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QuoteI am finding to have a decent song video done locally/ professionally is up there! $ 1,500.00- $2500.00 and no doubt it can go up even more.
Could anyone suggest how they have made a high quality, pro-like, engaging video (posted to website and You-Tube) and what the cost was?
Thanks!
Dawn
Find a film student. -craigslist, or just put up signs at a college nearby. I've had great luck and a bad experience too. But the Good one definitely out weighs the bad. My most recent video http://www.deanfields.com was made for $150. Its not the slickest video ever. But it does the job getting the vibe across. We're not doing any stunts and the video pretty much uses footage from the actual album cover shoot. But thats what helped cut down on costs. Good Luck!
DRESSED HIS WIFE UP LIKE A HORSE FOR HIS NEW ALBUM COVER
http://www.deanfields.net
Dean Fields said:
Find a film student. -craigslist, or just put up signs at a college nearby. I've had great luck and a bad experience too. But the Good one definitely out weighs the bad. My most recent video http://www.deanfields.com was made for $150. Its not the slickest video ever. But it does the job getting the vibe across. We're not doing any stunts and the video pretty much uses footage from the actual album cover shoot. But thats what helped cut down on costs. Good Luck!
Thanks so much Dean! Very helpful and I really enjoyed the video, your voice and the song! I also loved how your wrote your bio, very real. Dawn
10:17 pm
June 10, 2011
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Hi Dawn,
I just started working with video this past year, and I am finding more uses for it everyday. Last week I even filmed a "private concert" I did at a campground when I had a night between gigs on a road trip, and I plan on using it as a "give away" to everybody on my mailing list.
My setup is very simple and inexpensive. I bought a Zoom Q3 video camera for about $200, a used tripod for $20, and downloaded an editing program called VideoPad Video Editor for about $50. My earliest video's were kind of grainy looking, because I was still learning how to use the camera, but I am getting some fairly decent vids now. So far all my sound tracks have been done with the two built in microphones on the camera, but with the video editing program I am able to add and/or edit separate audio tracks as well. From there I just burn them onto DVD's with my computer, or upload them to You Tube and embed them in my websites, press kits etc.
I am in process of moving and completly re-building my main website, but if you want to see some of the videos I have done using the above method and equipment, go to http://www.gregparke.com
I am leaving for another road gig for a few days, but I will be happy to answer any questions you may have when I get back early next week.
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
Hi Greg
So incredibly helpful!! Your comments and experiences greatly appreciated.
This form/group has be invaluable!
Be well on the road!
4:19 am
June 7, 2011
Offline
Hey Dawn,
As Dean mentioned, Craigslist is great. Going through my list of friends has always worked well for me as well. Seems there is always a talented photographer or editor in the mix. You can post jobs on sites like scriptlance.com if you are looking for someone to do something like animation. And of course with all the cool computer programs and apps out there, you can do a lot on a small budget. Stop motion is something that is cheap but also looks really cool.
I've done a few videos for free with friends that came out great.
All that really matters for what we are trying to accomplish here is that you connect with people enough with your video that you inspire them to take further action and sign up for your list. So it doesn't have to be expensive. it just has to be cool. Hell, a web cam and an acoustic guitar can do more then you'd think when it comes to connecting with fans.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
I think John is right that "a web cam and an acoustic guitar can do more then you'd think when it comes to connecting with fans." I've seen so many awesome videos with so low a traffic! And I think this is a matter of promotion.
I thought you might find something interesting in 2 videos that I've done myself. I spent nothing, only a lot amount of time with editing because I wanted to try some "artistic" ideas. I used a cheap handy camera, only natural light and for editing I used Sony Vegas – sometimes they have free trials for a month, so you can use those to create some cool videos for free, 'cause virtually all the effects you need are there).
6:55 pm
June 10, 2011
Offline
I have a couple more examples of the acoustic guitar and camera approach. I just posted these on You Tube this morning. One was done when I was playing at a gig, and the other one was done in my studio with a black cloth on the wall behind me, and some stage lighting. They were recorded on a Zoom Q3 camera, using the camera's built in microphones. The lighting is a bit too intense, and it washes everything out at times, but I didn't have Francis Ford Coppola on the payroll either! Let me know if you have any comments, suggestions, questions…
I'm going to post these links in Charlie's You Tube Strategy thread too, because I have a few You Tube related questions, and I think this is the wrong thread for that!
Here's the links: (BTW, if any of you are Soldiers or Veterans, this song is for you!) If you listen close, right after the guitar solo, you can hear where I didn't get my looper shut off at the right time. I figured I might as well use it anyway since this is obviously a live video, and shit happens!
I experimented with the audio on this one. The camera I was using has 3 microphone settings, high, low and "automatic" which is a very crude compressor, prone to pumping. On the high setting, the audio was overdriven, and the low was about -15 to 20 db. I recorded it on the low setting, and then boosted the audio with my editing program. Not the best way to do things, but for YouTube, I think it is reasonable. Unfortunately this camera has no direct audio input other than it's built in microphones, but it does record at CD quality, or better, if you set it up that way, or even MP3 if you want to save memory.
The camera seems to take much better quality vids in better light conditions, which obviously these weren't! As soon as I get some more time, I want to try making a more serious video using an actual sound track recorded in the studio, and better camera work, but for now......
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
11:53 am
June 10, 2011
Offline
Don't bother trying to watch those videos in my last post. Somehow Google got my old, rarely used YouTube account mixed up with my newer one. I wanted to cancel my old one to avoid some confusion. I had my old account open, took the steps needed to cancel it, and instead my newer one with all my video's, likes and views got canceled, along with my user name that I also use on other sites. Appearently I am not the only one this has happened to since Google took over YouTube......I found a long list of very unhappy complaints!
If you use YouTube, be very careful about making any big changes in your accounts. Once an account has been canceled, even if it is their screw-up, you cannot ever use that user name again
What would a jam session with Gordon Lightfoot, Collective Soul, and Damien Rice sound like?
Check out Greg Parke and you’ll have a pretty good idea!
8:35 am
June 10, 2011
Offline
Dean Fields said:
Find a film student. My most recent video http://www.deanfields.com was made for $150. Its not the slickest video ever...
Hey, my friend! That's a sweet video. For $150, that definitely qualifies as a score. Congrats!
8:35 am
June 10, 2011
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Hmmm...somehow that got posted twice. Or else the margarita is giving me double vision. 🙂 Goodnight all...
Ha. Thanks Charley. Yep, 150 bucks. Basically we just filmed the making of the album cover. But the videographer did an amazing job of making 3 hours of standing around in a horse mask look like 2 and a half minutes of a good time. Perhaps its best enjoyed with a margarita? Ill keep that in mind when I ask people to check it out!?
DRESSED HIS WIFE UP LIKE A HORSE FOR HIS NEW ALBUM COVER
http://www.deanfields.net
11:19 pm
June 7, 2011
Offline
That is a great video Dean. Very cool. Just shows how you can make anything that is visually appealing into a video with the help of a little editing.
Hmmm, maybe I'll take the video camera with me to grocery store next time I go shopping 🙂
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
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