You Will Have To Try REALLY Hard Not To Make $300-$1000 Every Month With This One...(especially this time of year)
.
>
.
.
October 7, 2018
.
Hello!
.
Try this experiment.
.
Ask this question of the next woman you meet...
.
"Hey (NAME HERE), do you wish you had a recording of your mother or grandmother telling their life story so that you, your kids and grandkids could hear it?"
.
You'll ask that question a lot before you ever hear a NO. You'll frequently hear AWWW...followed by something like "that would be awesome...I'd love that, etc."
.
You can ask that same question of men but generally they won't be as enthusiastic as women, at least not publicly! 🙂
.
You may recall, a few years ago we found four journals kept by my paternal grandfather from 1919-1922.
;
.
So now we have a detailed account of my grandfather's life growing up in Saratoga Springs, NY from ages 21-25....1919-1922.
. Almost every entry included the time he "arose", "retired" and the weather of the day.
.
As proof that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree he completed (started?) his Christmas shopping on December 24, 1920 and reported what, for whom and how much... . "Completed Christmas shopping this afternoon. Got presents for the whole family as follows" . Mother pair of slippers 2.75 Father " " gloves 3.00 Margaret Stocking and nuts 3.00 Agnes pair of silk stockings 2.50 Jim 6 pair of socks 2.00 Frank Union suit and tie 3.00 Leo a bicycle 7.00 $23.25
.
Here's what that page looks like...
.
Obviously, something like this brings up a LOT of questions we'll never get an answer to but it also gave me an idea for a service I could offer locally.
.
I've written about this before and have decided to pursue it in my area with the help of a niece or two who can always use some extra money.
.
We are providing a family story recording service and Christmas is going to be a busy time for this service.
.
Helping individuals and families preserve their stories for future generations on audio and video.
.
Here's a sample of what I'm talking about...
.
. Now, there is some technology involved here.
.
At the moment, we are using our smartphones to do both the audio and video recordings.
.
If you don't have a smart phone and/or you're not comfortable with technology and don't have a partner that could help you with it, (a 15 year old!) you should pass on this for now or find a partner!
.
I call this program "Family History Profits".
.
Here are some sample videos done by other companies...
Now, these video samples have some extra production value we won't be providing...at least when you are just starting out.
.
They are using titles, music and pictures interspersed throughout the video.
.
The company who did that second video charges as much as $20,000 to do one of these videos but it will take us some time to get there...if you even want to. There is plenty of business to be found in the sub $1000 niche.
.
I have my subjects bring pictures which they can show and explain live.
.
.
Diane from Canada asked about the interviews I do and if I'm a part of them. I haven't gotten permission to show any of the videos I've done but I have taken 90 seconds of the audio of one and pulled it out so you can hear me asking the questions.
.
I don't have a microphone on myself and I'm not visible in the videos because I want to have as little focus on me as possible. In 50 years his great great grandchildren won't care about me!
.
Click the triangle to listen to the audio excerpt of the video.
.
.
.
The CBS Sunday Morning program ran this segment this year...
My niece and I kicked off this service looking for WWII veterans to interview like that young man...and we'll do it for free.
.
This gave us a chance to get some low-stress experience and help the families of our veterans remember their service long after they're gone.
.
HOW MUCH CAN I EARN?
.
The million dollar question!
.
The answer is, I don't know.
.
Just starting out, we charged $100 for a 1-2 hour interview.
.
These folks charge $400 for 50 minutes...
.
.
We're starting on the low end because we're new and need some testimonials.
.
We won't stay at $100 for long.
.
This is a STRONG word of mouth business.
.
.
.
People will hear what you're doing and want to schedule an interview for themselves or one of their relatives.
.
Christmas and the other December holidays will bring customers easily if you get the word out.
.
The only people who won't be talking about you to their friends and relatives are those who are keeping it as a surprise.
.
This has REAL viral potential so you definitely want to be first in your area to get known for doing this.
.
Even if you only did 1 per week...on Saturdays or one evening a week at $100 each, you're looking at $400 extra dollars per month.
.
.What would that $400 pay for?
.
Electric bill?
.
Cell phone?
.
Car payment?
.
FAQs
Can't people just do this themselves? Sure. Lots of people have a smartphone and could take it out and start interviewing grandma. And they'll do that...someday. And as we know sometimes, someday never comes. .
.Also, like it or not, at one point in her life grandma was single and ready to mingle. She may not be comfortable talking about those adventures with her kids or grandkids in the audience. 🙂
.
The tech part scares me.How techy do you have to be to do this?
.
First off, don't get into this if you don't already have a newer smartphone or have a partner who has one.
.
I was the video guy for the football team back in high school so I'm comfortable with audio and video. There will be a learning curve for you but you can practice on friends, relatives and yourself and get up to speed very quickly.
.
Video has a few more bells and whistles so you may want to do only audio when you're new.
.
You'll have to get the audio and video off your phone and onto CDs and DVDs. We attach our phones to the computer using the cable that came with the phone, then we put the files on the thumb drive...less than $10 at Amazon or any office supply store...and then bring the files on the thumb drive to Kinko's where we get them put onto CDs and DVDs.
.
You likely know someone who could make them for you using their home computer, if you asked nicely.
'
How will I get customers?
.
You're going to need some guinea pigs.
.
If you're on Facebook...do something like this...
.
Depending on how big you want to grow this, that may be all you need.
.
Be active on Facebook, talking about how you did one for this friend and that friend...have the friends talk about how fun it was...how their kids or grand kids loved it, etc. and word will spread.
.
If you want to get more business outside referrals from friends and relatives, then contacting senior citizen related groups will be the logical place to start.
.
Late last night I emailed two local senior citizen residences and a local elder care attorney who hosts a radio show.
.
This afternoon I got my first response...
.
.
The response isn't very clear on my computer screen, so here it is...
.
Hello Mr. Quinn.
We do have WW II Veterans here. I would like to hear more about the service you provide. Would you be willing to meet with me so we could discuss the process involved?
Thank you,
Antoinette
.
Obviously, they're wary about people getting access to their residents and that's very understandable.
.
I'll have some flyers ready to leave with her when we meet, which explains how things work. If I don't get someone from there pretty quickly, I'll keep her informed about others we've done...perhaps sending a short clip if I get permission from an interviewee. Gentle follow-up.
.
As a member you'll have access to all the marketing I do to get clients....and most of it will be via email and social media.
.
How do I come up with questions to ask during the interview?
.
Google... "questions to ask in a family history interview"
.
You'll find hundreds of ideas.
.
Also, ask the family for any questions they'd like asked. There may be some family lore they'd like explored.
.
In the mid 1960s my father crashed a plane. He has NEVER talked about it. I think I first heard about it from my grandmother.
.
That is the type of question you might get from a family member..."ask him about the plane crash".
.
What other costs are involved?
.
We spent $20 at the start to get a external mic for our smartphones. We'll send members a link to the one we use.
.
I made a quick video showing the difference in audio quality with an external microphone and without. I didn't shave today, so please enjoy a video of my Christmas Cactus!
.
.
That video was taken with an iPhone and the audio isn't all that bad without an external mic, but long-term the sound is much more pleasant with a microphone....it doesn't sound like you're in a tunnel!
.
All other expenses will come AFTER you've been paid by customers.
.
100 blank CDs and DVDs are around $20 at Amazon. If you or a friend can't make the discs at home, Kinko's offers the service for $10-$15.
.
You'll need to print up some labels...$20
.
If you're going to do video, you'll need a tripod to hold your camera/smartphone....$20.
P.S. If you're on the fence about this, ask a friend that question from the beginning..."Hey (NAME HERE), do you wish you had a recording of your mother or grandmother telling their life story so that you, your kids and grandkids could hear it?"
.
Substitute any loved one there...father/grandfather etc.
.
I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at their reaction.