here you go, its a breeze with asterpix.
http://www.asterpix.com/console/?avi=7942311

Nat, thanks for creating video /w embedable link to shoes w/ your application. I'll give it a try.

Can users add their affiliate links so that they can get commission?

Hi Doug,

Thanks very much for the review of Overlay.TV. This is exactly the type of feedback we are hoping for during our beta period. It just so happens that the example video was on a localized YouTube source which had a minor problem. We've patched the issue and here’s our take on your Overlay:

http://www.overlay.tv/overlay/703

Regards,

Tyler

Tyler,

Thanks for tech. update - I'll give it another try, and for creating the video with the shoe link.

There are many ways that overlay apps can be used in dance - to highlight specific steps and choreography, and to highlight a video section and link directly to more information - and probably other possibilities as well.

so... I followed the links to both asterpix and overlay to watch each video and see how their approaches differ, and what I noticed the most is that the overlay technology had the ability to turn the placement off and on at will, which I appreciate.

oh, and kudos to finding the exact shoe overlay. They're so sexy.

The video posted by 'Doug' and 'Tyler' (do people use their real names here?) was perfect. The updated video shows off inspiring footwork, and, after following the embedded link in the Overlay.tv video, I've been guided to a new pair of abfab shoes!

It's really something else that everyday users can so easily create content like this at Overlay.tv and earn a part of the profits. (Unfortunately, it appears that Asterpix doesn't share profits with its users.)

Lovely sites, GreatDance and Overlay.tv.

Thanks again, gentlemen.

Best wishes!

Claire

Is it April 1st? Is this a joke? Maybe what dance needs to do is create some video/film worth watching then we can talk all day long about the utterly crass idea of clicking on the clothes they are wearing to sell something. Not everything has to be a commercial opportunity to sell ad-space.

Michelle,

I'm obviously serious - I don't see why dancers and dance companies should not at least explore different approaches to product placements in their videos. As I wrote above, this possibility will appeal to some and not to others. And the tools and applications for creating these types of overlays and embeddable links will continue to improve and offer a range of possibilities.

Plus, there are many different approaches to these video product placements from blatant marketing to more subtle offerings. And similar possibilities exist for raising donations directly through video content.

the fact that you're obviously serious is what concerns me here. dancers are not billboards to be clicked on. that may be ok in the commercial world (where creative skill gives way to trashy choreography) but all of the dancers I know would rather quit than have themselves used in such a way.

this is the same nonsense that classical ballet companies get away with when they sell out their dancers to wealthy promoters for "contact" reasons. lines need to drawn. dancers need to get aid and get paid well for what they do, but like this is not the way.

I have to disagree with Michelle. As a dancer I do what I do because I love it and because I want to make a living at it. If I make a living at dance by selling shoes then so be it. We sell ad space in our programs and on our websites because WE want to make money not to promote altruistic ideas.

Of course it would be nice if dance that was good art made money but it does not. Modern dance is not a classical art form and ballet was straight up prostitution for a time. It survives with wealth because it has a tradition of having wealthy people support it for the worst of reasons. This is why the money for "contact" method is still employed in ballet. A dance with half dressed girls being cute will make much more than a dance addressing Hurricane Katrina. The same is true for movies and other media. I would much rather depend on my ability to generate income selling shoes than to have governments or foundations giving me money.

Why it is seen as a good thing to have dancers accept handouts for making good art but not generating income by selling products that people want to buy.

The National Endowment for the Arts does not give money to individual artists anymore. There was a great battle in the 1990's and the artists lost. Dancers stopped challenging, exploring, defying anything that was controversial and instead live with a fear of offending the Christian right and their propaganda machine. Not because there are not people on our side but because our government stopped innovation in the arts and is now stopping innovation in our schools by rejecting art.

Your government is perhaps a lot more generous than ours. We have not recovered from the 1990's and artist with companies have the obligation to serve the community in order to get large grants. Artists who have something to say in places other than senior centers and elementary schools don't have a place in the society like we once did.

I agree that videos need to get better but sometimes trash is so nice to look at.

that the US Federal Government doesn't appropriately support the arts is the fight you need to fight. there's nothing wrong with ads in programs or other places but like I said, there are lines you shouldn't cross and the notion of clicking on body parts that are effectively being used as ads is not the way to go. it's objectifying your dancers and it will only diminish your work, not support it.

I am going to the bank with this idea/platform!

Thanks again Doug for all your hard work in digging up the most valuable information on Dance Arts Marketing on the web!

MUAH!
xoxox

shoshana

Obviously, artists need to get paid. And it does matter HOW we get paid. The current reality, unfortunately, is that advertising pays for stuff. Lots of stuff.

That said, investigating new revenue streams for online video is very, very important. Very important.

Here is one I thought quite interesting, though still currently tacky:
http://blogs.mediapost.com/search_insider/?p=725#comments

Samsung recently released See'N'Search. As you watch something, Samsung scans the video for closed captioning, using the text in closed captions to generate ads.

How can these ads be a bit more relevant, targeted, and...well...not tacky? Perhaps we will see a revolution in advertising...