Resources for Travel Architects
How to get your flight to Iceland paid for with small gigs
Highlights
- Operators expect video content in return for the free stay, so give them that as part of the deal
- Then offer each operator one small paid gig, around $100 to $150
- Six or seven small gigs on one trip can pay for your flight
Start with what operators expect
Many new Travel Architects set up a big video gig as their first listing. Three reels in 4K with hooks and editing for $900 is a common one.
The content itself is good, and it's what operators want. But most operators see that kind of content as what they get in return for the free stay. When it shows up with a $900 price on it, they feel they're being asked to pay twice, and they usually stop replying.
So agree on the video in the conversation as part of the stay, and deliver it well. That's the deal. Doing it properly is also what makes the operator open to paying you for something extra.
Small gigs you can sell on top
Good first gigs are things you can make from footage you're already shooting, that take you an evening or less, and that an operator can say yes to without checking with anyone. For example:
Other good ones are a photo of each room type, or 15 photos sized for their booking page. Both around $120.
You only need to set these up once. After that they show at the top of every conversation you have with an operator.
An example we're doing right now
In this one the drone shot was part of the deal, done in return for the free stay. The text overlay on top was sold as a small gig.
The drone footage cost the operator nothing beyond the stay. The overlay is what they paid for.
Do the math on your flight
Unless an airline is sponsoring your trip, nobody else is paying for the flight. The stays, tours and car can all be deals, so the ticket is the cost to aim at.
A week in Iceland usually means six or seven operators. If each of them buys one small gig, it can look like this:
| Operator | Small gig | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse, ReykjavíkNight 1 | 10 extra edited photos | $100 |
| Glacier tourDay 2 | 3 story clips | $120 |
| Bubble hotel, South IcelandNight 2 | Drone clips | $150 |
| Farm hotel, VíkNight 3 | Room photos | $120 |
| Cabin, HöfnNight 4 | Booking page photos | $120 |
| LagoonDay 5 | 3 story clips | $100 |
| Car rentalWhole trip | 10 extra edited photos | $120 |
| Total | $830 |
This is an example. Ticket prices depend on where you fly from and when you travel.
If your return ticket is around $750, that covers it, and you still have all the footage from the trip for your own channels.
How to ask
Ask in the same conversation where you agreed the stay, after the deal is settled. Keep it short. Something like:
While I'm there I can also cut 3 short vertical clips for your stories. $120 and you'll have them 3 days after I leave. Want me to add that?
The operator pays in the conversation, and the money is released to you when they accept the delivery. If they say no, you still have the stay and you deliver the video as agreed.
When to offer the bigger package
Keep your bigger gigs listed, but don't lead with them. After you've delivered the deal and a small gig, the operator knows your work and has left you a review. That's a better time to talk about a bigger package, for example for next season or a new room they're launching. Most of your larger sales will come from operators you've already worked with.
Create a gig