If you got a few bills and need to make a music video on the cheap, I'll show you how you can make a music video that absolutely doesn't suck!
Music Video production or video production in general is not cheap. I can relate to young bands scratching pennies just to go on a small tour while eating nothing but McDonalds along the way. So having thousands of dollars to produce a music video from an established video production company is often out of the question.
For the sake of this article, I thought it would be a fun exercise to limit the amount of funds to $500. Let's also make a few other assumptions:
- Either members of the band or close friends have the ability to perform basic video editing
- The video will be shot on whatever camera's they have available (think cell phones and GoPros)
- The band is recording along with a pre-recorded track (not a live recording)
- You have access to a location such as your home living room, garage, university space, church, or uncle Joe's warehouse
- You are doing all all the pre-production work (scriptwriting, storyboarding, shotlist, etc.)
What might A $500 Music Video Budget go towards?
PA Monitoring System Rental - $70
[Balance: $430]
The PA monitoring system is the most underestimated tool of music video production. Keeping in sync with the song your playing is super crucial. Otherwise, whoever is editing the video will find themselves having to adjust clips to match the tempo throughout the pre-recorded version of the song. Ideally the PA system will be powerful enough for the drummer to hear the track. If the drummer can't hear the track, the tempo of the rest of band members will be off. It also helps if the PA equipment has a Bluetooth connection so that whoever is hitting the record button can also easily start and stop the track.
Often the band will already have a PA system to do the job so you might be able to trim the budget even more here. But I've been on sets where band have brought in their own PA equipment only to find out that the drummer couldn't hear the PA over their drums. Be sure the speaker(s) are at least 100 watts or higher output.
Bonus tip: make sure the band provides a pre-recorded track with click tracks added leading up to the start of the song so everyone isn't trying to guess when to jump in.
Set design - $200
[Balance: $230]
Set design can completely enhance the look of the video but is often disregarded an unnecessary expense - especially for budget music videos. A $200 set design budget could provide a decorative backdrop, liven up a living room or provide props for a gruesome operation room setting - the world is your oyster. Scour local Goodwill stores for props. Consider trying to convince an antique store to loan you furniture, props, or unique lamps.
LIGHTING - $100
[Balance: $30]
Lighting is crucial on set but does not have to be expensive. While it would be nice to have RGB panels and tube lights, those will likely kill a budget in no time. Instead, pickup 4-5 cheap aluminum light fixtures from your local hardware store at about $7 each. I suggest going to Walmart to pick up a cheap plastic shower curtain to help diffuse the light - acting as a softbox. This will help avoid harsh shadows from using the light fixtures by themselves alone. While you are there, pick up some light bulbs. If you don't already have light stands, you can use the clamps from the light fixtures to mount to just about anything. All in, expect to spend about $100 in lighting.
Now, you might have considered shooting the video during the day outside to save costs. This might seem like a great idea until you consider a few factors:
- The weather might not be so convenient
- You'll need to at least power the PA equipment - possibly by running a powerful inverter from a running vehicle or you could rent out a generator, but then you'll be eating into the already small budget
- You might need to consider obtaining a noise permit from your local municipality
Food & Beverages - $30
[Balance - $0]
In the video production world, this is called kraft services. If you are shooting a low budget music video, you and the band are doing all the heavy work from setting up the scene to shooting, to breaking down. What initially seemed like a few hours of work will quickly turning into an all-day project. Having food and snacks on set will make sure the band is energized to power through the day. A budget of $30 will not likely feed everyone even for a fast-food option, so you'll have to plan ahead of time and make some sandwiches or make whatever you can make on a budget. Don't forget to bring extra water - or beer. Whatever gets you all through the day.
Other Cost Considerations
Costume / wardrobe
Unless you plan on wearing the same jeans you've been wearing for the past week, you'll need to at least look the part of a fashionable rockstar, and of course, that costs extra. Consider hitting up a local costume store or possibly a local theater for costume options.
Hair and Makeup
Shooting a music video is often an all-day affair. Asking the band / artists to apply makeup or adjust hair in between takes can be a job in itself. Consider hiring this part out if you can't find a friend to help out with this on the cheap.
On-set Assistant
Even if you have someone separately filming the music video, it can be very helpful to have an assistant to help adjust lighting, manage playing the track, running errands, etc.
Summary
Shooting a low-budget music video on your own can be a very rewarding process because you are in complete control all creative aspects. But doing so brings another set of challenges that you have to plan for.
