EDL 009: Elevating Drone Life – Interview with Keith Stancil from NasvilleDrone on Building a Successful Drone Business

Welcome to Elevating Drone Life, the podcast for drone professionals !! Elevating Drone Life is a podcast for drone professionals by drone professionals. It is a podcast that takes you on a journey through the exciting and ever-evolving world of drone technology. Each episode, we'll be speaking with professionals from all walks of the drone industry, Drone U Elite Instructors and members to learn about their experiences, insights, and tips for success. We'll explore the latest trends in drone technology, dive into real-world applications, and uncover the unique challenges and opportunities facing today's drone pilots. On our show today, we talk to Keith Stancil from NashvilleDrone.co on his journey, drone life and thoughts on becoming a successful drone business owner. In this episode, Keith from NashvilleDrone.Co shares his fascinating journey from the music industry to the world of drones. Keith discusses his early experiences with music, starting out by working with big names like the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the directors of Ocean's 11, Keith discusses his pivot to drone world during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how he transitioned into drone flying and video editing. In their conversations, Rob and Keith explore the importance of branding, social media content creation, and leveraging skills from previous industries to grow a successful drone business. Keith opens up about the challenges and successes he faced in building his drone business, the editing software efforts and techniques that have worked for him, and how he's managed to stay hands-on with his production rather than outsourcing. They discuss the significance of a strong portfolio, networking, and keeping a constant circle of connections to ensure continuous business growth. In addition to his business insights, Keith dives into his experiences with various drones, including his work with Phantoms and the current fleet he uses for projects. He also shares his involvement in SkyHymnal, the first drone-based artist, and his journey with Drone U—highlighting the value of membership and coaching calls for drone entrepreneurs. Keith also shares his experiences in the drone business, discussing the challenges and strategies for pricing, community building, the importance of taking action and networking that lead Keith to a $28 million project. Keith wraps up the conversation by sharing three essential tips for aspiring drone entrepreneurs: how to pursue opportunities, network effectively, and grow a business in the drone industry. Whether you're looking to purchase a drone, manage drone tech, or navigate the world of drone entrepreneurship, this episode has valuable insights to help you succeed. Tune in and learn how to plan, grow, and succeed in the world of drones! Get your questions answered: https://thedroneu.com/. If you enjoy the show, the #1 thing you can do to help us out is to subscribe to it on iTunes. Can we ask you to do that for us real quick? While you’re there, leave us a 5-star review, if you’re inclined to do so. Thanks! https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-drone-u/id967352832. Become a Drone U Member. Access to over 30 courses, great resources, and our incredible community. Follow Us Site – https://thedroneu.com/ Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/droneu Instagram – https://instagram.com/thedroneu/ Twitter – https://twitter.com/thedroneu YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/droneu Timestamps: [03:11] Learn more about Keith Stancil, his journey in the music industry and getting into the Drone Industry during Covid [15:19] Keith's early days in the drone industry and how his business grew gradually over the years [19:57] Outsourcing efforts vs building your craft and content in-house and scaling business [23:15] How Keith has structured his company as he grew his drone business [29:35] The importance of building a strong portfolio for your business and work on the first drone based artist [39:23] Building relations to constantly keep your business growing. [41:51] Drones used by Keith for his work and why he couldn't work with the Phantoms [44:56] How busy is Keith currently? What are his ongoing projects? [49:26] Keith shares his journey with Drone U and benefits from membership and coaching calls. [01:02:21] Keith shares 3 trips for enterprising drone business owners on growing business