A music video is a great way to further promote a well-received song. Are you pondering how you can make a music video on a limited budget? Keep reading! The success of your video is not dependent on the amount spent. These days to make a great-looking video all you need is a great concept, people who know what they’re doing, a little bit of gear and time so get creative!
Brainstorm ideas
Whether you're working with a producer or producing your video yourself, the first step is to build a concept. What story do you want to tell with this video? You’re essentially marketing your brand and personality with the music video - so you want to make sure that this concept fits your image and that of the song. Sometimes, the story you are trying to tell already lies in the lyrics; you just have to be creative with it. Do you want this to be a live video? Are you going to need a green screen or drones? Will it be an animation? Do you want it to be fan-generated? Decide on your concept and find ways to tell it uniquely with vivid imagery and creativity. Looking at other artists' music videos could also help inspire you.
Make a budget
As previously established, a good music video is not dependent on the amount of money spent. If YouTubers have taught us anything it is that we can create great videos with as little as a phone. Make a realistic budget and try as much as possible to stick with it. A good way to cut costs is to hire upcoming creatives or work with students who are trying to build their resumes.
Choose your team
Now you have your idea and budget, the next step would be finding the right people within budget to bring that vision to life. Newer artists may need to wear many hats, but you’ll need some help. You need a dedicated crew of passionate people who believe in the success of the video. You can ask your friends and family for help.
Planning the shoot
Wasted time can cost you money (especially when you're paying by the hour) so think through how this music video will be filmed. Storyboards are useful when planning as they keep you and the crew organized. "A storyboard is a graphic representation of how your video will unfold, shot by shot. It's made up of a number of squares with illustrations or pictures representing each shot, with notes about what's going on in the scene and what's being said in the script during that shot." Depending on the concept you decide to use, practice before you get on set. If it's a live performance, musicians should know the song and play as realistically as possible. Would there be dancers? They would need to practice before shooting begins.
Finally
Remember that you are a brand and as such excellence should be a priority. As much as you want to draw people to your song, don't dilute the message by putting out subpar work. From wardrobe to acting, to choreography, think quality. Also, have fun while at it!
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