5 ESSENTIAL Concert Videography Tips! || How to Film Live Music

What are some important tips you need to consider when filming a live concert?  While there are a number of videos out there that approach this by showing how to capture cinematic, slow motion B-roll, few discuss the actual practical scenario of filming with multiple cameras and capturing great audio that enables you to assemble a full edit of the show in post.  More importantly, even fewer vidoes discuss if/how to approach this as a solo shooter.

In this retrospective behind the scenes (BTS) video, I'll go over my process for filming live concerts from the perspective of a solo run-and-gun videographer, and outline my 5 essential points to consider when doing this.  I'll also provide numerous specific examples of how I approach different situations - from multiple audio sources and their pros and cons, different camera angles and lens selections, and other gotchas that are often missed.  Last, I'll mention many of my common tools of the trade for approaching gigs like this, why I use them, and how they may benefit you.

If you like behind the scenes overviews like this, subscribe for more as I'll be covering my process around filming weddings and other gigs in the near future.  Also, let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!

Gear Used:

0:00 - Intro, what other videos don't say about filming concerts...
0:32 - #1: Capture Quality, Redundant Audio
3:09 - #2: Get Full Coverage With Your Cameras
4:46 - #3: Lock Down Your Settings
6:10 - #4: Weigh Down Your Tripods
7:11 - #5: Get Creative!
7:58 - One more IMPORTANT thing you don't want to miss...
8:31 - Conclusion

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My Current Kit:
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Cameras & Lenses:

Audio:

Lighting:

Tripod/Monopod:

[wendygoudie]

Thanks for the great tips Andrew! A few more valuable tips are to: (1) Attend rehearsals before the event to learn the band's set and determine the best shots, angles and camera settings. Rehearsals are also a great time to get tight close-ups of band members playing instruments, (2) Before the concert starts, film behind the scenes footage of the band getting ready including meeting VIPS and backstage pass holders, (3) Also, film the venue's billboard and posters of the band, and film excited audience members entering the concert, and lastly (4) After the concert, run to the lobby and interview audience members as they leave to get their feedback (bands love hearing fans' feedback). It's important to understand that videographers don't just document the performance. A good videographer is a vital part of the band's marketing team. They help build the band's image and reputation. However, great videographers go even further. They help make every performances look (and sound) even better than they were in person by using exciting editing, multiple camera angles, behind the scenes footage, upbeat interviews, and visual storytelling.

[EXZACHTLYWRIGHT]

FINALLY, I the video I was looking for! Thanks for laying this out man. Im working on building my concert videography skillset. All of the things you mentioned are things Im learning the importance of.

[davidmeister_ch]

Thank you for the useful information. So far I only have shot videos of gigs I play at myself, but I soon will be filming without playing 🙂 Loved what you said about stabilizing the tripods. Very useful! Thanks!

[gcprost]

I shoot a lot of Multicam concerts. I would agree with everything you said here, but I must admit I’ve never had to weigh down my tripods. I think one of the things I struggled with early on was color matching my cameras. Now I use two GH5’s, a GH5 Mk2 and a Panasonic AJ HPX 270 so matching cameras is less of a challenge.

[earlgreybeard]

Thanks Andrew. That was helpful. I also use the 3-camera setup for my annual music challenge, but film medieval musicians in an old castle! One challenge there is that my shots can look really dull thanks to some of the backgrounds (or my poor skills). Also, I can only pick up room sound with a couple of decent mics in X/Y. With multiple unamplified acts in a concert who also move around, it would be difficult to place mics specifically. From what you suggest, I might add a central redundant cardioid mic, and above all try to be more creative with the active camera. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Eduard]

Great tips, I recognise many from my small experience. I'd like to add that I also use some GoPros on stage. I always have one on a small phone-like tripod filming the drummer. You know he ain't going nowhere so it's a sure shot, especially for drum solos or antics in general. Also I put a GoPro just filming the keyboard player hands and keyboard. That works as a great fill-in shot. And recently, I was filming a Hammond B3 player. He actively plays the bass pedals, so I awarded that its own camera. If you have more GoPros even you could attach them to the end of a guitar, film the audience, or whatever pleases you.

I have also used iPhones for filming, but as they have a large flat surface, they are susceptible to drums and bass guitar. They work better when hand-held or firmly attached to something sturdy, like a post.

For sound, I also use a Zoom, connected straight to the mixing boards front left/right outputs. As mentioned, the balance between the channels may be off, but it is still better than nothing at all. You may be able to mix in some own-recorded tracks. The best is to also have a multitrack recording. I always bring my laptop to go together with my Midas XR18, with great results in post!

And another thing, which I am not sure if it was mentioned: use power banks! No hassle with mains power and cables, and they will last a lot longer than the built-in batteries. You can buy dummy batteries for many different types of cameras, that connect straight to a USB power bank. Sometimes you can connect several cameras to one power bank, if they're close together and/or the cables are long enough.

Just beware that if you use power banks together with for example a camcorder which has its own battery, that the camera may not start drawing power from the powerbank quite yet because it is well self-supplied. And then, once the internal battery is close to draining, the power bank may already have stopped supplying power (as no power was requested at start-up) followed by going into sleep-mode and not be manually reactivated. Then the camera stops filming once its own battery is drained, never using the power from the power bank.

[IanPyle]

This was extremely helpful, I have a live event coming up and this covered all of my concerns!

[splitzkeyz]

Thanks.. a lot of great reminders. My worst moments were all covered except one: setting at least one camera iso/aperture to be never blown out by the super-bright spotlight on the soloist…

[GaryMeadowsMusic]

Thanks great advice, planning on doing a shoot soon of my own music, singer songwriter. I have 3 nikon d3200 and zoom h6, some nice mics.a few lights a great space. Wish me luck.

[Seeufosseumpassaro]

Amazing how, in 9 minutes, you covered so many important topics!

[agenericaccount]

A good bit of information here. Haven’t ever filmed an event, but probably will still use some of this for my own work going forward.

[robertehahntx]

Dude the BOA BAG tip is so clutch. Had this exact problem thank you so much.

[JulianMoreen]

Were you able to save any of the footage from the very shaky camera at 6:18 in post or was it all unusable? Any suggestions how to? Thanks!

[mattriley]

Took a while to find a helpful video for my situation. Appreciate the different views with camera info. Thanks for this!

[youritguy]

This is a great video. Love the tips and your perspective on things so thank you.. Gives me a lot to think about. Now I do love the idea of putting weights on the tripods, genius.

[kevinwhite]

a GOD! Thank you, because this is all of exactly what I needed to see and hear. Just a perfect, straightforward strategy for everything I needed!

[lisabuie]

Really great video, and just what I was looking for. Thanks!!

[adam.foster]

Great video Andrew. I'm shooting my first live performance tomorrow night, and your tips made me consider aspects which I hadn't thought about like weighing down your tripod to eliminate bass rumble shakes. It's just a bit of fun these days as opposed to money making, but anyhow your advice and expertise is certainly appreciated. Keep up the good work!

[chrisdoratproductions]

With my experience, I used to try and set the white balance, now I go with auto white balance. And even with ISO, I have gotten burned while doing the sound check the lights where brighter then during the show at time it was allot more dimly lit. So now I also go with Auto ISO, I do agree with the setting focus to manual.

[Refusetoagegracefully]

Great video. Getting to the end of my concert videography career. Wish I would have had pointers for audio years ago and access to set up multiple cameras at shows. Its been hit or miss with the quality that I get but at least I have full memories of the shows I see .