I love PR and marketing types because typically I don’t have to sell them on why video is a terrific marketing tool. They get it. The only tip I usually pass along to them is how to prep their clients and not to prepare them.

I know, isn’t “prep” just short for “prepare?” Exactly. It’s a big help when the PR or marketing person has prepped the client before the project begins… giving them an idea of what the production crew will need, how long the shoot will take, stuff like that.

On the other hand, you don’t want to prepare them. Don’t give them a list of questions that might be asked, don’t give them talking points, don’t prepare them for being interviewed.

Those are great things to do when getting ready for an interview with the media, not a video production the client is paying for. You don’t have any control over the message the media puts out, so better to be prepared. Not the case with us.

As video producers, it’s our job to make the client look and sound good, and the best way to do that is when you get authentic answers. Remember, we’re working for you and the client. If they make a mistake or don’t say something the right way, we just won’t use that sound bite.

Clients who prepare for an interview sound that way. Clients who have simple been prepped sound much more genuine.

–Tony Gnau

A client had a last-minute request yesterday for some DVDs and I was happy to be able to accommodate them. I also promised to deliver them myself. A promise made and a promise kept at about 8:20 a.m. this morning.

Pat on the back… nice job Tony… thank you T60. If you’re a hard worker and want satisfied customers, this is pretty standard stuff, nothing noteworthy. Believe it or not you deserve that pat on the back because that’s not always how it works.

I got a reminder on the way home while waiting at the Clark & State “L” stop. Looking for my train I spotted at flat screen monitor operated by the Chicago Transit Authority. Various ads were running, the time, weather, and then something that caught my attention… a graphic that said, “CTA Train Tracker.”

Standing there in the cold I anxiously awaited to see how long it would be until my train arrived, only the information never followed. The CTA announced they have a train tracker, but that’s it. Frustrating.

About 10-minutes later my train showed up and I was on my way, but it really made me appreciate people who deliver on promises. If that’s you, this is your pat on the back.

–Tony Gnau

One of the things we pride ourselves in at T60 is the effort we put into every video we produce, so why do some win awards and others don’t? The reason this year is simple, and it’s a great lesson for business leaders.

It’s the people. Take one look at the videos we produced for DuPage Habitat for Humanity and Glenwood School for Boys and Girls and the common denominator is each features compelling people.

Shari and Arletta in the Habitat video… Vashawn in the Glenwood video… they’re comfortable on camera, they’re engaging, and most importantly they’re speaking from the heart. They’re not delivering a scripted corporate message. You can tell they believe in what they’re talking about.

It’s a great lesson for businesses leaders who want to produce their own video. Think about all your employees. Think about your customers? Who are the most engaging people who surround your company?

It might not be the CEO, executive, or manager you planned on featuring, but sometimes they aren’t your best representatives.

–Tony Gnau

T60’s 32nd Annual Telly Award Winners

VIDEO– DuPage Habitat for Humanity

VIDEO– Glenwood School for Boys and Girls

We got some great news last week. T60 won a pair of trophies at the 32nd Annual Telly Awards.

The Telly Awards draw over 10,000 entries every year and are considered one of television’s and the non-broadcast video industry’s most prestigious honors. There are two levels of awards, the silver (top honors) and bronze.

This year, T60 was awarded both a silver and bronze for videos submitted to the Film/Video, Non-Broadcast Productions, Non-Profit Category.

Please join us in congratulating our clients… DuPage Habitat for Humanity and Glenwood School for Boys and Girls.

SILVER TELLY VIDEO– DuPage Habitat for Humanity

BRONZE TELLY VIDEO– Glenwood School for Boys and Girls

T60 has now won nine Telly Awards over the last four years.

Photo: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Last night I awoke at 2:30 a.m. from a bad dream where the USC Trojans were trailing the UCLA Bruins.  Yes, I dream about football.

Bear with me, I’ll get to a relevant point.

In the dream, USC trailed by 7-points with 3:30 left to play when the defense scooped up a fumble. Instead of attempting to drive for a game tying touchdown which would at least force overtime, USC head coach Lane Kiffin elects not to run an offensive play. Instead, he kicks a 49-yard field goal cutting the lead to 4-points.

Craziness… I know. I woke up thinking why would a coach make a move like that? Sure, it closes the gap and potentially preserves enough time to go for the win, but it also paints the team into a corner. The only option available for the Trojans would be to get the ball back on defense and drive for a game winning touchdown.

It actually made me think about viral video. Many companies want to create the next great viral video, but that quest does bring risk. Groupon created a Super Bowl ad I’m sure they hoped would go viral the next day. It did, but for all the wrong reasons. Using the Tibetan people’s oppression as a gag offended a lot people and turned out to be an embarrassing failure.

Creativity is a great thing, but don’t confuse creativity with boldness.  Businesses striving to be bold need to avoid painting themselves into a corner where winning is the only option.

I’m not saying don’t go for it. Everyone’s risk-reward threshold is different.  Just keep your eyes open… and maybe a good PR pro on standby.

–Tony Gnau

I’ll tell you what… I know a lot about storytelling… enough to teach a class. I better. It’s my profession… my passion.

Business on the other hand? I’m still learning. Which is why I continue to pour through business books, read Seth Godin daily, listen to Dave Ramsey, and constantly look for innovative ways to better T60 as an organization.

We’re getting a little help with that. Earlier this year T60 opened its doors to business students at Kendall College who spent a quarter evaluating our company. Today, we get to hear their assessment on where we are and where they think we can go.

Ready to be a student again?

–Tony Gnau

There’s an old adage in video and film production. When you think you’ve shot enough, shoot a little more. That’s because you never know what might come in handy in the edit room. Better to have too much raw material than not enough.

It’s actually a concept that translates well to just about any field. Don’t do just enough work to get the job done, go beyond that so you have plenty to do a great job.

Usually doing just enough work will get you paid, it just won’t get clients to return.

–Tony Gnau

My dad taught me a valuable lesson when I was a kid. I might have been eight or nine years-old when I said something insensitive to my mom. My dad was furious but it didn’t lead to a tirade. He simply leaned forward, looked me in the eye, and said, “Think before you speak.” I’ll never forget that.

I’m guessing Alexandra Wallace didn’t get a similar lesson when she was a kid. Wallace is the UCLA student who filed a video blog on YouTube ranting about Asian students in the library talking on their cell phones.

This is a teachable moment for businesses that have employees blogging or vlogging. Think about your message before hitting the upload button because once it enters cyberspace… it’s out there.

Now, I know there’s a movement advocating unfiltered content. Keep the message “real.” I get it and to a certain degree I’m with them, but there’s a big difference between being guarded and being smart.

Businesses need to be smart with their social media. Be open and share… just be smart about it. It’s a lesson this UCLA student learned the hard way.

–Tony Gnau

p.s. did I mention she attends UCLA?

Last week Danny Brown blogged about relationships and how they lead to sales. He also mentioned something that really struck a chord with me… that we base our decisions on emotions.

He’s right, which is why marketing videos can be such a great way to reach people. A good video can elicit an emotional response and connect the viewer with the company on a personal level.

Enter storytelling.  It fosters these emotions in a way facts and figures don’t. The lesson? Don’t get wrapped up in the facts behind a product, service, or company. The story should come first.

–Tony Gnau