This post isn't really about playing guitar - it's about VIDEO PRODUCTION. But more & more when talking budgets with people & potential clients, I find myself using this one when they're telling me about somebody they know who has this camera or that, and how cheap they work: "That's like saying just because someone can afford to OWN a guitar means they're good at playing." (kinda like these "marketing directors" with their college degrees, making $weet money, and who are also years behind). Same thing with video equipment & producing decent content.
Don't get me wrong: I'm thrilled with how affordable these digital cameras have gotten recently, especially the Canon DLSRs (5D, 7D, 60D). These cameras have an excellent, film-like quality with their HD video AND they take terrific high-res still pictures. AND they do really well in low light and indoor light (saves a lot of time in pre-lighting scenes). So.. DSLR camera, a basic lighting package, a decent mic or two, some kind of external digital recorder, 1 - 2 decent lenses, plus decent tripod... and there's no reason not to walk away with a totally professional look & audio.
The downside is this: BECAUSE this equipment has become so affordable, more & more people are buying the gear and then marketing themselves as "production companies," "film makers" and "producers" and "editors."
I could go on & on about this, but hopefully it's enough to say this: If someone happens to OWN a nice guitar, why would anyone automatically assume they know how to play worth a damn? I hope to think: not many would. So why in the hell would anyone assume that, just because someone owns some nice video gear, they would know automatically about producing decent video content? Unfortunately, I already know the answer to that one: A LOT of people.
