#MediaMonday: The Classroom Wish List
Good morning everyone,
I've been receiving a lot of emails lately from affiliates who are asked for help putting together a wish list for next year. As much as I'd like to pretend that buying gear and shopping for new equipment wasn't fun, the truth of the matter is...it is super fun and cool.
If you teach media long enough, you will eventually be tasked with "putting together a wishlist". For some, this experience is more akin to launching a sugar-charged child into a toy store with a fistful of cash. For others, this experience induces more stress and panic than slack-lining the Grand Canyon during a thunderstorm.
While buying equipment is essential to teaching media, it shouldn't be a painful process and I have picked up a few tips along the way to potentially help in choosing the right gear for your program.
So, today's topic is: How do I pick gear for my program?
STEP 1: you need to figure out what your program is.
Are you a broadcast program? Film program? Podcast Program? Take a good hard look at what you do, day in and day out, and cater to those activities. You do not need a GoPro or a drone if you are a studio broadcast daily show.
STEP 2: Assess the skill level of your program.
I love cinema cameras. However, some programs are not ready for shutter angles, RGB parade scopes and color grading. Be honest with where your students (and your skills) are and buy gear that fits that skillset (but just an inch above their heads; see previous email for that one). If your kids have worked with good camcorders, maybe it's time to upgrade to a modular camera system. However, buy an introductory model of DSLR or mirrorless camera; ease your program into those skills. The biggest mistake that you can make is to choose a camera that confuses everyone. Trust me when I say, intimidating good gear gets the least amount of use.
STEP 3: Choose the quality to quantity ratio.
Here is the question: is is better to have 2 really good cameras or is it better to have 6 pretty good cameras? You see, unless you have a limitless budget, you will have to balance the wants of the teacher with the needs of the many. If you want my opinion on this matter, I think that it is always more important to reach a larger group with good gear than a small group with great (and maybe too complicated) gear. This is the step that I struggle with the most, but it also help me to maintain a clear head when I'm finalizing a list.
STEP 4: Pick stuff that will last.
When you are buying media gear, think about the items that rally should now outdate. These items are tripods, light stands, microphones, bags, and lenses. When you can, splurge on those types of items. For one, they will last. Two, the next time you have to buy gear, you will not have to spend the money replacing those items and you can put more toward upgrading cameras. And yes, let me be the one to say it, a 500 Series Manfrotto Tripod is worth $500. Trust me.
STEP 5: Reach out to other media teachers.
STN has an amazing network of media teachers who have been in the game for a long time. Reaching out on the listserv or to the staff at STN can be a helpful way to avoid potential issues with gear purchases. We are all in the same boat and it is nice to benefit from the life-lessons of others.
STEP 6: Check out suggestion Lists.
STN, along with many other sites, have pre-existing lists of gear suggestions. If you are totally stuck and have no idea where to start, check one of these out. They may be the help you need to start generating some ideas. Check out our lists on: https://www.amazon.com/shop/stnnow
Good luck putting your lists together and have a great rest of your year.
Talk to you soon,
Josh Cantrell