I’m going to show you how easy it is to shoot music videos as a side hustle. I wasn’t waiting for the phone to ring with work for music videos. I started contacting musicians on Facebook and Instagram and asking them if they needed someone. It took me less than 30 minutes to find my first client who needed help filming his latest video. This blog post will give you all the information you need about where to start to get your foot in the door with this lucrative side hustle idea!
The video shoot
The songs will typically be recorded first, and then the video will be shot. A crew of 10-20 people is usually on-site during the shoot, initiating many different tasks. It’s essential to have a director and a cinematographer in charge of directing and capturing the shots. The videographers are responsible for filming and audio recording, while the still photographers are responsible for photographing each scene as it happens.
There are also wardrobe stylists, hair and make-up artists, location scouts, production assistants (PAs), runners (who run errands for the director or other crew members), and many others who could be required. Using a call sheet template is an easy way to track all members of the music video shoot. The team is often working on set for 10-12 hours straight.
Editing the footage
The editor must first download the footage from a hard drive or the camera. The editor also works with the producer, assistant editors, and assistants. Downloading is followed by color correction, sound mixing, and the addition of music. It is not uncommon for sessions to last up to 24 hours at a time. Editing music videos requires an editor with advanced skills in storytelling and post-production. The editor must connect the dots between scenes and make sure that a story flows smoothly with the music. They should also be aware of overall time, focus on details to cut out unnecessary footage, and create a concise narrative.
It’s becoming increasingly common for a director of photography (DP) or someone else involved in shooting the videos to be able to edit as well, especially if it’s just one person doing everything, including the video for a single. The final stage involves adding text (often in the form of annotations), creating graphics, including effects, titles and credits before uploading it to YouTube or somewhere similar that offers video hosting services.
Marketing and distribution
Traditional distribution of media like CDs or vinyl is cumbersome. For many of the more prominent distributors, this has meant that they have ended up with warehouses full of CDs and vinyl requiring substantial investment in inventories. As digital downloads replace physical media, these inventories become less necessary and expensive for the distributor. The other significant difference is that physical media requires an additional distribution process of manufacturing, while digital downloads do not.
A key issue in distribution is digital download pricing. The artist needs a digital rights management system (DRM) that will restrict access and often require payment to sell music digitally. A small percentage of consumers will buy music without DRM, but most importantly, big digital distributors such as iTunes, Amazon, and others have built their businesses based on restrictions for digital media. However, these rights management systems are not freely available to many artists who do not fit the requirements of large distribution companies. This lack of standardization has meant that the proliferation and enforcement of DRM over devices and causes performance issues for some users. There is a massive push from the music industry to standardize DRM across devices which will make enforcement more manageable, but this could mean the end of creative solutions to digital distribution problems.
A wave of new start-up companies is trying to change this landscape by helping artists directly distribute their music to consumers. Artists provide the digital files and receive an agreed-upon share of profits from these sales. Artists have, in general, be more receptive to alternative ways of distribution as opposed to working with traditional distributors who take a large portion of the revenue generated.
Cashing in on your music video
Some music videos can be cashed in on for a significant amount of money. The “Gangnam Style” music video by Psy generated over $8 million in income for the musician. It became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views, and it is still the most liked video on the site.
YouTube is a website where you can upload and share videos of various types, including music videos. The website offers various ways to monetize your content, including pre-roll ads, youtube partner programs, sponsorships, and multiple other methods.
Pre-roll Ads
Pre-roll ads are advertisements placed before your video that plays automatically. These short adverts usually benefit the content creator and provide referral traffic to advertisers. However, you will need a significant amount of traffic to your video for this method to be profitable.
YouTube Partner Program
The YouTube partner program allows you to run your ads on the videos uploaded to your channel. You can choose which type of ads you want in no time, including Google display ads, video overlay ads, and sponsored cards. With this program, you will make money from click through on ads and from the number of times ads are shown on your videos by Google.
Tipping
A tipping jar is another way that you can make money from your video. All you need to do is place a tip jar on the screen, and people will be more likely to donate small amounts of money.
Sponsorship
If you have a big audience on YouTube, one of the best ways to make money through this platform is by getting sponsorships. This is where creating a unique niche and brand yourself in that area. When choosing sponsors for your channel, keep in mind that they will be looking at how many people subscribe to your channel and how much traffic you get per video uploaded.
Avoiding common mistakes when shooting a music video
Learning how to shoot a music video can be very challenging because there are so many moving parts. However, there are some mistakes that people commonly make when filming their videos that they should avoid if they want to get the best results.
Have a Good Idea Before Beginning to Shoot Your Video
While having good equipment or even adding additional effects to your video during editing is fine, it’s imperative to make sure that your video has a solid concept before you start shooting. The concept will provide the framework on which you can build your video. It can also help you avoid wasting time and effort trying to shoot a vague concept for your video because you haven’t yet decided how you want it to look.
Don’t Rely Solely on Your Equipment
It may be tempting to rely solely on your video equipment to give you great results, but you must never forget the importance of good location selection. Many locations will help you get much better quality footage than other locations. You should select a place to shoot your music video where good lighting is available.
Don’t Use the Same Shots More than Once
Shooting different angles of each shot can be very important for coming up with a great music video, but this isn’t the only thing you need to keep in mind. You should also make sure that you don’t use any shot more than once.
There are many ways to market and distribute your videos, but the most important thing is for you not to be afraid of making mistakes. That’s what makes something memorable in an industry that often feels like it’s been overused and overdone. Experiment with filming techniques, camera angles, or even different themes. Your hard work will pay off, and you will see money rolling in through multiple revenue streams.
By Ryan Donaldson
