First viewing of Competition Ready

[Billy Baldone]

I'm in agreement with most of you. It's cheesy at the beginning with the call and the meeting. We look at this different than most non OCD car people would. I can't go to a cruise night or cars and coffe without finding every single swirl or flaw in every car there. Neither can anyone else on thi forum, it's how we're wired. So let's look at the purpose of the show. But first, we are not the target audience, we already buy from AG regularly. The show is a half hour infomercial for AG. And there is nothing wrong with that. If a normal car guy watches the show, sees the before and afters, and then says, " I want my car to look like that". They come to the website, check out the forum, maybe sign up and ask some questions, but they come here none the less. A phone call and questions to Nick, or whom ever, and boom $500 first order. Pretty much how we all started here, but we didn't get to see a fancy TV show, with a very handsome Mike Phillips #MikePhillipsmancrush.

[RTexasF]

I'm in agreement with most of you. It's cheesy at the beginning with the call and the meeting. We look at this different than most non OCD car people would. I can't go to a cruise night or cars and coffe without finding every single swirl or flaw in every car there. Neither can anyone else on thi forum, it's how we're wired. So let's look at the purpose of the show. But first, we are not the target audience, we already buy from AG regularly. The show is a half hour infomercial for AG. And there is nothing wrong with that. If a normal car guy watches the show, sees the before and afters, and then says, " I want my car to look like that". They come to the website, check out the forum, maybe sign up and ask some questions, but they come here none the less. A phone call and questions to Nick, or whom ever, and boom $500 first order. Pretty much how we all started here, but we didn't get to see a fancy TV show, with a very handsome Mike Phillips #MikePhillipsmancrush.


Very good point and one I had not considered.

[david79z28]

I'm in agreement with most of you. It's cheesy at the beginning with the call and the meeting. We look at this different than most non OCD car people would. I can't go to a cruise night or cars and coffe without finding every single swirl or flaw in every car there. Neither can anyone else on thi forum, it's how we're wired. So let's look at the purpose of the show. But first, we are not the target audience, we already buy from AG regularly. The show is a half hour infomercial for AG. And there is nothing wrong with that. If a normal car guy watches the show, sees the before and afters, and then says, " I want my car to look like that". They come to the website, check out the forum, maybe sign up and ask some questions, but they come here none the less. A phone call and questions to Nick, or whom ever, and boom $500 first order. Pretty much how we all started here, but we didn't get to see a fancy TV show, with a very handsome Mike Phillips #MikePhillipsmancrush.


True.. I am not a pro and I've learned something from each episode. I find myself pausing the show to see what products are being used, etc. I've also aquired a huge wish list.

[RTexasF]

Certainly this thread has been noticed but I see no response from anyone at Autogeek. Is this thread not worth your time? I'm not trying to cause a problem here, just expressing an opinion. It appears that others agree somewhat. I realize that a HUGE amount of effort, travel, organization, and money went into this project. It's just not not what many of us expected. Responses???

[JeffM]

It is what it is, they dont owe anyone an opinion on one of our opinions.

[Billy Baldone]

Well, my Texas friend, what were you looking for"

[Billy Baldone]

I re read your original post, you want a 12 hour full correction show. Ummmmmmm. Wow I think it works the way it is.

[StephenK]

I was on the episode with the 40 Ford and it was the first episode i watched. I to was expecting a little explanation as to what we were doing. Yes have Mike say what is getting ready to happen then have the camera on a couple of us as we work with Mike's voice narrating what is happening and explaining why it has to be done the way we did it. It was a great experience but final cut was not as informative as i was hoping for. Would i do this again given the chance. Heck yes i would. This was the first season so i see it as a test run. If they do get picked up for another season i am sure there will be changes. We all know AG staff is reading our thoughts on the show. And hopefully they are taking notes and trying to improve the show. Yes Mike has done other shows on this topic but i believe it was just him so while he was doing the work the camera was showing the work being done as he was explaining. Alot easier to do when there is only 1 person versus 9 of us and trying to get everybody equal camera time. Yes they could have fewer people but this car would not have gotten done. We started filming at about 10:00 give or take and did not finish til close to 7:00 i believe. And yes we had to be out of there at a certain time.

[RTexasF]

I re read your original post, you want a 12 hour full correction show. Ummmmmmm. Wow I think it works the way it is.

That is ridiculous and not even worth a response but I did respond didn't I? I'm glad you like the show.

[RTexasF]

It is what it is, they dont owe anyone an opinion on one of our opinions.

True but there are more than just one single opinion. No worries, I want the show to work and work well.

[Billy Baldone]

Ok i was exagerating. But let's look at this from a very realistic standpoint, and in TV time. To actually watch a TV show with boring processes, people tune out very quickly. I will say this I would like the show to maybe give a three or four minute demonstration on priming a pad section passes how to hold a microfiber how to fold it things like that I think would be useful that they have not shown yet. So I agree with you and my one post was a little bit off the wall but you have to keep in mind the average person has a very short attention span. I know I do

[Mike Phillips]

Just to chime in...





I was on the episode with the 40 Ford and it was the first episode i watched.



Since you were there Stephen, and since you have now seen your episode, you know first hand a LOT more film was shot than what made it to the final cut. Correct?






I to was expecting a little explanation as to what we were doing.



Behind the scenes I was sent all the rough cut videos for my comments and feedback. When I was sent the first episode, that would be the Kyle Tucker episode, I had zero information as to how the show would be presented.

At the time of the filming I was in charge of the team to make sure everything was done correctly as this was the real deal. The car really showed up with holograms and we really had to get the car ready for competition. This wasn't no Honda, this was a custom built KYLE TUCKER 1970 Chevelle. For this show and every show, the responsibility to get the job done right the first time and without any mistakes falls directly onto my shoulders. I never saw all the footage or heard all the dialog made with AJ that was then edited together with the work done to the car. So like you Stephen, I was surprised when I watched the first episode to see how the show was actually put together. I was surprised that it wasn't simply a show on how to buff out a car but it was a complete STORY.

The first episode, like all the episodes are a mix of some, or all of the below,


Sharing the car.
Sharing the owner.
Sharing the builder.
Sharing the show.
Sharing the competition event.
Sharing the venue.
Sharing the tools and products.



I simply had know idea how the producers of the show had planned on how to present it. It wasn't until I watched the first rough cut that I was able to see their vision of how to present the show. Then as I watched the rest of the rough-cut versions, followed by the final cuts, that I truly was able to see their vision or idea for how to present the idea of car detailing or "Surface Care Enhancement" to the masses.

I know there was a lot more footage captured where there was tips and techniques shared on how to actually do the procedures but as you and I have both seen, it didn't all make it to the final cut. A 30 minute TV show is 20 minutes of show and 10 minutes of commercials. That's the norm for any show.

In the 20 minutes, the idea is to share a story, not show how to buff out a car. Just to note, we've made plenty of videos here at Autogeek that show how to buff out a car. Does anyone here remember our "Live Broadcasts?, where myself and a group of guys would buff out an entire car and Yancy would film every second of it.

After a while it's kind of like watching paint dry.

These videos also averaged 4 hours. Back when we made them there were technology restrictions to shooting 4 hour video in one take so most of the COMPLETE how to buff out a car videos were captured in two parts.



Here's an example


Part 1 - How to Wetsand, Cut and Buff a 1965 Mustang Fastback

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izDqUHdoCQg&list=PL942A4937DB701BCF



Part 2 - How to Wetsand, Cut and Buff a 1965 Mustang Fastback

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-BptVd-_R8&list=PL942A4937DB701BCF




Now follow me...

No one is going to watch a TV program showing guys buffing out paint for HOURS. While I don't have any qualifications or experience as a "TV show producer" I'll step out on a limb here and take a few guesses as to what is needed to make a show conform to the requirements of Velocity TV. We're not talking some obscure TV channel we're talking the big dogs for car guy TV shows in this industry.

Here's my guesses as to what's necessary for a successful show and a show that will also meet the requirements of a huge network.

A story - A story that includes human interest. This could be a builder trying to win a competition or like the Petersen museum preparing highly valued cars for display at the grand re-opening.

People - This would be the guests on each different episode including the car owners, builders and also the team members. It would also include the hosts of the show.

The subject - For our show the subjects are the cars.

Some form of challenge - This would be the time urgency of getting the car ready in a limited amount of time.

Entertainment TV is entertainment. My experience on both sides of the camera shows me that while everyone loves to be entertained, some people don't get or understand this concept that TV is entertainment.

Capitalism or commercialism - At the end of the day, any TV show that endures has to sell something. That's reality and it's also a good thing. How could any of us do the things we love to do until someone sells us something? You ride a bike? You couldn't ride it till someone at a motorcycle shop sold it to you. You like to fish? Fish from a boat? You couldn't go fishing till someone sold you a boat and truck to tow it. You like gaming? Someone sold you an Xbox. And on and on and on...



This is the first season. As with any new TV show, it's a learning process to see what worked best. Everything about our show worked and somethings worked better than others. Next comes tweaking and tweaking comes from feedback and that leads me to what I'm going to say next.


Feedback


There's a right way and a wrong way to give feedback. I had to learn how to give feedback. I didn't know how to do it the right way without being taught by others that also had to learn how to do it the right way. Like most people, when I gave feedback 20 years ago I did it the wrong way. Because other people care enough to show me how to give feedback the right way I did what I've always done... I shared what I learned with others by writing an article about it.

Yes. I wrote an article on how to properly give feedback. Feedback is important but your feedback is accepted better when it's presented with balance. And for most of you, I know your intentions are to provide helpful feedback because you care and you're genuinely nice people that would love to see our show be a success and I personally appreciate this.

I can assure everyone that has taken the time to post their feedback to this thread that their feedback is being seen and read by people in the TV world. I would also like to assure everyone that it's never too late to change the way you share feedback moving into the future. And to this point, here's my article on the correct way to give feedback.


A tip on giving constructive feedback... (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/tips-techniques-how-articles-interacting-discussion-forums/24334-tip-giving-constructive-feedback.html)



So thank you to everyone that has participated in this thread and again... I can assure you that your feedback is appreciated and it is being seen and read.



:)

[StephenK]

Mike there was a lot more film recorded and I understand 30 minute shows do ALOT of filming and cut out a lot. Maybe me and a few others thought it was gonna be more of a show for the everyday Joe with more explanations and more footage of how the work has to be done to get those type if results

[Mike Phillips]

Maybe me and a few others thought it was gonna be more of a show for the everyday Joe with more explanations and more footage of how the work has to be done to get those type if results




If you re-read what I wrote, it was from your point of view. That's why I made the post. I too was thinking there would be more how-to info but what I shared above kind of says what I discovered AFTER watching the first rough-cut. And then after watching the show and then after watching all the rough-cuts and shows. Then I saw the show through the producer's point of view... not a "detailers" point of view.



Take a re-read of what I wrote... I actually wasn't trying to explain anything to you specifically, just using your comments to interject and provide some insight to this thread.


Hope that makes sense.... :cheers:


I was also trying to share with people a way to share feedback so that it's not just negative info. It's okay to say what you don't like but try to balance it with something you did like. Not for me but for all the people that will be reading this.



:)

[StephenK]

I understand you were not trying to explain anything to me. It was just another thought I had as well as comments I have gotten from friends that seen it.