Todd Vaske (Agile Video)

Todd Vaske is the owner of Agile Video, a Twin Cities production company that creates video content for mid and large size businesses.

Born and raised south of the Twin Cities in Mankato, growing up Vaske rode his bike and played sports, and when he wasn’t locked into a physical activity, he was a genuinely amiable individual, seamlessly floating between social groups while exhibiting a reserved but respectful demeanor.

That congenial disposition followed Vaske to college, where he enrolled at St. Cloud State University to study Mass Communications.

When Vaske first arrived on campus, he wanted to become a DJ, despite one of his professors forewarning incoming freshmen of the financial pitfalls associated with that career path.  

“Get ready for minimum wage,” Vaske recalls having been told by that professor, but still the Mankato native was undeterred.

Then, during his last semester at SCSU, Vaske was recommended for a position with KDLH, a TV station in Duluth, Minnesota.

In true Vaske fashion, he mesmerized his potential employer, and the very next day was offered full-time employment.

“At that point, all my professors told me I got what I came for, and they all decided to give me A’s for the last semester,” Vaske says with a laugh.

Vaske worked in Duluth for a period before later accepting a position in Madison, Wisconsin with another TV station.

Madison, a revered college town, satiated Vaske’s multimedia aspirations for a few years, but when he was eventually clued into an unlisted job as a producer for a morning newscast in the Twin Cities, he took action.

“I reached out to the Assistant News Director at what is now FOX channel 9, and I told him that I was going to be their producer,” Vaske says, highlighting his straightforward approach.

FOX’s Assistant News Director was initially taken aback by Vaske’s direct language, but that person also found his tactics impressive.  

“And then after a six-hour interview, they hired me,” he says.

From there, Vaske continued to ascend, later landing a role as a producer with the Food Network, a role that allowed him to travel the country and expose his tastebuds to everything from acclaimed Texas BBQ to iconic Napa Valley Merlots.

“I’m a foodie now,” the St. Cloud State alum quips.

Vaske thoroughly enjoyed working for a major cable channel, but when his bosses parted ways, Vaske was suddenly on the move again.

In fact, he worked for four more video companies before opting to forgo accepting another salaried position with an established company.

Instead of securing 9-5 employment, Vaske then leveraged his vast knowledge of TV to build his own production company, the aforementioned Agile Video.

“That was back in 2019, and I just knew it was time to start my own business,” Vaske says.

Today, Vaske helps mid and large size companies create video content.

Much of his work is with companies in manufacturing, and Vaske notes that he gets a lot of referrals due to the quality training videos he and his team create for businesses.

“I’m naturally curious about how things work, and so I’m really good at taking something that might not be exciting, like a training video, and making it interesting,” shares Vaske.  

While manufacturing is a key industry he serves, Vaske mentions that he also likes to work in a variety of different fields, and that he hasn’t yet niched Agile Video into a particular sector.

Why?

Simply put, Vaske and his team enjoy learning from other businesses just as much as they do creating engaging video content.

“On a Monday I might go to a CPA firm. Then the next day I’m writing a script for Dairy Queen, and then the third day I might be at a construction site,” Vaske explains.

“Not having a specific niche keeps me engaged and ultimately leads to a better final product for my clients.”

Whereas some production companies in the Twin Cities pride themselves on serving only one industry, Vaske doubles down on his approach, this time remarking how Agile Video is also multidimensional in how they accept new projects.

“Our name is representative of our value proposition, in that we are very adaptable,” Vaske says.  

“Not only do we have clients in an array of industries, but we also cater our services to fit their unique needs. For example, we can do one short video, or a large production, but the key thing is that we take all the heavy lifting off our clients’ plates.”

This includes writing scripts, hiring outside talent, filming, and editing, all of which are necessary components of video production that other companies may not even consider at first.  

“For a lot of business owners, they have a lot of things going on, and they don’t want to spend time finding a place to shoot content. They don’t want to find actors or voice talent,” Vaske says.

“Of course, we want our clients to be involved in the production process because we value their input, but we also want to offer them a concierge-like service where we are making the process as streamlined and seamless as possible, which will allow them to focus on the things they are good at and enjoy doing.”

In other words, Vaske and Agile Video can take a concept given to them and turn it into several finished products.

“In my experience, clients don’t want to think about all the minute details that come with making videos. They just want things to be taken care of and to pay a fair price,” Vaske says.

To be able to offer this all-inclusive service, Vaske shares that he is not the most budget-friendly option available to people seeking a video production team.

For context, many of his projects cost around $5,000, depending on the time commitment and scope of work.

“I’m not the right person for every type of project,” Vaske admits.  

“But I’m always willing to give a recommendation to someone if I see that our vision and price points don’t align.”

If it seems like Vaske’s asking price is higher than other video companies in the Twin Cities, that’s because it is, but Vaske has also garnered a stellar reputation for helping mid and large size businesses, which includes a client list featuring recognized brand names like Dairy Queen and Marvin Windows, corporate entities who actively want to spend more money to ensure a project goes smoothly.

“Here’s the thing: if a potential client has a super tight budget and they’re looking for a lot of content, I’m probably not their guy because our work is more comprehensive and less focused on churning out video as quickly as possible,” he explains.

“In that sense, those types of clients ultimately would get a better service from a video company whose approach is less methodical and more volume-based, and again, if that’s the case, I’m more than happy to recommend them to someone else.”

Looking ahead, Vaske’s meticulous approach to video production will remain congruent with his philosophies of today, and while he has entertained thoughts of expanding to bring more value to more clients, there is no urgency for Agile Video to make a quantum leap.

“I do miss sitting in an office with an editor and having face-to-face conversations about projects, and so over the course of the next few years, I might try to get a small office and hire a few full-time employees,” he says.  

“But I want those employees to be people that I know will stick around for the foreseeable future because I don’t want to have to spend copious amounts of time building a team.”

Adds Vaske:

“And here’s why: I had a client who told me that in the past he worked with a company that always had high turnover, and he never knew who he was going to be dealing with on a project, and so I want to be the antidote to that and provide not only quality video service, but also give my customers the peace of mind of knowing that they’re being taken care of by people they have a relationship with.” QS

**

Today’s post is sponsored by realtor Caleb Carlson!

If you’re a Twin Cities homeowner or property owner who is looking to buy/sell, I personally endorse Caleb Carlson. 

A staple of the Twin Cities real estate market, Caleb has helped countless homeowners buy and sell properties. 

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or this is your fourth time moving, Caleb’s expertise spans all corners of the real estate market. 

To get in touch with Caleb, call or text the number 701-520-8569 to speak with him directly!