You love to spend all day making videos, right? The longer it takes the better? Get real!
We know you don’t have time for record sessions that last for hours (no matter how fun Idea Kit producers are to work with). So what can you do to make your record session go a little faster and get back to your day job? We’re glad you asked! These four tips will help save you time every time you record:
#1 PRACTICE MAKES PERSONABLE
Have you ever noticed how comfortable news anchors seem on TV? Think of the legends like Walter Cronkite and Barbara Walters. They look like they’re just telling you a story, not delivering a script. In reality, they’re reading the words from a teleprompter and many of them (in smaller TV markets) are running that teleprompter themselves with their hand or even their foot!
But let’s face it, unless you’re that seasoned TV anchor, reading a teleprompter just isn’t natural. That’s why the more comfortable you are with what you’re reading, the more natural and effortless it will look on camera, and the less coaching you’ll need in your record session. Can you say one-take wonder?
So how do you get comfortable with your script?
Some of our clients tape their script to the bathroom mirror and read through it a couple of times. Others read it out loud over and over again. However you choose to practice, practice. It gives you a sense of how the words feel in your mouth and how the sentences flow together.
#2 TAKE OUT THE TONGUE TWISTERS
The biggest benefit of practicing your script ahead of time is that you can change up anything that’s making you stumble. Having a hard time saying philanthropy? (Who doesn’t?) Change it to charity. The more comfortable you are saying the words, the more comfortable you will look on camera.
#3 SHORTER SCRIPTS FOR A CLEARER MESSAGE
How long are the online videos that keep YOU engaged? Chances are, not long. People have short attention spans. Honing your message into a shorter, more concise length will greatly increase the chance that your viewer stays engaged. It will also cut down the time it takes you to record.
#4 KNOW A GOOD THING WHEN YOU SEE IT
Setting up for your Idea Kit record session takes time, even before you record your first word. We walk you through getting the right framing and lighting. And sometimes it includes decluttering the desk or bookshelf behind you or hanging your favorite painting in just the right spot. Once you’ve put in all that work, get some mileage out of it and use that same spot for future recordings. Heck, you can even leave your light stand in the same spot if it’s not in the way of regular business.
Chances are, viewers are not watching all of your videos one right after the other. Even if they are it’s unlikely they’ll focus on the fact that you’re standing in the same place with the same tie on as the last video. If you have a location that works really well, using it over and over again will cut down on the time it takes to set up your shot. In the video world, we call this continuity.
Like a sports team that practices for a big game, preparation goes a long way. But great coaching when you’re on the field can make the difference in getting across the goal line. The Idea Kit team is here every step of the way to guide you to success with your video marketing.
Want to find out more about how Idea Kit remote shoots work? Click here.
