iPad for Event Video?
I definitely consider myself somewhat of a tech geek, and when the iPad was released, I couldn't have been more enthralled with listening to the hundreds of reviews and reports popping up on every device I own. Somehow I managed to wait a full 3 months before actually purchasing one (most likely because of all the friendly reminders my fiancé Lianne was dropping about our upcoming wedding).
Well, the day has finally come. I don't mean for this to be a review either - there are plenty out there. But I thought I would write about some of the ways that event video companies might be able to use this new toy for good.
The most obvious use of the iPad is to hold some sample videos of your work, or sample files that normally live on your desktop, and just don't display well on a smart phone or iPod. More than anything, I think the iPad is a great tool for passing content between prospective clients, employees or freelancers. Where else could you so easily show someone a sample contract, event map, site photos, website, or a quick slideshow of your company's offering?
The next potential use for the iPad in event video production is payment processing. Taking a mobile sale from a customer after selling a DVD or delivering your final edit for a big project is not only convenient, it's dead sexy. And let's face it, with so many competing video companies out there, it's important to a remind customers that you are technologically awesome. Most of the work that goes into making great videos happens behind the scenes, but it's the face to face interaction and demos that get you work and build your reputation. Making great videos is not a differentiator, it's an expectation.
You may have heard of apps like Square Mobile, and there are bound to be more ways to "iPay" soon. Traditional wireless credit card processing devices can cost double what an iPad or netbook might, so I think its about time we start looking at alternatives.
Next, it seems that the iPad makes a great input device for data entry. At EVC, we go through thousands of paper orders each year, and we're excited about the iPad's potential to eliminate some of this waste, and keep data organized electronically. I'm looking forward to this convergence of our on-site and online ordering processes, which we hope to share with videographers around the country (stay tuned!).
Last, this thing is just plain fun to use. After all, it is a toy. But it's catching our attention at EVC, and it might just fit into your business too!