Date: Tue, 14 Nov 2000 21:21:56 -0500 (EST)
From: Larry Moss <moss@balloonhq.com>
To: Balloon Twister List <balloon@balloonhq.com>
Subject: Re: video tapes

On Tue, 14 Nov 2000, Ian Lloyd wrote:

> Frank, You may end up paying more for short tapes. When you buy tapes most
> of the cost is in the case and shipping and handling etc. You will likely
> find that, because the longer tapes are more in demand that they are
> cheaper. Seems like a waste but maybe you could put a gag at the end of your
> audition about videotaping a snowstorm!

Mark Nislen already listed a few reasons to spend the money on the shorter
tapes (they're professional quality tapes and it looks more professional to
have the right length than to use supermarket branded tapes).

I'd like to add one more.  I've actually seen this and heard agencies admit
this. If you send somone a demo tape to review and you're not what they're
looking for at that time, your tape may be reused.  if there are a lot of
them in an agency, the folks there may simply recycle the tapes for their
own TV viewing or something like that.  if you send them a 15 minute tape,
there isn't a lot they can use it for and it's more likely (certainly not
guaranteed) to sit on a shelf or in a box in the office until a time when
they discover they do need you.  It may be a long shot, but if spending an
extra $.50 gives the tape a potentially longer shelf life, go for it.

Larry Moss
BalloonHQ.com