Good "side hustle"?

[sam_gordon]

So I think this would be a good side hustle at least for this fall, and maybe going forward. But, I'm not sure about the demand, and what the cost would be.

Many activities for kids (youth through HS) are probably going to limit attendance. So, if someone would offer a way to live stream the activities (probably via Youtube). It can be done for plays, recitals, sports activities, etc, and can be as simple (just one camera with a wide shot) or as complicated (multiple cameras, graphics, etc) as someone is willing to do.

I've been thinking about this because my kids play school soccer (we find out tomorrow if we have a season). I *THINK* I've come up with a way to live stream the games so parents who can't attend (or family/friends elsewhere in the country) can watch. I had a lot of the parts needed lying around, so I may have spent $100, then it will be $20/month for a Mifi to provide my internet (which I hope will be fast enough). This will be one camera, and have a score on the screen.

It actually isn't hard to setup.

Would there be a market for that? What do you think a team would be willing to pay? Per event? Per season?

This is just a fun hypothetical at this point, I'm not going into business. But it kind of makes me wonder once the kids are out of the house...

 

[cabanafrau]

Be aware, most groups geared for minors have restrictions in place about using their images and parents have to sign off.

 

[sam_gordon]

Be aware, most groups geared for minors have restrictions in place about using their images and parents have to sign off.

Obviously the group would have to give permission.

 

[barkley]

i think if it's going to be done with all the legal aspects covered then it would be cost prohibitive. when dd was taking film classes at college they took a class on what was entailed to legally film and show said film either in a free or pay for platform-releases from property owners (so if games-city or county that owns site, school plays/activities-school boards/associated districts), all participants/observers (if a sporting type event where you can see them in stands/sidelines), all parents of minors in said events/as observers...when i served on the board for a community theater we got lots of requests for filming rehearsals or productions that we had to decline b/c the contracts to do plays more often than not prohibit it with massive fines if discovered.

 

[sam_gordon]

i think if it's going to be done with all the legal aspects covered then it would be cost prohibitive. when dd was taking film classes at college they took a class on what was entailed to legally film and show said film either in a free or pay for platform-releases from property owners (so if games-city or county that owns site, school plays/activities-school boards/associated districts), all participants/observers (if a sporting type event where you can see them in stands/sidelines), all parents of minors in said events/as observers...when i served on the board for a community theater we got lots of requests for filming rehearsals or productions that we had to decline b/c the contracts to do plays more often than not prohibit it with massive fines if discovered.

Good point. Anything with works of art (music, plays, etc) comes with it's own hassles that I didn't think about. I would think for a sporting event a sign at the entrance (or included on the ticket) saying something about the event being streamed and if you enter into the facility, you understand and acknowledge, blah blah blah. It's on tickets now if you go to a professional event.

 

[barkley]

I would think for a sporting event a sign at the entrance (or included on the ticket) saying something about the event being streamed and if you enter into the facility, you understand and acknowledge, blah blah blah. It's on tickets now if you go to a professional event.

you would still need to get the sport venue's permission as well as parents from every team. it might work for a league that could facilitate a mass acquisition of releases from their member's parents but if it's a school then you end up dealing with kids from different schools/different districts/different counties...and unless all games are held at the same sporting location then all those individual permissions.

 

[cabanafrau]

Obviously the group would have to give permission.

All of the parents involved would likely need to sign off. If one refuses, or more, makes exhibiting a soccer game pretty tricky, and makes live broadcast a non starter.

 

[sam_gordon]

you would still need to get the sport venue's permission as well as parents from every team. it might work for a league that could facilitate a mass acquisition of releases from their member's parents but if it's a school then you end up dealing with kids from different schools/different districts/different counties...and unless all games are held at the same sporting location then all those individual permissions.

All of the parents involved would likely need to sign off. If one refuses, or more, makes exhibiting a soccer game pretty tricky, and makes live broadcast a non starter.

I guess in my mind, I would leave all of that up to the team/group.

 

[lanejudy]

Pre-COVID, the local cable access channel here recorded and later broadcast many of the school events. They also sell copies. Most schools already have a "blanket" permission that if your child participates in certain activities they may be recorded.

Plays and some music do get into stickier copyright issues. There are some plays our local channel cannot broadcast. I know local churches had issues with video recordings blocked by Facebook for copyright issues (i.e., videos of the church choir singing).

 

[cabanafrau]

I guess in my mind, I would leave all of that up to the team/group.

That's not how that works.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I think there would definitely be a market for it, as long as the leagues found it easy to get parent permission. - But I really think most of the parents would jump at the chance to “invite” grandma and grandpa to the game virtually.

 

[Southernmiss]

There's a lot of livestreaming on Facebook and YouTube videoing and Zooming of events in my area. Free to some degree. Not necessarily as good as in person or using professional equipment, but still working.
I would think that there will be parent volunteers for groups doing this and with budget cuts and the lack of fundraising now due to Covid, I am not sure that an organization would have the funds to pay much for such a service.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

In college my son’s games were broadcast through the school’s website for free. But he did play on a summer team out of state whose games we could watch via the team website, but we had to pay $8 per game. I was happy to pay it to be able to watch the games since we were 6 hrs away. But sometimes I had to contact them to say the camera was crooked, the sound was off, and things like that so it wasn’t the most professional set up! Didn’t matter though; it was still better than nothing. It’s a good idea if you can get past the legalities. Young families might not be able to afford that much especially if they have multiple kids playing sports or doing other activities.

 

[mjkacmom]

In college my son’s games were broadcast through the school’s website for free. But he did play on a summer team out of state whose games we could watch via the team website, but we had to pay $8 per game. I was happy to pay it to be able to watch the games since we were 6 hrs away. But sometimes I had to contact them to say the camera was crooked, the sound was off, and things like that so it wasn’t the most professional set up! Didn’t matter though; it was still better than nothing. It’s a good idea if you can get past the legalities. Young families might not be able to afford that much especially if they have multiple kids playing sports or doing other activities.

I remember watching a couple of soccer games this way, has to pay. I also pay a yearly fee to watch live streamed track meets, but there are also services included in it like storing my kids’ stats and tracking their times and ranking them.

 

[sam_gordon]

I would think that there will be parent volunteers for groups doing this and with budget cuts and the lack of fundraising now due to Covid, I am not sure that an organization would have the funds to pay much for such a service.

It's amazing how many people are "scared" of technology. My kids have been playing soccer for 10+ years now, on school teams as well as travel teams, and I have yet to hear of someone live streaming one of their games. Sure, there are parents that record games (I found one game my son played in posted on Youtube), and last year I posted the travel teams' games on Youtube.

I figure most colleges probably have this capability set up, so that's why I was thinking HS age and lower. And I'm thinking exactly like @PollyannaMom said, many families would be excited to let grandparents (whoever) watch the game. I did a test of my system at home and sent the link to my mom. I called her to see if she was getting it ok and she said "wait, I would be able to watch the games?"

Funny aside to that... DS was just shooting baskets when I was doing the test and he had his speaker going. I didn't think anything of it, finished the test, and an hour later got a notification from Youtube that I had violated the copyright policy because of the music. No problem, I just take the video down. But I did learn I need to provide my own allowed music during all the pregame stuff so I don't pick up the music played through the PA system.

 

[soccerdad72]

High school sports, at least here in Ohio, have laws and regulations through the governing association (OHSAA here) regarding broadcasting athletic events. I know that playoff games in the past were only permitted by a specific cable company and streaming was a pay service that they contracted with.

With spectator restrictions being in place this fall, I know that they have loosened a few rules, but I still think that streaming is limited to companies that have contracted with the state association.

 

[gotomu212]

If you are doing this for commercial purposes (ie charging money for this service) you should talk to a local lawyer about the laws in your state and city. As a private photographer I can take pictures and video anywhere in public where there’s no expectation of privacy (this varies by location for kids too).

If I’m charging someone to take photos I need location site waivers and city permits. If I’m commercially selling videos I need to get signed waivers or blur background faces and can’t have stray logos (someone can’t walk by with a coke can in the shot for example). Every city and starts varies and I have to check in on local requirements when somewhere new. As soon as you make money though and it’s not a fun parent thing you’re doing for the team, a whole host of requirements and restrictions kick in.

 

[gotomu212]

you would still need to get the sport venue's permission as well as parents from every team. it might work for a league that could facilitate a mass acquisition of releases from their member's parents but if it's a school then you end up dealing with kids from different schools/different districts/different counties...and unless all games are held at the same sporting location then all those individual permissions.

Just to add to this most waivers you sign for kids sports say the organization/school can photograph you and use that material. What OP is asking is for others to allow a third party vendor to make money off their kids’ images. That’s a very different kind of waiver and a lot of school district legal offices would not be down for that unless it was a well established business with a solid reputation.

 

[gotomu212]

I would think for a sporting event a sign at the entrance (or included on the ticket) saying something about the event being streamed and if you enter into the facility, you understand and acknowledge, blah blah blah. It's on tickets now if you go to a professional event.

Sorry for the multiple posts, multi-quote isn’t cooperating for me, and wanted to help address this. The waiver on the ticket and at the professional events are giving the venue and ticket seller permission to use your image- it is not giving Bob in section 135 permission to sell your image (totally fine for him to record you and post it on his personal FB page as haha look at this funny guy dancing at the game, NOT okay for him to SELL a video compilation of Funny guys dancing at ballgames on VHS”. The waivers do not extend to third party commercial use.

The venue could contract with you to run their video cameras but then they own all rights and distribution.

 

[sam_gordon]

Sorry for the multiple posts, multi-quote isn’t cooperating for me, and wanted to help address this. The waiver on the ticket and at the professional events are giving the venue and ticket seller permission to use your image- it is not giving Bob in section 135 permission to sell your image (totally fine for him to record you and post it on his personal FB page as haha look at this funny guy dancing at the game, NOT okay for him to SELL a video compilation of Funny guys dancing at ballgames on VHS”. The waivers do not extend to third party commercial use.

The venue could contract with you to run their video cameras but then they own all rights and distribution.

Not trying to be argumentative, I'm genuinely curious... when you go to a professional sporting event (or some college events), you can end up broadcast on TV. The broadcaster is making money doing the broadcast, and they're not getting waivers signed. So what's the difference?

Thank you for your insight.