This has to be your first step when it comes to making a music video for obvious reasons, and while sometimes it’s the easiest, at other times, it can require some work before you can move on to the next phase. If you and your band are only releasing one song as a standalone single (or perhaps as the first taste of an album that isn’t ready quite yet), congrats! You know what your song choice will be.

If you already have your full album ready to go and you’re just starting to roll things out, or perhaps if it’s already out in the world and you’re selecting the next tune to help promote it and keep things going, you could probably use some input when it comes to selecting the perfect tune.

If your album has already dropped, it’s probably a good idea to stick with whatever song is performing best in terms of sales and streams. Those are clear indicators of interest among fans, and if you can create a video to go along with something they already like and push it properly, you might see it take off in all the right ways.

If you haven’t released your full-length just yet and you’re trying to choose what might make the biggest splash upon arrival and set your fans up with a smash single (or at least one that performs well), you’ll have to take a different tack.

Ask your friends, people you know in the industry, and perhaps even a select group of fans who have proven themselves to be diehard supporters. These people will all be able to give you honest feedback and help you make an informed choice.

Chances are, this is already something you’re doing, and most of the people reading this article don’t need to worry too much about this part. However, no matter how often you watch music videos or how many you’ve already seen, if you are preparing to film one, or even just thinking about embarking on this journey, you’ll want to ramp up your viewing habits.

Watch tons of music videos. From all different kinds of artists. In many different genres and at all stages of their careers. Look at what bands on your level have produced as well as the clips and treatments that have gone on to win major awards such as VMAs and Grammys. The more you watch, the better you’ll understand what makes a good video, what makes a bad video, what’s already been done, and chances are your inspiration will be sparked.

As you are watching all of these many music videos, don’t just sit and be entertained–think critically. Consider what these artists have done and how they made it happen. If you are watching the latest Taylor Swift music video, it should come as no surprise that much of what she’s able to accomplish is thanks to a massive budget and a huge team. On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you look at a video by an up-and-coming band or a singer-songwriter who might have about the same resources as you, that is really where you can discover innovation and learn some tricks of the trade. Consider everything from where they shot the music video to angles they used and perhaps even how they mixed performance with storytelling.

Watching is great, but if you see something you love, consider if you can learn more about it online. Do a quick Google search and look up articles and videos that publications and musicians have shared that detail how they actually made music videos that performed well and that millions watched. There are plenty of examples of artists who have released treatments that have gone on to make them stars, and usually these people are not shy about discussing their work and how it came to be.

For example, the pop rock band OK Go won a Grammy for a music video that cost them next to nothing. They set the standard for what underground artists can do with very limited resources that will still make a massive impact. Follow their lead in terms of thinking creatively and finding ways to elevate your song, even if you don’t have a million dollars or a famous director.

When it comes to low budget productions–whether they be music videos, YouTube series, or even independent films–it’s common for those involved to wear several hats and perform many different jobs. If your finances are limited, there’s a chance that you might have to not only create a concept, write and record the song, and actually film the music video, but perhaps also even edit it after the filming has taken place.

If this is the case, you will need to spend quite a bit of time learning about post-production and everything that goes along with that job. That means doing some research into the most common video editing programs and software and then actually learning how to use them. Even if you’re not going to be the one actually doing the editing of your music video, it might not be a bad idea to have a basic knowledge of what goes into turning raw footage into a finalized product. That way, you will better understand why this process takes so long, what makes it so expensive, and you may be able to better communicate with your editors and your team later on and tell them exactly what you want. 

Sure, this isn’t the most enjoyable part of the process, but without it, you could end up going into incredible debt, or potentially spending money and ending up with anything at all. It is only after you have a general sense of the cost (you won’t always end up with an exact dollar figure, but perhaps a range) of this production that you can move on to coming up with concepts, which can depend heavily on your available funds.

Before you can set a budget for your music video, you need to have at least a base-level understanding of what projects like this usually cost. There’s no point writing out a complete budget for, let’s say $1,000, and then learning that this should be at least a $5,000 or $10,000 investment. You don’t have to spend a ton of time doing research on this topic, but try to uncover some details about what even the lowest budget music videos can run you. This will help you when it comes time to decide what crew you can hire, what locations and costumes are a fit, or perhaps even if you can go down this road at this time at all.

Don’t go and start spending money before you’ve created a list of every single thing that you might need to make your music video happen, whatever your idea. This budget that you are creating will change over time, so any ideas or numbers you have before finalizing a concept are sure to change. Keep this in mind and try to pad some wiggle room, knowing that some unforeseen expenses will pop up eventually.

Make a list of everything, from start to finish, that you will be responsible for paying for in order to make your treatment come to life. This could include anything from costumes, make-up, paying to rent a location, props, as well as a crew to do, well, everything. Share this list with others who either know what they’re doing or simply want to help you, as it’s easy to forget or overlook something that will add to the growing sum.

As you are drafting your budget, you will probably at first create one that is completely unrealistic. You’re going to make a list of everything that you want and need and then do the research to find out how much it’s all going to cost. This process is actually going to take a lot longer than you might realize, as it can require reaching out to companies or individuals to enquire as to how much they charge for their services, products, or even locations.

Once you have all of this information gathered, you will start to see how much your idea is going to run you, and that’s probably where you’re going to need to start making some serious cuts. Compare the figures you have with some sort of set number you need to adhere to. This sum depends on how much you, your bandmates, or perhaps even your record label (if you have one) are willing to spend. Don’t go bankrupt to film a music video, but also try not to be too cheap. There’s no point in this effort if the finished product is not interesting to anyone.

Take a hard look at your finances and consider how much this promotional clip might eventually earn you. It’s difficult to connect a visual to revenue, but the entire idea is that people will watch the video and stream your music, buy your album, and maybe even go to a show. There’s no correct answer here, and it’s up to you to decide how much you’re willing to invest in yourself and your art.

Coming up with the concept for your music video can be both the most exciting and enjoyable part of this entire process as well as one that is daunting and exhausting. First, decide what type of video you’d like to make. Is it just going to be you and your band performing, or would you like to tell some sort of story? Maybe you want to mix the two, which is a very popular option with most bands. Anything is possible–it’s up to you.

If you want to tell some sort of a story with your music video–which is referred to as a narrative–you need to come up with what that might be. You could tell the story of the lyrics in the song, bringing them to life, in which case you will already have an idea of what’s going to happen in the clip. It’s also entirely possible that you want to do something completely different and make a statement and craft some sort of visual that gets people thinking and talking. If you want to tell a story, you need to come up with a very basic beginning, middle, and end.

As you are coming up with the concept for your music video, try to work something in that will grab people’s attention and make them want to share your clip and potentially even write about it. This could be special effects, incredible cinematography, or more likely, something in the story you’re going to tell will be noteworthy enough as to generate publicity. You might shine a light on some important topic people aren’t discussing or maybe go in the opposite direction and do something very silly that will reach the masses on social media.

You don’t want to be a slave to virality, but in today’s entirely-online world, you have a better chance of breaking through the noise if you craft concepts with this goal in mind.

Whatever your idea, you are going to need somewhere to film your music video. If it’s just you and your bandmates performing the song, are you going to do it in your home, in a field, or at a venue? These will all come with different price tags and challenges, and you may find that scouting a location is far more difficult than you imagined–and that could change your creative entirely. This is when you continue to reach out to those who own buildings and locations to ask if you can film there and what that might cost you.

If your music video is going to showcase some sort of narrative, you need to take your idea and nail it down and make it specific. You will probably need some sort of script, which you will have to write, edit, and then rewrite. You will also want to create what’s called a storyboard, which is a very simple visual representation of what the video will look like. In some ways it seems like a comic strip, and it paints a picture of what each moment in the video will show and how that works in the overall story.

No matter what kind of music video you’re shooting, you want to make sure you create a list of shots you have to get before filming wraps. If the treatment is just you and your band performing along to the song, this list will be fairly simple, but that doesn’t mean you can skip this step. You need an actual list that you can check off during shooting to ensure that, for example, every member has been filmed.

If your music video is going to be a narrative, you not only need a list of shots of every scene in the story, but also plenty of other items that can be worked in during the editing process. This includes close-ups, background, B-roll, and so much more (that we can get into later). Failing to have this list in front of you while you are on set could mean that something will be forgotten. If that’s the case, there’s a chance that your video simply won’t turn out the way you wanted or you might have to go back and reshoot, which can be extremely costly.

By now, you’ve already watched plenty of music videos, but that doesn’t mean you’re done. Once you know what you want your music video to be, you need to generate comparisons of what it should look like. You might want it to be a fairly straightforward performance clip with simple shots of you and your band members, or perhaps you are interested in something far more stylized. Come up with a list of videos you love that you want to emulate–but not copy.

Consider them in terms of cinematography, the saturation of colors, the angles used when shooting, and so forth. Just as a director and cinematographer might do on a feature length film, you have to consider how all of these factors will play into the final product. A simple change in lighting and post-production color correction could take the same film and make it either bright, silly, and funny or moody and dark.

You’re going to be making a lot of lists when it comes to creating any big piece of content, so you may as well get used to it. If you have any kind of budget at all, some of it will be going toward hiring people to help turn your ideas into a music video. Do some research online to find out what types of talents might be needed to create your visuals. You can stick to solely recruiting friends or hiring an entire team–it just depends on what you need and what you can afford. You should look into hiring directors, lighting people, actors, make-up artists, producers, visual effects professionals, and possibly others.

Who you end up hiring depends entirely on how much you have to invest in this project and what your idea calls for. If your video is just you sitting in a room playing guitar, you probably don’t need special effects and hairstyling, but if you are trying to make a much bigger splash, you may need to dig a bit deeper.

Once you’ve decided what roles you need to fill and what you can afford, find a way to locate the right people. Reach out to other bands, managers, or people at record labels in your area or your scene and ask who they have worked within the past and who they like. Word-of-mouth is still incredibly important in the music industry, and it is likely where you will find the best talents. As you have conversations with all of these professionals, look at the work they’ve done and if possible, ask for references so you can see how they act on set and after filming.

Yes that’s right, another list. These days, it is possible to film a music video that looks professional using nothing but an iPhone, which is great news for bands and musicians who don’t have a lot of money to spend. Having said that, you still might want to look into buying or renting equipment, depending on what you want your music video to be. You might need lights, a special camera, or any number of other different items that are usually rentable in most places. Again, do a bit of research to find out what other bands similar to yours rented or purchased when they were filming music videos and see if you can follow their lead.

Now to consider the more concrete things needed to film a music video. That list could go on forever, but here are some of the basics and the most important items:

• A camera (an iPhone will do)
• Lighting equipment
• A location
• Transportation
• A tripod
• Extra batteries
• External storage for digital files
• Makeup
• Outfits/costumes
• Props
• Actors
• Camera people
• Post-production professionals

Want to dive deeper into what equipment you’ll need and how to use it? Check out this rundown.

You don’t need to become an expert on every camera or microphone or visual effects program, but it never hurts to learn a bit about the technology that goes into creating music videos if you are going to be making some of them in the future. Take a few moments and do the bare minimum research to understand what types of cameras are used these days, what they cost, and what the benefits or cons of one item over another might be. Do the same for lights and microphones and anything else you are thinking of buying or renting. Again, no need to understand every single thing about these pieces of tech, but knowing a little bit will help you make an informed decision and spend your money wisely.

When you’re creating a schedule for the making of a music video, don’t forget to include some time for rehearsal. If you and your band are just going to be playing your instruments on camera, you don’t need a lot of time for this step, but it doesn’t hurt to at least have some discussions about what you’d like to portray and what you want the music video to look like. If there’s going to be any acting or storytelling in the clip, you will want to make sure you carve out a couple of hours at minimum to go over lines, understand blocking, and to ensure that everyone is on board and feels comfortable in front of the camera when it’s time to shoot.

You’ve found a team, come up with a wonderful idea that will have the entire world watching, and you’ve somehow funded it. . . so it’s finally time to actually film the damn thing! Depending on your concept and the team you have with you, it should probably only take you a day or so to film your video, but this doesn’t mean it will be ready for public viewing after just 24 hours.

The footage still needs to be treated and edited by professionals, and then you may have additional thoughts on editing when you see a rough cut. It may be days, weeks, or maybe even months before your video is finalized and you feel comfortable sharing it with your fans. More often than not at the beginning of your career, it will be ready after just a few days, but it’s good to be prepared for a long wait.

While you may be trying to finish the shoot as quickly as possible (especially if you’re paying those helping you out by the hour), make sure you have fun during your time “on set,” as you may only get to film a few music videos in your life. It’s a rare experience, and while there’s a lot to be taken seriously, it should also be a truly wonderful time.

No matter what you’re filming, you will have to do it a few times. This is a common practice in almost any visual media, including TV and film. You and your band members or the actors who are featured in the video should be prepared to run each scene at least two or three times. This is done to give editors a lot to work with, and you want to make sure that just because one take didn’t end up going well, you’re not stuck with it.

If you have hired a director or a producer, they should know well enough to film b-roll, but just in case they are new to this job or if you are doing it yourself, this should absolutely be part of your filming schedule.

B-roll is footage that isn’t actually part of the story. So, instead of just shots of you and your band playing your guitars or an actress reciting lines, you might want footage of the highway nearby or clouds in the sky or the wind going through the trees. Feel free to shoot a lot of this, because it can be inserted or removed during the editing process, and while it might not seem very important, it can absolutely change the tone and the feel of the final product.

Close-up shots are similarly helpful to give your editors plenty of material to work with as they craft a story and a great music video. You will want close-ups of many different things, from someone’s hand strumming the strings on a guitar to the kick drum to a woman crying after her heart has been broken. Having a talented director or producer on board is useful, because they will have an idea of what types of close-ups might be needed, but if you’re doing it all on your own, don’t be afraid to take a few moments and get a lot of this type of footage.

During the phase of pre-production when you were coming up with the narrative and the list of scenes you need to shoot, you may or may not have thought about angles. It’s a good idea to try to pad some time in your schedule to film the same type of scene, but from different angles. So even if it’s just you sitting at a piano playing and singing, you want to make sure you don’t simply film the same thing from the same position over and over. You want shots from behind, shots from across the piano, shots from above, shots from the side, and anything else you can think of.

I know I’ve been saying a lot about getting extra shots and additional footage to flush out your music video, but it’s also important that you don’t go overboard. It’s possible to shoot the same scene over and over and spend countless hours or even days collecting B-roll footage, but if you do that, you may end up wasting your valuable time and you could wind up with far too much to work with. Try to find the balance between not filming enough and being inundated with content.

Once you’re thrilled with the final product, it’s time to finally give your masterpiece to the world. By this point, you should hopefully feel it is, in fact, a masterpiece, and you should have every confidence that it will spread across the globe and reach millions of people who might not even know who you are yet.

You’ll need to make sure the song is available on all digital storefronts and streaming platforms, and you will probably want to monetize the clip on YouTube so you can possibly make back a few dollars.

Just in case, you should already have a plan of attack when it comes to promoting it, which may or may not cost you even more cash. You can do a lot of the legwork when it comes to pushing the visual to your fans via social media and newsletters, but you may also consider working with a publicity company to grow your audience.

If you have a video you know has the power to do amazing things, you may be able to have a PR person pitch it to blogs and magazines for potential coverage, and though they also charge several hundred dollars for a typical entry-level campaign, it could be just what you need to go viral and earn the recognition you deserve.

Making sure you grab behind-the-scenes footage is a big deal when you’re an underground musician working on a music video. Whether it’s pics or videos, document everything from checking out locations and building sets to rehearsals and filming.

This behind-the-scenes stuff isn’t just for the video; it’s versatile. Share it on social media to give fans a sneak peek into what you’re up to and get them excited. Show them the behind-the-scenes moments like brainstorming, setting up the stage, and goofing around during rehearsals. These glimpses can also be cool on their own, making your fans feel more connected to you and your music.

Think about going a bit further by making a short documentary. Dive into how the video was made or share the story behind the song and your band. It’s a great way to make a stronger connection with your fans and add more to your project. Plus, it opens up chances for more promotion and engagement, letting everyone see the hard work and passion you’re putting into every part of your creative journey.

Okay, so your music video is done. Now you just post it to YouTube and hope for the best, right? If you’re going the extra mile and trying to do this right and get everything you can out of your latest visual, no! There’s much more to be done–especially when it comes to promoting your new production.

You should actually think about how you’re going to promote your music video–and if you want to go it alone or work with someone (or perhaps even a team)–before you shoot the clip, Conversations with your press help may wind up shaping how you actually make the visual as well.

Here are some things to think about when it comes to promoting your upcoming music video.

Promoting your new music video can be a solo venture or a team effort, and the decision often boils down to your resources and reach. Doing it on your own requires a hands-on approach, where you engage with your audience directly through social media, email newsletters, and other platforms. This can be cost-effective but demands time and effort.

On the other hand, hiring a press team can streamline the process, providing professional expertise and connections. The cost of a press team varies, with independent publicists charging anywhere from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on their experience and the services offered. A well-established PR firm might charge more, but they often have broader industry connections.

Crafting a solid social media plan is essential for effective music video promotion in today’s world. Utilize platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok to create a buzz. Start by teasing your audience with behind-the-scenes footage, engaging snippets, and countdown posts leading up to the video release. Release eye-catching visuals, such as posters, GIFs, and short clips, to keep the excitement building. Encourage user-generated content, like reaction videos or dance challenges related to your video, to enhance engagement. Consider leveraging paid social media advertising for wider reach, targeting audiences who align with your musical style.

To attract media coverage, your music video should tell a compelling story or have an interesting angle. Journalists are often drawn to narratives that go beyond just the music. Think about the inspiration behind the song, challenges faced during production, or unique collaborations involved.

If your video lacks an obvious story, consider creating one. It could be a journey of overcoming personal obstacles, a dedication to a cause, or an unexpected twist in the video’s creation process. Journalists are more likely to cover your video if they see a captivating story that resonates with their audience. Highlight the aspects that make your music video stand out, giving writers a reason to share your story with their readers or viewers.

Creating and releasing a music video provides rising and underground musicians with a powerful tool to establish a distinct visual identity. In a crowded music scene, a well-produced video becomes a visual representation of your sound, style, and personality. This visual branding helps you stand out, making it easier for fans and industry professionals to remember and recognize your unique artistic imprint.

A music video serves as a gateway to wider audience engagement. In the digital age, platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok provide global exposure, allowing your music to reach audiences far beyond your local scene. The shareability of videos on social media facilitates organic growth, and if the video is catchy or resonates with viewers, it might just go viral, exponentially expanding your reach.

The hope is that people catch the clip, become fans of both you and the tune, and then head elsewhere to listen. Push viewers to Spotify, Apple Music, and other platforms that pay higher rates for streams. Encourage them to buy the song, or the full album it’s featured on.

A music video allows you to connect with your audience on a deeper level. It provides a visual narrative that complements your music, giving fans a more immersive experience. Sharing behind-the-scenes footage, personal anecdotes, or visual storytelling in your videos–or in addition to them–fosters a sense of intimacy, cultivating a loyal fan base that feels more connected to you as an artist.

Filming a music video offers an opportunity to showcase your creativity and innovation beyond just the audio. Whether through inventive storytelling, captivating visuals, or cutting-edge cinematography, a well-crafted video can elevate your music to an art form. This not only enhances your credibility as an artist, but also positions you as someone who takes their craft seriously.

A compelling music video can impact the money you make directly from your music–hopefully significantly. Platforms like YouTube offer an avenue for artists to earn money through ads. As your video gains views, you become eligible for YouTube’s Partner Program, allowing you to monetize your content through ad revenue. This dual revenue stream, combining music streaming and sales revenue with ad earnings, will hopefully one day provide a sustainable income source that supports your music career.