Doing video at the US Nationals - camera for hire or with team?

[CameraFlyer101 0]

Are there experienced 4-way video guys that have done US Nationals in the past as either freelance camera or with their team? Could you please share your thoughts on these questions:

1. If you come as a freelance video dude, what are the chances of getting hired?
2. What is the average paycheck for a decent camera flyer at the Nationals these days?
3. If you travel with your team what is the usual deal? Does the team cover cameraman's tickets and jumps/fees for competition?
4. Any pros or cons for doing either freelance camera work or going with a team?

thanks

[PhreeZone 20]

Last year there were some freelancers that got picked up but mainly by throw together local teams that were there more for fun then anything. I can't expect they made much if anything beeyod their slot and registration. Any team worth its salt already has a camera and those that don't probally won't pay much to get one since Eloy is pretty full of locals with cameras.

Go with a team, you'll already know the team and will be less likely to bust an exit since you know them from practice jumps.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[Deuce 1]

Just do not undermine the locals.

There will be several teams that will break their camera flier right before Nationals, or other complications will have them seeking camera fliers.

I jumped as a mercenary the last two years with intermediate teams. It's great fun, and you are frankly better than nothing. Just let it be known on here that you are available and put an ad in the classifieds here too.

Don't oversell your ability, be honest.

This year I have a very serious Advanced team, and we'll have several hundred training jumps together by Nats. It would be really awful to take on an advanced team you hadn't jumped with before and took them out of contention with video busts.

If you have a successful history at previous Nationals you could be looking at something like slot, fees and $20 a jump. That's for a helmet with two good cameras.