Sure, you COULD pay $500+ for a course that teaches you how to produce an infomercial. You would get hundreds of tutorials on how to use Vegas, how to use Ultra, how to light video, etc, etc.

But, would you really be an infomercial producer? The answer is Yes and No.

Yes - anyone these days who shoots a video promoting anything can be called an “Infomercial Producer”. Got camera? You are a producer!

No - if I walk into the New York City Library and sit in the Finance section will I become an accountant? Perhaps, but only after spending hundreds of hours pouring over the texts. Math not being one of my strong suites, I’d probably need help from astute passers by.

I remember a newspaper cartoon long ago time ago that showed a salesman next to a sign that said, “Learn the Tuba- $5.00″. A customer gives the salesman $5 and the salesman pulls out a tuba and says with authority, “This, is the Tuba!” . The customer says “Gee, that was easy, I think I’ll learn the trombone next”.

I hope you get my point. Anyone can post a video up on YouTube. Matter of fact, you can even get the designation of ‘Director’ or ‘Guru’. The terms have little to do with their original meanings.

Is a dentist a dentist if he never practices his craft? Would you fly with a ‘pilot’ who has only one solo flight?

Start producing, start posting videos, start testing, repeat. That will make you an infomercial producer in no time. Would a infomercial course be helpful? Sure, but why not figure out what the questions are first? Why not test your hand to see if you even LIKE editing first.

I know a lot of people who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on their education only to get finished and realize that they don’t enjoy their field of work.

My point here is this - don’t drop a huge amount of money and time on a course until you know what you don’t know. Start working on your video, start scripting, lighting, shooting and editing.

See, by thinking this way you ALREADY have questions. “What kind of camera is best”, “How should I script this” etc.

I have a rule of thumb that serves me well - work with what you have, upgrade as needed.

My first professional shooting gig was a wedding. I was already an editor but had no gear. I purchased a VHS camcorder in NYC a few days before the event. I shot it, edited it, done - I was barely an “event videographer” hardly a cinematographer!

That taught me a ton of things.
1) it’s harder than it looks
2) I need to think about microphones
3) I need to figure out best positions for my camera
4) weddings are important events!

Fortunately the ‘client’ was happy. But I was now armed with a list of things I needed to learn before my next event. Off to the book store! (back then, that was about the only place to find info).

So start today. Pick up your camera, grab your spouse, child or friend and film your infomercial! It really is that easy AND that difficult.