Do you see a desire to have a T.V. show dedicated to traditional archery? I know there are a few shows where some famous Amos makes a kill with traditional gear but the show is not really dedicated to traditional archery. Like the old Fred Bear videos where you see the archers practicing in camp. Arrows that were made by traditional arrow smiths. The rustic camp with an archery target. Tips from Trad archers....Etc. Whats your thoughts.
Would love to see that and would call my cable company to say that!
definitely.
yes would love to see a show where they hunt with only trad bows and even side lock muzzleloaders with iron sights.
Count me in! :thumbsup: lets here more..........
I don't think you'll have much luck with that, not enough viewers, and that is why it will mostly be with other types of hunting shows, but go for it, I'll try and support it.
Unless you have big advertisers, doing a hunting show will get very expensive. While you could do a lot with making wood arrows, what wood arrow shaft company has $100,000 to invest in underwriting just part of such a show?
I've read where it's around $150,000 a year for a 1/2 hour slot on the major outdoor networks. Then you have camera's, gear, travel expenses, food, lodging, non-resident tags, etc. Unless you're independently wealthy, you may require a salary too. So figure a couple to five grand a week in expenses, at least.
My thought is, doing a hunting show is probably a lot like opening a hunting/fishing store or guiding for a living. It's way more involved than most understand and 98% of those who try will wash out after a few years. You'll also require a lot more cash flow than you expected.
Absolutely, I would also welcome hunts with REAL Muzzleloaders.
I would also cover the Trad shoots that go on around the country, just so folks can see that there is more fun to traditional archery than just the hunting.
Eric
Mojostick, WOW I didn't realize that.But except for the cameras, a trad archer has the required gear. He/she also has to eat anyhow so I don't see the added expense of food. As far as non resident tags go, your home state would do just fine. And the lodging could be your own home or a rustic camp you set up in your home state. I'm mainly talking about the regular guy that goes on a regular hunt. Not a trophy hunt but a regular deer hunt, small game hunting, shooting some carp and useing them for coon bait. The sponsers could be just about anything. A sonser is just a comercial.
Westbrook, Yes thats it. Lets change the name to Traditional archery T.V.
I would start watching a hunting show again!
I'd get cable just for that show.
No money to be made with us, most of us aren't into gadgets!!!!
BJP, sounds like were on our way for a cable or satelite company sponser. And lets change it again,Traditional Archery and Muzzleloader T.V.
QuoteOriginally posted by Sean B:
No money to be made with us, most of us aren't into gadgets!!!!
You got that right. We don't have to have the latest techno glitz . . . though the dark commercial side of ATVs, feeders, camo, scent blocks/covers, lures, etc. does grab victims even from among our ranks.
Same with traditional muzzleloaders. God made the flint 300,000,000 years ago and blackpowder has three (natural) ingredients. There's not much market share to be gained over that. ;-)
Run it on the nwtworks with beer and burbon commercials. That would be fine! :archer:
I remember years ago in the 80's. brad smith and a country singer ? Had a tv show .it was great but it didn't. Last to long. Self bows and all trad any body remember that one ? I think it was brad smith self bower had a business at one time.
Love to see it happen.
This is gettin better already. Not to many options out my way for cable but I'd find one if I had too. You may be able to do it on a public station? If you needed some good footage for the blooper section just about all of my trips would make for good viewing.
I would love it........it will never happen, to small of a market. It would be a great thing....
There's a show about just about everything now on TV. Why not take a subject that's actually interesting to most people; traditional archery/bowhunting.
Have you seen the Legend of Mick Dodge? Jeez!
Or, Naked and Afraid?
I wouldn't try and pitch it to an Outdoor Hunting network,though, more like Discovery Channel.
Dan, I think the country singer was Morrison or something like that. That was a great show. We also had Tred Barta, that was a good show too. BJP, we wouldn't need a blooper section. Bloopers are part of the hunt.
I would watch.
Would love to see a all traditional bow show on tv!! I will support it
That would be great, I would definitely enjoy a show like that.
Of course I would enjoy any bowhunting show that focused on archery, DIY, friendships, and skipped the war paint, whoops, ridiculous high-fives, generally annoying antics, and hosts that take themselves too seriously, and infomercials even if it wasn't exclusively stickbows.
Until one of these happens I'll skip the hunting channels.
QuoteOriginally posted by Sean B:
No money to be made with us, most of us aren't into gadgets!!!!
Would love to see it, but this gentleman is dead on. Most hunting shows are just infomercials peddling gimmicks to tinhorns.
It would better than honey boo boo or big but girls or all the other crap on tv hell ill support it somehow!
Here is my take on it. I would love to see a show I can watch on the outhouse channel. It would have to be about the story. About the hunt. i believe there are a lot of people that are hungry for just that, the story of the hunt. If duck dynasty can become popular, I mean really, a show about traditional hunting values. It will need to touch on the difficulty and that involves the predator-prey relationship. You will have to move people on a level that is a different format than an infomercial. Watch this clip. It moves your spirit. It would need to have class and bring in the traditional values of the hunt and honoring the animal we love to pursue in the purest form of challenge of hunting. It can be done. It will have to be outside of the "box" in its presentation. Does this move you? bring a smile to your face?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFA1Fc0QqFw
You would have to be shooting apples off each others heads, feuding with the in-laws, flinging exploding arrows at old cars and crap like that to go along with the hunting part for it to be picked up by any network. Outrageous and dysfunctional sells these days, not boring quiet still hunting of a pretty little deer or a sweet bunny. For every show on TV, there are 250 others trying to get on TV. Keep that in mind.
Would love to see....but doubt there's a market. I do watch Fred Eichler's trad episodes, but skip the rest. I wonder how his ratings are?
Why not contact Tred Barta and get his take on the idea. He may be able to help find sponsors and know where to get the monetary support. If you are serious about the endeavor I think his insight and direction would prove extremely helpful.
QuoteOriginally posted by Mojostick:
I've read where it's around $150,000 a year for a 1/2 hour slot on the major outdoor networks.
I think it's even more than that. I hunted with an outfitter in 2012 that was producing/editing his own show and was trying to sell it to several potential sponsors. Back then I think he said it cost around $400,000 for a half year of half hour episodes and $250,000 for the Sportsman's Channel. The last I heard he is looking into Wild TV... a Canadian Network that is web based I think???
At any rate, I don't know if there's that many big name trad businesses that would be willing to make that much of an investment for you. It would be great if there was.
The price on Sportsman's channel has been increasing very rapidly.
Another pitfall: Some folks will pledge to provide cash support and then, when it is too late too pull the plug, they don't come through. Not my experience thank goodness, but I have a friend who was treated this way.
There are such infomercials these days. I DVR the ones that are hunting something I have an interest in and then run through them without commercials. I mute the sound on some of them.
$400,000 is a pile of cedar shafts and feathers that has to be sold.
If people want to see more traditional shows, the best way to do that is to grow the traditional ranks. And that isn't done by focusing on the children of existing traditional archers, it's done by bringing over some of the currently huge number compound shooters.
Depending on the state, traditional hunters make up some 2% to as high as 8 or 9% of archery hunters. If we grew our ranks to 20% of the archers out there, then business follows. When business follows, dollars follow. When dollars follow, influence follows.
Now, I'm sure many if not most traditional archers don't want that and like the "gang" being a small group. But with size comes power. As long as traditional archers make up less than 10% of archery hunters, DNR's, legislators and advertisers will pay mere lip service to any "traditional" concerns, in the long term. It's for this reason that I've always said that if your east of the Mississippi and your state doesn't yet have crossbows, you inevitably will. Sure, you may have a couple short term wins, but as long as we're a tiny group, we're like the Plains Indian tribes and the other facets of hunting are the settlers and US Army coming from the East. One state here or there may hold off crossbows for a couple more years or even a decade, but it's a losing battle in the long term. The fact that a traditional show can't make it is just an illustration of the lack of "political/economic" clout traditional archery really has. So there's a couple choices, stay small and enjoy the status quo or expand the ranks of traditional archers by recruiting compound shooters in every way. Just a random thought that dovetails with why a traditional show can't make it.
Barta was the most successful trad bow hunting show on tv and would probably still be so had not fallen ill. If you are serious about such a show you need to speak with people who know the facts about such shows and what it takes to produce such a show on tv.
way to much money being made off those training wheels. And its way to easy for them to shoot training wheels LOL!! Traditional archery you have to work hard for. Its all about simplicity, no one wants to work hard for anything. Im just saying that's how I look at it guys.
this was probably said already, but easton bowhunting with fred eichler is exciting to watch
I think Fred Eichler does a good job. He's also one of the most perennially popular shows on the network he appears on.
Yeah miss the old Fred Bear hunting show that how I got started and my grandfather too the first time I saw Mr. Fred Bear was on wild kingdom I think that's the right show LOL was awesome hunting though :thumbsup:
Fred Eichler has Easton and Muzzy behind him, so that's a huge help. He also does a great job and has a good personality. We don't have TV in our home, not even local channels. We watch movies via DVD player and large screen, so I can watch hunting DVD's. That's probably the best way to continue to market/show traditional until we have a bigger piece of the pie.
Those who shoot recurves and long bows are on the increase -- 14% now. More kids are being taught to shoot "barebow" every year than ever before, by their teacher.
Frankly, I wouldn't want my grandchildren watching hunting TV these days unless their dad or I was also watching to filter out the stupidness. I don't want my grandsons to exlaim "great shot" when the arrow is clearly centered in the paunch.
Thanks to science-based wildlife management demanded by and supported by hunters, these are the good ole days of hunting. As bowhunters most of us enjoy the longest seasons and most generous bag limits ever. I've also found in my career that bowhunters are far more active in providing the FW Agency input at Commission or Board meetings. Something can be said for the recurve and longbow hunter in that they are often the backbone of the state bowhunting organization.
Too many bowhunters don't belong to their state Bowhunter Organizations. Those who don't belong are leaving the heavy lifting too others. Sort of like buck hunters who refuse to shoot a doe.
As a recurve shooter I have no issues with other bowhunters or my game agency and bow hunting seasons. I would be very much against a separation of so-called traditionalists and compound shooters in hunting seasons. We aren't that special.
It doesn't matter to me at all whether the ranks of those who shoot recurves and longbows is growing as long as overall hunter numbers remain strong and those numbers have grown 9% in the past 5 years.
A percentage of compound shooters will drift over to recurves or longbows over time, just like many here have and are. They will come for their own reasons. Some will come because of more challenge. Some will come because they love the look and feel of these bows. Unfortunately for some they leave the compound because they have developed severe shooting issues. It is unfortunate because different equipment doesn't fix that problem, it requires a different mind set.
Bowwild,
You make some very valid points sir. In my state much of this also applies.
Why not work as a collective group to create a logo and then post your own personal hunts on You Tube. That is free and each individual can see how difficult the process is. It would be fun to watch.
I'm surprized that Bear Archery has not endorsed such a show. They offer a great line of trad bows. There is power in such a primal way. Just the movie "Hunger Games" has inspired many of the compound shooters that know me to come over to my house and hang out in my archery shop and talk about trad archery. A few of them have crossed over.
Youtube is a wonderful thing for sharing video
I agree with TJ. I am amazed at the cool trad hunts one can watch on youtube!
I believe the recent incarnation of the televised hunting show is jumping the shark. Everything changes. The variety show and daytime soaps are other victims of changing TV tastes.
With the ever changing TV world, from fast forwarding DVR recordings past ad's to live streaming everything to on demand, etc, we may well come full circle back where a single company brings you a hunting show, where there are no "ad breaks", but instead there's a square "ring" around the screen with the company name and the show is titled after the product. Companies like Realtree and Winchester are getting closer to this type of thing.
And this isn't just happening in hunting shows. All of TV advertising is changing.
If any of you have younger daughters, I bet you watched The Sound of Music Live! this past December. It was a live TV event brought to you by one sponsor, Walmart. What's novel about it is, it's a throwback to many of the shows from the 1950's in that it was live and brought to you by one sponsor, in both an "ad" form and a "branding" form. If hunting company sponsors can figure out how to do this, it would go a long way for those hunters soured on the current format of hucksterism.
Ditto what Mojostick said about the money. I know someone who had an internet and local cable show that I contributed to several times. I remember him saying the cost was about 150k a year. It was all trad and he had a lot of trouble even just getting a bow from one of the big names.
I agree Mojostick, but the way they are now, not only do you have to watch 50% commercials for the products, then the hunters talk about the products constantly and use overly heavy-handed product placement.
I don't think I'd mind one or the other (understanding sponsors and outfitters foot the bill), but both is just too much. Most just seems like an infomercial. Might as well have a Billy Mays look-a-like hawking hunting products.
QuoteOriginally posted by Mojostick:
I believe the recent incarnation of the televised hunting show is jumping the shark. Everything changes. The variety show and daytime soaps are other victims of changing TV tastes.
With the ever changing TV world, from fast forwarding DVR recordings past ad's to live streaming everything to on demand, etc, we may well come full circle back where a single company brings you a hunting show, where there are no "ad breaks", but instead there's a square "ring" around the screen with the company name and the show is titled after the product. Companies like Realtree and Winchester are getting closer to this type of thing.
And this isn't just happening in hunting shows. All of TV advertising is changing.
If any of you have younger daughters, I bet you watched The Sound of Music Live! this past December. It was a live TV event brought to you by one sponsor, Walmart. What's novel about it is, it's a throwback to many of the shows from the 1950's in that it was live and brought to you by one sponsor, in both an "ad" form and a "branding" form. If hunting company sponsors can figure out how to do this, it would go a long way for those hunters soured on the current format of hucksterism.
Remember Ronald Reagan and GE TV? Might work, but I wonder what trad outfit has deep enough pockets to pull it off?
Limbender,
I hear ya. I rarely tune in on those shows anymore. I don't care for any infomercials.
Limbender, I hear you too. It goes beyond infomercials with me. I grow tired of the lingo they use on those shows. He's down he's down, laughter after the kill, high fives with the camera man, or when they're at some high doller hunting ranch and say they were "invited" by thier "good friend" so and so that owns the place. I'd rather watch some kid shoot frogs by a pond.
You could try by following a group of hunters in several states to keep tag costs down. For example i have a hunt this spring for bbear that is in my back yard. Costs would be nothing but travel. Maybe the hunters could host you for a while so you could build some footage. Once you have a good stock you might be able to find some intrest. I would be glad to house and feed someone for a week or two trying this
Would love to see it also. wold love to be a part. But it might make what I love "work", though I doubt I would mind (my wife is another story). finding the amount of sponsors required to pull off a full season (lots of the cable channels will put on your show, but you have to pay for your spot).
I watched the video posted by Dragonheart, saw at least 4 product placements (could have linked a few more if pushed). It could be possible if you could get enough sponsors on board.
I don't think we will see one anytime soon, we just aren't that big a factor in the market yet. I would not look to Bear Archery as some have suggested. Bears sells a lot of high tech gadget laden compounds.Even when Papa Bear was still with us his inexpensive Whitetail hunter compound was a major factor in the compound craze in the 80's
When I started this post I was just wishing out loud. Actually the more I think about it the better it sounds. If I had the cash it would happen. (wishing out loud again) There could be a lot of shows that wouldn't require high doller hunts. Small game hunts, preditor hunts, varmint hunts, back yard deer hunts, picking hunting partners, gear care and maintnence, how to's like making arrows, splicing feathers, all the way to making a quiver out of a dead cat you found in the road. If any of this was on T.V. my eyes would be glued to it.
Sound real good!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
I am definitely all for it! I am having to search youtube for my traditional hunting entertainment! My channel is going (from now on) to be strictly traditional hunts, and trad related topics. I'd love to see some of Tradgang's top heroes make a tv show on their hunts
absolutely
Count me in would subscribe immediately!
I used to work in the radio world, and it isn't much different than TV, matter of fact, Neilson just bought the company I worked for because the want to control ratings and advertising across radio as well as TV. I learned while working there that TV (and radio) makes money from ADVERTISING, and nothing else. For ANY show to make it, you have to have a large percentage of certain target markets that can be fed advertisement after advertisement in hopes that you get said viewer to visit a store and buy your product(s). And, I have to admit, most of the crowd that are interested in hunting with stick and string and making our own gear, well, we don't fall into one of the target markets.
The two biggest targets are 12-25 year old girls/women, and 18/35 year old man. I'd hazard a guess that most of the people on this forum don't fall into that category, but I could be wrong. However, I bet I am not wrong in regards to what amount of money we would spend on gear - I know I have a personal goal of not spending ANY and making all my own stuff. I doubt that Tandy Leather or Craftsman tools are going to want to pay a network upwards of 50K for 30 seconds of airtime in hopes that I might buy a cowhide for a quiver or an ax to fell that Hickory tree I've been eyeing up.
I personally would be all over a trad archery show. Might I suggest a quality YouTube channel to start, with people subscribing to watch the episodes. That way, you get good videos, without commercials, and you can have submissions from all over. Get a few like-minded folks together, have a couple of people edit and screen out crap videos, get the word out on some of the bigger forums like this one, and see how it goes. Maybe I'm wrong and that YouTube channel will get 500k/1 million subscribers. That would be something that the networks would start getting interested in for sure. If not, then at least we get good quality videos from like minded folks.
Excellent information, Sidmand!
Count me in there should be a market fit somewhere for traditional hunting. I have seen a lot worse productions on the tube. How many people pan for gold now days. That show is a hit. The simplicity of the stick and string is a natural lure. I hope someone with the means kicks it off.
Wild Bill
yup
Good point Wild Bill
QuoteOriginally posted by Wild Bill MCP 808:
Count me in there should be a market fit somewhere for traditional hunting. I have seen a lot worse productions on the tube. How many people pan for gold now days. That show is a hit. The simplicity of the stick and string is a natural lure. I hope someone with the means kicks it off.
Wild Bill
The problem with these type of shows is that actually finding gold becomes an insignificant part of the show. The whole thing becomes a drama about personalities fighting and bickering all the time. Your new wash plant falling over and smashing your bull dozer. Spend a whole episode fretting over how your going to get enough money to keep things running for another week...etc etc.
They can turn almost any mundane activity into a reality TV joke, I guess that's what sells. I wouldn't want to see those type of tactics used to keep a Traditional show afloat.
I think there is a need.
I would suggest starting on youtube or a website. There's a couple brewing shows(Chop & Brew, and Brewing T.V.) that are internet only. Gain an audience from there and you may have sponsors coming to you. With the support from Tradgang and other traditional sites you could end up with plenty of donations. I'm sure we'd help out with advertising too. Good luck :thumbsup:
This is starting to sound like a good idea Josh.
If you do get a sponsor and spot please don't whisper. I'm up to about eight seconds of whispering before I switch to another channel.
Overdub or just let the footage speak for itself.
:banghead:
The nay sayers told columbus the world was flat too..if ole ben franklin hadn't stood out in the rain with a kit we'd still be reading by candle light.. We as trad shooters/hunters need our passion to be out there for the world to see..more people need to see what we are all about..and get courious enough about the trad culture to wanna try a simpler way..Its not about the competition and all the fancy equipment..its the fellowship and storys told around a campfire with good friends and making memories..Im tired of all the wheely shows and their 180s racks..that aint real life...people expect it to happen that way when they go out hunting and it doesnt so they spend more money and it still doesnt happen..its not about big racks and expensive equipment..the traditional way is so much more than that and someone should be telling/showing the world what they are missing..it would'nt have to be too high tec for me cuze most of us trad people aren't too high tec to begin with...
When there are shows showing 400 yard rifle shots and "hunts" on private land *cough* -fenced deer farms- *cough* why would anyone need something else? (sarcasm included)
There is definitely a market for it. I would just film some shows and see what happens.
I like the Youtube to start idea.
I film all of my hunts. Getting hog and small game harvests on video takes time and effort but it's fun effort. (Youtube Channel: Jim Dussias or True South Adventures, or just search traditional bowhunting)
The art is in the editing, that is what makes the shows watchable, or not.
It takes some initial start up capital but what doesn't?
As to the naysayers(you are certainly entitled to your opinion), how many members did Trad Gang start with? There are over 40,000 members now!
Also, 150K is a lot of money to me, but to some it's not.
Might point is, you don't need to be a millionaire to have a hunting show(probably just several like-minded investors/sponsors).
I am not fond of hunting shows of any type. For me, it is a personal thing, and the moment of truth is just not open to public view. I understand that MANY do not share my view.
However, for those that do like this programming, it would be nice to know that a show about trad archery done by trad archers/hunters could serve our small niche of the hunting world well.
In my view, it would need to more broad than just a hunting theme. I would include segments about trad archery including clips from some of the proficient shooters at significant 3D events, highlights of bowyers, both the large corporate manufactures and the smaller one man shops. (People need to know how well the tackle works as well as how beautiful it can be). Tuning would be important subject matter. Segments featuring game cookery would be nice. I could go on and on about interesting features, but you get the picture. Traditional philosophy and lifestyle would be self evident without having to hammer it into viewers. Lastly, include the girls. There are many women who are just as pretty and feminine as anybody could want but can hold their own on any competition range or hunting camp. (I sure hope this does not come across as a sexist remark - it sure isn't intended that way.) We do live in an interesting world that many others might appreciate.
Maybe cost will be prohibitive, but you never know till you try! How do other projects find funding? They knock on a helluva lot of doors.
Hey, I think I could talk myself into becoming a fan of such a show!
Sam, your thoughts on the traditional philosophy is exactly why Duck Dynasty is the most watched show on TV. Rednecks and Religious life is hot right now.
I too have been disappointed in the type of hunting shows on TV in the past few years. That said, I do enjoy the quality of footage, camera angles, and artistic use of of focusses and editing.
What's nice to watch? Redneck with an handy cam all shaky and low definition...or.... a well filmed and edited show that properly portrays what we do? The problem lies in getting quality footage (especially when hunting with a stick) and the costs that go along with it.
I've thought of this for years...even have a whole bunch of hunts recorded, but none of TV production quality. For anyone who has tried, you know how tough it is to get a good hunt on film, as well as what it would take to consistently get more good footage.
Money...is the key ingredient here. Good footage means quality equipment, tons of time, a payed camera man (or a bunch of experienced guys with time to donate), and costs covered for good hunts. Now no-one here wants to see advertising...without that you have no money...hence no show. Find a really rich person that just wants to spend money and it's all figured out!
Not to be the guy to rain on the parade here, but I am! Any TV quality production will cost lots of money...unfortunately that what it comes down to. Strapping a POV camera to your head and bow will likely not make the cut...nor will the footage self edited by your lap top. Just trying to be a realist here!
I would love to see a hunting show come out that showcased more of the life of a bow hunter than just the actual hunting. I do enjoy watching Fred Eichler in his traditional hunts. He's usually spooled up when I'm shooting in the basement or toying with things down there. I also purchased one of the Wensel bros. videos and they showcase the meaning of bow hunting more than some of the others I've seen. But, it would be nice to have a weekly TV show/pod cast.
Still wishing out loud. Thinking about running an add in the local newspaper: Wanted, someone to dump a boat load of money on me to make the world a better place.
I would love to see one get started!
Without enough investors to make the episode/content available for "free", someone has to pay for it in time and/or money.
A web presence is relatively inexpensive but the cost of the time and effort involved in planning, traveling, hunting, filming, editing, etc, is high.
On top of the cost, all of the extra headaches of video production can take the fun out of an enjoyable experience very quickly. If you have to pay out of your own pocket and dedicate the limited hours after work and on the weekends, most would expect a pay off at some point.
So someone has to pay to make it worth it. It can be investors, sponsors, or consumers. With our market being a small niche, investors and sponsors will be limited, and investors are going to want all their money back and more anyway. This leaves us with the consumer having to pay for the content. We all like free, so signing up to pay for unknown content isn't very likely. So if someone made the initial investment of time and money to produce enough quality material to establish their credibility, how much would you be willing to pay for a 20 minute episode broadcast/streamed over the internet?
If that number is high enough with enough volume, I don't think there would be too much difficulty in getting it started.
I would love to do it if it would pay enough :)
I feel like I dropped my wish list on the ground and all the nay sayers are stepping on it with muddy boots. I don't know how many trad gangers are out there but I bet it's a lot. I'm sure there is many others that have not heard of trad gang. With that said I don't feel that our group is that small. Also wheelie bow and gun hunters would watch the show. There is something magical about the simplicity of a traditional camp if you use a traditional bow, compound, or a rifle. As far as the whole hunting fraternity goes, there is a little trad in all of us.
Brian, Don't let at the negative posts detour you. Take the information from them and use that in determining on how to make this happen.
Tom, you are right. I just revied my original post and noticed I didn't specify "positive thoughts". I should look at the negative thoughts and consider them as opportunities.
I don't think they are naysayers. What they are saying is go into it with your eyes wide open and no delusions. Start web based and see where it goes. At the very least your memories will be recorded and be watched at any time.
As a guy who has started and owned 6 companies (3 of witch are very successful) I can say that every single idea I have ever had has been met with so much negativity and was shot down by so many people. Yet everyone of the ideas turned out great.
When I decided to become a fulltime photographer I had so many other pros tell me I will never make it. Id try to network with them to hopefully get them to send me some of their over flow. they would laugh (literally) in my face and tell me the market is too flooded and they would never help a beginner. I never let it get to me and just pushed harder. Now im one of the most heavily awarded photogs in the state of Michigan and those same "pros" that laughed in my face now call me and tell me they would pay me for me to refer weddings to them.
When I started the Traditional Bowhunting podcast 6 months ago everyone told me it will never work, no one will listen, there isn't enough to talk about, nobody will take you seriously if you record them in your truck while driving, etc. in 6 months we have had over 18,000 visits to the site, over 20,000 downloads, and a couple sponsors (new sponsor coming in a week or so).
Point being, Anytime you have an idea that someone else has not done you will get resistance.
Its what you do with that resistance that defines your capabilities. people say anything worth doing is hard. I believe the reason its hard is the battle with people that you wish supported you more.
Your Idea of traditional bowhunting TV show is most DEFINETLY doable.
Look at F&T Post trapping show. its been on for 2 years and its a show about trapping! if they can do a successful show on trapping you can do a show on trad archery no problem! We have a much bigger following....much bigger!
how I would approach the process:
1: commit to it.
2: get your camera team, equip, etc in order.
3: ask for footage. Ask other trad hunters for their footage and if you use it in the show you will pay them an amount per minute of footage. most will do it for free just to have their stuff on tv.
4: build a demo.
5: build a episode summary list at least 5 topics, episode outlines, and a percentage of likely hood of capturing the needed footage.
6: make calls to tv networks to get pricing to run the show, how much advertising income is needed to be raised per show, etc.
7: take all of your info and contact potential sponsors/advertisers. present your info and cost needs to them. Don't be surprised if you get a cold shoulder from a lot of businesses you contact. many of them (like the nay sayers you face along the way) will not believe in you until you prove yourself. but you cant prove yourself until you get the sponsors. its a catch 22. but stay on it and you will get the sponsors you need. don't get discouraged and stay on it. (example I just sent emails to 10 companies to see about sponsoring my podcast. I got 1 to say yes, 1 that said they will as soon as the funds open up, 2 that said they cant, and 6 that never responded. those 6 are companies I have spent thousands of dollars at and I have always recommended them. Their complete rudeness of not even returning my email leaves a really bad taste in my mouth. but I keep telling myself focus on the positive and wash away the negative. keep moving forward and I will find the sponsors I need to cover the cost of doing the podcast.
Have the same attitude with this Focus on the ones that believe in you and want to help, forget the ones that blew you off, and keep searching for the ones that will help.
8: when you have your team together, sponsors/advertisers, episode outlines, and a rock solid demo together approach some networks. Treat any rejection you get just like the rejection you will get from some of the sponsors...blow it off and keep moving forward.
If you believe in it and want it bad enough you can make it happen. It will be a fight most of the way. you will get mad, frustrated, and defensive many times over and over again. when you learn to let that be a motivator rather that an anchor you will progress very quickly and bring it all together.
Sorry for the long book! But its people like you that drive everything about this country we live in. Its a shame new ideas and passion face as many obstacles and you will face. But I think its gods way of making sure we are up for the task.
I am in your corner 100% and if you ever need any advise or help let me know. Im an expert in proving people wrong and a pro at getting stepped on and finding a way to get back up. That is what starting a business is all about.
I cant wait to see your first episode!
My take was that many like the idea. There have been valid concerns expressed about the process of reaching profitability. Those concerns don't mean that you don't go for it, you just plan accordingly and make sure you have a good plan.
Having started and run multiple businesses as well as consulted with others, it's not an easy road. Rewarding, but there is a lot of monotonous work along the way with some great highs and lows. Make sure you design a business that you will like to run. With the technology available, your startup costs can be kept relatively low.
If you are really excited about it, create some short videos, we would love to have good trad videos to watch. It would be a simple exercise to see if it adds fuel to your fire and desire to pursue it more seriously