"Before I learned about MMS...I almost wasted $60,000 on an inadequate vendor. With their guidance, I got a system that will serve us for the next decade."
Tony Clayton
Amarillo South Church, Amarillo, TX
You have a life. Don't spend all your time researching widgets. Instead, talk with your team about big picture stuff: What does your organization value? Where do you want to be in five years? What is your message? Those are questions we cannot answer for you. It is the work that you alone are qualified to do. Invite us into the loop and we'll accompany you on that journey. Starting with the big picture and translating it into elegant systems is the work we're qualified to do.
Visual imagery is a powerful communication tool. But before we get to that, let's run through some ideas on communication.
You don't just have something you want to say; you have something to communicate something you want your audience to understand. There are two components of communication: message and medium. If you have no message, you have no need for a medium. The message matters. We assume you have a message and that you know what it is. If you don't, we can't help you. Quit pursuing this project until you figure out your message. If you don't, you'll just be polishing dirt.
Engaging visual production is borne of relevance and excellence. To be relevant, you've got to know your perspective, the perspectives of your audience, and how to interface the two. If you are committed to learning about your audience, you're on the right path.
Excellence is persuasive. It says, "Hey - what I have to say matters and I've spent a great deal of time making sure that you hear what I'm trying to say." If excellence resonates with you, you're headed in the right direction.
There are hundreds of acronyms, terms, and trends in the video production industry. Not only is there a huge volume of concepts to master, the industry itself has confused the marketplace with contradictory information. There are many cables of thought that need to be untangled. The knot of confusion is loosened through education.
We are committed to education: educating ourselves, our employees, and our clients. Fully informed, we all make better, more intentional decisions. Every year, we attend numerous tradeshows, meetings, training events, and seminars to stay on the edge of the latest and greatest. These and other opportunities help us understand the way video works and behaves, and increases our expertise...an expertise focused on you and your successful communication.
Not only do we know what we're talking about, we want you to know what we're talking about. As the old saying goes, we're not interested in giving you a fish but in teaching you how to fish.
By the way, if you know what the acronym BNC stands for, let us know and we'll send you a Starbucks' gift card. Don't cheat.
In our first conversation with you, you will quickly hear us ask: "What do you want to be doing in five years?" This question encourages you to think about things that are more important than gear.
We hate to see people get caught up in the frenzy of urgency: a switcher goes down, a camera quits working, someone sees a vision involving 30 plasma screens. Both failure and mis-managed vision equally expedite purchases. Without a thoughtful long-term goal, end-users invariably end up flushing money away on ideas that seemed good at the time without understanding the long-term implications of their decisions.
Our clients agree that having us walk alongside them to develop a five-year goal is an integral part of the journey/process. Don't spend another nickel without this planning.
Begin with an end in mind. Have a goal. Don't aimlessly spend money.
If it is cumbersome to use, confusing to learn, limited in functionality, and/or isn't reliable, the chances are slim that you will be happy with your acquisition for years to come and it doesn't really matter how much it costs at that point. If the system costs $100,000,000 but doesn't meet your needs, you're not happy. If we gave you the system for free, but it still doesn't meet your needs, you're not happy. Price matters, but it is not the ultimate bottom line.
We scour the marketplace for products that are remarkable in the way they help you creatively, intuitively, and reliably meet your needs.
Creative: it's flexible and adaptable; you can do lots of things with it; it frees you to be creative.
Intuitive: there may be a learning curve, but with a little orientation, you're off to the races.
Reliable: when you need it to work, it will.
A trust relationship between you and us is the most efficient and mutually beneficial way for us to coexist. We want to earn your trust and we recognize that it is our responsibility to do so.
Unlike some other firms, our goal is not to sell you a bill of goods and then disappear. We want you to be successful now and for years to come. Certainly, we do not claim to be perfect or never make mistakes. Character is not measured by perfection, rather by how one handles his mistakes. Challenges arise from time to time - we will handle them in stride, just ask Greg or Perry.
"MMS designed and installed a video system for us. For the first few months, everything worked flawlessly. One week, the central piece of equipment failed... in the middle of the week. Within 48 hours, they shipped me a brand new replacement at no charge to me. From 8 states away, MMS provides better service than the vendors in my backyard." --Greg
"We had a conversion problem in going from some old analog gear to our digital switcher. MMS diagnosed the problem and made an emergency trip to install the new transcoders. They told me it was an oversight on their part and gave me the upgraded solution without charging me." --Perry
We understand the enormous value found in trusting, long-term relationships.
In 100 years, the gear you used won't matter. In the long run, the most important mark you can leave is the mark you leave on people. Not only does this remind us that people are more important than gear, but it also reminds us that gear can actually keep us chained to the equipment rack and away from people. All systems must be maintained. We aim to minimize your maintenance so you can spend more time creating programs with your teams.
