CACHE VALLEY RENDEZVOUS
Cache Valley Rendezvous the early years, when RENDEZVOUS seemed like it would go on forever… and some years, (in the rain) it seemed like it did.
About 1998 I was comfortably accepted with my camera by most folks at CVR, so I discontinued any Mountain man competitions I had been involved in, and I began participating full time as a camera man. In 1999 I gave out over 150 copies of a 20-minute VHS tape that I had edited from my 1998 tapes. This was my first published video, and I had invested a lot of time and money into making it available.
The videos I took in 1999, (the last of the century) I again invested a lot of time and money in producing a video to sell in the year 2000. Anticipating as much interest as I had with the “Free” video and wanting to get a price break on production, I grossly over ordered on this one. However, enough people purchased a copy, that I felt it was fairly priced, so I never did offer any discounts on this video, although I had to bury a huge inventory.
By the turn of the century I had gained a limited audience with my “FAMILY STYLE” videos. However, my next production wasn’t ready until 2002 so I combined two years together to try and keep up. I defined my video editing technique as “Family style”. I defined “Family Style” as “That’s what makes a one-hour video last ninety minutes!” It wasn’t about short attention spans, it was about the people involved, Cache Valley Rendezvous has a sense of Family to it. I was learning about marketing too, (there was no inventory left over from this production,) but that was too little too late. The hours it took me to edit five or so hours of video down to even “Family Style”; I could not keep up with it, and still keep a full-time job.
I continued going to Cache Valley Rendezvous, but only taking pictures. When folks would ask about my next video, I told them that It will be after I retire, but that was a longtime away (back then).
Time has its way of passing by, and it did. I retired in August 2013 and released my next video at the rendezvous 2014. My marketing skills had not improved, everyone wanted “Last Year’s video”, not 2003!? Before I could correct my marketing error, (and edit last years video) there was no next year to market it in. So, it ended.
2003 ls the only DVD I currently have available in (limited) INVENTORY. It lasts about an hour. A good editor could cut it down to less than 10 minutes. But ‘ol Tracker calls that a “TRAILER!” So, it’s okay if you only have time to watch the “Trailer by Tracker” I hope you enjoy it! If you want to see more, contact me to purchase a copy.
A little History about my Cache Valley Rendezvous (CVR) videos:
Around the turn of the century I edited four different VHS videos for sale of the Cache Valley Rendezvous. 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. However, I could not justify the long hours spent editing videos while I was still working full time, so I put the editing part on a back burner. I did continue to take videos each year, figuring I can edit them after I retire.
I retired in 2013, and the following year I released Cache Valley Rendezvous 2003. I was excited to release my first CVR video in the DVD format. However, it didn’t take long to realize my error, picking up where I had left off ten years earlier. The question I was asked most often was, “What about the videos you took last year?”
The strategy for my next release immediately became to release “Last Year’s video. “ I could work my way back into history as time allowed. But, before that ever happened, it was literally “The Last Year!”
When the Cache Valley Rendezvous ended at Left Hand Fork, (2014) so did my potential market for another video release.
Now with a New Rendezvous site (this web page) maybe some ideas can bring about a renewed interest, (in some new way) to make it worth my time to blow the dust off some of those old tapes, 2016 was my last official year of taking videos at the Cache Valley Rendezvous, held at the American West Heritage Center, July 22-24.
I don’t care so much about selling the videos, as I do making connections with some of the folks who remember me taking them. It has been too long, in my opinion, and soon will be too long in our existence. Many of the kids I would not recognize, but if you recognize me, send me a comment let’s get to know each other. If you know me, just as important, I will commit to answering comments and consider it much more personal than Facebook.
I don’t know if I will ever see enough interest in any one given year to bring back the old “Cache Valley Videos” like I use to edit them. But you don’t need to feel sorry for ‘ol Tracker because of that, I have enough other video projects in mind that I can sure stay busy with NEW, (Check out my YouTube channel, if you like what you see, please Subscribe) and OLD VIDEOS, I have videos from last century that may never see my editing screens: Hunting Trips, Events (like Peach Days) and Others. Heck, I even have some old videos of the Barron Woolen Mills before it went away and into history.
One of those projects (mentioned above that I have in mind) is a General Interest Rendezvous DVD! After all, I have 25 years of CVR videos to pick and choose from, and all the various activities I have documented over the years. It sounds fun, (even to me) but it will be a project of epic proportion. It will take upwards of 2000 hours, just to watch the video I have to choose from, and that’s almost a full year of eight-hour days!
I have a few 2003 videos left in inventory, and those I have advertised for sale on this website. I plan to get 1999-2002 from tape, onto DVD, and I will let you know about them when they become available.
Well I am just very excited to have this new “Rendezvous Site” (website) for a location to re-connect with many of those I lost contact with when the old Cache Valley Rendezvous went away. Equally as important, are the kids that remember me, I would like to hear from you (this old mountain man will apologize in advance, but kids are always kids to old geezers, no matter their age!) So, have patience with me and I will try to learn from you.
I just need some help figuring out how to make this site interesting enough to have you come back once in a while to check on me, (and see what might be new) so If you have any ideas I could consider, let me know.
My Highest Regards
Tracker
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FEATURED VIDEO
Cache Valley Rendezvous Video 2003
Only $29.99 + S&H