn't driving.  The traffic was unbelievable.  Think of the traffic you see from clips from India - it was like that - only less motor bikes and more trucks with smashed windshields and wobbly tires that are about to fall off.  There were pickup trucks with 15 people in the back, a bus with a guy on a kitchen chair on top of it, another bus with a guy texting from the roof and another bus with three goats on top. The Trip to Les Cayes was 6 hours through the mountains.  It was sad to see the landscape because after decades of corruption and environmental devastation from over harvesting, there is nothing left for people to find naturally.  They have stripped the land of almost everything usable. We had a bathroom stop about halfway to our destination at a little bar/restaurant/store/gas station.  The men's room had no door and there was a woman in there.  That was weird.

A few hours later, we arrived at the missionary guest house.  Thankfully we have AC tonight - last for the week.  We leave for Dame Marie Saturday morning at 8:30 am and then the real work begins.  Over all the people here are very nice, very kind and really just want to know - Comment allez-vous - or How are you doing?

Kris King
www.EVideoProductions.net
kris@evideoproductions.net

For more details on this mission trip to Haiti, read Jeremy Stephen's blog!

Video with a Mission

E Video Productions is making our first international trek.  From February 3rd through February 10th, I (Kris) will be in the country of Haiti.  I know, I know, you're saying to yourself "Haiti, who in their right mind would want to go there?"  It's a missions trip with my local church.  I have been asked to go along and document the entire trip.  We have also been asked by the overall ministry that is supporting our church, RMI (Reciprocal Ministries International), to cover some of the other things that they do in Haiti for promotional and fund raising purposes. 

This will be, by far, the most exciting and nerve racking shoot I have ever been on.  But the funny thing is, I was more worried about how I was going to charge my camera batteries than the fact that I have to look for tarantulas when I go to shower in the morning.  The spiders don't bother me, but the lack of power does.  Is that weird?

I won't just be shooting video while I am there, though.  First and foremost, I am there on a missions trip with a purpose.  We are bringing along water filtration systems to the people of Dame Marie, Haiti.  Each system, which runs about $95, will fill the water needs of a family of 10 for 10 years!  That's impressive.  We are also, with the help of many generous individuals and corporations, providing 16 goats to the families there, not sure how they are gonna fit in the overhead compartments! Thank you to everyone who donated.

Well anyway, keep checking in on this blog through out the week for more updates on all the things that we see and so while we are in Haiti.

Kristopher King
http://www.evideoproductions.net
Facebook: evideoproductions
Twitter: @evp_kris
Youtube: evideopr

Turn Off The Dark, but leave the video!

If you have not seen Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark on Broadway yet, what are you waiting for? For a life-long Broadway fan that has seen many shows over the years, I must say this was one of the most unique! It took traditional Broadway and pumped it up with U2's pounding music, amazing acrobatics, and of course, what caught my eye - amazingly choreographed video screens. As I watched the fabulous animations and graphics fly across the screens, I was immediately impressed by the production quality, but who would expect anything less from the Great White Way? But when I realized how the floor to ceiling screens were gliding across the floor, switching places with each other in a perfectly timed choreographed routine while the images remained in the correct order to show the full panoramic scene, I began thinking about the time and skill involved in creating this masterpiece. All this time, my 7 year old sat, mouth agape, mesmerized by his hero flying through the air, defeating the Green Goblin.

So this show has me thinking, what other ways  can we use video to enhance our every day activities? You might not be directing a show of Broadway caliber, but what about your company's annual dinner? Or perhaps, a local talent showcase? A trade show, conference or expo is a terrific opportunity to use video in unconventional ways! Your budget might not include choreographed, floor to ceiling video panels, but a creatively shot & edited video shown on a large flat screen TV might achieve the same affect for your audience. Try thinking outside the box when it comes to planning your next event. Think about how you can use video in a non-traditional way to deliver your message to your audience.

5 Strategies for Video Socialization

When you create a flyer, do you post it on your door and wait for people to find it? Or do you get out there, pass them around, give them out at networking events, ask other businesses to display them for you? If you wouldn't wait for people to find your flyer on your office door, why would you post a video on your website & wait for people to find it? You need to get it out there, pass it around, show it to your networking groups, ask other businesses to display it....all VIRTUALLY and ONLINE! These five tips will help you socialize your videos without having to leave your desk!

1. Upload, upload, upload. Do not upload once and hope that source will carry you through to virtual fame. If you use a private video host, you can still upload to YouTube! Don't just post a link to your YouTube video on Facebook, upload your video there too. There are many advantages to uploading your video to multiple platforms. First of all, you're reaching a different audience in each place. Someone might subscribe to your YouTube channel that doesn't get your newsletter or "like" your Facebook page. There are other pages also that allow you to post video to specific audiences.

2. Take advantage of each services unique features. In YouTube, for example, you can add neat features such as an overlay, mobile capabilities, and more. In Facebook, you can tag anyone that might have something to do with your video, alerting them AND their friends to the presence of your video. Check into unique services offered by each site that hosts your video.

3.  Tell everyone you know about this amazing video! Tweet about it on every account you manage. Start a discussion about it in your Linked-In groups. Ask for reviews on Facebook. Show it on your blog. Feature it in your e-newsletter. Get it out there!

4.  Choose your (key) words wisely. If you are a financial planner, words like "finance, money, planning" are over used. Try searching for them and see how many results come up! Get as specific as you can. Think about what people might be searching for that would need your services. Could someone searching for colleges possible need the expertise of a financial planner? Don't cheat & use competitor's names (this will get you taken OUT of search results), but think outside of the box when coming up with Key Words. And most definitely - USE THEM! Most video upload sites allow key words. Don't skip this step! It is how your videos are found.

5. Make your video sharable. Make it easy for people to share your video. Don't lock any features or restrict the video in any way that makes it difficult for people to spread the word. Remember, this is FREE ADVERTISING! The more people that like, favorite, share, comment, etc. on your video, the better chance that others will find IT and thus YOU.

Darcie King
E Video Productions
http://www.evideoproductions.net
http://www.youtube.com/evideopr
http://www.facebook.com/evideoproductions
http://www.twitter.com/evpDarcie

Video Focus: 1 Day MBA

People often tell us they're planning a big event and want to use video, but don't know how. What is the best way to use video to generate a buzz when it comes to events, seminars, fundraisers, etc.? We feel the post-event recap/promo video is the way to go. It is the most cost effective use of video in the event industry.

We have combined a recap of the event and a promotional video for future events into one piece. It serves both purposes very well and the event planner doesn't have to pay double the price.

What should a good recap/promo video include? While we typically encourage at least two-camera coverage of any major event, we find that one-camera coverage is sufficient in this case. The camera can be mobile and capture snippets of each presenter, crowd interactions, exhibition booths if needed and even testimonials from sponsors, exhibitors and attendees. All of these elements can be woven into a brief video featuring the story (how the event came together and the plans for the future), the "what's-in-it-for-me" factor (benefits, highlights, memorable moments) and can even include details on when the next event will be or where people can go to find out about future events.

The Missing Pieces

One of the comments we hear most often after a client views their first proof is that we had the wrong logo, wrong colors, wrong font, wrong graphic, etc. Let's rewind a bit. When we start a project, we ask clients to get us all their info and pieces that we need. We'll try asking for a logo, font or color, but typically we are dealing with busy CEOs or marketing managers that don't have time to search for it, so they say "take it from our website." Sometimes this is fine. But other times, they haven't looked at their site in quite some time and it is outdated. Or the graphics files are small - and when we're dealing with HD footage, we want the graphics to have the same quality!

This is not just an issue in our industry. I'm sure printers, sign makers, online advertisers, etc. all face the same issue from time to time.

Every company needs to have a graphics folder easily accessible on their computer. If your company is too small to have an in-house marketing department, you probably don't have staff dedicated to ensuring a consistent marketing message and branded exposure. By keeping a simple file on the desktop of the main computer in your office, you make it easy for every marketing piece you make to have the same message, same look, same feel. Here are the things you should include in that folder:

1. Your Logo - you need various versions. A low res version is easily uploadable online. A high-res version is best for print. An EPS or vector-based version is best for those highly knowledgeable in the graphics industry. A square version is good for social media. One that looks good on black and one that looks good on white also might be necessary at different times. You want to make sure the names of the graphic files make sense so someone can easily go in and find YourLogoLowRes.jpg or YourLogoSquare.jpg.

2. Color samples - there are various types of color files, and you should know exactly what colors you use. It's great to say our colors are orange & black, but we have found that orange doesn't always print the same. You should know your CMYK colors, RGB colors, Web color and Pantone colors. I'm not a graphic designer, so I'm not going to go into more detail here...if you have questions on this, you could do a search or ask your graphic designer.

3. Font - do you have a specific font in your logo? A specific font for your tag line? Other fonts you like to use? Save a Word document with these different fonts for quick reference.

4. If you use any stock images in your advertising, make sure you have these files easily accessible as well. Again, make sure there are high-res versions to use.

5. If you have done video or audio advertising in the past and have a certain piece of music that you like to use, have that readily available. We can always match something that is similar, but cannot always locate a specific piece. HOWEVER, please make sure the music is NOT copyrighted! In the video industry, we CANNOT use copyrighted music without permission under ANY circumstances.