Are these guys making a killing or am I missing something?

paying a crew that worked for 12 years on 1 dvd is gonna cost you.


He didn't literally spend 12 years on production of the DVD, he meant that the initial concept was born 12 year prior. It all depends on conctract terms as to how much the actual artist would get paid. My guess is that the vast majority of name drummers with DVD releases were paid a fee to make the video and nothing else.

Its the new 'internet sensations' that are probably making the big money. Building reputation, advertising and distributing drum lessons online must be a much more lucrative model than physical VHS/DVD distribution.
 
Thomas Pridgen interview excerpt:

"I really want to do a drum video. I've just been taking my time....because....Um, yeah I'll say it. Hudson robs people. And um, and I'm not going to get robbed. You know what I'm saying? I don't want anybody. I want to collect more then 10% of my video so it's like that's the reason why I haven't came out with a video. Else I would've came out with one already. I just can't rob myself when I'm going to go out there and play like, try and play my ass off on a video I'm not going to go out there and I mean I have been watching videos since I've been young so it's cool to see someone show you paradiddles for 40 minutes but it's a different thing when you got someone who is actually going to go and play and be like real and not try and be all like instructional quote unquote videos. That's what's been taking the time is that I don't want to get robbed."

Tess
 
Thomas Pridgen interview excerpt:

"I really want to do a drum video. I've just been taking my time....because....Um, yeah I'll say it. Hudson robs people. And um, and I'm not going to get robbed. You know what I'm saying? I don't want anybody. I want to collect more then 10% of my video so it's like that's the reason why I haven't came out with a video. Else I would've came out with one already. I just can't rob myself when I'm going to go out there and play like, try and play my ass off on a video I'm not going to go out there and I mean I have been watching videos since I've been young so it's cool to see someone show you paradiddles for 40 minutes but it's a different thing when you got someone who is actually going to go and play and be like real and not try and be all like instructional quote unquote videos. That's what's been taking the time is that I don't want to get robbed."

Tess

Could someone please repeat that in English?
 
I've recorded 150 Drum Lesson Video's as part of my progressional drum course and you DO need High definition cameras.

I recorded my foot cam on a standard sony camcorder and you can see the difference is huge in term of picture quality.

Big budget films make a massive return at the cinema, usually, before their DVD release whereas drumming or more of a specialist area to make a return from.

I sell my DVD's for £9.95 but, after spending thousands on recording/editing equipment, i have to buy the DVD cases, lots of ink to print the DVD Sleeves and onto the DVDs themselves, then bubblewrap envelopes and postage worldwide - all inclusive! Sometimes with the work involved i wonder if it's worth it but at the end of the day if a drummer learns and betters themselves then thats a great result.

Just my 2 cents :)
 
Thomas Pridgen interview excerpt:

"I really want to do a drum video. I've just been taking my time....because....Um, yeah I'll say it. Hudson robs people. And um, and I'm not going to get robbed. You know what I'm saying? I don't want anybody. I want to collect more then 10% of my video so it's like that's the reason why I haven't came out with a video. Else I would've came out with one already. I just can't rob myself when I'm going to go out there and play like, try and play my ass off on a video I'm not going to go out there and I mean I have been watching videos since I've been young so it's cool to see someone show you paradiddles for 40 minutes but it's a different thing when you got someone who is actually going to go and play and be like real and not try and be all like instructional quote unquote videos. That's what's been taking the time is that I don't want to get robbed."

Tess

This is a perfect example of why you need to stay in school.Sorry ,but I can't take a guy like this seriously.

More on topic though,I would think that even in a best case senario,drummers really don't sell all that many videos.The comparison with the Transformers DVD is not exactly an apples to apples comparison but not that far from reality I think.With things like pirateing software and youtube,artist intellectual copyrights go out the window.The artist would have to sell thousands of DVDs to make any real money.

People now a days think music and video is and should be free....and actually its not.US federal law says so.Thats why ASCAP and BMI exist;to collect artist fees.Every time a video or a piece of music is played,performance fees should be paid to the artist or writer(owner) of that intellectual property.The drummers who make these DVDs for sale are getting riped of by the very audience they want to appeal to....drummers.

Steve B
 
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This is a perfect example of why you need to stay in school.Sorry ,but I can't take a guy like this seriously.
Why? Because he wants to make more than what Hudson typically pays people? Because he doesn't want take some rigid academic approach? Or was it just the language he used in that excerpt? I take him seriously because he's a badass drummer who probably has more fun drumming than anyone else I've ever seen - and it shows. Yeah, I'll pay for his video when and if he releases one.

Oh, and you missed the space after the period of your first sentence and in the second, the space comes after the comma; not before. They teach that in school, you know.
 
Am i missing a piece to this puzzle or is someone making a whole lot of money?

The piece you are missing is called marketing.

You are over simplifying things a bit. You don't spend a couple grand, burn some CD's and start filling orders. If you have some amazing revolutionary new product, you may get lucky and word of mouth will spread like wild fire. That only happens one in a million times though.

In MANY/MOST cases, the product and production costs are minimal but you somehow have to convince people to purchase it. The first part of that process is letting the masses know it exists. That can cost big money even before you even sell a single item.

Your Hollywood comparision is kind of apples to oranges, The movie studios spend do a fortune on production and promotion but thier customer base is hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of times that of a drum educational DVD. Put into proportion, I would bet that the numbers work out the same.

Why? Because he wants to make more than what Hudson typically pays people? .

Probably because (if the transcript was accurate) he sounded like an idiot. Presentation is important. A lot of people are very good at what they do but are dumb as a bag of doorknobs. Just take a look at the sporting or entertainment industries.
 
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Probably because (if the transcript was accurate) he sounded like an idiot. Presentation is important. A lot of people are very good at what they do but are dumb as a bag of doorknobs.
He may have sounded like an idiot through your filters. I totally disagree with you about assuming how smart he may or may not be based on his use of the English language. All you have to do is hear the guy play and you know his brain is firing very cleanly on all cylinders. I'm not going to be so quick to make value judgments on his intellectual abilities based on the transcribed language he used during an interview. I'll be honest here: that smacks just a little bit like racism. Get past the language and hear what he said. I don't think there was anything stupid or idiotic about it.
 
Thomas Pridgen interview excerpt: "I really want to do a drum video. I've just been taking my time....because....Um, yeah I'll say it. Hudson robs people. And um, and I'm not going to get robbed. You know what I'm saying? I don't want anybody. I want to collect more then 10% of my video so it's like that's the reason why I haven't came out with a video. Else I would've came out with one already. I just can't rob myself when I'm going to go out there and play like, try and play my ass off on a video I'm not going to go out there and I mean I have been watching videos since I've been young so it's cool to see someone show you paradiddles for 40 minutes but it's a different thing when you got someone who is actually going to go and play and be like real and not try and be all like instructional quote unquote videos. That's what's been taking the time is that I don't want to get robbed."

When reading a quote the elements of gesture, vocal production, and delivery are obviously missing so making any final judgement can prove difficult. And as bad as that transcription reads it's actually quite the opposite upon hearing it. I'm a long time fan of Thomas Pridgen but if I am going to quote someone I quote verbatim as best I can as I would expect someone to do of me. So yes, Pridgen is indeed articulate and you can see and hear for yourself below. And it also worth mentioning that his demeanor changes while discussing Hudson and this can certainly effect ones delivery. The "Hudson" excerpt starts at 6:48 sec.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPEOhiFAct4

Tess
 
I'll be honest here: that smacks just a little bit like racism.

WTF?

He's not the only one sounding like an idiot.

Tell me.

1. Is he black, white, Mexica, Asian or none of the above?

2. Am I black, white, Mexica , Asian or none of the above?


Use your head man. I have never even heard of or seen this guy in my life. How the hell can I make any determination of his race by what I read. There are uneducated successful people of all races. Like I said, look at the entertainment and sports buisness. There are rocket scientists working right next to 5th grade dropouts. You certainly don't have to be smart to be a drummer. :)



I understood what exactly he said and wasn't going to argue anyone about his views. He is certainly entitled to have them. I might debate with him (whoever he is) about them but having the discussion with anyone else seems irrelevant.



OK. I watched part of the interview. I'm sure they are both great people but both the black drummer and the white (yeah....I can tell from his cracker voice LOL) interviewer were uneducated. LOTS of like , you know,and uhh And yes, I understand that they are not professional speakers and this is a simple cheeseball interview.
 
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I would think in a limited distribution. 20,000 world wide? just a guess maybe he gets $4/DVD?
All this takes multiple revenue streams.......gigs,teaching,Clinics,DVD,sound tracks for movies,royalties etc.
Denis
 
I don't have a racist bone in my body and resent your implication.Clearly you COMPLETELY misunderstood not only my post but my intent as well.


Actually, he quoted me in that post. That's what got me all fired up lol.

I should have simply replied, "Wha choo talking bout Willis?" but I'm new here and should probably slowly warm people up to my sense of humor.
 
Why? Because he wants to make more than what Hudson typically pays people? Because he doesn't want take some rigid academic approach? Or was it just the language he used in that excerpt? I take him seriously because he's a badass drummer who probably has more fun drumming than anyone else I've ever seen - and it shows. Yeah, I'll pay for his video when and if he releases one.

Oh, and you missed the space after the period of your first sentence and in the second, the space comes after the comma; not before. They teach that in school, you know.

How do you get my statement of not taking him seriously,because he wants to make more than 10%?I even cited an additional example of how musicians are getting ripped off,because of illegal downloads of music and video.Music and video is NOT free.Corporations have their hand in musicians pockets in more ways than imagineable.If you were to comprehend what I actually wrote,you would see that I am in complete agreement with Thomas.Ten percent is not enough.

I have a hard time taking him seriously because he comes across as having a first grade education,and his powers of self expression are arrested.Presentation does count for something.

I also didn't attack his ideas or his concept format concerning his future video.Where did you get that from?

I apologize for my typographical errors, and am fully aware that langauge and grammar are taught in school .It must be wonderful for you to never make any grammatical errors,and I commend you on your achievement.You would be correct in reporting me to the grammar police.

I think Thomas is a highly skilled and talented player,and obviously he has a great time playing.At sometime in instructional videos ,good ones at least,you have to be able to express you ideas clearly and accurately,with words, not just actions.He's got the goods,but that doesn't necessarily make him a good instructor.

Steve B
 
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So what value are you putting on the investment made by Jojo and the like in acquiring their skills. Presumably you think that those should not be rewarded?

This is a very typical anti-intellectual property argument that overlooks the real cost in producing items with high 'intellectual content'. Acquiring those skills takes a huge investment and I don't begrudge Jojo or anyone else trying to recoup those sunk costs by charging us for his DVDs.

Very good points. These artists spend years and sometimes decades to develop some skills that people will pay money to see and learn. Given all the expenses of production and distribution $30 is not much at all. Plus, I'd bet that 50,000 units sold would be considered a very good number for drum instructional videos.

People have no problem dropping 10 times that much on cymbal, but their eyes bug out when considering the cost on an instructional DVD.
 
The Benny Greb dvd is one of the coolest "films" I have ever seen, not just cool as an instructional video. The production was phenomenal.

To the OP I seriously doubt people make a killing off their instructional dvds. It is a great way to reach more people than you could doing lessons or clinics but for the most part I doubt they are making tons of cash on DVDS.
 
I bet drummers like Jojo and, well alot of the bigger names make a killing off of their instructional videos. Now im no media specialist or film director but i imagine that making a drum video cost next to nothing to shoot and produce. They probably don't need a real high-tech camera, and there's probably only one location - a small 12x12 studio with lights would do. Now here's the real kicker, most instructional drum videos are at least what, 30$ at the local shop. That's almost 3 times what a hollywood film costs to buy when it comes out on DVD and hollywood films cost like 100 MILLION dollars to make more often than not...seems like you can make A LOT of cash...

Am i missing a piece to this puzzle or is someone making a whole lot of money?

The piece your missing is the average DVD doesn't sell that many copies.

Hollywood movies sell in terms of millions.
Drum DVDs sell in terms of thousands.

While Jojo hit a home run, as his DVD is very well made and popular, lots of DVDs are released every year, and many of them don't sell as well. Not to say they don't turn a profit, but no one is getting rich off solely off their instructional DVD sales.

So a DVD sells for $30.
$6 or so goes to the store.
The distributor is keeping a good chunk, more of if Hudson/whomever made the DVD, less if they just licensee the distribution.
Printing costs eats up around $4 a disc with packaging.
I don't know what the artist ends up, but I'd guess it is well under $10 a copy on a $30 sale.

And even a self-made low budget video taking advantage of new technology still runs $20,000 between studio time, lighting,sound, and editing.

If the artist is playing along to music (and most do) then they have to play for the licensing and publishing fees of the music. Some videos have a band, so again, that costs.

It's a risky proposition. Sure, Jojo has a best seller, but he's an exception. Not every DVD sells that well.

For most of these artists, a DVD is just one piece of a puzzle of making a living as a drummer. It doesn't replace income from sessions/touring or whatever else, as much as it supplements.
 
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