This is a great discussion but I think the headline you're using is a little disingenuous. There's a very big difference between making 500k and generating 500k of revenue. If Kevin is taking home 225k that's a lovely income for a freelancer but he's is also assuming the risk of a business apparently handling a new job every week. One wonky client interaction amongst that could really send you sideways. I could be wrong about this but I dont know that some of your less experienced audience would be able to discern the difference between 500k of income as a motion designer and generating $500k in revenue as a business operator.
That's a fair critique, Alex. There's a balance in the making a compelling, punchy hook for a video so that people will want to watch it and providing all the context and nuances. I think we did a good job in balancing out the eye-catching hook in with the realities of the business risk and costs in the full discussion, so hopefully the audience had the same takeaways you did. Appreciate the feedback!
This interview is an absolute gold mine of information. Thank you for the transparency when talking about strategy and actual dollar amounts. Gonna take a stab at upping my LinkedIn game! Watch out for me! 😅
Wow what a breath of fresh air!! This interview is miles ahead of any career content out there. Kevin seems like a rare mix of genius and kindness - the kind of person I'd DIE to work for. Thank you both for this amaziiing Q&A, this is the channel that adds the most value to us motion artists 🤣
I've worked for Adobe and many other creative companies and been a writer in-house at Nike and Apple and Kevin is one of the kinds of people who have a "bi-cameral" talent--a linear (left brain) software user brain that understands the non-linear creative side (right brain) side. Pretty rare to find someone with both hemispheres hitting on all cylinders.
Thank you for sharing so much information, I feel like that most challenging thing about building your own brand is not knowing how, and having access to how other succesful people have manage really saves so much time and guides you along. So THANK YOU !
Thanks so much for your comment! We really appreciate it! We have a fantastic episode out in two weeks with the incredible Jessica Hische so stay tuned for that one!
Getting started with building your own branding is tough! I'd suggest really diving into what makes you unique, what you do differently than others, and what unique problems you solve. Combine that with your authentic personality is a good combination for building a personal brand.
Thanks for sticking with the direct questions and drilling practical answers out of the abstract marketing jargon, Captain Obvious-type advice, and inspirational-personal-journey blablabla that these kinds of things usually deliver.
Thank you so much for this info. Very nice. I would love to see an example of the ‘systems’ you tell about. I have been thinking about productizing my service and/or offering a system instead of a single animation at a time. But i really dont know how to make it into a system ( i was thinking about -> logo animation, intro outros for YT /socials, and some moving icons or smaller animations they can implement quickly) And how to get the right experience ( working mother, so my portfolio is lacking because i just dont have 80 hours a week to work on my own stuff) still wachting this so sorry if its being named further along. 39:45
I'm also curious about the "systems", he didn't specify the process. I think it's a packaged service in a monthly subscription. Would be nice if someone could point it out.
@@lxi5464the ‘systems based approach’ hes talking about is the idea of building reusable visual assets for businesses rather than just making one perfect custom video for them. the car example he had sums it up pretty quickly i thought.
Actually, no. I didn't start freelancing until recently. I started in my career over 15 years ago, but these results are talking about my first year starting in 2022.
@@kevinrapp9768 OK. Then the point is that it’s easy to start freelance career when you have years of experience, some reputation and huge portfolio. It’s not the case for a person who started yesterday.
This makes so much sense. Thanks for all the insight. It's really miles ahead in terms of thinking. I've worked on projects like this and building out a system for the brand makes things much easier down the line. It's like building the world for a movie or series but for a brand. The value of this is amazing and all the assets can be used for over a longer period of time.
What he's talking about remind me of old network packages, but instead of making a system for different shows , it's flexible content for multiple video formats. I've starting thinking modularly in my own work by learning houdini and UE5. It's a bit of work on the front end but when it comes to use cases it's nearly drag and drop.
It isn't just "may." It WILL vary, because this is a volatile industry in a volatile time. The same approach that works for me won't work for others, which is why I really urge everyone to find their unique differentiator and build around that.
Dear Motion Hatch Creative Director: Please stop torturing the guy who you force to make random intermittent subtitles throughout the ENTIRE 50 MIN episode. They're not helpful... they are distracting and totally unnecessary. You know TH-cam has a captions button literally right there right? It feels like a cloying social ad, except it's a podcast... thanks, sorry if that was rude.
@eladbari I put together a deck to show an example of how it can work: docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XXkkILbBp_3hF32P6LyzEMaIr4sa2JJbpQgRoNhMMdI/edit?usp=sharing
Just what's the point of putting this effing giant subtitle overlay on the video? Is this the new hot editing thing among creators??? If I need subtitles I'll just turn on CC. What the actual dick am I supposed to do, turn down the volume and read your 50pt font size caption instead? Less is more, mate, you as someone making a living off design should know that.
Most are based here in Columbus, Ohio, but some of my collaborators are in Chicago, LA, Minneapolis, and others. As I mentioned in the episode, I try to pay ABOVE the asking rates of my collaborators, not get the cheapest labor I can find. Most of my motion designers were charging around $650 a day, so I raised their rates to $800 a day.
I'm not a big fan of generative AI, so my recommendation would be to start with Adobe After Effects. There are a lot of resources available to start learning it. Also, hi fellow Ohioan!!
Hi there, is there any way to learn Motion Design using Final cut pro and Apple Motion or another 3rd party program, or is Adobe After Effect the only option?
There are a number of other tools out there. Motion and Rive, along with more 3D programs like Cinema 4D or heavy compositors like Nuke. I think if you're looking to learn the software, After Effects is a great entry-level tool, and has the best resources available to learn it. Then you can decide what you want to learn next!
These videos are getting so stupid. He is literally describing he is running an agency, working with only contractors. Liek bro, this is so stupid. You have a "design system" but for motion design, congrats. Lol.
If you have any questions for Kevin Rapp please post them in the comments and he will do his best to answer them.
start with WTF is "motion design".
This is a great discussion but I think the headline you're using is a little disingenuous. There's a very big difference between making 500k and generating 500k of revenue. If Kevin is taking home 225k that's a lovely income for a freelancer but he's is also assuming the risk of a business apparently handling a new job every week. One wonky client interaction amongst that could really send you sideways. I could be wrong about this but I dont know that some of your less experienced audience would be able to discern the difference between 500k of income as a motion designer and generating $500k in revenue as a business operator.
That's a fair critique, Alex. There's a balance in the making a compelling, punchy hook for a video so that people will want to watch it and providing all the context and nuances. I think we did a good job in balancing out the eye-catching hook in with the realities of the business risk and costs in the full discussion, so hopefully the audience had the same takeaways you did. Appreciate the feedback!
This interview is an absolute gold mine of information. Thank you for the transparency when talking about strategy and actual dollar amounts.
Gonna take a stab at upping my LinkedIn game! Watch out for me! 😅
So glad this helped! Look forward to seeing you more on there!
For sure, I think transparency is really important! Glad you got a lot out of it and good luck with your LinkedIn efforts!
Wow what a breath of fresh air!! This interview is miles ahead of any career content out there. Kevin seems like a rare mix of genius and kindness - the kind of person I'd DIE to work for. Thank you both for this amaziiing Q&A, this is the channel that adds the most value to us motion artists 🤣
Wow thank you so much for such a wonderful comment! We really appreciate it!
This is the absolute nicest thing. Thank you so much!
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Like your sharing ❤❤❤
i love the transparency here! absolutely great interview!
Love this. Please have on more creators who are doing well! Thanks!
Columbus Ohio is a great location for business and enthusiasm. Great insight Kevin, thank you!
I've worked for Adobe and many other creative companies and been a writer in-house at Nike and Apple and Kevin is one of the kinds of people who have a "bi-cameral" talent--a linear (left brain) software user brain that understands the non-linear creative side (right brain) side. Pretty rare to find someone with both hemispheres hitting on all cylinders.
Kevin is my dad
So you can access the 500,000$😂
Hahahaha thanks for the shout out, Gwen
Yes
This is a brilliant interview thank you Hayley! Great questions
Thank you for sharing so much information, I feel like that most challenging thing about building your own brand is not knowing how, and having access to how other succesful people have manage really saves so much time and guides you along. So THANK YOU !
Thanks so much for your comment! We really appreciate it! We have a fantastic episode out in two weeks with the incredible Jessica Hische so stay tuned for that one!
Getting started with building your own branding is tough! I'd suggest really diving into what makes you unique, what you do differently than others, and what unique problems you solve. Combine that with your authentic personality is a good combination for building a personal brand.
17:24 love those three reasons . Especially set them up for success
Great interview! Very interesting, lots to learn from this. Thanks!
Motion design is a really creativity demanding skill 👌🏻
Thanks for sticking with the direct questions and drilling practical answers out of the abstract marketing jargon, Captain Obvious-type advice, and inspirational-personal-journey blablabla that these kinds of things usually deliver.
Thank you so much for this info. Very nice.
I would love to see an example of the ‘systems’ you tell about. I have been thinking about productizing my service and/or offering a system instead of a single animation at a time. But i really dont know how to make it into a system ( i was thinking about -> logo animation, intro outros for YT /socials, and some moving icons or smaller animations they can implement quickly)
And how to get the right experience ( working mother, so my portfolio is lacking because i just dont have 80 hours a week to work on my own stuff) still wachting this so sorry if its being named further along. 39:45
I'm also curious about the "systems", he didn't specify the process. I think it's a packaged service in a monthly subscription. Would be nice if someone could point it out.
@@lxi5464the ‘systems based approach’ hes talking about is the idea of building reusable visual assets for businesses rather than just making one perfect custom video for them. the car example he had sums it up pretty quickly i thought.
this dude is a genius
You forgot to tell in the title that it was 15 years ago. It was time when you could make good money on freelance. It’s not the case nowadays.
what are you talking about?
@@platinmanager He earned his first $500K 15 years ago. That time there was absolutely another freelance market.
Actually, no. I didn't start freelancing until recently. I started in my career over 15 years ago, but these results are talking about my first year starting in 2022.
@@kevinrapp9768 OK. Then the point is that it’s easy to start freelance career when you have years of experience, some reputation and huge portfolio. It’s not the case for a person who started yesterday.
Clarified by the legend himself 🥹
Great stuff, thanks both!
Excited!
Whoop! I'm so excited for this first episode
I've just found GOLD
I see your Ratatouille shirt and I approve. Meal prep.
I didn't even make the connection of the meal prep analogy to my shirt, hahahaha. *slaps forehead*
@@kevinrapp9768 I’m “detail oriented” 😆
This makes so much sense. Thanks for all the insight. It's really miles ahead in terms of thinking.
I've worked on projects like this and building out a system for the brand makes things much easier down the line.
It's like building the world for a movie or series but for a brand. The value of this is amazing and all the assets can be used for over a longer period of time.
Great analogy to worldbuilding! When you have the framework of components, it makes it much easier to execute the work.
@@kevinrapp9768 Exactly! Setting up things early, pays off later
What he's talking about remind me of old network packages, but instead of making a system for different shows , it's flexible content for multiple video formats. I've starting thinking modularly in my own work by learning houdini and UE5. It's a bit of work on the front end but when it comes to use cases it's nearly drag and drop.
Yes, this approach was very much inspired by that kind of thinking: having a consistent identity with repeatable components!
Inspiring!
Your milage may vary.
It isn't just "may." It WILL vary, because this is a volatile industry in a volatile time. The same approach that works for me won't work for others, which is why I really urge everyone to find their unique differentiator and build around that.
this was amazing
mmmm I'm gonna have to watch this again about 10 times.
Dear Motion Hatch Creative Director: Please stop torturing the guy who you force to make random intermittent subtitles throughout the ENTIRE 50 MIN episode. They're not helpful... they are distracting and totally unnecessary. You know TH-cam has a captions button literally right there right? It feels like a cloying social ad, except it's a podcast... thanks, sorry if that was rude.
This very beneficial
Thank you so much!
Wonder how such Asset package looks like + and how it's mixed/being used... 🤔
@eladbari
I put together a deck to show an example of how it can work:
docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XXkkILbBp_3hF32P6LyzEMaIr4sa2JJbpQgRoNhMMdI/edit?usp=sharing
Just what's the point of putting this effing giant subtitle overlay on the video? Is this the new hot editing thing among creators??? If I need subtitles I'll just turn on CC. What the actual dick am I supposed to do, turn down the volume and read your 50pt font size caption instead? Less is more, mate, you as someone making a living off design should know that.
me thinky that this guys team of experts are based in india...
Most are based here in Columbus, Ohio, but some of my collaborators are in Chicago, LA, Minneapolis, and others. As I mentioned in the episode, I try to pay ABOVE the asking rates of my collaborators, not get the cheapest labor I can find. Most of my motion designers were charging around $650 a day, so I raised their rates to $800 a day.
@@kevinrapp9768beast
I’m so headed in this direction, but I don’t know which tool to use first. Runway ML, adobe or Sora. I’m in Columbus too!
I'm not a big fan of generative AI, so my recommendation would be to start with Adobe After Effects. There are a lot of resources available to start learning it.
Also, hi fellow Ohioan!!
Hi there, is there any way to learn Motion Design using Final cut pro and Apple Motion or another 3rd party program, or is Adobe After Effect the only option?
The best tutorials are in After effects. However there are other softwares such as Calvary and Rive
There are a number of other tools out there. Motion and Rive, along with more 3D programs like Cinema 4D or heavy compositors like Nuke.
I think if you're looking to learn the software, After Effects is a great entry-level tool, and has the best resources available to learn it. Then you can decide what you want to learn next!
JONAH HILL??
more like seth rogan
Why does he talk like that? Weird.
These videos are getting so stupid. He is literally describing he is running an agency, working with only contractors. Liek bro, this is so stupid. You have a "design system" but for motion design, congrats. Lol.
i see $500K. i subscribed
In his first year after 10 years of experience...