Top 5 DO’s for capturing video at an experiential event…and a few DON’Ts
Experiential Marketing is one of the most authentic ways for a brand to interact with a consumer or fan. When these moments happen, they are unique and valuable. So, capturing those moments can be incredibly important to a brand.
But there is a way to do it, and not all agencies and brands realize this. Here are some DOs and DON’Ts when capturing content at an experiential event.
DO factor in video capture as part of your plan. Your plan should typically include two cameras and a Producer/Director. Here’s why…
Depending on the scale of your event, one camera may not be able to capture everything in the footprint. A second camera ensures you don’t miss a thing.
The producer/director is looking out ahead. The camera operators are looking at their screens. A producer/director can be ready to move cameras to place them in the right spots or pivot quickly when the action shifts.
DON’T skip documenting the event. Hiring a skilled production company that can put a professional camera operator on site can help sell your capabilities and the event's success, even if it’s just to show back to the client.
DON’T rely on your BAs (Brand Ambassadors) to snap some pics with their iPhones. Your Brand Ambassadors are essential to your event, but they’re not a video team and don’t have the expertise of a professional video/photo team.
DO hire a team that understands events. A Video/Photo team that has experiential experience matters. These are not scripted events, so the team must be comfortable in this environment.
DO spend time with your team doing Pre-Pro. Early involvement can help spur ideas the account managers may not have considered.
DO provide as much upfront information to your video team as possible. Things like a map of the event layout, points of ingress and egress, the planned traffic flow, specific spots for storage of extra gear, and a Run of Show that lays out timing are all helpful.
DON’T forget photography. Typically, Video and Photo can work hand in hand and support each other and increase the amount of content captured.
DO keep your recap or sizzle videos under a minute and a half. If your recap video is longer, then tell a story. Otherwise, a solid 1:30 is more than enough.
With some pre-production and an experienced team, an agency or brand has a fantastic opportunity to capture the moments of connection when a brand and a consumer or fan interact directly. But when it’s gone… it’s gone. So think about the opportunities within your experiential event and capture those magical moments.
At HAMLIN Creative, we turn brand moments into brand momentum. With years of experience, we craft our work to support experiential agencies and brands that want to harness the power of the event. Let us show you how.
