How Paulo Closed A $10K Retainer - - Master Filmmaker Review

What's going on, guys? I'm here with one of our clients, Paolo, who just closed a 10k retainer. What's going on, man?

How are you? How you doing, Eric? Good, good. How are you, dude?

I'm very well, I guess. For anybody who maybe doesn't know you, do you mind just giving us a little bit background on yourself and kind of what you do and how you get started here in the kind of the video world?

Yeah, sure. So I am the founder and owner of Arrowwood Creative, which basically just came from me being a one man band kind of video production guy. You know, I shoot, edit, direct, do kind of everything. And so I wanted to just kind of create something for myself that had like a brand name and all that kind of stuff. And my journey so far has just been kind of like gig work here and there, you know, either editing a little short video here or shooting another video there. And I wanted to kind of just take everything to the next level. And I would be seeing master filmmaker stuff over and over again on Instagram.

Harassing you on social.

Harassing me? No, I mean that's how it works. You're just knocking on the knock. One day I opened it and spoke with you guys and I think it was just like a right time for me and where I'm at in my career that I wanted to take the next step and yeah, so I went and started following your program and started following what you guys teach and where I was at. To be honest with you, I was a little skeptical just because I didn't have a big track record when it came to like clients because like I said it would be like here and there and then I wouldn't see the person again. So I did have one off. It sounds like a lot of one offs. Yeah. And then also I worked on sets and stuff too, so I paid a lot and stuff. So, you know, stuff that I kind of produced wasn't a ton, but I was just like, you know what, I'm just gonna do what these guys are saying. And I followed, you know, some of the protocols you guys had and I used it on one client that I.

Nice little reactivation, 10k retainer, dude. Good way to get you started, you know?

Yeah, yeah, no, it was great. It was a great way to start the program because I feel like it's. I've been over a little over a month now and so it was definitely a good. Put some wind in my sales for sure.

Nice to have that traction. Right. Because that's like. Is this the first time you've ever done a retainer model?

Yes. Yeah. Nice.

I love it. How does it feel to have like be like, dude, I got a retainer now. Like how does that do? You feel like it's different? Like how does it feel to have more of like a structure like that now?

It feels more legit, to be honest. It feels more legit. It feels like cuz like with this specific client I, it was a little bit easier because I had a proven track record of like working hard for not that much money. So I was like working at like an hourly rate and all that kind of stuff and we pick up projects here and there and this just felt like I was just becoming more professional. So I had, you know, my offerings, I had it broken up and everything like that. So it just made everything more professional. And yes, when, when I was able to just charge more for my work, it feels a lot better and, and it just feels like, I don't know, I'm taking a step in the right direction.

Well, I feel like you started and you're like myself, I did this too. It's like you start more of this like technician role where you're doing everything, you're the person doing the doing. And now as you move into a retainer structure, it's going to help you build more consistency, you know, build people, build a team and kind of turn more into a business owner versus just that technician, you know what I mean? I feel like it really does help with that. I love it, man. And I guess like, was there anything that's been particularly helpful up to this point? Because obviously you're still going through the program, you're still implementing things that we're talking about. But is there anything that's been kind of helpful for you so far?

I think so. First I, if I just taking a step back is the retainer was great, but I think the first thing was just sort of like taking like a bird's eye view of where I was sort of at. That's was just more helpful. So it was like the case study first with the client, which then you know, you guys have a thing where it's like after the case study then talk about like what are some next steps. And so you know, I did that and, and then after that I got on calls and I started recording calls, which I never did before. So I think what the thing was most help helpful is just like checklist kind of stuff like hey, get the case study check. Okay, now that you got the case study with the guy, like See what. What other, you know, opportunities there are for more video check. So for me, it was just like a checklist because, like, there are things in the program of. I've thought of in the past of doing it should kind of just like, here and there, maybe. Like, for example, the case study. I thought of just getting a written case study. I was going to put, like, screenshots, and I was going to type stuff, and I was going to hand, like, it to people, and they were going to get it and never read it. You know what I mean? So, like, that's a good example.

I'm like, I always say it's not like I'm. I'm not like, this isn't some huge magic secret formula. It's like, we're making the right tweaks and we're helping you with the right little hinges that swing the big doors. Because it's like those little things, like, don't send the proposal. Do it on the call. Like, don't send this. Do it this way. Like, those literally make the difference in, like, you either close the 10k retainer or you don't close it, which these tiny little things make all the difference at the end of the day.

You know what I mean?

And that's really what we're just trying to kind of nose you in the right direction with, so. But you did the work, dude. I'm just a. I'm just a mere servant to you guys, helping you guys close deals, which I love doing. So, yeah, I love, and I love to see that momentum so far. And I guess, like, obviously this is kind of a weird question, but, like, obviously it was a big step to jump into the program to bet on yourself. Like, what? I guess, like, where do you feel like you might have been if you hadn't maybe taken that bet on yourself?

Probably still in the same position. I mean, you know, maybe I would have tried different things, but I feel like it's kind of twofold. It's like, one. I wouldn't have had, like, the kind of fire under my butt to, like, start to really move forward because this is an investment. So I didn't want to just, like, throw money away and stuff because, you know, and it's still a work in progress. You know what I mean? Like, I think you build confidence as you go. So I'm still in the beginning phases, but definitely I don't think I'd be able to get that retainer deal without your guys's help in the sense that, like, that checklist, you know, making sure. I'm hitting the right points and stuff with this client. It was easier because I did have, like, a track record, but still, I could have still fumbled the ball, even so, you know, so where I would have been, it might have. I don't know, maybe I would have never reactivated him. Maybe I would have been like, you know, that's in the past. Let me look for someone else. But, like, you know, so I think I'd probably be sort of in the same position and not, like, with this mindset of growth and retainer and stuff like that.

Well, dude, I'm happy you're. I'm happy you're with us and you're. You're gaining that momentum this year. Last question. I guess if anybody is.

Maybe.

Maybe anybody's on the fence, like, you were right. They're going through the case studies. They're looking at our stuff. They're on the fence. Like, I guess, what advice. Knowing what, like, you know now, what's on the other end of the fence. Right. But, like, what. What advice would you give to somebody who's maybe, you know, considering booking a call or speaking with our team?

Definitely at least book a call. I mean, there's no, you know, there's nothing. You don't lose anything with. Booking a call. Speak with these guys and see what they have to say. I mean, I will say this was my first kind of program like this, but you guys have been, like, so helpful and so, like, supportive. So there's that, too. You guys do give us, like, the. The techniques and stuff, but you guys are, like, always ready to, like, answer a message or a call or anything like that. So anyone that's on the fence, I think it's like, you're gonna have, like, a partner with you in your business that's gonna help you, like, you know, check off these boxes and stuff like that. So it's definitely worth taking this step if you feel like you're ready and even if you're kind of a little maybe not sure, like. Like I was still take the leap because there's going to be a lot of information here that it's just put together in a way that I don't think you'd find it anywhere else, so.

And do the work, too, is what I'll say.

And do the work.

I mean, that's not a magic pill. I always. I said in every single one of them, it's not a magic pill. Do the work, show up and commit to yourself at the end of the day is really what it comes down to.

And I'll say one last thing about that is it's an inspiring kind of group as well, because when you're on the Slack Channel and you're seeing people with wins and you're seeing people with questions and this, I think the community thing is a big pl.

Because yourself with. Right. It's like, yeah, it sounds cheesy and corny and whatever, but it's like, it really does make an impact at the end of the day.

Yeah. And it's motivating. So you're like, oh, man, this guy did that. And, wow, look at what that. And it's like, it's. It's positive. So, like, you want to be, you know, you want to post on the Wind Channel. You want to contribute as well. So that's been a big kind of push as well.

I love it, dude. Well, I don't want to take up more of your time. Let's close some more deals, and I'm excited to see where you go this year.

Yeah, same here. Eric. Thank you so much.

Absolutely.