Mistakes to Avoid When Producing a Music Video

There are over 300 music videos on YouTube that have reached a billion views, including “Gangnam Style” by Psy, “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran, and “Sugar” by Maroon 5.

Music videos create a stronger connection to the song and the artist, allowing for a new experience. Some of the most influential pieces of video content are music videos, and it’s easy to see why.

Yet, this also shows how important the music video production process is. Every step should be taken carefully and deliberately, and you should always have fun with it.

If you are considering creating your own music video, you have some preparation to do.

Read our guide below to find out what mistakes you should avoid in the music video production process.

Using Low-Quality Equipment

If you want to make a high-quality music video, then you need to invest in high-quality equipment.

This will allow you to create clear, crisp video and sound that will be easier to edit and manipulate later.

High-quality camera equipment can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to completely break the bank. There are options out there that are just a few hundred dollars but produce professional-looking videos.

Most current smartphones have professional quality cameras, too. Just be careful of the mobile phone’s camera becoming blurry or unfocused, as this can ruin entire shots.

Your Camera Quality Is Shaky

Along with investing in high-quality equipment, you should also look into buying stabilizers. Nothing is worse than spending a day shooting just to find that all you have is shaky footage.

There are tons of different kinds of stabilizers, such as tripods and gimbals. Most of them are pretty cheap but will make a significant difference when it comes to video quality.

This is especially important if you are using your smartphone, but should be considered even with a professional camera.

Of course, you can always choose to hold your camera in your hand as a stylistic choice or even make it shaky for a few frames. Overall, though, focus on stabilizing the camera as much as possible.

Not Spending Time on Pre-production

Pre-production is, perhaps, the most crucial step for a video production company.

Planning your music video will take time and money, so having the details in order will prevent any missteps from occurring.

You’ll want to have the entire story of the video planned out, so you know what resources you’ll need. It’s a good idea to create a budget, so you know what you’re working with way ahead of time.

Hiring actors, buying costumes, and finding someone to do hair and makeup are all vital pieces of the puzzle. It would help if you also created a timeline for when you want to get each part completed so you know you will stay on track the entire way through.

As the producer, it’s up to you to keep things on schedule and ensure they are successful. The more prepared you are, the better your chances.

Not Overshooting

Creating video content means over-creating video content. You should always shoot more footage than you think you’ll need, doing more takes than may seem necessary.

If you get into the editing room and don’t have enough footage, you have a much bigger problem on your hands.

You should always go into a shoot with planned shots and angles that you want to capture. As you conduct the shoot, do what you planned, and much more.

This may not be necessary for more seasoned music video producers, but for beginners, this is a surefire way to get good content.

Not Blocking Out Enough Time

Shooting your music video will take much more time than you think it will. You will most likely do more shots than you think, especially if you plan on overshooting.

Anticipate for things to go wrong because they probably will. Something will happen that will take more time than you expect. If you have to rush the project, it will show.

Take your time filming, so you know you have everything you need. Make sure all of the cast and crew also have enough time blocked off.

Hiring Your Friends as Extras

When making a music video, you need to keep everything as professional as possible. This will create an atmosphere of hard work, which automatically means better quality.

So, while you may be tempted to hire your friends to dance around on set, it’s not a good idea.

Instead, hiring professional extras will bring your music video to the next level. They are trained to blend into the background while performing just the right amount of acting.

You should also hire professional dancers if you have any dancing in the video.

If you want the video to scream amateur, then bring the amateurs. Otherwise, it’s best to invest in professionals.

Not Visiting the Location Ahead of Time

It is essential to visit your location ahead of time, even if you are sure everything with it will be fine.

Some private property looks quite public, and if you don’t obtain permission ahead of time, you could get kicked out of the location before you even start shooting.

The place you choose may look good but be filled with noise from traffic. Or, it may not look as good during certain seasons. Avoid this mishap on the day of, and visit beforehand.

Become a Master of Music Video Production

Music video production isn’t as easy as some may think. You can’t just go outside, dance around, and call it a day. It requires meticulous planning, resources, and a creative mind.

Luckily, it’s also an enjoyable thing to do. Keep this article handy so you always know what not to do.

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