November reminds us of all the things we have to be thankful for, including the upcoming deals that await us on Black Friday (November 29th) and Cyber Monday (December 2nd)! It’s the time of year when we think we’re rich and indulge ourselves with hundreds (ok, maybe not that delusional) of good deals.
If you are planning on buying some new film or audio equipment, or are considering finally subscribing to a professional SaaS tool to make your creative life easier . . .
I have picked a handful of useful products and services that independent creative freelancers should consider acquiring at some point, and that usually offer great deals at this time of the year. This is a prediction based on deals of Black Friday and Cyber Monday’s past. We’ll be linking to the active 2019 deals once they become available online. Let’s have a look, shall we?
If you are a creative professional, chances are that at some point in your life you have edited on Premiere or After Effects. Maybe you even created a poster for your promo with Photoshop. With more than 20 services currently in the pack, the regular price may be prohibitive for some - especially for those who lost their student discount.
What’s the deal?
Through 11/29, Adobe is offering up to 40% off Creative Cloud for Individuals, Businesses, and Students in the following categories:
+ Individuals: All Creative Cloud Apps for US$29.99 / mo (US$52.99/mo)
+ Businesses: All Apps for US$59.99 /mo (US$79.99/mo) or Single Apps for US$24.99 / mo (US$33.99/mo)
+ Students: All Apps for US$15.99 / mo (US$19.99/mo)
Pro Tip: If you already have a plan, you can cancel it, but check how much you would have to pay if you haven’t finished the annual cycle yet. Normally, it’s 10% of the rest of the monthly payments. In general, it’s worth it, even with this clause.
2. Final Draft
You can always edit your script on your preferred word processing software to meet master scene requirements (the film industry standard), but, if you want to be a pro, play like a pro. The tool not only makes the task easier but also offers other resources, like a beat sheet. Once you buy it, it’s valid for life.
Update: The 2019 Black Friday deal is ON! Get Final Draft 11 for only $159.99 (marked down from $249.99). Current Final Draft customers can upgrade to the latest version for only $59.99 (marked down fro $99.99).
Visit the website and sign up for their newsletter to be the first to learn about their deals.
3. MasterClass
Who doesn’t want to learn from creative masters like David Lynch, Jodie Foster, Aaron Sorkin and others? That’s why MasterClass has created an All-Access subscription, allowing students to watch as many classes as they want.
Sweet. What’s the deal?
Last year, it was 2 subscriptions for 1, so find another Tongaler and be prepared. Tongaler Kyle Elliott has written a post about how we makes the most of his All-Access Pass.
4. B & H
I’d be remiss to not include a place for finding good deals on production equipment. B&H has basically everything you need for production, including cameras, tripods, microphones, etc. You may find what you’ve been looking for all these months with a great discount.
Show me the money!
In the past, deals have been pretty wide-ranging, from $1,000 off a Macbook Pro to $31 off a Seagate 8TB External Hard Drive. BUT, it’s also good to check their regular deals and compare.
If Final Draft is the must-have software for professional screenwriters, Final Cut Pro is the way to go for video editors. You can still use other tools, but professionals generally prefer to use this one, due to the large amount of resources and kits available.
Deal or No Deal?
Though Final Cut Pro is usually reticent about offering discounts during the high holidays, iTunes gift cards go on sale in all sorts of places! So be sure to check out Costco, Target, and other major retailers for deals on iTunes gift cards, which you can in turn use on purchasing Final Cut Pro in the Apple store. That said, plenty of Final Cut Pro plug-ins go on sale around the holidays.
6. Blinkist
How many books did you read this year? How many made you wish you hadn’t spent so much time on them? Blinkist saves you the time, providing you with book summaries that you can listen to on the go. Sometimes you just need to get the main idea to use it on a project or check if it is worth reading the full book. Or just to look smart in conversation.
Deals, please!
Blinkist usually has some kind of deal happening, but they had a big 50% off deal last Black Friday. Tip: Try a free 7-day trial to see if it’s something you might enjoy.
7. IKEA
IKEA? Hear me out, folks. How many hours a day do you spend sitting in front of your computer? Are you comfortable in your seating arrangement? (Are you even on a desk at this moment, or laying on the couch?). Okay, you got the point. Investing in your posture is investing in your future!
What’s the deal?
In 2018, IKEA offered $25 off purchases of $100 or more. And if you’re a member IKEA’s loyalty program, IKEA Family, you can expect even better deals on furniture and more, starting from 25% off.
Bonus Deals - Lightning Round!
Here are our other can't-miss Black Friday brands for filmmakers and creatives:
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Note From Tongal: “7 Best Deals For Creatives For Black Friday & Cyber Monday 2019" is part of a series of Tongal Community-written blog posts that were originally sourced in the Tongal Blog Open Call Project. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Tongal. Read more Tongal Community-written posts here and then Pitch us a topic you'd like to write about for the Tongal Blog!
