titlebar

Taping Live Events
by Bill Edmunds

Shooting live events is probably the most common videography you will engage in. Live events include plowing contests, wagon trains, and any kind of show ring event. They are called live events because you have no control over what happens; you simply record the proceedings. You are not staging or orchestrating anything. With that in mind, here are some helpful tips for producing a quality video of a live event:

Get permission. It may sound obvious, but to garner good relations obtain permission from the event's officials to videotape the event and have it aired on Rural Heritage Hour. Have an appropriate official sign a release form giving this permission.

Scout the location. Visit the location where the event will take place. Find out where the action will be centered. Determine what areas will be off limits to you. Once you have established where you may and may not position yourself, designate two or three places where you feel you will be able to gain the best vantage points. The reason you want to select at least two spots is because you may not be able to position your camera and tripod at your ideal spot, so always have a backup (or two). Take care to avoid blocking anyone's view of the event.

Keep everything in sight. If something blocks even a partial view of the event, look for a better position. Barns and show rings offer numerous possible obstructions, including posts, dividers, and vehicles. If you can't see all the action because of some obstruction, move to another location. Remember—if you can't see everything, neither can your audience. Generally speaking, the best locations are those affording an equal
view of all sides of the action. A video of an obstacle competition, for instance, needs to illustrate where the contestants start and where they finish. If you can't see the starting point or finish point, move. With a contest such as log skidding, make sure you can see both the animals and the load they are pulling. The audience obviously wants to witness the team doing the pulling, but they also need to see the load itself, so they can understand the object of the contest.

Be sure you can hear the announcer. The acoustics are often poor in a show ring, especially in outdoor arenas. If you have a hard time hearing what the announcer is saying, your camera's microphone surely will as well. To prevent poor audio, ask to put a wireless microphone on the announcer to gain the best chance of reproducing clear sound. Using a microphone is not always possible, but is worth trying.

Take names. We like to identify the people and animals presented on Rural Heritage Hour, so please get the names of all contestants and their hometowns, as well as the names and breed(s) of their animals. And please double check to see that all names are correctly spelled. When the event is over, be sure to get a list of final placings as well.

Horse

Bill Edmunds of Conway, New Hampshire, produces the Rural Heritage Video Series as well as Rural Heritage on RFD-TV, available weekly through satellite and many cable providers. If you have questions about submitting videotape for possible inclusion on the program, please contact . This article appeared in The Evener 2005 issue of Rural Heritage.


Table of Contents
Subscribe Homepage Contact Us
rural heritage logo    PO Box 2067, Cedar Rapids IA 52406-2067
Phone: 319-362-3027    Fax: 319-362-3046
E-Mail:

26 October 2011 last revision