1 2 Previous Next 49 Replies Latest reply: Apr 13, 2014 8:47 PM by Steven L. Gotz RSS

    PPro Help Forum for Professionals?

    Kroycom Community Member

      I love Adobe's forum. But there's one issue that has become more apparent now that almost everyone and their brother now has access to these fantastic products - the forums try to handle everything from novice questions (what's an NLE?) to advanced questions from professionals, who make a living with Adobe products. The latter often NEEDS help immediately or a job could be jeopardized. But unfortunately important, urgent threads can get buried quickly because of the sheer number of new discussions now.

       

      Another issue is that, quite frankly, as a professional we may be hesitant to ask a question and look stupid. But every professional, no matter how experienced, can benefit from a forum like this. Adobe's official phone support is, in my experience, very lacking and not desirable in many situations.

       

      I propose the following: a dedicated help forum for professional who desire fast help from experienced fellow professionals.

      **Only people who make a living with Adobe products would be allowed to participate.

      **There could be an instant messaging feature for even faster and more detailed assistance between members.

      ** Yes there could be some networking and business opportunities for everyone

      ** Members can optionally have a signature which would list his or her system/workstation specs, which takes a lot of guess work and clarification requests out of the equation. it's all about FAST help.

      ** It would NOT be financed or controlled by Adobe or any of the other established creative services or companies. It's strictly USER controlled. However we would certainly love participation from Adobe staff.

       

      Chime in if this sounds like something that would make sense.

      Any suggestions for a forum like that? Let's hear 'em!

       

      I would be honored to lead and finance the undertaking, but i will need a few strong, knowledgable people to help get this off the ground.

       

      So...who's game?

       

       

      PS: this doesn't have to be just for PPro. I feel After Effects and Photoshop professionals certainly would benefit greatly as well.

        • 1. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
          FuelMe Community Member

          This is EXACTLY what's needed. My issue here is a perfect example. Hell, I would PAY someone to help me with this right now. But I don't know who's available. And I have a feeling my question is going to be buried soon.

          A forum like you describe would be perfect for people like me who make a living with Premiere Pro/After Effects. Thanks

          • 2. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
            shooternz Community Member

            My feeling after a long involvement in this particular site.

             

            Most serious heavy Pro users dont "post" here , never have in volume...and have no need to.

             

            They get on with it and use their own structures and colleagues/connections to move on.

             

            They may pass thru on the way to Creative Cow or elsewhere.

            • 3. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
              Steven L. Gotz Community Member

              Hmmm, let's see.

               

              I don't make my living editing video, but I created the first Lynda.com tutorials for Premiere Pro back in the 1.5 days, and I helped upgrade a Peachpit Press book from Premiere Pro to Premiere Pro 1.5, and I edited other Lynda.com products for technical accuracy. My web site, at the height of my involvement, back when I was a beta tester, consistantly got over 30,000 unique visits every month.

               

              But apparently I don't qualify for your little club.

               

              Oh well, fine with me.

              • 4. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                Kroycom Community Member

                Steven, folks like you are pretty much EXACTLY who this forum would be for as well I believe. Having you there would be truly wonderful.

                For space reasons I didn't list each and everyone who I believe this could benefit from. I just said "if you make a living" simply  because that's what many people consider a professional - make a living off something = "professional". Point is, this new community would NOT cater to people just playing around here and there, like editing their kid's birthday party and then never touch PPro again.

                 

                So of course Steven, even if someone doesn't make a living from editing per se, but has real experience/ knowledge and can contribute to helping others, that's super!

                 

                Shooternz, I hear you but I have to disagree with you. Professional does not mean you have to be a editor in Hollywood. No, I don't expect Walter Murch to stop by at forums (although...never know). There are MANY folks here that make a living or otherwise have high stakes in making sure they are on top of everything at all times. Indie film makers, post production professionals, docu shooters, media teachers, wedding videographers, heck, people with high traffic Youtube channels living on ad revenues need to be on top of things, and fast.

                Hope this makes more sense.

                • 5. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                  Steven L. Gotz Community Member

                  I understand your point, I really do. But even some professionals don't get the basics, and they might get help faster if they posted with the rest of the beginners. Some of the more experienced people get tired of answering the same old questions over and over.

                   

                  No insult to FuelMe is intended in any way, but I answered his question the same way I have answered it so many times for so many people. The answer is a workaround. Not one I like, just one I know how to use.

                   

                  The fact that he is in a bigger hurry than a hobbyist is something I am not sure really matters to many of us. It probably should, I suppose, but .....

                   

                  If he posted in a "pro" forum, then so many of the people who could answer his question might miss it. It so happened that didn't matter this time. And I have to admit that I wasn't going to take the time to answer but when I saw his post in this - a more interesting topic - then I went looking for it to answer.

                   

                  So maybe a "pro" forum would be useful. I don't know. Maybe I would be more willing to help a pro in a hurry. I should probably be ashamed of myself if I actually felt that way, but it might happen.

                  • 6. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                    JSS1138 CommunityMVP

                    [Moved to the Lounge.]

                    • 7. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                      Community Member

                      Kroy, I hate to say this cause I love your enthusiasm.. and maybe you'll get somewhere with it ( your dream ) eventually.. but right now the solution is already there.. its color by delux and tons of nice post houses that do high end pro work already.. and they make a living doing it.  It is NOT the result of polling like you are doing here.

                       

                      Know what I mean ? If you wanna help that much and have the $$ open a post house in your city or town and bite the bullet... hire people to work for you to make great stuff.. etc.  And use the tools that work best for the products you have to deliver. That has nothing to do with adobe or this forum but it's a nice idea. It's so cool how we can do what we can on our home computers .. and with inexpensive cameras and stuff.. so keep that enthusiasm.. and send me some cash for xmas....

                       

                       

                      • 8. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                        Snarky McSnarkster Community Member

                        build it and they will come

                        • 9. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                          Community Member

                          PS.. see my santa clause thread for starters.... re: xmas

                          • 10. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                            Community Member

                            hehe.. good ol snark

                             

                             

                            • 11. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                              Kroycom Community Member

                              Robodog - I have no idea what you are talking about. I asked if people would be interested in a more advanced kind of help forum/networking place on the net. I don't see what Color By Delux or opening up a post house has to do with it.

                              • 12. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                Peru Bob Community Member

                                So would you have to fill out a form and submit it for membership approval to join the club forum?

                                 

                                I would think that most professional editors would be too busy to participate.

                                • 13. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                  Kroycom Community Member

                                  Good question. Those things would be up to the founders. If it's too long of a process, then no. Maybe we can do a layered approval process of sorts where anyone can participate with minimal info (like here) but people who are verified as ones that actually need help urgently would get priority status with their posts? Completely open to other ideas though.

                                  Also, how do you guys think about either paying or tipping for help? Not to cheapen the interactivity between members trying to be helpful, but an incentive structure might be neat. Thoughts?

                                  • 14. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                    Community Member

                                    isnt this a forum basically about editing and film related stuff ( titles, audio, editing, etc ? and delivery as a pro product in your mind as a pro needing help from pros ? )

                                     

                                    if thats the case then my post about pro houses and stuff is kinda related cause thats who people talk to about doing the shooting and working through the editing part and delivery.. ??  So I dont get it why you dont know what I'm talking about. Those people generally charge about $ 600.00 per hour to work on stuff for the pro people shooting ... so I think you can say they might be pro people too.. ??? 

                                     

                                    anyway, how much will you pay me to help out if you get a new thing going for pro people ??  How would you verify my timecard or " bill " or so on ??

                                     

                                    just curious.. as a founder you can pay me right ??

                                    • 15. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                      Peru Bob Community Member

                                      I think that your idea is more suited as a premium sevice offered by a company such as Lynda.com.

                                      • 16. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                        Kroycom Community Member

                                        Robodog I think you're reading too much into this. Just imagine THIS (Adobe) forum but where folks who have deadlines get priority help, and hobbyists or folks who are just new to Premiere Pro (and who should really be watching a few tutorials about how to use the basics before hammering this forum with basic questions), get pushed to the bottom - or don't visit at all.

                                         

                                        I've seen plenty of posts from desperate editors and post production folks who clearly state they are on a deadline and need urgent help with an issue. (not just Premiere Pro, mind you.) They are wedding videographers, indie film makers, editing freelancers, etc. THOSE would get priority help from other members. Maybe for pay? Points? Free? I don't know, that's for majority to decide.

                                         

                                        Then you have the "I'm trying to put together a video of my kid's birthday and don't know how to make a DVD". While the latter guy's problem is important to HIM, he is not going to lose a client or his job if it takes a few more days for his question to be answered. Does that make sense?

                                         

                                        You're right, of course - If you're a Hollywood- level post production house then you're probably not going to benefit from either forum that much.

                                        • 17. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                          Kroycom Community Member

                                          Yep that's true - but they don't as far as I know.

                                          • 18. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                            Peru Bob Community Member

                                            Perhaps you should take the idea to them.

                                            • 19. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                              Steven L. Gotz Community Member

                                              It is certainly an interesting thought. If I could get paid for helping people who are making money off of my assistance, I might be inclined to check in more often for questions that I can answer, or subjects I can research more easily than others might be able to. And I certainly would spend more time learning about the new features than I do now. Especially the ones I would not normally use.

                                               

                                              However, in order to pay for my service, the people I help might have to pay a fee for belonging to the site in order to pay the administration costs, and also pay for the specific answers. But they would have to be honest and admit that the answer helped them. It could get sticky. Nobody would want to pay for an answer that didn't help and many might not be inclined to pay every time they asked a question.

                                               

                                              Now, if advertising revenue was involved, perhaps a profit sharing system based on points similar to the ones in use here would work. There would always be people who didn't bother to mark the answer as "correct" but perhaps the moderator could assign "correct" to certain answers, or communicate with the OP if they didn't do it.

                                               

                                              I don't personally have the time or energy to initiate such a thing, but there are people even more qualified who might. The CTO of the new little company would have to cherry pick the answer givers from among people currently answering questions on this and other forums. Our old friend Tim Kolb comes to mind for such a CTO. In fact, he and Walter Biscardi already have a site that would possibly be a good place to start such a forum. I don't know if Tim has the time, but seriously, he and Walter are extremely qualified.

                                              • 20. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                Richard M Knight Community Member

                                                Steven said

                                                 

                                                "However, in order to pay for my service, the people I help might have to pay a fee for belonging to the site in order to pay the administration costs"

                                                 

                                                Perhaps part of the CC subscription

                                                • 21. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                  Biggles Lamb Community Member

                                                  Yes and many of those who post with a deadline are either:-

                                                  To lazy to search for others who have had the same problem

                                                  Fail to give enough information

                                                  Fail to read the effin manual

                                                  Cannot be bothered to learn the programme

                                                  Or are subject to a bug, such as the recent track matte problem

                                                   

                                                  If someone is earning a living from the very frequent use of the software there is no excuse for not knowing how to do everything they need to do with the software.  There are plenty of tutorials for those who are not quite as professional as they think they are. 

                                                   

                                                  This is a user to user forum, not one where many staff reside, and certainly not one where many Premiere staffers frequent.

                                                  • 22. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                    Steven L. Gotz Community Member

                                                    Perhaps part of the CC subscription

                                                    Support is available. Here is a list of options:

                                                     

                                                    http://www.adobe.com/support/programs/policies/terms_customer.html

                                                    • 23. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                      Biggles Lamb Community Member

                                                      Interesting, especially as I cannot see the additional cost.

                                                       

                                                      I can understand a contract for technical support, hardware, configuration etc but as for asking how to actually do something with the software, it's like ringing Microsoft and asking how do you format a table.  It's something that you should be more than capable searching and finding a solution yourself.

                                                       

                                                      OK so if you are on a deadline and have a problem then by the time you type enough of a detailed explanation for anyone to help then you can read the manual and search online or watch a creative cow tutorial.  Job done.

                                                      • 24. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                        Kroycom Community Member

                                                        Biggles, I'm happy for you that you are so versed in every aspect of every software, have never encountered a bug, or software/hardware interactivity issues, and that you never had to try something so new or challenging that you simply didn't know how to do it immediately. I'm glad there is a manual for everything you ever needed or wanted to do. Must be nice to not have to think outside the box or come up with new solutions for new problems. And even nicer to never run into problems just before deadlines. Maybe you don't have any, which is great, I'm sure.

                                                         

                                                        For the rest of us, no matter what level of dedication, involvement, or experience with incredibly feature rich software in the creative space, we do appreciate some help or tips every once in a while.

                                                        Enjoy your awesomeness.

                                                        • 25. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                          Kroycom Community Member

                                                          Richard, that would be pretty neat indeed. Not sure I would hold my breath for this to happen though.

                                                           

                                                          Steven, I'm aware of the support Adobe offers. Had the displeasure a few times. It's very different from the kind of community we have here on the forum, which I personally prefer. But still an option in some situations, sure.

                                                          • 26. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                            Biggles Lamb Community Member

                                                            I have taken the time to learn Premiere to the detail that I need to, if I cannot do something then I search and learn via existing tutorials or posts and only as a last resort would I post here for help. 

                                                             

                                                            Alas it is all too easy for users to post a question when it has been asked and responded too many times before.  Laziness, personified, Craig's post (shooternz) gives a few examples.

                                                             

                                                            Turning up at the office doing the work (as best you can) and going home is not enough in today's fiercely competitive market.  A Professional has to take responsibility for their own continual professional development, and if that means self financing a study package to learn something new or to enhance ones skill base then that should be the norm.

                                                             

                                                            This user to user forum is precisely that and works very well just as it is and those who spend many hours of their own time answering queries and are commended for their actions, unfortunately there are many posters who are so ignorant that they cannot be bothered to return and say thanks.

                                                             

                                                            Then for someone to come along and suggest that just because they have a deadline then they should get priority is really insulting.

                                                             

                                                             

                                                            Col

                                                            • 27. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                              Steven L. Gotz Community Member

                                                              It's very different from the kind of community we have here on the forum, which I personally prefer. But still an option in some situations, sure.

                                                              The problem is that we are all volunteering our time. That is the only way a free forum can work. I know that a lot of people expect tech support to be free, and there are a lot more staff members around since CC came out than there ever were before. But they are not really here for what you might call "Tech Support". They help, but it is not their primary job. Tech support is really not free anymore. Not with every company.

                                                               

                                                              What could happen, I suppose, is that Adobe could hire an additional person or 10 (I am available for a modest price and I live close enough to San Francisco or San Jose) to monitor the forums full time and make sure that the engineers provide answers to the tougher questions, especially tracking down bugs. Then that person could relay back the info into the forum.

                                                               

                                                              Having said that, I imagine that much of the problems stem from the fact that many professionals don't feel the need to read every word of the PDF supplied by Adobe with information about virtually every feature that the software contains. And they certainly don't search the forums adequately. Heck, I have seen regulars miss questions that were posted a day before they posted the same question. It happens.

                                                               

                                                              But if professionals want to pay extra to be treated better than the rest of us, there are ways to accomplish that. But you can't really expect Adobe to sit you down and read the manual to you.

                                                               

                                                              I don't know how to resolve the issue of bugs in the software. They happen. But if you want special treatment, perhaps the solution is to have Adobe improve the paid support.

                                                              • 28. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                                Snarky McSnarkster Community Member

                                                                I am available for a modest price and I live close enough to San Francisco or San Jose) to monitor the forums full time

                                                                what a wonderful idea

                                                                you are of course the most qualified

                                                                • 29. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                                  JSS1138 CommunityMVP

                                                                  I have taken the time to learn Premiere to the detail that I need to, if I cannot do something then I search and learn via existing tutorials or posts and only as a last resort would I post here for help.

                                                                   

                                                                  Now that's the way it should be done.

                                                                   

                                                                   

                                                                  for someone to come along and suggest that just because they have a deadline then they should get priority is really insulting.

                                                                   

                                                                  Given the sheer number of posters who don't follow your excellent example (no sarcasm intended), I can understand the frustration, though.

                                                                  • 30. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                                    Community Member

                                                                    Kroy, I think you have a great idea going on.. and hope you get a website / forum / help desk established some day. Good thoughts.

                                                                     

                                                                    In a way I have to admit that it sounds to me a little like what Adobe has been trying to do for a really long time already.

                                                                     

                                                                    In some ways it maybe isn't working as well as wished... and I do see how a difference between classes of users might be attractive ( paid or not by subscribers and so on... ) . In a way this is what I think that smart COW and video copilot and lydia ( lynda ? whatever her name is ..) and others have done over the years ?

                                                                     

                                                                    Guess what ? YES ! IT'S BEER THIRTY ! YIPEE !

                                                                     

                                                                    iF YOU need someone like ME to help I have to say right off the bat ( vampire man comes to mind ) that I am not reliable. I have no set hours or schedule and no expertise that covers a gazillion versions of the programs and a gazillion source materials and a gazillion exports ( products ).

                                                                     

                                                                    However, I am available to meet with people if they come to MOUND MN. for a conference about this cool idea... and will gladly pitch in for beers and HOTDOGS !

                                                                     

                                                                     

                                                                    • 31. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                                      Steven L. Gotz Community Member

                                                                      you are of course the most qualified

                                                                      Probably not if you look at the larger picture, but possibly if you limit it to the Bay Area.

                                                                       

                                                                      It wouldn't work unless whoever tried to do the job had direct access to the experts. Not that it couldn't be done remotely, but in my experience working with software developers, you pretty much have to stand behind them until they take a short breather to get them to answer your questions.

                                                                       

                                                                      I don't know where this stuff is really developed anymore. It might require someone in India.

                                                                      • 32. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                                        Community Member

                                                                        CONFERENCE IN MOUND MN. FOR PRO SUPPORT OF ADOBE PRODUCTS !

                                                                         

                                                                        AP, NY 2014

                                                                         

                                                                        NEWS FLASH !

                                                                         

                                                                        The small city of Mound, MN. is preparing for a special conference of international Importance for Adobe Products ( focusing on it's Creative Cloud ). The " never before attempted " conference is actually a SOCIAL NETWORK result of Adobe USERS getting together to discuss the implementation of a " user based " PROFESSIONAL " IT and Technical and Creative Source " presence in a Global Market !

                                                                         

                                                                        There have been FLASH CROWDS social events hosted at " Mall Of America " in the Twin Cities , but never anything as big as this event promises to be.  Literally THOUSANDS of individual users and expert users of Adobe Products are expected to attend.

                                                                         

                                                                        What sets this event apart form the normal business model and marketing of commercial products is that it is ENTIRELY user produced.

                                                                         

                                                                        It is a planned " USERS FOR USERS " event and Adobe Corp ( ADBE ) has no direct involvement in the event.  Adobe was not immediately available for comment but Kroycom ( the organizer ) and many Adobe Users have much to say about the promise of the event !

                                                                         

                                                                        " THIS IS GREAT ! " exclaimed Robodog , a Mound resident, and a promoter of Adobe products as a " user ".  People will come here from all over the world and talk about a way to furnish fast solutions to a number of problems we face in the revolution of media, content, delivery, distribution, creativity, social cohehesion and people to people communications ! "

                                                                         

                                                                        " I have to say though, that people should maybe bring their own tents and sleeping bags and canned foods , because there in no motel here and the nearest HOTEL is about 20 miles away.. so be prepared to sorta live in your car or whatever.. you know, during the conference ... "

                                                                         

                                                                        ( people interested in information about this reporter should contact ### wormperiscopeSkype ))

                                                                        • 33. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                                          Steven L. Gotz Community Member

                                                                          Sounds like one heck of an opportunity for the local RV rental places in the state.

                                                                          • 34. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                                            Community Member

                                                                            not to mention my little roadside " booth" I plan to erect outside on sidewalk of main road... selling HOTDOGS !

                                                                             

                                                                             

                                                                            • 35. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                                              Steven L. Gotz Community Member

                                                                              Like real NYC dirty-water hot dogs? Cool!

                                                                              • 36. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                                                Community Member

                                                                                you are behind the times.. it is has been high end hotdogs for a really long time in NYC streets ....( sabrett ? ).  and the health dept. under BLOOMBERG was very strict about food.

                                                                                 

                                                                                You may not know it but there is now ( thanks to bloomberg ) a " rating " of food places in NYC .. which is publicly displayed ( no the front door of every restaurant and on the foreheads of every hot dog vender )

                                                                                 

                                                                                geez.. dont you know you have to be perfect according to bloomberg to live in NY ( no fat people, no smokers, no slackers, no immigrants in Manhattan ( you can live in queens, brooklyn , staten island or bronx but NOT manhattan.. hence the over abundance of tennis shoes on the trains during rush hour )....

                                                                                 

                                                                                get with it Steve.. to to NYC and bring camera next vacation.

                                                                                 

                                                                                PS ... go there fast or you will miss the subtle differences between bloomberg, port authority, lower manhattan development corp, east side development corp, west side development corp, and the new bloomberg burlesque theater complex in Times Square ( the disney nyc theater development corp ).

                                                                                 

                                                                                hehe.. I crack myself up.. I hope I get to give him a big kiss some day...

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

                                                                                • 37. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                                                  Community Member

                                                                                  ps.. sorry but there IS some other stuff going on too.. bankers and stuff.. and you would have to be a moron not to know what I'm talking about without me spelling out " knish "

                                                                                  • 38. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                                                    Community Member

                                                                                    When bloomberg stars in his first broadway show " Men in Ballet Tights in Government " I hope to be there on opening night to throw my flowers on the stage in tribute when he does his bow ...

                                                                                     

                                                                                    bow wow

                                                                                    • 39. Re: PPro Help Forum for Professionals?
                                                                                      Kroycom Community Member

                                                                                      LOL robodog. Good one

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