so ive been flying for about two years now, got my part 107 last spring and ive been doing a few real estate gigs here and there but its not really adding up to anything consistent. mostly just weekends and the odd job that comes through a friend of a friend. i'm starting to wonder if full time drone work is actually realistic or if everyone who says theyre doing it professionally is just supplementing their regular job income.

like i see people on instagram talking about drone cinematography and making it seem like they're booked solid all year but that cant be everyones reality right? i'm in a mid-size city not like NYC or LA so maybe thats part of it. just curious what the actual breakdown looks like for people who've been in this longer than me. is it mostly real estate, or are there other avenues worth pursuing that i might not be thinking about.

honest answer - most people i know doing it full time are doing a mix of stuff. like real estate is kind of the bread and butter but its also the most competitive and the margins keep getting squeezed because every guy with a mini 3 thinks he can underbid everyone. the people i know who are actually comfortable are doing inspections, cell towers, roofing, that kind of thing. less glamorous but the clients are commercial and they dont haggle over $50 the way a realtor will.

also location matters a ton. i moved markets two years ago and the difference was night and day. not saying you need to relocate but its worth looking at where the demand actually is near you rather than just assuming its not there.

im kind of in the same boat as you honestly, part 107 and doing it on the side while keeping my regular job. i did try to go full time for about 6 months and it was rough. maybe i just wasnt marketing myself well enough but the feast and famine thing was stressful. went back to my day job and now i just take the drone gigs i actually want and it feels way better. not the answer youre probably looking for lol but thats my experience