A couple days ago, I got an email from a 17 year old FPV pilot/filmmaker named Yuli:
"I’ve recently landed my first “big” FPV job with a large bowling company in the UK.
However, I’m wondering how to deal with the stress of the job and clients watching over me.
Do you have any advice for staying calm and keeping the sticks steady in the heat of the shoot ?"
This is what I wrote him back:
"Hi Yuli,
A couple things I would suggest if you can do them before the shoot to make sure you're as dialed in as possible for your job:
1.) Communicate with your Client as Closely as possible.
The more time you have to sync with your client and the more questions you ask to clarify their expectations, the better it will be for the both of you.
Ask your client what their business goals & problems are (I go over that more in this video) and then craft a video plan that considers those factors. Through presenting this, they will already trust you more with your abilities, and you can feel more at ease.
Having follow-up calls to hammer out the details of the shot (venue layout, actors, workers needed) will help you both too. The more face-time you spend to sync with them, the more at ease you both will feel together on shoot day.
2.) Get the best Mental Picture you can of the Venue.
Look at pictures, videos, go to the site and walk around if possible-- knowing the height of the ceiling, size of gaps-- curing the space into your brain will alleviate lots of stress before you even bring your drone up. Even getting a test flight in (I know that's not always possible, but doesn't hurt to ask) will really warm you up.
Before I got to go to the venue for one of my shoots, I used a picture my client took to draw out a preliminary flight path.
I could also share and talk through this with the client, so they could better visualize what we were trying to get.
3.) Run the Movements ahead of time
Once you know the space and what is possible, even if you can't test fly in the venue itself, you'll be able to go to a park or wherever you feel comfortable and simulate the space in your head as you fly.
Go to a place you feel comfortable flying, like a park. Use trees, tables, whatever obstacles you can find, and imagine like you're flying through the alley, down the lanes, through doors. Getting familiar with the stick movements I may be doing on shoot day has always helped me tons.
By spending time syncing yourself with the client, the space, and your drone, I guarantee you will feel worlds better and more prepared going into your shoot.
Try these 3 steps and let me know how it helps. Best of luck on your shoot! You got this."
Hopefully these steps can serve you as well!
FPV PRO CAMP New Years Sale ends tomorrow 🎉
If getting paid for flying FPV, and getting awesome production work is something you wish to do this new year, I want to invite you to the FPV Pro Camp.
FPV is still such a new craft, and if you know how to fly even at a basic level, the amount of opportunity in front of you is enormous, and only growing. This camp will provide you, and a small group of aspiring FPV pilots the knowledge and tools to make good money flying FPV Drones, and open up your brand to a world of opportunities.
Sale ends Monday Jan 8th, 11:59pm PST.
Thanks for reading friend, Kai