Think about this. If your production budget to do a music video is $2000.00 and you spend 85% of your budget, you end up with $300. If this is good with you, stop reading and keep doing music videos for 7-11 wages. 7 days of hard work shooting and editing a music video is not worth that type of money or your time. In fact, if you put in 40 hours in one week to do a music video at that rate, your getting paid under minimum wage. Not a good.



What you need to know, and this is proven, is that spending a higher budget is not always the answer to making a great music video. I've had music videos where I have only spent 10% of the budget put up against music videos that used 50% of their budget and have won in the categories of concept, editing and overall final product every single time.

Here's just one tip that will help you keep more of the production budget in your pocket.

Obtaining Free Locations

This is one area where I see the most money spent on music video productions. Directors like to drop 40 to 50% of the production budget to obtain a great location when the truth is you can get almost all of your locations for free. What's even better is the only thing you have to do is ask.

I've shot music videos at hotel resorts, churches, hospitals, clubs, High Schools and many other locations most would not dream of getting for free. It's as simple as asking. Here's what you want to do.

Once you find the location you want, find out who the owner is and contact them by phone or in person. Inform the owner that you would like to use their place of business for a music video shoot. Let them know that you have exhausted your budget but you will give their business name a shot in the music video (meaning get a shot where you can see the name of the restaurant as the artists walks inside the main entrance).

I have never paid for any locations and I have completed well over 50 music videos and counting. By knowing this budget saving tip, this will allow you to keep more money in your pocket as well as impress the client.