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Music - How to set the stage for your videos. Part 5. Artistic Notes

By Debb Janes

Industry Observer with Nature As Neighbors

August 13, 2011 05:18 AM

Music - How to set the stage for your videos. Part 5. Artistic Notes.

Music is a great conduit. It has the power to create connections. If you're going to use videos as part of your marketing efforts, and I certainly hope you are, music is one of the best tools to use if you hope to entertain and entice your audience.

The thoughtful choice of music selections can help smooth over some basic filming problems (remember most of us are not professionals behind a camera) and enhance your videos, literally bringing them to life. Over time, your own personality and "branding style," will become evident, and that can help you make connections.

janeAnne from Asheville, North Carolina has a love and respect for nature that resonates from within her beautiful and artistic soul. It comes across in her writing, numerous photos about the region she loves, and in her videos. She is solid green in her representation of eco-homes and land legacies in the Western North Carolina mountains.

janeAnne is also doing an excellent job of "branding" her personality and message into her videos. Her musical choices enhance her video topics and set the stage, making them more entertaining to watch. The music becomes a conduit to her audience and creates the potential for her to connect with like-minded individuals.

Imagine these videos without the music. Do you think they would have been as much fun to watch? Do you think janeAnne's interests in nature and the environment are evident in her videos?

If you don't have time to watch each video, you can get a feel for them within seconds. Try it with the music, then without. As you watch, think about janeAnne's goals. Is her branding staying true to who she is as a person and an EcoBroker? Pay close attention to the rhythm of the music and the "cadence of the videos."

This video is a good contrast to David Ames video "Ready, steady, go."
(Part. 2. Rock n' Roll Notes)
Both are from inside a vehicle, David's features the streets of San Francisco, janeAnne's shows us a road in the Appalachians. Both are effective and echo the unique charm of their locale. Hang on, the ride's a little bumpy.

Want to see more mountain videos from janeAnne's artistic perspective? Please subscribe to her YouTube Channel.

Did you miss?

Part 1. Music Notes

Part 2. Rock n' Roll Notes

Part 3. Newsworthy Notes

Part 4. Savvy Notes

Stay tuned...

Part 6. Helpful Notes

Part 7. Final Notes

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David Evans

RE/MAX TOWN AND COUNTRY - Cumming, GA

HUD NLB Cumming GA

I got the music IN ME! I got the music in me, I got that music, sweet MUSIC IN ME!

Aug 14, 2011 04:53 AM

Susan Neal

RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA

Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

I agree that music adds a lot to videos, unless there are birds singing and roosters crowing and other natural sounds that make you feel you are there (like the moment of nature at the end of the Sunday Morning show). I don't want to run afoul of copyright issues. I've been asking my husband to record some original guotar music I can use. We'll see how that goes.

Aug 14, 2011 04:57 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Lyn, It really is so well worth it. I loved watching David's "Ready Steady Go" and then janeAnne's "Appalachian Road," both were entertaining, in large part, because of the music. But talk about a difference in "moods." :)

David- Good for you. :) You have me smiling this morning. Enjoy your Sunday and thanks for the visit.

Susan, yes I actually talk about "natural sound" and when it's the best choice - I also love the mix of music, voiceover and natural sound. That brings the best layering to our videos - and really ups the watchability factor. Providing they remain under two minutes or even shorter. Few people will commit to watching a video that's too long and believe it or not - anything longer than two minutes can turn somebody off.

Great idea to use hubby's work - I like that, and it would really create a "unique" theme and style for your videos.

I show one video in Savvy Notes that worked well because of the natural sound.

Thanks for stopping by and let me know when you get one of your videos together...I'd love to watch it.

Aug 14, 2011 05:08 AM

David Knox

David Knox Productions, Inc. - Minneapolis, MN

Debb, the $18,000 was a payment for the licensing of the music. Half went to Sony and the other half went to Randy Bachman. It was a five year license. We are very careful to have releases and permission for everything that appears in our videos. I had Randy Bachman sell me one of his own versions of the song for less and we use it in some of our videos. My brother was a recording artist and I now own all of his copyrights.

Even if agents can "get away" with using popular music, it sends the wrong message to clients who are aware of copyright and licensing. Plus as a recording artists probably don't want their music attached to some real estate video.

I think it's important to show respect for other's works whether they be photos, videos or songs. Besides, original content is far cooler. Do a Google search on "royalty free music" and you'll see a lot of options. David

Aug 14, 2011 05:44 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

David,

Thanks so much for your thoughtful and helpful information. And I do agree about giving credit where credit is due.

There are many, many violations on YouTube from Wedding videos, to Family Reunions, to Realtor's videos, as you well know. Not sure why they don't pursue more, unless it's the intent of the use - as in how is the indivual profiting from the music?

At any rate, I think that it would also be a cool choice to use local musicians - there are so many genres - and most would welcome the promotion of their music. Obviously, call them and ask PRIOR to using it - but, it seems like a good way to make local conncections and promote the local music scene.

Thanks again David. I may do a post or two on this topic as it is so very important. Take care.

Aug 14, 2011 05:51 AM

David Knox

David Knox Productions, Inc. - Minneapolis, MN

Hi Debb, when people use music on their personal videos on YouTube®, even though it's wrong, they really don't suffer any adverse consequence.

But as a professional Realtor®, being bound by a Code of Ethics and living by contract law, we need to set the example that we are above using copyrighted material.

Also, it's important for people to know, that copyright infringement does not require one to profit to be in violation.

Aug 14, 2011 06:20 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

David

You are a great resource on this topic and I have really appreciated your insight. I have also done my homework regarding you - and know that you have the credentials to back up what you say. So, thanks again for enlightening us with your opinion and the information.

Kind Regards, Debb

Aug 14, 2011 07:11 AM

Judi Monday

RE/MAX Valley Properties - Green Valley, AZ

CRS-Green Valley AZ Expert, Green Valley Arizona R

Music when done correctly can speak to our very soul and motivate us to take action. Thanks for the informative post.

Aug 14, 2011 07:29 AM

Margarita Gazivoda Kocovic

Keller Williams Realty Group - Scarsdale, NY

Realtor, Westchester NY Luxury Homes For Sale

Hi Deb,

I absolutely love your post- and I agree that Music is key to tours. It sets the tone- it creates an inviting feel especially picking the right genre to display the home with, I am new to active Rain- love to offer my uniqueness in the marketing I do and enjoy sharing ideas.

Music does make the world go 'round!

Yeah! Thanks again :)

Regards from Westchester NY

Aug 14, 2011 08:15 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Judi- Very true. You get it...:)

It's a real pleasure to meet you Margarita and welcome to Active Rain.

I hope you'll let me know if I can help you out in anyway, I'm still relatively new, but I do remember my first couple of months wandering around. :) At any rate, if I can make it easier, holler.

Glad you like the music series, it's been fun.

Aug 14, 2011 09:02 AM

Lee Potts

Aloha Group Maui - Lahaina, HI

The smarter we work, the luckier you get.

I shoot a lot of video here in Maui, but I really haven't used music at all. I'm looking forward to taking your advise and learning to use music to make my videos mo betta.

Lahaina Lee

Aug 14, 2011 09:09 AM

Maria Gilda Racelis

Home Buyers Realty, LLC-Manchester, Bolton. Vernon,Ellington - Manchester, CT

Home Ownership is w/in Reach. We Make it Happen!

Music gets us into a this specific mood. It transports us further into another level of consciousness. What a lovely post.

Aug 14, 2011 11:52 AM

Janet Jones

Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI

Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Debb--very nice feature and I'm so intrigued I am going to go back and read the first 4. You are so right about how the music affects the videos.

Aug 14, 2011 11:51 PM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Aloha Lahaina Lee - Maui is made for videos - and the music - I would use a lot of natural sound and talk to your many local muscians about featuring their music in your videos. You promote them - they meet you -- it's a win/win. :)

Maria, yes it does transport us on many levels and opens up another avenue of visceral emotional connections. That's some pretty power stuff to not include in videos - but remember the music choice and mood is pretty critical. It's important to get the right "partner" for your specific project. Thanks for your visit.

Janet, another lucky Maui resident. You can do what I suggested to Lee re-videos. I can see and hear your videos now with your before and after staging. That would be very effective and the videos can echo the lifestyle of Maui. How perfect is that?

Aug 15, 2011 02:22 AM

Gene Riemenschneider

Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA

Turning Houses into Homes

I just did my first video yesterday. I need to now work on editing and doing music.

Aug 15, 2011 07:21 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Yippee Gene, that's so exciting. Be sure to send me a link - I'd love to see what you come up.

Aug 15, 2011 07:31 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Richard, high praise from you - and if folks would follow a lot of your 10 Video Tips for Real Estate Agents, their videos would go from good to great. Not sure why folks tend to ignore the advice to shorten them up and "get out" of the way of the video...if a video is long - even a good one - I might watch about 60 to 90 seconds, but if I know it's going to go on....and on...and on...I dump out of it.

It probably still counts as a watch on YouTube, but it really isn't, and I think it sets the video creator up for losing audience "after a while." We're just "not that interesting."

Aug 16, 2011 02:20 AM

Kathleen Vetrano

RE/MAX Gateway - Falls Church, VA

Helping YOU Achieve YOUR Dreams

Debb, A great series of posts. Thank you so very much for sharing your expertise. Music sets the tone and the music dramatically changes the look and feel of a video. Thank you once again for all the information you have shared.

Excellent!

Aug 16, 2011 05:34 PM

ASHEVILLE REALTY REFERRAL RESOURCE 828-776-0779

REAL ESTATE REFERRAL NETWORK - Asheville, NC

CONTACT janeAnne365@gmail.com

Debb~

Thanks so much for selecting my videos as part of this outstanding series. Just thought I'd mention that...creating videos and them finding "just the 'right' musical accompaniment" is FUN.You know I'm smiling all the way from here in Asheville to your neighborhood...

Aug 18, 2011 06:26 AM

Debb Janes

Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA

Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

Kathleen, nice to see you again friend. You are very welcome, I have enjoyed sharing my thoughts on this topic and it's allowed me to delve into the creative side, which I always love to do...:)

Hi janeAnne, you shine authenticity and that's a huge part of video blogging. It's the ONLY way to distinguish yourself from the packs of other agents and videos that saturate markets. As you well know, music is a huge part of creating a video that is enjoyable to watch, and helps make your statement. You stay true to who you are in every endeavor.

And you shine all the way from the mountains to whomever chooses to watch your videos. So, thank you, I so appreciate your genuine and creative soul.

Aug 18, 2011 07:11 AM