Shortest notice for a wedding at DVinfo.net

Bill Flowers · May 10th, 2008, 03:57 PM

I was asked at 1pm today if I was available for a 3pm wedding, but there was no commitment to do it. I was given the go-ahead at 1:45.

I couldn't get a 2nd cameraman on this short notice, so I made do with my DVX100 as a fixed camera on a riser at the back of the church "sanctitorium" and was mobile with a DVC30.

I should have done it the other way around; the DVX100 image stabilization makes it the better choice for mobile, IMHO.

Do I win for shortest notice? For this month? For this week?

Josh Bass · May 10th, 2008, 06:02 PM

Can I be a close second? I got a referral, and it was some weird company in another state that just hires freelancers to film these ultra cheap weddings. Low pay, one cam, mail 'em the tapes when done. It was about 1pm that I got the call, and the wedding was 4p or 4:30.

Doug Okamoto · May 10th, 2008, 06:16 PM

Bill, so did you do the wedding? I hate last minute contracts like that! I always forget something.

Josh, be careful it may be a scam for you to record the wedding, send the tape, don't get paid, and never hear from them again...

Bill Flowers · May 10th, 2008, 07:00 PM

Yep, I did it. I had nothing better to do this afternoon. The sound guy even gave me a feed off the mixing board into my camera (this is a BIG church).

It helps that I'm only 1.5 miles from the church. It also helps that I've got an inside track: this is the church we attend and my wife is the wedding coordinator there. Is that cheating? ;-)

Doug Okamoto · May 10th, 2008, 07:06 PM

Yes Bill that is definitely cheating! Your punishment is that you have to give me the money you received or will receive from this so called job! :) jk!

Good going though, we all need to remember to use all the resources at our disposal! I'm sure the wedding coordinator appreciated it as well, and all the points you can score there can't hurt!

Travis Cossel · May 10th, 2008, 08:21 PM

Wow, 2 hours notice?!? I definitely can't beat that one. Just make sure you guys get paid UP FRONT for these last minute jobs.

Josh Bass · May 10th, 2008, 11:02 PM

It wasn't a scam. I did it, got paid, everything fine. Haven't done one for him since, though. There are several guys who do this (farming out weddings last minute).

Doug Okamoto · May 10th, 2008, 11:45 PM

That's great Josh, glad it worked out for you. It just sounded a little fishy to me, I guess it's just my old age kickin' in and making me more cynical!

Josh Bass · May 11th, 2008, 12:11 AM

Of course it was fishy! I'm always paranoid with anything like this (first time clients who aren't well known production companies/organizations in town, including craigslist/Mandy stuff), but I've been very lucky thus far.

Noa Put · May 11th, 2008, 01:24 AM

For me the shortest notice was a phonecall I got on Wednesday for a wedding on Saturday, I took a risk because I made no contract which I normally have signed before the wedding, but here there was not enough time. Took in anyway and turned out alright. Don't know really if I'd do it again.

Molly Ryan · May 21st, 2008, 04:13 PM

if you can get what you need on that short of notice I say go for it.

Todd Geer · June 6th, 2008, 03:29 PM

And I thought a Tuesday call for a Saturday gig was tight! You win!

May 10th, 2008, 03:57 PM	#1
Bill Flowers Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 36	Shortest notice for a wedding I was asked at 1pm today if I was available for a 3pm wedding, but there was no commitment to do it. I was given the go-ahead at 1:45. I couldn't get a 2nd cameraman on this short notice, so I made do with my DVX100 as a fixed camera on a riser at the back of the church "sanctitorium" and was mobile with a DVC30. I should have done it the other way around; the DVX100 image stabilization makes it the better choice for mobile, IMHO. Do I win for shortest notice? For this month? For this week?

May 10th, 2008, 06:02 PM	#2
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Can I be a close second? I got a referral, and it was some weird company in another state that just hires freelancers to film these ultra cheap weddings. Low pay, one cam, mail 'em the tapes when done. It was about 1pm that I got the call, and the wedding was 4p or 4:30. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

May 10th, 2008, 08:21 PM	#6
Travis Cossel Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,933	Wow, 2 hours notice?!? I definitely can't beat that one. Just make sure you guys get paid UP FRONT for these last minute jobs. __________________ Black Label Films www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com

May 10th, 2008, 11:02 PM	#7
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	It wasn't a scam. I did it, got paid, everything fine. Haven't done one for him since, though. There are several guys who do this (farming out weddings last minute). __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

May 11th, 2008, 12:11 AM	#9
Josh Bass Slash Rules! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 5,472	Of course it was fishy! I'm always paranoid with anything like this (first time clients who aren't well known production companies/organizations in town, including craigslist/Mandy stuff), but I've been very lucky thus far. __________________ The Bass' camerawork The Bass on IMDB

May 10th, 2008, 06:16 PM	#3
Doug Okamoto Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bellevue, Washington Posts: 145	Bill, so did you do the wedding? I hate last minute contracts like that! I always forget something. Josh, be careful it may be a scam for you to record the wedding, send the tape, don't get paid, and never hear from them again...

May 10th, 2008, 07:00 PM	#4
Bill Flowers Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 36	Yep, I did it. I had nothing better to do this afternoon. The sound guy even gave me a feed off the mixing board into my camera (this is a BIG church). It helps that I'm only 1.5 miles from the church. It also helps that I've got an inside track: this is the church we attend and my wife is the wedding coordinator there. Is that cheating? ;-)

May 10th, 2008, 07:06 PM	#5
Doug Okamoto Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bellevue, Washington Posts: 145	Yes Bill that is definitely cheating! Your punishment is that you have to give me the money you received or will receive from this so called job! :) jk! Good going though, we all need to remember to use all the resources at our disposal! I'm sure the wedding coordinator appreciated it as well, and all the points you can score there can't hurt!

May 10th, 2008, 11:45 PM	#8
Doug Okamoto Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Bellevue, Washington Posts: 145	That's great Josh, glad it worked out for you. It just sounded a little fishy to me, I guess it's just my old age kickin' in and making me more cynical!

May 11th, 2008, 01:24 AM	#10
Noa Put Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Posts: 9,509	For me the shortest notice was a phonecall I got on Wednesday for a wedding on Saturday, I took a risk because I made no contract which I normally have signed before the wedding, but here there was not enough time. Took in anyway and turned out alright. Don't know really if I'd do it again.

May 21st, 2008, 04:13 PM	#11
Molly Ryan New Boot Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Rockville, MD Posts: 10	if you can get what you need on that short of notice I say go for it.

June 6th, 2008, 03:29 PM	#12
Todd Geer New Boot Join Date: May 2008 Location: Loveland, Colorado Posts: 11	And I thought a Tuesday call for a Saturday gig was tight! You win!