A Ten-Year Rewind
In many ways, 2020 has proven to be a sh#%show. Yeah, we said it.
However, it also happens to be a pretty major milestone for us here at 6 STRONG MEDIA. So, instead of focusing on the uncertainty and negativity brought on by 2020, we're choosing to stay positive and to inspire hope while celebrating our 10th anniversary.
“When nothing's going right, go left.” That’s the mantra of 6 STRONG MEDIA Founder and Executive Producer Kris Simmons – and very fitting during these crazy times! As we kick off our anniversary celebration, let’s take a deeper look into the man behind 6 STRONG.
The Icebreaker
Coffee, energy drinks, or water? Coffee in the morning, energy drink in the afternoon, water whenever my wife reminds me.
Mountains or beach? Mountains.
Netflix or books? Netflix.
Football or basketball? Football.
Night owl or early bird? Night owl.
What is 6 STRONG MEDIA?
We are a full-service video production agency that specializes in video production, motion graphic animation, and camera crew staffing services. We have a massive network of talent that we have recruited and developed overtime including 200 + camera crews that we work with all over the United States.
Why the Name?
It’s simple. There are six people in my family, and we are six strong. 6 STRONG MEDIA is a lifestyle business created to ensure that I will be able to provide for my family and keep my family at the front of all I do. I also think it's a pretty killer name for a creative company.
What’s a Day in the Life of an Executive Producer & CEO Look Like?
Caffeine is my friend! As a business owner, I wear a lot of hats. Keeping the business on track with financing and cash flow combined with managing our team to ensure we are marketing the business and driving sales is always a big focus. Combine that with providing creative direction on all of our projects – going out on film shoots, working with editors, writers and camera crews. Days are pretty jam packed from the second I get here in the morning until the afternoon, or in some cases, the evening when I leave because there's constant competing priorities to operate at the speed our clients demand.
How has the business changed during the recent COVID pandemic?
How long is this article? (Chuckles.)
It’s definitely been interesting! In the beginning, much like every business, we were like "Is this really happening?" "Is it really going to be what people are predicting?" Then we started to have projects that had already been booked for weeks and months get canceled. I mean, I equate it to sitting at the airport looking at all the flights on the board and then all at once you just see, "canceled, canceled, canceled, canceled, canceled." So many of the projects we had on the books just evaporated. Once we saw the writing on the wall, we had to step back and ask ourselves, “How do we stay relevant?” “How do we keep customers engaged in the short term?” "What will our clients need from us?"
Good thing we are a creative company, because we had to get really creative. At the time, we weren’t allowed to film inside businesses, and companies were desperate for digital content. We reached out to current clients and pitched COVID packages (at severely discounted rates) which involved re-purposing footage we had on file from previous film shoots to create fresh content that could be shared online. This was a win/win. We were able to help our customers with a pretty substantial need while keeping cash flowing into our business.
Another big thing we did to pivot was to resurface our live streaming expertise and capability. The buzz word is now “virtual event.” We tapped into our years of event and live production experience and helped a lot of organizations produce virtual events, which helped them achieve their fundraising goals during a time when in-person events were impossible.
If you could have a business chat with yourself 10 years ago, what would you say?
I would tell myself that it's a lot more important to be small and strong than it is to be large and average. Keep growth slow. Let revenue drive the growth versus trying to grow so that you can drive revenue. Choose a business model that makes the most sense for your lifestyle and your risk tolerance.
What advice would you give an aspiring entrepreneur?
Two things: Start young. Start early. Start when you don't have all the responsibilities of family and bills and while you still have a lot of hustle and energy left in you. Second, you can't be afraid to fail. Don’t be reckless, but have confidence in yourself and the confidence that you can solve any problem that gets thrown your way.
What are you most proud of?
It's not sexy, but probably what I'm most proud of is the fact that we're still in business. When I was a much younger man, I would define success by landing a big client or getting a six figure project. However, to use a sports euphemism, it's great to hit a grand slam, but what you really want is a steady stream of singles and doubles. I feel like over the last 10 years, we've done a great job of building a very diverse client base by offering a diverse suite of products and services. I feel like that's what has enabled us to still be thriving - no matter what the economy throws at us.
What's been your biggest growth moment as an entrepreneur?
I think my biggest growth opportunity is to constantly think about how to stay relevant in this industry. How do I keep from turning into the “old guy?” How do I keep growing as a creative? How do I continue to learn new things and offer new ideas? Maybe in terms of a growth moment would be the point where I started to realize that I'm not a young buck anymore. Or, as my dad so often reminds me, "You ain't a Spring chicken!"
What is the secret sauce of 6 STRONG MEDIA?
The secret sauce is hands down our team. What makes us different than a lot of our competitors is that we are very good at managing very complicated projects and have lots of experience in a variety of sectors. Most important, we have a good time and try to make it fun and painless as possible for our clients!
Who's your favorite type of client?
Ooh. Somebody who pays well and who pays fast! (Chuckles.).
Seriously, my favorite type of client are those that are already successful in their own way but have massive potential for growth. I really love the small – to – mid-size manufacturers! As an entrepreneur and creative professional, you want your contribution to have the biggest impact possible, and it’s awesome when we can provide a marketing, training, or recruitment video that helps move the needle.
What's been the most fun video project that you've worked on?
Probably one of the most fun projects that I can recall in recent years has been the big Nokian Tyres grand opening week. We were in the plant many times as it was being constructed and got to see it come to fruition.
But, even more so than that, we were tasked with creating a video showing the durability of the tire. We drove trucks with Nokian tires out on mountain roads and in some really fun off-road situations. It was just so much fun - very freeing. Not only was it cool to actually see the product perform in that situation, but to be able to capture the beautiful scenery around our region. Really, it was not only the best of what this company had to offer, but also the best of what our community has to offer.
What does the future hold for 6 STRONG MEDIA? Look into the next 10 years.
My goal over the next 10 years is to continue to experience slow, steady and sustainable growth so that I can continue to provide the balance and quality of life my family deserves. Staying 100% focused on the needs of our customers and delivering great experiences for them will make that possible.
We Are a Creative Video Agency
6 STRONG MEDIA is a national, award-winning video production agency that helps companies grow. Our professional services include turn-key video production, motion graphic animation, video editing, and freelance camera crews. We offer our corporate clients and creative agency partners flexible pricing, top-quality work and lightning fast turnarounds, all while making the production process fun, easy and stress-free.