Q: What are the advantages of videoconferencing?
A: The Problem —
Until this very day, the Internet has been of little use to Jim in coaching his clients in their performances as comedy often involves facial expressions and stage business that demands split-second timing.
The "jaggies" we associate with web video interfered with transmission so badly, Jim never knew what a client was really trying to show the coach.
Whenever Jim digitized a client's video tape to put it online, he'd be required to make several passes with the video codec program before Jim could finally get the exact gesture, etc., to show up.
What a pain!

In the past, clients had two workaround options if they wanted to show their split-second timing, :
1) video tape themselves, then snail mail/FedEx the tape and call up for Jim's notes on their writing and performing while they were also viewing a copy of their video tape on their end.
or:
2) spend over $3,000 flying Jim across the country, putting him up in a hotel and feeding Jim for a week or longer; all this required weeks of advanced planning. If illness or business conflicted, then:
a) the client's investment could be partially or totally lost.
b) Plus, really learning to be a world-class speaker or stand-up comic takes 3 months to a full year.
Jim needed to be seeing what the client was actually doing on a weekly basis.
c) Visiting them a few times was not a viable compromise.
Nuts!

The solution —
Jim can now see your split-second timing instantly.
Anywhere.
Any time.
Jaggy video caused by skipping frames is yesterday's news.
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Why do I want to show Jim's a new bit right away?
A: Instant feedback from an expert can save you time.
It takes literally 10 times longer to re-memorize a change in your act or speech than it takes to memorize it in the first place.
Besides, do you want the bit to be just funny or do you want it to be hysterical?
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Q: How does this new technology work?
A: Jim now has a super-fast Internet connection of 4-6MB/second!
FYI: that's beyond 12 times faster than a residential DSL at 128-384kbps connection
and 4-6 times faster that a business T1 at 1MB/sec.

This means that Jim will now be able to offer you coaching at full-motion, 30 frames per second (fps) video wherever you are in the world.
...Jim will have access 24 hours/day, 7 days a week.

Just thought up a hot new bit? — Need a last minute appointment to get Jim's instant feedback?
...No problem!
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Q: What do I need on my end?
A: We can videoconference on even a 28-56K connection at up to 15 fps which is not bad considering that most web videos-on-demand are displayed at 10-12 fps.
For most coaching needs, this works.

However, for full-motion video which is smooth like you see on TV, you would need at least:
1) a 350kbps connection (most residential DSL lines can do this; "Symmetric ADSL" can do 384kbps); at 4-6MB on Jim's end, Jim's got plenty of headroom to receive all of whatever you can send via your flavor of broadband.
2) minimum system requirements: a desktop or notebook PC with 233 MHz Pentium II processor, or the equivalent on the Macintosh platform, etc.
...Yes: you can be on a PC one day and a Mac the next day as Jim's software solutions are "cross-platform".
3) a very inexpensive webcam connected via USB or FireWire.
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Q: Why does Jim need 4-6MB/second?
A: Jim needs the extra overhead to make sure he gets all your signal. Plus, some clients may have the ultimate in fast corporate, government and entertainment industry connection speeds which Jim must match.

Remember, whatever presentation skills you want, "Comedy is a fast-lane profession!"
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Q: Can you help me find a workable broadband solution that doesn't cost a mint?
A: If you are having trouble finding a viable broadband solution in your area and/or deciding from a multitude of options, Jim can advise and lead you to a solution costing half of what you may think you need to pay for this crucial service.
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Q: How can I show you a VHS video tape immediately after my presentation?
A: If you want to show Jim a short video tape section from a presentation you made that night, an inexpensive adapter which goes between a VCR and your online computer can send it to Jim over the Internet. Or you can just point your webcam at a TV screen to instantly show Jim various segments, etc.
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Q: Does the webcam have to be on me throughout our appointment?
A: We can turn the webcam part of videoconferencing on/off; no biggie.

Plus, you still get a free phone call and avoid those high International phone rates.

You can use either:
1) a webcam connecting to your PC via USB or
2) a camcorder connecting via FireWire.

If you are in a shared bandwidth situation, Jim's can throttle the bandwidth throughout your appointment; so, you only broadcast to Jim at the full 30fps when necessary.
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Q: Can this also work for team-written sitcoms and keynote speeches?
A: We can do all those script writing and script conference calls now via videoconferencing which can show all our faces and scripts at the same time on everyone's computer screen.
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Q: Is there an extra cost if I use more than one computer— at work, home, on the road, etc.?
A: This coaching solution is all about perks and portability, for your nomadic "anywhere-now" lifestyle.
  For an angle on where all this is heading, please read this Monday, 11-18-02 New York Times article (you have to register with nytimes.com the first time you visit their site but you only have to register once and it's free):
Free: New York Times WiFi article

In fact, you can do all our videoconference coaching appointments on someone else's computer just as easily.
1) software you will need on your end will be provided free of charge and installs automatically.
The number of computers you want to put the software on is irrelevant: friend's PC, ones at work, ones you encounter on the road, etc.
It only takes a 1-5 minutes set up.
For free!
2) Jim's coaching fees remain the same whether or not you wish to use the videoconferencing option; Jim can turn it on/off instantly at anytime during a consultation.
3) In fact, with the videoconferencing option there are no long-distance phone charges, either in the USA or Internationally.
...In short, this option is all perks for you.

If you are traveling with your laptop and webcam, you should be able to have videoconference coaching appointments via the Internet connection in most hotel rooms.
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Q: Can I see free examples of Jim's Home Study Program on the web right now?
Is it designed for people at all levels in their career?
A: Jim's home study programs have been available in audio tape/workbook format for well over a decade, condensing his 187 lecture hours down to 1,200 pages of workbooks and 21 hours of audio tape.

Jim's materials have proven useful to comics and speakers from Beginning through Advanced levels:
1) Some beginning comics have gotten stuck with the label "open miker" for months or even years, then came to Jim and ended up getting work within weeks and gone on to become headliners with careers.
2) Some folks have worked with Jim after first being in show business or business speaking, slugging it out on their own for over 20 years.
The result of Jim's coaching and his help with their writing has meant renewed career paths and mushrooming economic fortunes.

And these world-class professional comics and speakers continue to blame Jim for their successes, as you can see on the "Client Quote" web page.
In fact, the day this web page was initially published, Taylor Mason emailed Jim at 8am, Monday, November 18, 2002:
"Jim - I really like your new stuff; looks like you're vital and professional and prepared as ever.
Way to go! I am very impressed.
Taylor"

You can take a peek at some of Jim's materials right now:
http://www.jimrichardson.com/study.shtml

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Coaching & Co-Writing Your Act or Business Keynote Speech—information can be found at:
http://www.jimrichardson.com/coach.shtml

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