Why Bother?

So here's an interesting question: Why should I bother going on a tvC Adventure?

We feel like we get that question a lot. tvC trips are not cheap and $200 (our average trip cost for 2012) is a big chunk of change. We know.

But - we don't think that tvC adventures are expensive either. Especially not when you consider the value you get for your money.

Networking
In most creative professions these days, it seems whether you land clients or not is as much about WHO you know as about WHAT you know. Every adventure with tvC is an opportunity for you to meet and really get to know up to 12 new people. This isn't just a handshake and business card transaction thing either - you will spend three days with your newfound friends talking shop and making art together. Strong bonds can be formed this way. Just want to learn more about using your camera? Have a thirst for adventure? What better way than to get in with a group of like-minded individuals who want the same thing?

Adventure / Life Experience
Zack Arias, a big-time famous photographer started a concept called GOYA. It stands for Get Off Your Ass, and it is something that makes a huge difference in your ability to access your muse. Have you ever noticed that it is much easier to take awesome pictures when you travel or when you are having a new experience? Have you ever felt that your videography would be better if you could only get out of town and see someplace new? tvC Adventures are all about exercising the GOYA concept to the max. No more excuses about how uninspired you are in your usual surroundings, put yourself out there and experience something great.

Real world creative experience
Once you've committed to the experience, you will almost certainly find that the concepts you learn and the ideas you execute will help you in the "real world," with your clients and friends. The challenges that you face working on location in the rain and dust and mud are not simply inconveniences - they are opportunities for you to engage in creative problem solving to get "the shot" despite adverse conditions that would stop someone else.

Portfolio work
While we don't unconditionally guarantee that you will come out of your tvC adventure experience with portfolio work, we'll be surprised if you don't. There's something about being around that many creative people that is infectious. When you have a host of new friends pushing you and pushing themselves to greater creative heights, it's almost impossible to NOT come up with fantastic new art. Getting out of your usual surroundings and seeing something new is the perfect catalyst for creativity.

Learning from tvC and participants
The founders of tvC have been at this for a while. Collectively, we have nearly 20 years of experience in photography and cinematography. We've shot in the rain, wind, snow, and mud. We've created techniques for a great variety of conditions and we are happy to share everything we know. Our staff has a strict no-holds-barred approach to teaching. If you have a question and we can help, we will answer you honestly, even if it might help you get a client that we wanted to work with, and especially if it will improve your skillset to take you to "the next level."
More than that, you have the opportunity to teach and learn from your fellow participants. If you know something special about a certain genre of photography or video tricks, you are encouraged to share your knowledge with everyone else! Matt, Taylor and Andrew are in this to learn just as much as you are - maybe even more.

OK - so you're starting to get the point.

Still not convinced?

Let's look at the numbers:

Let's say you're in a photography or an electronic media and film program at a university where you pay $8,000 in annual tuition. You take 120 hours over the course of 4 years to graduate with your degree which costs you $32,000 not including room, board, books and fees.
That costs you $267 PER HOUR of class time.
Hey, that's not so bad. You've got a bunch of experience in classrooms and studios, and if you're really motivated, probably some experience in the "real world" too. You've met some new people, learned from some lectures, and you consider  yourself well educated. You learn goodly Enlgishes and stuff.

Now let's look at the numbers for tvC Adventures. Our most expensive trip this year costs $250 for a three-day immersive experience (hiking Havasupai). Conservatively estimating you're awake for only 10 hours each day*, you're shooting and learning for 30 hours over those three days.
This ends up costing you $8/hour of waking time.
You've got real world experience in the field, problem solving. You've met and befriended a bunch of awesome people who can help you in the future. You've almost certainly created a portfolio of adventurous work - or added to an existing one.
AND, it cost you 33 times LESS than spending time in a classroom listening to lectures.

True enough, you won't get an accredited degree from thevisualCollective no matter how many Adventures you come on. Instead, you'll get something much more valuable: experience, friends, and new art to show off.

* Trust us - with so much creative energy, you're probably awake more than 10 hours each day. We value creativity more than sleep.