March Get Together
The Original Casablanca Users Group Web Site
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Jim Meeker ... aka "The Old Timer" Presents... March Get Together The Original Casablanca Users Group Web Site |
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| Hello Cassie Users I am trying to find a way to have folks who haven't been to the Get Together to know a little bit more about it. I'm asking you folks to write a short paragraph or two about what you think of the March Get Together and any interesting comments that you might have. The whole idea is to let folks get a better picture of what we do and how much fun it is. So write a few lines and tell 'em what you think and I'll post it here below....with your permission only. Write to me at: jimmeekersr@myway.com See you next March, Jim Meeker The Old Timer Scroll down to read some of those comments |
| Why Join Us Comments Below we have a list started from our friends who have attended the March Get Togethers with their comments on why they attend. Scroll down or click on a Name and read their comments on Why you should Join Us at our next March Get Together (NOTE: Use the  to return to this list) |
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| Arthur Vlahon Jim, I came to your March Get Together last year, (2007) learned a great deal and enjoyed myself very much. Looking forward to this year's Get Together. Arthur Vlahon |
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| Mike Gunderson
I've been a presenter at every March Get-Together, and I can say that this year, I hope to be a part of it again! I've said this a thousand times and I'll say it again... I hear from a lot of videographers that they are too busy or can't afford to go to the March Get-Together, or WEVA, or the 4Ever Group. If you can't afford the money or the time to go to at least one of these events, THEN YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS IT! If you attend one of these events and learn, take home and implement a couple things into your business, then you can raise the level of your service, which in turn lets you charge more for your services! Even if your total expenses to go to the March Get-Together reach $700-$800, you can make that money back ON ONE JOB! (If you don't think you can make $700 - $800 profit from one job, call me, we need to talk!) Let's do the math like a TV commercial: Talking to colleagues who use the same edit system as you, and attending a seminar where you can learn new techniques you can implement into your business: PRICELESS The last three years, I've taken off about TEN DAYS of my schedule for the March gathering. It takes me about 4-5 days of my time to prepare my presentations and 5 days off that I take to attend. Do I get paid for taking ten days off? NO! But what I do get is the time to spend with other people who are in the same business as me and I can learn form talking to them and sitting in on their presentations. I also take great pride in the fact that I might be making a difference in another videographer's business with the programs that I present. I'm not afraid to share anything and everything with any other videographer--even those in my market that refer to me and think of me as their "competition". If we can each raise the level of each others work by sharing tips, techniques and business philosophy then WE RAISE THE BAR ON THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY, and we all benefit! That's what the March Get-Together is all about! Mike Gunderson MRG Video, Inc. Rock City, IL www.MRGVideo.com (815) 865-5310 |
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| Carol Lee Shirk Every Get Together has been great. Carol Lee Shirk Landisville, PA |
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| Tim Kennelly I plan to attend MGT 08 because I attended MGT 05, 06 and 07 and Jim just Keeps making them better. I am really looking forward to the new venue location. That you can learn a lot at one of Jim's shindigs could go without saying, But I am going to say it anyway. You can learn a lot by attending MGT 08. Almost as importantly, you get to do it with a great group of friendly, Knowledgeable people who are into the same things you are in a relaxed Atmosphere! Heck, you might even go home with free software or free hardware and you Are guaranteed there will be special savings available to attendees. Getting to talk to CEO Jörg Sprave face to face is it's own treat and Chet Davis is another experience worth taking in. Also, unlike some expos, the speakers at ours are always more than willing to chat with any and all who attend. Break out of your same ole, same ole, enjoy your chosen profession or hobby, Learn new things, make new friends, by taking the time to attend MGT 08. See you there, stop me and say hi and we'll find some time to chat in person It will be fun. Tim Kennelly Clio, MI |
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| Dale Bishop Where do I begin The reason I am contacting you is I want you to know how much the March Get-Togethers have helped me in my videos. In this particular video I literally cut it down in two hours of editing on June 1, the deadline to mail them in. I barely got to the post office before they locked their doors for the day but I made it and sent the video in. I honestly thought I could have done so much better but I ran out of time working on other projects. Back to your influence. Last year remember I contacted you and told you how I made $700 for filming for one day a deposition in the Lincoln Correctional Center for a law firm out of Chicago. I only knew what to do because of what I learned at from Craig Newman's seminar two years ago in March. Craig and I have become great friends over it and talk every couple of months on the phone and he was the first one to call me when he saw my name in the Cassie monthly email in September for the finalists of the futurevision contest. One of the things that profoundly impacted me was the HOPE TORCH by Birdie when I saw it for the first time in Moline. And I will never forget Birdie saying many times you are proudest of the projects you do for nothing. That is exactly what happened on this futurevision entry of mine. I was contacted by a close family member of the mother wanting to know if I could film the outdoor service for her son Ryan Buckley. My wife and I had a wedding that Saturday of the funeral but since this started at 11:00 a.m. and the wedding didn't start till 3 half an hour away I said I would do it. They wanted to know how much and I said I would be happy to do it for nothing. Lt. Governor Pat Quinn is the speaker on the video. I have wonderful sound on my videos because the first year in Moline I learned how to use a mini-disc recorder in Michael Gunderson's audio seminar. It is invaluable to me. By the way I emailed Pat Quinn's office and told them to check out the video on the furturevision link I gave them and he was very touched. A date yet to be set in December he wants me to come to Chicago and give me a "Hometown Hero" award from his office. I had to ask what that was and he said it is an award his office gives for people who volunteer to help out and support our military. I have to contact them now and tell them I won the event category in the competition. They knew I was one of three finalist. One of the things I am proudest of about this video is my son helped me film it. It was only the second or third time I had ever asked him to help because I if I need help I use the network of friends that come to Moline from here. Ryan Buckley's funeral video is good because of Ryan Bishop's ability to stand on top of our Little Giant tripod style ladder in the street 12 feet in air. He had to lean over the top of the ladder and film with the screen flipped out on the camera which is hard to see in daylight. But he framed everything beautifully. I couldn't have done a better job. They literally marched to base of the ladder and turned 90 degrees into the new war memorial that was about 2 or 3 years old in Hillsboro, IL. If you haven't seen it please go and watch the video. Here is the link: Fallen Hero http://www.macrosystem.com/futurevision/event1.wmv Somehow I think some people who show up at Moline voted for me and words cannot describe the feeling I have about that. I never want to miss a March Get-Together and hope that never happens because as my Dad always says, "You will not know where you are going if you don't know where you came from". Keep up the good work in Moline. Oh by the way my son 'Ryan is at Illinois College in Jacksonville and he runs cross country and track for them. The first meet this year was in St. Louis. At the finish line I was filming and I looked at this guy about 15 feet away who was staring a hole in me. I walked up to him and said do I know you? He said I was watching you walk and talk (to my mother) and he knew we knew each other. After a couple of minutes of figuring it out it dawned on him we knew me from Moline. He has been to each one too. His daughter runs cross country for Hannibal, MO and I am sorry his name escapes me but we look forward to seeing each next March. For next year I will have a killer wedding video montage to enter into the futurevision. In this one the bride is the lead singer of a very good band in Decatur, IL and she only sang about 10 songs at the reception in her dress. Wow when I take that back and forth her singing and walking down the aisle etc etc it will be hard to beat because it will be very unique music video. Another video was saved for me because of the vertical editing seminar I learned about last March. In this case Jim Macacci and I were filming the National Guard Charlie Co. return from Iraq. A big celebration. Only thing is Jim's camera had smudge on it from a dog's nose. Vertical editing worked fantastic and I covered most of the shots that were bad. So again I say to you Jim, thanks for everything you do and keep up the good work Dale Bishop
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| Joe Connell If you have NEVER been to one of Jim Meekers March Get Togethers, you have missed out on one of the best Casablanca Events of the year. I have been doing video since 1985 and have been to just about every video convention. (Thanks to my mentor and good friend Dave White !) But Jim has it down to a science, you never have to worry about the daily program schedule... it is right on the back of your name badge. He even makes sure you get the correct lunch that you selected when you registered months ago, it's on the front. WHY SHOULD YOU BE THERE, well all I can say is, if you are using a Casablanca NLE system of any kind, this 3 day get together will have you doing stuff you never thought possible. I would suggest you bring Tylinol or Asprin because your brain will get a major over load. If you read the Cassie-Tips and Casablanca Forum, you will get to meet the great Casablanca Family that has been there to help us all when we have trouble. (Put a Face to a Name) Everyone there will make you feel like you are at you own family reunion... this is the best bunch of people on the planet. I will be there in March and hope to see all of my friends in my Casablanca family  Joe Connell ccuvideo@comcast.net Connell Creations Unlimited Shelby Twp., MI and MGT WebSite Tech Support |
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