scope: client-account - A Rye Valley delivery decision about how we structure and price the Gem Studio engagement.
- Date: 2026-10-05
- Decider(s): Michael Houck, Tatem Lindner
- Status: decided
Decision
Send Matt James a proposal structured around three videographer options, with wife-as-videographer as the preferred option (justified discount, neutralizes secondary-decision-maker risk). Base is $6K/month + IRL add-on TBD; wife’s account bundled at roughly 75/25 effort split.
Context
Matt James (Gem Studio) will not sign without a local Utah Valley in-person filming partner. No other agency has solved this for him. The team debated three sourcing paths. Separately, his wife being a co-founder and secondary decision maker is the top risk for content quality and approval speed.
Options Considered
- Source a professional Utah Valley videographer via personal connections or local influencer network. Upside: most credible to Matt. Downside: may take a few days; traditional videographers price wrong.
- Client-supplied intern or family friend coached by Tatem. Upside: trusted relationship, potentially more authentic footage. Downside: coachability is limited without baseline video experience.
- Wife films. Upside: solves videographer problem, justifies a discount, shifts accountability for her footage onto her, neutralizes secondary-decision-maker dynamic. Downside: bandwidth constraint if they have young kids.
Consequences
- Michael sources Utah Valley options before sending the proposal (personal connections first, influencer search parallel).
- Proposal includes all three options; present wife-films as a genuine recommendation, not a fallback.
- Pricing: base $6K/month, 3-month minimum; IRL add-on TBD; wife's account at a bundled rate below full $12K.
- Follow-up meetings file: Gem Studio - Matt James JOLT Sales Call, Gem Studio Post-Call Team Huddle