A good music video can mean many different things: Whether you opt for performance capture or for a more elaborate concept, putting visuals to your music can help create a more immersive listening experience for your fans.

However, there's a lot more that goes into making an excellent music video than you might expect. Below, we'll walk you through some of the most important components that go into a good music video so that you can create an amazing experience for yourself and your crew.

Understanding the Crew

Understanding your collaborators and defining their roles throughout the music video production process is the first step to building a protective set. Here are the most common positions within a video production company that you might find yourself needing throughout the creative process:

Director

The director holds the main concept behind the music video and helps create the shot list, along with the DP, to plan out the course of the shoot. Directors have the final say on a set for composing shots, making compromises if needed, and directing the crew to create a successful music video.

Director of Photography and Camera Operators

The DoP or director of photography is in charge of camera operation and composing shots and lighting to the director's taste. These departments work in tandem with gaffers and grips to create adequate lighting for each scene. On smaller shoots, the director and DoP may be the same person, but you won't find these positions conflated on a union shoot.

Gaffer

The gaffers or grips help rig lighting and other structural elements to help compose a shot. These professionals might also encompass an "electric", which is someone who is knowledgeable surrounding power needs for securing lighting and other powered items.

Hair, Makeup, and Wardrobe

As you might expect, hair, makeup, and wardrobe are concerned with dressing the talent. Oftentimes, hair and makeup are tied into one position, shorthanded as "HMU". Wardrobe or stylist are their own department and often have an assistant who can help steam clothes and take on other related tasks on set.

PA

A PA or personal assistant is the lowest-ranking position on the set. These professionals fill in the needed gaps and are often assigned to different departments accordingly. PAs might help pick up coffees, keep the set tidy, or generally do anything else directed to them by their appropriate department head.

AD

The AD or assistant director is seen on larger sets and primarily acts as a liaison between the director and the department heads on set. ADs help keep track of the shot list and shooting schedule, helping directors make tough choices whenever time is running sparse. ADs help communicate tough messages and keep everyone on track during the precious hours of an active shoot.

Producer

Set producers act as wranglers during the pre-production phase, calling vendors, coordinating contracts, and helping to plan crucial ancillary items like ordering breakfast and lunch ahead of shooting. On set, they likely have a more paired-back role, but might help collect video release forms or direct talent to their appropriate locations.

Essential Expenses

As discussed, not every music video will include each of the positions listed above, especially if it's a small shoot. However, you can expect to pay for each of the following expenses from one shoot to the next as needed:

Crafty and Meals

"Crafty" (short for craft services) consists of little grab and go snacks for your crew and talent, designed to keep everyone energized in between meals while shooting. This is usually a mix of water, sodas/seltzers, granola bars, candies/fruit snacks, trail mix, and fruit, ideally in individual packaging.

Transportation

Depending on where your set is and the location of your crew, you might have to factor in costs for transportation. It's not uncommon to rent a production vehicle for your PA or runner to get meals, coffees, or anything else that may be needed on set. Otherwise, you'll have to factor in costs of taxis, metro, or other transit as needed.

Crew Rates

Unless you've set up a favor or barter system with your video production crew, one of your biggest and most important expenses is paying your team, these rates will vary from one location to the next, but in the United States, it's fairly standard that no one should be making less than $250 a day (you can find a detailed breakdown by position here ) on set.

Props and Costumes

Props, costumes, and any extra power supplies or gadgets you might need on set should be backed into the budget.

Overtime

One of the biggest shocks to the system for many musicians is witnessing firsthand how long it can take to set up shots properly. There is a lot of production value in good lighting, so it's important to leave your gaffing department with plenty of time to set up shots. That being said, if you have an ambitious schedule, it's not uncommon to have shoots run into overtime territory.

Laws vary by state so you'll want to clarify with your crew what the pay structure is. For instance, many production workers book day rates on a 10-hour basis. If your production exceeds that established time structure, you are required to pay 1.5x their usual hourly rate for any overtime. This can add up quickly, so it's in your best interest to leave breathing room in your production schedule.

How Do I Start Making Music Videos?

To start making music videos, first, come up with your concept. A performance video where you more or less play your song in front of a camera will be much less time intensive than, say, a narrative video, where you're pairing novel imagery with your music. Once you have a concept, you can start to work backward and figure out how many people you need to make your music video happen.

Your experience will vary greatly depending on the individual needs of your video, but any good music video starts with proper planning, a great song, and a well-thought-out filming schedule. The more planning you do upfront, the more seamless your shoot will be when it comes time to put it into action. Professional video production can be surprisingly expensive for many musicians, so offloading as much as you can ahead of the shoot will save your crew time and allow you to keep more dollars in your pocket.

How Much Do Music Videos Cost?

The cost of a music video very much depends on your budget, available resources, and crew. You can certainly take the DIY approach and make music videos or visualizers on your own, but more complex concepts will almost certainly require the help of other skilled creatives, which comes at an expense.

Depending on the complexity of your concept, you can expect professional music videos to cost between several hundred to thousands of dollars. If you're curious to view a more detailed breakdown paired with the final product, you can check out this article , explaining the rough budget that went into the music video for my song PROJECTIONS .

Making a Great Music Video in 3 Stages

The process of making a music video is highly nuanced from one production to the next, but here are some crucial pointers you'll want to keep in mind during the three stages of production:

Preproduction

During this stage, it's critical that a detailed shot list is created, planning out the shooting day to a T. It's essential to build in time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner where applicable, and also a good idea to identify which shots aren't absolutely necessary - you want to plan for the worst case scenario.

Crew rates, venues, props, wardrobe, and any other physical items should be secured during this stage. The director and DoP should communicate ahead of shoot day to ensure they have everything they need to make the music video a success.

Filming

When it's time to shoot, try to keep everyone on track as much as possible. Something almost always goes astray on set, but try and maintain a positive attitude and lock down those critical shots so that you still come out with enough material to make an amazing music video.

Post Production

Don't forget that your budget will have to factor in post-production expenses. Editing, special effects, and color grading can all be significant expenses, so factor this consideration into your ideal release date and plans surrounding overall costs.

In short, creating a successful music video is dependent on your level of preparation, creativity, and willingness to collaborate and support your fellow crew members. Enjoy the process of bringing your beats to life!