18 Tips On How To Make A Great Kickstarter Music Project Video
Wondering how to make a great Kickstarter video for your upcoming music project? Here’s 18 to-the-point tips.
Let’s get to it.
Get familiar with the formatting via Kickstarter’s Creators Guide to Video.
You don’t need to hire an expensive production company or shoot this on some insane video camera. Good production can help yes, but it’s more about the idea, the delivery, and the story you’re telling than the glitzy production. Most everyone has an iPhone or access to an iPhone. It’s more about having the creativity and making something that tells your story QUICKLY and hits those emotional cues with people. Have fun with it.
Aim for your video to feel more like a cinematic trailer than a business plan.
Delete the phrase “but we need your help” from your mind. Your project video does not need to be framed in this way.
Use title screens and subtitles in case people are watching with the sound muted. Titles and subtitles are way also to help more thoroughly communicate the basics of your project idea.
Keep it simple.
GET TO THE POINT - What is it that you’re making and why / how can people help? Say this very close to the beginning. Don’t bury this information deep within your video.
Videos do not have to have a talking head in them, exclusively talking to the camera - mix it up with tip #11
Keep it to under 2 minutes.
Make it compelling from the beginning: Use music, use emotion, BE HUMAN (you can read a script but make it look like you're not!)
Use music, b-roll, pictures, etc. to keep the energy flowing!
Find other videos you like and use them for references as you make you your video. “Oh, I like how they opened their video”— consider opening yours in a similar way. Learn what you like and don’t like.
Be cautious of what you do and don't have the rights to and what you can and can't use in your video!
BE YOURSELF (or don’t and get someone else to be in the video <3).
You can change your Kickstarter video once the project is live. There are some things you cannot change once a project is live, but this is something that can change.
Use the word SUPPORT instead of DONATE.
You can embed supplemental videos on to your Kickstarter story page, meaning not every shred of content you have needs to go into your project video. Keep it short and supplement with other videos on your page.
Natural light (aka daylight) is your friend. :)
You can ABSOLUTELY make a great project video within your means.
Here’s the band Hepcat, filming their interview portion for the documentary Pick It Up: Ska In The 90s. It’s an incredible film and Hepcat’s contribution about dancing is one our favorite parts. Check it out!