Kevin M. Andersen

I keep asking what the bottom rates are -- so I might not decide that taking a job to feed the children would not insult my peers and degrade the art and business of steadicam. Organize? Kevin

As my grandfather used to say..."Just because you have a baseball glove it doesn't make you a professional ball player." What is the bottom accepted rate and deal? Kevin

Don't be bashful, what were these rates/deals that were so offensive? How else can others hold the line if the line is not defined? -Kevin

I'm sorry, was there a question there? I'd say you must master the stabilizer before being able to make a living using it. Until then I think you are doing well by being the "Teachers Assistant taught by Garrett Brown." "I have thought about buying a Flyer to shoot music video shoots and Indie films while I work enough to buy my own ULTRA system, I understand to get work you have to have your own gear." Despite the financial challenges of "working to have your own gear" I would focus your goal on mastering the art of stabilizers, and Indie films (your definition needed here) often requires an advanced skills set. It is noy the gear that makes the operator, but the operator makes the gear (Operate.) Music videos, on the other hand is a different story. My first few gigs were on music videos where they wanted that "modern "dutch" look," in other words...not horizon level. Practice then blow it out the box

$750 for daily rental and $51.50 is not a tragedy...What is a "decent rate" please? I would not want to make any enemies for accepting any less than a "decent rate."

LOL! As if i said "Yeah I'd rather fly your BL4 instead of (anything else)" That was the young Kevin Andersen that said "OK we will make it work" (I wanna work and will try anything) I wonder, seriously, if wearing this exoskeleton could make make my 43 year old body perform better than the average olympian, and therefore canceling out the physical requirements of our job it would separate the artists from the youngster hacks? Is our art a physical craft or an art?

Endurance increase? yes. Physical strength improvement? yes. Does it make art by itself? no Makes me remember a long ago director friend (circa 1979) who dissed the steadicam saying "It won't make camera operators better camera operators." Still I wonder if this exoskeleton would have helped me work those 20 hour steadicam days chasing kids on a football field or rushing up a train aisle with an arribl in low mode. Maybe it could make me taller or have the hair regrow on my head.

What is the scam? Stolen items? Or are they "selling"items that don't exist? Doesn't eBay crack down on fraud? please explain

As an operator who faced death in 2000 and had my career almost terminated I appreciate the fellowship among steadicam operators. I never knew Bob, but while I was recovering from Cancer I had a bunch of pictures that helped me focus on survival. Those pictures included my wife and children, family and friends. Then, as I rebuilt my body to begin working again I had one of Bob's ads on the back of AC Magazine on my wall as a symbolic representation of what can be achieved. So even though I never met Bob, his passing has affected me personally.

Maybe you should have joined them with the whiskey and coke? Noooo. just joking. As I was reading this I expected the end to say that they were going to NOT pay you because they got all f*&%ked up and nothing got done. If you had packed up they would not have paid you anything, no? Just take the money, remember who was in charge (for next time). I wish I could say I never had this happen-- Sometimes, for my own entertainment, especially when the people in charge are half my age, I get involved as soon as I see it is a clusterf*%ck and hold the kids by the hand and guide them to use the steadicam as it is best used. Sometimes this is the catalyst that everyone is needing to make the day productive. Sadly, sometimes it is a waste of energy. But nowadays I would probably just make sure I was getting paid and let them learn a lesson the hard way. Sorry for your bad experience. It will make you appreciate it when you work with brilliance! Cheers, Kevin

This has been bothering me for...25 years. Unlike almost everyone else I choose to operate the camera/sled with my god-gifted right hand. That means arm is mounted on my front left. Since the majority of people are right handed like me, why am I not like the majority of steadiops who operate the camera/sled with the left hand? Can someone please explain why *most* people operate a tripod head with their right hand and then operate the steadicam sled with their left? I remember prepping a Panavision package in Woodland hills in 1994 and the AC said " Oh, you use the arm backwards." I said "HuH?" What do you say?

You know... If you want to live in a particular place and survive in a particular market...Just do it. Geeze, if you wait for the right moment there will be everyone else there too. Just do it. Forget the SAG strike, forget the IA woes, forget the competition, forget whatever anyone says. The conditions will never be "ripe" and if you hear they are you should be skeptical. If you think you are good and have what it takes to survive and thrive just do it!

Last time I looked PirateBay is raging with downloadable lossless FLAC sources of copyrighted music and Big-Music is not winning that war. I doubt the Big-Music will bother to hassle you. If you have any doubts or wish to pay homage to the artist and label simply add links for them on your site. That way you are actually helping them...whether they appreciate it or not

I've found these surfer booties to be worth their weight in gold. I learned my lesson in barefoot operating with a piece of glass underwater. In deep sand I find it less fatiguing on the calf muscles and sometimes it is nice to feel the texture of the surface underfoot. Kevin

Well howz about communicating that tongue and cheek attitude with a little smiley like you did? Otherwise it can be read as insulting. Sheesh! I'll say one good thing about being an non owner is I don't have to play the gear game, the trends, etc. Was that too general? I don't have a say in the gear and must make do with what is (or is NOT) supplied to me. As an owner/operator for many years this is a great relief! Why is everyone busting my balls? Has this forum turned into an elitist clique? I was a charter member years ago and I don't need to be lectured to. Why all the negativity? Thanks for the answers buried in the lectures and ball busting. Now, back to your show... Kevin "doesn't want to be a part of that elitist negativity club" Andersen