Introductory Tips on Event Videography

There are a lot of resources out there right now for people who want to get started in the often-lucrative world of event videography. This short article will just serve to introduce those videographers and producers new in the field to a few simple concepts and ideas.

There are plenty of event promoters out there that are just waiting for entrepreneurial producers and videographers to come to them and make them an offer. Most event organizers would love to have someone offer to video-tape their event and sell it to the participants/audience members, and many will let you do it for free, provided you have some decent credentials (though you may not even need those). Event videography is a huge business, and these days, considering how easy it is to make DVDs or put your video online, it's very easy to get started in. It could be as simple as setting up a booth at an event, and taking people's payments and information and then sending them a DVD of the event in the mail at a later date.

Some ideas of events:

-Youth competitions of all kinds: any event where parents would like to purchase a DVD keepsake of their children's performance. Use your imagination, as there are a virtually limitless amount of these, and parents love to pay for well-produced keepsakes like these.

-Large participant plays/theatre events: In addition to regular theatre-type events that you could market to the actors, think of things like interactive dinner theatres. There are many of these types of unique events, and audience participants might be interested in having their experiences documented.

-Family/High School/Military Reunions: I'm having a family reunion next month; only the second one my father's family has ever had, and I know that the organizers would pay pretty good money if someone came to them and gave them a deal on a certain number of DVDs as well as hosting the video on a url or even just on YouTube or something. (I’d do it myself but I’m all videoed out.) Again: use your imagination, as sentimental events are a big business.

-Corporate trade shows/presentations/seminars: Approach trade show organizers or individual companies involved in a trade show, offering to make a production featuring all the participants, or just focusing on one particular section.

-Motivational Speakers/Experts: You can find many speakers and experts who would like a reasonably priced video of their presentation/performance, for either promotional web video or to sell as a product.

There are limitless possibilities. When you start concentrating on this kind of work, you will start seeing opportunities everywhere you look. I open the paper every day and see several small events going on that I’m sure could be turned into a profitable free-lance situation. Every event has different elements, however, and each situation requires a good amount of forethought to what the best way to approach it and set it up might be. With some experience, some confidence, some business cards, and perhaps an assistant or two or three (who you can easily find on sites like this one) there isn't a job out there that is too big for you.