So, I have a new video out today, "Olaf", which I have posted pictures of. I don't want to spend too spend too much time trying to self promote, so if you are interested in buying the video, it's now available over at www.balloon-animals.com/catalog.

What I really want to talk about is the format of this new video, and how I think the digital download format is changing the way instructional video may be offered in the future.

I have been offering my content solely as digital download for over a year now. In the past, when making a full length video or DVD, a lot of thought went into what sculptures would fit in the time limit of the chosen medium. This was good in that video producers worked hard to pack each precious minute with important content. But I always find that I have loads of useful things to say about any one particular sculpture, and I have the hard task of cutting out all but the most essential bits.

So, an average instructional video or DVD would have about 10-12 designs and run approx 120 minutes (about 10 minutes per design). When I finally got around to doing the rough cut of this Olaf video I had about a 25 minute video. I intended to cut it down significantly from there to fit into my preconceived mold of how long an instructional video should be.

But then I had a thought. Why? Why cut it down? I'm not trying to fit within a time constraint. So why not let the video be 25 minutes long? It's all good useful information, so instead of struggling to decide what to cut out and what to keep, why not keep it all?

Then I got another thought. I know what it's like when I watch a video. I love to learn all the extra hints and see each step in slow detail, but I also like to get to the end of a sculpture. And I know that if I were to watch this 25 minute instructional video for one sculpture, I would be clawing at my eyes by minute 15. I needed to consider the more advanced twister who can pick up the design just by watching the sculpture being built without interruption.

In the past, with DVD or VHS, the compromise would be to make the video more middle of the road, not to fast, not too slow. It's not perfect, but it was a valid solution.  

If I'm not worried about time, not only can I have my 25 minute instructional video, but I can also offer a whole second video of the sculpture being built without interruption!  That way the more advanced twisters can watch learn the sculpture quickly, and go back to the more detailed step by step instructions for more hints. This second vidoe came out to a more manageable 8.5 minutes (working at a moderately slow pace).

And then I had another thought! Whenever I finish a video, and edit it, and every thing is done...I think of other things I want to include. Usually, it would be too late. But with digital video uploaded directly to the consumer, I can add more anytime I like. At the last minute, days after filming, I remembered a few things I wanted to add. So I got back in the same (almost) shirt and tie as the first day and shot about 5 more minutes worth of tips for this design.

In the end, it all totaled up to 40 minutes of video broken down into 3 separate chapters. I would never have devoted that much time to one design in the past. But now, the one size fits all model of DVD creation and distribution isn't holding me back. I can offer way more than ever before, and for way less money. And I think that's kind of cool!

This is where you, the video consumer comes in. You are now in a unique position start dictating how you want your balloon education to work for you. Content providers, like any other business person, need to pay attention to demand, and what services people like or dislike.

Since this way of offering videos is still in it's infancy, I would love to hear feedback from you all about your experience buying and using online video tutorials. Are there additional features that you think a digital download should include or things that could be improved?

I also want to note that I am intentionally not posting this to facebook, this is just for forum folks! Graham reminded me recently that the forums are a valuable place. With the recent sad news of Tmyers going under, I'd hate to see these forums go the same way. Facebook is great for somethings, but it can never be a community the way a forum is.

David, thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts on the new downloadable format. I think eventually you will need to post onto facebook as not enough people come to look and view the forums now. Not just balloon chat but balloon-animals, balloonHQ and mbd2.
So to get the sales etc I think we all need facebook, even I had a balloon artistes guild page set up as you do need to make contact with the mass's and at the moment facebook is the way to go. It could change, if we could tempt people back, a few post then a few more look and post and gradually they come back. Facebook is very difficult to search if at all, the forums have that great search facility. But people don't like to search, how many times do you see a post on facebook with I need some info on this and that, I think to myself well you are on the internet why not try googling it. It makes me laugh, some people expect others to supply them with the link and do all the work, some need it on a plate and many need it feeding to them with a knife and fork. We are at an age where it's all now, now now. Hence possibly the downloads, it's all instant. Mind you for sales that is sometimes good, two clicks and it's bought, if someone has to sign into a website and go through name, address etc they might have a change of mind and think do I really need this.
Anyway enough of my ramblings, if anyone is old school and likes a good old fashioned DVD I do have David's volume 1 and volume 2 available and at a reduced price,
have to try and shift them somehow    http://www.balloonartwholesale.co.uk/catal ... -14-3.html

Do you remember in the good old days when we had to go searching for anything balloon related, I remember the magic conventions, there were so few books and tapes, yes the VHS tape,
I still have all mine, I even bought a tape to DVD recorder to put them all onto but I have not got around to doing this yet. I even have a tape of a Don Caldwell with hair, now what ever happened to him? Now everything is accessible with a couple of clicks and a mouse.

Hi David

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and offering balloonchat a world exclusive!

If I get a chance I will do a review tonight which hopefully will encourage people to visit this forum...

But Graham is right, you need to use Facebook to promote and encourage sales.

Ah, I should have been more clear. I do intend to prompt the video on Facebook. What I meant was that I wasn't going to post this particular discussion on Facebook. The thing I really like the forums for is that I can talk to you folks like fellow artists without having to think too much about my clients. People that hire me for parties don't care much about the behind the scenes details of an instructional video, but I know other artists would find that useful.




-David Brenion
www.niftyballoons.com

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I really love the downloadable tutorials!  Not only because I can have it NOW without waiting for the DVD to get here, but the digital versions are so much easier to index and reference later.  Now, if I buy a DVD, the first thing I do is to convert it to an mp4 file and divide it into  separate files for each sculpture.  That way, if I want something specific, like a "mermaid" or "monkey", I can just search the "balloon patterns" directory on my PC for something with that in the title and go right to it.  

I just downloaded Olaf -- I'm anxious to try him out!

Hi David,
I have a few of your downloads. They are great. This is the preferred format for me though I can see why a physical product still gets some peoples vote, perhaps fearing the digital version will get lost, corrupt, etc. I also like downloadable PDFs as I feel I can work with the combination of pictures and text at a better pace. Obviously it is easy to skip backwards on the video and it is great to watch a tough section over and over again.
Going to look at the Olaf download now.
Thanks very much for taking the time to share your expertise with the masses. Keep it digital  

I've just made it - time to write my review :-)

I love the tips section, its a great idea to show the full model and then bits you can take away to make it simpler/quicker.

I also really like the bloopers!

Its great value for $10 and you definately get a lot for your money.

Congratulations David & Shana, another Nifty design!  

Brilliant looks awesome and excellent teaching 10 out of 10 from me : )

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

I just finished checking out your site from a link you posted at the magic cafe. I think it's brilliant. Not only the reasons you mentioned but it's also more cost effective for beginners such as myself. I myself just can't afford to pick up some of these 40 dollar dvds even though I would love to have them. I also love the idea that you can always add more to the product as a little bonus to build customer loyalty and support. In today's world you need to be above and beyond the competition. The magician Justin Miller did something similar a while back where he sold a digital product and would have updates and additions added to it when something occured to him that would enhance the original project. Best of luck! I'll be checking for things I can buy and use. (Just spent my money this month on a couple of books regarding the business side of balloons)
Side bar- Graham, wouldn't be a  bad idea for you to release some of your hats and figures as individual downloads. Hint Hint

We are seeing a shift from DVD to digital in general, I think.  I agree with what everyone said above, but here's the biggest thing for me.  I have kids and when they were younger, all it took was one little scratch and the DVD was ruined.  With the downloadable content, that doesn't happen.  If my computer crashes, I can simply download it again.  It's simpler and I know it's always going to be available.

I love your videos and have almost all digital downloads. They are informative and so easy to understand. Even as an advanced twister I'd still get the longer version justvhear the advice you'd give.

Although I downloaded the tutorial about a week and a half ago, I had to wait until I could get some white 321's to actually try him.  I finally got them!  I love the tutorial -- so many helpful hints included!  Here's how my Olaf turned out.  (I added the drawn-in mouth because I thought it made it easier to see his tooth).