I'm back!
Quick and simple for the Twitter generation:
Is it worth the $200 to attend? Probably
Is it worth the $2000 - $6000 they try (and succeed) to get people to pay before it's over? Very Probably NOT
I fully expect that those that did sign up to be in the SkyEYE network will disagree with my second statement, and to them I say, "You go girl!" Or maybe, "Fly. Be Free." (Just don't ever be cheap or Diego will bust your chops.)
OK. Now that we're too far down for the low-attention-span group. Let's get to the meat.
My background is in business and marketing. I have an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing and Media. I was there on the ground floor for personal computers, the World Wide Web, cell phones, smart phones, DVRs, and a ton/most of the other tech that never amounted to anything (google/search: Apple Newton). I love emerging tech, and being that I'm also a photographer, videographer, and life-time RCer, drones are a convergence of lots that I love. I also believe drones have tons of potential.
So, why did I say that this course is not worth the $2000 - $6000 that I was literally sickened to see so many people pony up?
The oft-refuted but true answer is because making money is hard! Sure there are people out there that are rich who don't look like they had to do anything to earn it. RESULTS NOT TYPICAL! They say it in every infomercial, and it's all over the small print of the contract that you sign at the end of DCL (Drone Command Live) to become part of the SkyEYE network. (Right before it says that they can kick you out and shut down the whole service whenever they want.)
Sure, YOU CAN GET RICH FLYING A DRONE. And at DCL they mention early on that many got rich in personal computers and the internet. "Don't you wish you were there on the ground floor?" Of course they don't bring up the percentage of those who did vs. those who tried. Nascent technologies take years of long hours and risk to bring to market in a lucrative way.
"But drone technology is already advanced, and they're so easy to fly." EXACTLY. I was amazed that DCL could be populated by equal parts people who were expert drone flyers and knew their expertise would mean success, and first-time drone flyers that seemed to feel every bit as confident. If drones are so easy to fly that anyone can do it, how much are people likely to pay you? At DCL they actually mocked video editors as being a dime a dozen - "Why bother with video editing when flying drones is where the money is?" If I do say so myself, video editing is a lot harder than drone flying. I could never fill a room with video-editing enthusiasts and have half of them flying Adobe Premiere on their first attempt. And still, I'm willing to concede that video editors truly are in ample supply. What can you easily infer then about drone flyers? That's right. In a year, anyone that wants to be one, WILL be one. Just like virtually anyone that wants to be computer user is one.
Who remembers that for years Computer Operator was a job title? That's because for years computers were crazy hard to operate. Can you imagine anyone ever advertising the service "smart phone operator?" Or even "smart phone trainer." Think about cameras. For decades they were cryptic, complex devices, where you never knew what you'd get until hours or days later when your film was developed. So, if you had mission critical photography, you'd better hire a pro. Digital photography changed all that. And now the demand for photographers is becoming like the demand for valets. "I'm not paying you because I can't do it myself. I'm paying you because I don't want to do it." Name any job where that can be said and people are well paid (and not in a union).
Technology is advancing so quickly now it's eliminating jobs before they're ever created. The "computer operator" phase of drones is virtually over. They can already be pre-programmed to fly exactly where you want them to go, in advance, using an app. They take off and land themselves, AND they'll automatically avoid obstacles - while you sit back and watch everything on your iPad. So why would you pay a pilot? (Admittedly, for the few months left that these high functioning drones cost too much for some, maybe there's a business in drone rental.)
And now I can almost hear the cries "Drone pilots are skilled professionals!" Maybe from the same group that believes a touchscreen could never replace the cashier. Again, let's say they're right. Are you drawn to professional drone piloting so that you can be paid and treated like the last remaining cashiers at Wal-mart?
"But what if I have a bunch of drone pilots working under/for me?" Now you're on to something, and the DCL folks will tell you that, too. (Possibly because they've got some sort of MLM aspirations for their SkyEYE network.) Unfortunately, starting a business with lots of minimum wage employees working under you takes start-up capital - lots of it. Especially when your minimum-wage soldiers are each armed with ~$2000 in weaponry. Those businesses may happen, but my guess is that they won't be started by anyone at DCL. At least not anyone who paid to be there.
So what's the best way to make money with drones? The Drone BOSS answered that question himself, though not many seemed to hear it. He admitted that in 20 years of flying model aircraft he never made more than enough to cover the gear UNTIL he figured out a way to sell services to everyone else that wants to make money flying drones.
The same model has been used to make money in real estate investing, eBay selling, stock trading and anything else that people want to believe is easy money. But the facts don't change. Making money is hard, and the first step never is signing up to make 8 monthly payments of $900 - as I saw two very nice teenage boys do. Hopefully, they're young enough to learn/recover from their experience.
So, why did I say it's probably worth $200 to attend? They let you fly drones! And if you listen, there is a lot of valuable information presented, by seemingly nice people. That said, I should note that the marketing information they present his very heavily skewed. It is carefully worded to make it seem like the only way to succeed in business is by using marketing approaches that just happen to be the exact same ones they offer for $2-6K at the end of the seminar. Also good is that there is a lot of knowledge about drones in the room, and nice people who are very anxious to share. That is why it was ultimately so hard for me to see these nice people carefully and skillfully (and entertainingly) flim flammed.
Diego is very good at what he does. And his family seemed genuinely kind and sincere. But like I've come to learn about the circus - go and enjoy the spectacle, leave your wallet at home, and remember what PT Barnum never actually said "don't be a sucker."
FWIW
Quick and simple for the Twitter generation:
Is it worth the $200 to attend? Probably
Is it worth the $2000 - $6000 they try (and succeed) to get people to pay before it's over? Very Probably NOT
I fully expect that those that did sign up to be in the SkyEYE network will disagree with my second statement, and to them I say, "You go girl!" Or maybe, "Fly. Be Free." (Just don't ever be cheap or Diego will bust your chops.)
OK. Now that we're too far down for the low-attention-span group. Let's get to the meat.
My background is in business and marketing. I have an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing and Media. I was there on the ground floor for personal computers, the World Wide Web, cell phones, smart phones, DVRs, and a ton/most of the other tech that never amounted to anything (google/search: Apple Newton). I love emerging tech, and being that I'm also a photographer, videographer, and life-time RCer, drones are a convergence of lots that I love. I also believe drones have tons of potential.
So, why did I say that this course is not worth the $2000 - $6000 that I was literally sickened to see so many people pony up?
The oft-refuted but true answer is because making money is hard! Sure there are people out there that are rich who don't look like they had to do anything to earn it. RESULTS NOT TYPICAL! They say it in every infomercial, and it's all over the small print of the contract that you sign at the end of DCL (Drone Command Live) to become part of the SkyEYE network. (Right before it says that they can kick you out and shut down the whole service whenever they want.)
Sure, YOU CAN GET RICH FLYING A DRONE. And at DCL they mention early on that many got rich in personal computers and the internet. "Don't you wish you were there on the ground floor?" Of course they don't bring up the percentage of those who did vs. those who tried. Nascent technologies take years of long hours and risk to bring to market in a lucrative way.
"But drone technology is already advanced, and they're so easy to fly." EXACTLY. I was amazed that DCL could be populated by equal parts people who were expert drone flyers and knew their expertise would mean success, and first-time drone flyers that seemed to feel every bit as confident. If drones are so easy to fly that anyone can do it, how much are people likely to pay you? At DCL they actually mocked video editors as being a dime a dozen - "Why bother with video editing when flying drones is where the money is?" If I do say so myself, video editing is a lot harder than drone flying. I could never fill a room with video-editing enthusiasts and have half of them flying Adobe Premiere on their first attempt. And still, I'm willing to concede that video editors truly are in ample supply. What can you easily infer then about drone flyers? That's right. In a year, anyone that wants to be one, WILL be one. Just like virtually anyone that wants to be computer user is one.
Who remembers that for years Computer Operator was a job title? That's because for years computers were crazy hard to operate. Can you imagine anyone ever advertising the service "smart phone operator?" Or even "smart phone trainer." Think about cameras. For decades they were cryptic, complex devices, where you never knew what you'd get until hours or days later when your film was developed. So, if you had mission critical photography, you'd better hire a pro. Digital photography changed all that. And now the demand for photographers is becoming like the demand for valets. "I'm not paying you because I can't do it myself. I'm paying you because I don't want to do it." Name any job where that can be said and people are well paid (and not in a union).
Technology is advancing so quickly now it's eliminating jobs before they're ever created. The "computer operator" phase of drones is virtually over. They can already be pre-programmed to fly exactly where you want them to go, in advance, using an app. They take off and land themselves, AND they'll automatically avoid obstacles - while you sit back and watch everything on your iPad. So why would you pay a pilot? (Admittedly, for the few months left that these high functioning drones cost too much for some, maybe there's a business in drone rental.)
And now I can almost hear the cries "Drone pilots are skilled professionals!" Maybe from the same group that believes a touchscreen could never replace the cashier. Again, let's say they're right. Are you drawn to professional drone piloting so that you can be paid and treated like the last remaining cashiers at Wal-mart?
"But what if I have a bunch of drone pilots working under/for me?" Now you're on to something, and the DCL folks will tell you that, too. (Possibly because they've got some sort of MLM aspirations for their SkyEYE network.) Unfortunately, starting a business with lots of minimum wage employees working under you takes start-up capital - lots of it. Especially when your minimum-wage soldiers are each armed with ~$2000 in weaponry. Those businesses may happen, but my guess is that they won't be started by anyone at DCL. At least not anyone who paid to be there.
So what's the best way to make money with drones? The Drone BOSS answered that question himself, though not many seemed to hear it. He admitted that in 20 years of flying model aircraft he never made more than enough to cover the gear UNTIL he figured out a way to sell services to everyone else that wants to make money flying drones.
The same model has been used to make money in real estate investing, eBay selling, stock trading and anything else that people want to believe is easy money. But the facts don't change. Making money is hard, and the first step never is signing up to make 8 monthly payments of $900 - as I saw two very nice teenage boys do. Hopefully, they're young enough to learn/recover from their experience.
So, why did I say it's probably worth $200 to attend? They let you fly drones! And if you listen, there is a lot of valuable information presented, by seemingly nice people. That said, I should note that the marketing information they present his very heavily skewed. It is carefully worded to make it seem like the only way to succeed in business is by using marketing approaches that just happen to be the exact same ones they offer for $2-6K at the end of the seminar. Also good is that there is a lot of knowledge about drones in the room, and nice people who are very anxious to share. That is why it was ultimately so hard for me to see these nice people carefully and skillfully (and entertainingly) flim flammed.
Diego is very good at what he does. And his family seemed genuinely kind and sincere. But like I've come to learn about the circus - go and enjoy the spectacle, leave your wallet at home, and remember what PT Barnum never actually said "don't be a sucker."
FWIW
