We were lucky to catch up with Domonic Crane recently and have shared our conversation below.

Domonic, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

Like most people, I’ve always been a dreamer, telling myself, “One day I’ll do this or that,” and romanticizing this potential future in my head. But one huge step you can take in life is to risk failure. That’s why we often stay in the “what if” stage and never actually do anything.

I’ve seen what my future could look like: working a 9-to-5 job with a boss I don’t get along with, at the same company for 10+ years. I was working as a video editor, producing stale, corporate content full-time. Every day started to feel the same. I found myself asking, “Why am I doing this?”

So, I decided to quit what I considered a fairly unhealthy working environment to find something that truly gives me purpose.

After some soul searching and a few freelance gigs, I stumbled upon the world of teaching and have never been happier in a work environment. I get the chance to instruct and inspire others, and they inspire me right back.

My more recent risk was starting my own business. I embarked on this journey because I needed a challenge and was tired of sitting still. Sure, who doesn’t want to earn some extra money with a side hustle? But the monetary aspect wasn’t my motivation. Opening Big Buddy Rental Studio was a huge undertaking, but I loved every second of it.

For me, the journey will always be better than the destination.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My background is in the film industry, having worked as a videographer, editor, and now as an instructor at a college.

I started Big Buddy Rental Studio after seeing the potential in the rental studio business and combining it with my love for vintage aesthetics. The idea was to create a unique, creative space for photo and video shoots at an affordable price. After building the concept, I brought in my friend and now business partner, Nick, and together we transformed an old building into the studio it is today. Nick and I drove all around Central Florida, going on side quests to acquire all the materials and set pieces that make our studio what it is. And, of course, we ended each hard day’s work with our ritualistic Double Cheese.

Our studio stands out from other local studios because of the custom, vintage-inspired sets and props I’ve handpicked. The space was designed to inspire other creatives and allow them to bring their productions to the next level. One of the main problems we solve is providing a high-quality, affordable alternative to traditional studio rentals. Our target demographic is people who want something different—whether it’s a set that feels more authentic, creative, or just outside the box.

“Big Buddy Rental Studio” is a nod to an inside joke between my co-founder, Nick, and our friends. I’ve always called people “Buddy,” and over time, we started calling each other variants like “Little Buddy,” “Big Buddy,” and even “Micro Buddy.”

To us, being a “Big Buddy” is a term of endearment, so it felt like the perfect name for the studio.

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

I think the phrase “live and learn” definitely applies to the creation and construction of our studio. Personally, I came close to dying multiple times. I won’t bore you with all the details, but one situation that stands out was when I tried to install a new wall outlet. I accidentally grabbed a live electrical wire, sending the full mains power up my arm and through my body. It was, to say the least, shocking… bah dum tss. But seriously, be careful with electricity!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When starting a business, I think it’s important to set low expectations and prepare to work harder and spend more money than you initially planned. There were definitely moments when I wanted to give up while building out this business, especially when things weren’t going as expected. One situation that stands out was when a pipe burst due to a botched plumbing job by an unreliable handyman. Of course, I was at the studio alone at night, running around like a chicken with its head cut off, frantically calling handymen and the landlord for a solution. Meanwhile, the studio was literally being flooded by a tsunami of water.

Another instance, ironically, happened while I was in the process of answering these questions for this interview. We experienced a random act of vandalism when a car driving by smashed our front display window. Thanks to the help of my business partner, Nick, we were able to tarp the window and get it fixed a couple of days later. However, it wasn’t a cheap fix!

The moral of the story: Expect the unexpected, and no matter what happens, don’t give up.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Bigbuddystudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigbuddystudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Big-Buddy-Rental-Studio/61560707656140/